Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Stylus
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-26
2001-05-01
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Stylus
C345S173000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225988
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for operating touch screens. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for fitting to an appendage of a person so as to adapt the appendage for operating controls on a screen of an automated data device.
2. Background Information
Personal data devices for storing and handling information have come into widespread use in recent years. Some devices have been developed that are intended to assist individuals as automated secretaries (also known as “personal digital assistants” or PDAs). An example is a device known as an electronic notebook. An electronic notebook is a data processing device that has a microprocessor and a display screen, and is adapted to store information and to categorize or otherwise handle the information. Personal data devices may be programmed to enable a user to enter data and control commands that determine how the data is entered, stored, and manipulated. Examples of personal data devices include the Palm series, marketed by Palm, Inc. (formerly 3Com Corp.) of Santa Clara, Calif. Apple Computers initiated the handheld computing market with the Newton line of products. Other similar products are available on the market. Applications for these devices are growing on a daily basis.
Typically, such devices receive control commands via very small electrical switches, called microswitches, which are integrated into the display screen. A user inputs commands and information into the device by touching a portion of the display screen where a microswitch is located. A display portion of the display screen portrays images corresponding to screen positions that are associated with available input selections (commands or information). The display portion may also show a screen position being contacted, as a visual feedback to the user that an entry has been made.
As personal data devices may be quite small and compact, it follows that the screens are also small. Accordingly, each of the microswitches on the screen is quite small and they may be crowded quite closely together. Successfully entering a command is dependent upon having a suitable utensil for contacting the screen in a limited area in a manner that will operate a selected microswitch, but will not operate other, adjacent microswitches inadvertently. Typically, the personal data device is provided with an elongated stylus that is held in the user's hand and that may be placed in contact with the screen at a selected position to operate a microswitch to carry out a particular command or to enter data.
Although a conventional stylus can operate its personal data device, it is slightly unwieldy for its purpose. A smaller device that does not require grasping by the palm or by several fingers or both may actually expedite operation of the personal data device.
Devices worn upon a single finger and having forward projections for operating equipment are known. Picks for stringed musical instruments offer examples. U.S. Pat. No. 1,444,982, issued to Harold Orth on Feb. 13, 1923, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,677, issued to John A. Knutson on Jun. 28, 1994, each illustrate picks for musical instruments.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,184,710, issued to Charles Baumann on May 30, 1916, shows a guard to protect a user while slicing.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,759, issued to Jurgen Seebach on Sep. 26, 1995, illustrates a communications device worn on the finger. The device of Seebach is not intended to make contact with other objects.
Concept Kitchen, Inc. markets a device known as the fingerTip™ stylus that is intended to be worn on a finger tip for use in operating the touch screen of a personal digital assistant. The device, as sold, does not securely grip the finger tip of a user and is prone to falling off.
These known devices all mount on the tip of a finger for accomplishing various tasks. None of these devices provides a finger tip worn device that can operate a touch screen and remains securely on the finger tip.
Thus, what is needed is a finger tip worn implement that can operate a touch screen and remains securely on the finger tip.
Furthermore, the know devices lack removable and interchangeable projections that may be used with a variety of touch screens having different actuation specification.
Thus, what is also needed is a finger tip worn implement that has removable and interchangeable projections.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a finger worn artificial finger tip, or screen operator, suitable for operating microswitches formed in touch screens of personal data devices. The screen operator envelops and is retained on a finger of the user. The user obstructs less of the visual field of the screen and more dexterously controls contact of the screen when employing the novel screen operator, thereby expediting entering of commands to the personal data device.
The screen operator comprises a flexible base for securement to the finger and a removable rigid projection for contacting the screen of the personal data device. The base may be manipulated into comfortable and effective engagement conforming to and cooperating with the finger. The projection snap fits or otherwise removably engages the base. Several points of connection of tip to base are provided, so that attachment is dependable and reliable, and also steady in that the geometric position of the tip relative to the base remain constant and predictable in use.
Preferably, a selection of projections are provided, each having a hard tip different in dimensions from the others. The different dimensions or sizes corresponds to fine, intermediate, and coarse sized tips. Thus the user is afforded an opportunity to select among several sizes a tip that is convenient and effective for him or her. The decision is based upon ease of visual access to the screen, dimensions of the switching area of the screen, and other considerations that affect effectiveness of any particular selected tip.
Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide a screen operator worn on a finger for contacting the screen of a personal data device to effect commands and to enter data.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a finger tip worn implement that can operate a touch screen and remains securely on the finger tip.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a finger tip worn implement that has removable and interchangeable projections.
The above objects are achieved by a screen operator for effecting operative contact with a touch screen. The screen operator includes a flexible base, a tip member and a retention hook. The flexible base includes a pair of opposed arcuate members sized to resiliently grip a finger, each of the arcuate members terminating in an extreme end, the extreme ends being spaced apart from one another by a gap. The tip member is engaged with the base and has a slender rigid projection with a tip end, the tip end being sized as a touch screen stylus tip. The retention hook extends away from the tip member to grip an underside of the finger.
According to one embodiment, the tip member is engaged to the base via frictional engagement to permit exchange of different size tip members.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1184710 (1916-05-01), Bauman
patent: 1444982 (1923-08-01), Orth
patent: 3789720 (1974-02-01), McIntyre
patent: 3927595 (1975-12-01), Ferguson
patent: 5323677 (1994-06-01), Knutson
patent: 5444462 (1995-08-01), Wambach
patent: 5453759 (1995-09-01), Seebach
patent: 5559301 (1996-09-01), Bryan, Jr. et al.
patent: 6075189 (2000-06-01), Robb
iGo, catalog entitled Solutions For People On The Go, “Keep your stylus at your fingertip”, p. 8 (1999).
Concept Kitchen, “Concept Kitchen to Unveil New Handheld Stylus Alternative At Comdex” posted on web site at URL = http://www2.conceptkitchen.com/press/pr/981111.shtml (Dec. 1998).
Absracted-Pub-No: JP11134103 “Finger Stylus for Touch Screen and Small Computer” Publication Date May 21, 1999.
Osorio Richardo
Roberts Abokhair & Mardula LLC
Shalwala Bipin
LandOfFree
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