Patent · US Expired

Method for providing feedback responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to a control of an electronic device

US7358956B2 · kind B2 · utility

31Cited by
72References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 13, 2001
Grant dateApr 15, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 27, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2203/04805
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a computer system, a touch sensitive input device having touch sensitive auxiliary controls can be used to provide a user with information regarding the functionality of an auxiliary control. When a user's hand approaches a touch sensitive input device, feedback can be displayed on a display screen. A user can receive feedback without activating the input device by touching or being extremely proximate to an auxiliary control. The feedback may take the form of a tool tip related to the auxiliary control or a combination of auxiliary controls simultaneously touched. When the hand of a user is moved away from the touch sensitive input device, the feedback brought on by sensing the user's hand may disappear.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.