International Business Machines Corporation

Guy F Verrier

Evon C Greanias

Robert L Donaldson

Alan Richard Tannenbaum

John Mark Zetts

Frank L Stein

Gary Edward Webb

Gordon W Arbeitman

John Howard Barker

Yu L An

Gary Robert McClurg

Gennaro Battiloro

Tin-Lup Wong

Michael S Gray

C Richard Guarnieri

Francis Fado

Karl David Schubert

John J Seeland, Jr

Paul D Kowalewski

A method for detecting when a user is typing with excessive force on a keyboard is disclosed. First, the force applied by the user on the keyboard is measured and detected during a first period of time, and the normal level of force applied by the user is determined. Next, the force applied by the user on a keyboard during a second period of time is measured and detected. It is then determined whether the force applied by the user during the second period of time is greater than the normal level of force, and if so, the user is warned and provided with feedback to adjust the level of force being applied to the keyboard.

Method of detecting excessive keyboard force

A method of obtaining a second function from keys on a standard QWERTY configured computer keyboard that have only a first function when struck individually is disclosed. First, the force applied by the user on the keyboard is measured and detected during a first period of time, and the normal level of force applied by the user is determined. Next, a second function actuating force which is greater than the normal force applied by the user is selected, and the force applied by the user on a keyboard during a second period of time is measured and detected. It is then determined whether the force applied by the user during the second period of time is greater than the second function actuating force, and if so, a computer operatively coupled to the keyboard is caused to perform a second function associated with the key. Otherwise, the computer performs the first function associated with the key.

Method of obtaining a second function from keys on a keyboard using

A system and method are disclosed for dynamically labeling touch sensitive buttons in a digitizing display. The display is partitioned into a main panel display region and a button panel display region. A touch overlay is also partitioned into a main panel touch region and a main panel display region. A button panel driver program defines button touch areas and button display areas enabling the dynamic labeling and relabeling of the touch sensitive buttons and the simultaneous touching of combinations of the buttons with either a touch input or a stylus input to the overlay.

System & method for dynamically labeled touch sensitive buttons in a

An architecture is disclosed for communication of remote devices to a digitizing display. The architecture includes a contact sensing erasure mechanism and a position sensing erasure mechanism whose outputs are multiplexed for transmission from the stylus to an antenna located proximate to the digitizing display. The digitizing display will erase text or graphics data in a pen-based computer system in response to the stylus. A calibration method provides improved accuracy for the erasure function.

Architecture and method for communication of writing and erasing signals

A stylus assembly in which a stylus is mounted in a housing for movement relative thereto. An electrical circuit is provided for sensing contact of the stylus with a writing surface and measuring the pressure exerted on the surface by the stylus.

Digitizing stylus having capacitive pressure and contact sensing

An architecture is disclosed for improved tilt detection for a radiative pickup stylus. The architecture includes a contact sensing mechanism and a coaxial conductor assembly which provides both position measurement and tilt sensing measurement features. By using the contact sensor to establish a calibration for the position and tilt detection elements, an improved, highly accurate position and tilt sensing capability is provided for radiative pickup stylus for a digitizing display.

Stylus tilt detection apparatus for communication with a remote

An improved touch overlay for the viewing surface of a display for detecting both finger touch and stylus location is disclosed. An upper and a lower set of transparent conductors are disposed on at least one transparent flexible insulating substrate and are oriented orthogonally with respect to each other. Depending on the orientation of the transparent conductors, top and bottom cover layers may be added to the overlay. The separation between the upper and lower conductors and a separation from the user's finger on the top surface of the overlay from the upper conductors is optimized. To speed finger touch sensing, the ambient capacitance of the overlay is reduced by increasing the separation between the upper and lower conductors layers. For improved operation, the present invention features a separation of at least 3 mils between upper and lower conductors. The separation between the top surface and the upper conductors is held to a minimum consistent with the preservation of integrity of the upper conductors when stylus pressure is applied. Means are also included in the overlay to improve the durability of the overlay with respect to repeated stylus pressure on top surface.

Touch overlay for improved touch sensitivity

An architecture for communication of remote devices to a digitizing display includes a contact sensing mechanism and a position sensing mechanism whose outputs are multiplexed for transmission from the stylus to an antenna located proximate to the digitizing display. The digitizing display also includes a transmitter for transmitting information from a pen-based computer system to the stylus for storage or utilization in the stylus.

Architecture for communication of remote devices to a digitizing display

An advanced user interface for use with a computer system operating on an integrated operating environment. The integrated operating environment allows a plurality of application programs to be running simultaneously, one of which is designated the active application program to which all input data is directed. The advanced user interface allows a user to select among user-friendly input devices to operate any application program according to his individual preferences without change to the application program code. The advanced user interface includes alternate input modules which translate the input signals transmitted from the various input devices into input messages useable by the rest of the interface. The advanced user interface also includes interface profiles which contain mappings of the input messages against corresponding commands useable by the application programs, the integrated operating environment or other modules of the advanced user interface itself. An environment link module refers to the interface profiles and matches the input message against the corresponding command for the application program active at the time the input signal was transmitted and send the corresponding command to that application program. The environment link module matches the input message against a corresponding command for an application which owns a window in which a key feature of a gesture is made.

Graphical user interface with gesture recognition in a multiapplication

An advanced user interface for use with a computer system operating on an integrated operating environment. The integrated operating environment allows a plurality of application programs to be running simultaneously, one of which is designated the active application program to which all input data is directed. The advanced user interface allows a user to select among user-friendly input devices to operate any application program according to his individual preferences without change to the application program code. The advanced user interface includes alternate input modules which translate the input signals transmitted from the various input devices into input messages useable by the rest of the interface. The advanced user interface also includes interface profiles which contain mappings of the input messages against corresponding commands useable by the application programs, the integrated operating environment or other modules of the advanced user interface itself. An environment link module refers to the interface profiles and matches the input message against the corresponding command for the application program active at the time the input signal was transmitted and send the corresponding command to that application program.

Advanced user interface

A combined finger touch and stylus detection system is disclosed for use on the viewing surface of the visual display device. Transparent conductors arranged in horizontal and vertical grid are supported on a flexible, transparent overlay membrane which is adaptable to a variety of displays. A unique interconnection pattern is provided between the transparent conductors in the array and buses which interconnect the conductors with the supporting electronics, whereby a minimum number of bus wires can be employed to service the array conductors and yet both unique finger touch location sensing and unique stylus location sensing can be accomplished. The system includes a control processor which operates on stored program instructions which, in a first embodiment provides for the alternate detection of either finger touch location or stylus location and, in a second embodiment, provides for the simultaneous detection of both finger touch location and stylus location. The resulting system provides the unique function of combined finger touch and stylus detection, is adaptable to a variety of display surfaces, is provided with a structure which is easily manufacturable, and which has an inherent long-term reliability.

Growing community of inventors

Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

Guy F Verrier