US6059575A — Tactile recognition input device and overlay for …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 117 words

A tactile recognition input device for use by an impaired individual, said tactile recognition input device comprising: an input device surface; at least one input region proximate said input device surface, said input region including at least one touch activated switch, wherein activation of said at least one touch activated switch causes an input signal to be transmitted; at least one activation key disposed on said input device surface proximate said at least one input region, wherein said at least one activation key moves in a predetermined direction generally parallel to said input device surface to activate said at least one touch activated switch; and a tactilly recognizable region disposed on said at least one activation key.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 117 words

A tactile recognition input device for use by an impaired individual, said tactile recognition input device comprising: an input device surface; at least one input region proximate said input device surface, said input region including at least one touch activated switch, wherein activation of said at least one touch activated switch causes an input signal to be transmitted; at least one activation key disposed on said input device surface proximate said at least one input region, wherein said at least one activation key moves in a predetermined direction generally parallel to said input device surface to activate said at least one touch activated switch; and a tactilly recognizable region disposed on said at least one activation key.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The tactile recognition input device of claim 1 further including a plurality of input regions and activation keys.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The input device of claim 1, wherein said input device includes a membrane computer keyboard having a plurality of touch activated switches and a membrane disposed over said plurality of touch activated switches.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 75 words

The input device of claim 1, further including at least one depressible member disposed between said at least one activation key and said at least one touch activated switch, wherein said at least one activation key moves in said predetermined direction generally parallel to said surface of said input device to engage said at least one depressible member and cause said at least one depressible member to engage said at least one touch activated switch.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

The input device of claim 4 further including at least one tactile recognition block having said tactilly recognizable region disposed on a surface thereof, and wherein said activation key includes a tactile recognition block engaging region for removably engaging said tactile recognition block.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The input device of claim 4, wherein said tactilly recognizable region is disposed on a surface of said activation key.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The input device of claim 1, wherein said activation key slides in said predetermined direction away from said user.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 46 words

The input device of claim 1 further including at least one tactile recognition block having said tactilly recognizable region disposed on a surface thereof, and wherein said activation key includes a tactile recognition block engaging region for removably engaging said at least one tactile recognition block.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The in device of claim 1, wherein said tactilly recognizable region represents an alpha-numeric character.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 14 words

The input device of claim 1, wherein said alpha-numeric character includes a Braille character.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

The input device of claim 1, wherein said input region and said activation key include energizing regions, and wherein said activation key moves in said predetermined direction such that said energizing regions cause a change in capacitance, thereby transmitting said input signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The input device of claim 1 wherein said activation key includes a biasing member for biasing the activation key toward an inactivated position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 123 words

A tactile recognition interface overlay for use with an input device by a visually impaired individual, said input device having at least one touch activated switch, said overlay comprising: an overlay member having at least one depressible member movable below a plane of said overlay member to engage a respective one of said plurality of touch activated switches; and an activation key slidably coupled to said overlay member over each said at least one depressible member, wherein each said activation key is slidable in a predetermined direction generally parallel to said overlay member to engage said depressible member, causing said depressible member to move below said plane of said overlay member, and wherein said activation key includes a tactilly recognizable region disposed thereon.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 123 words

A tactile recognition interface overlay for use with an input device by a visually impaired individual, said input device having at least one touch activated switch, said overlay comprising: an overlay member having at least one depressible member movable below a plane of said overlay member to engage a respective one of said plurality of touch activated switches; and an activation key slidably coupled to said overlay member over each said at least one depressible member, wherein each said activation key is slidable in a predetermined direction generally parallel to said overlay member to engage said depressible member, causing said depressible member to move below said plane of said overlay member, and wherein said activation key includes a tactilly recognizable region disposed thereon.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The overlay of claim 13, wherein said overlay member includes a plurality of depressible members, and further including a plurality of activation keys slidably coupled to said overlay member over respective ones of said plurality of depressible members.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

The overlay of claim 13, wherein said overlay member includes at least one recessed region for receiving said at least one activation key.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 33 words

The overlay of claim 13, wherein said depressible member extends within a cut-out region in said overlay member such that said depressible member is bendable to below said plane of said overlay member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 50 words

The overlay of claim 16, wherein said depressible member includes a ramped portion on a top surface, for engaging said activation key such that said depressible member moves to below said plane of said overlay member when said activation key slides in said predetermined direction and engages said ramped portion.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 85 words

The overlay of claim 17, wherein said ramped portion is a protruding ramped portion protruding from said top surface of said depressible member, wherein said activation key includes a recessed ramped portion recessed in a bottom surface of said activation key, for receiving said protruding ramped portion such that said depressible member is moved to below said plane of said overlay member as said recessed ramped portion engages said protruding ramped portion on said depressible member as said activation key slides in said predetermined direction.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The overlay of claim 13, wherein said activation key includes a biasing portion for biasing said activation key toward an inactivated position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The overlay of 13, wherein said predetermined direction is away from said visually impaired individual.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

The overlay of 13, wherein said predetermined direction is away from said visually impaired individual.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The overlay of claim 13, wherein said overlay member includes a coded interface including predetermined data readable by said input device.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 38 words

The overlay of claim 13 further including at least one tactile recognition block removably coupled to a tactile recognition block engaging region on said activation key, and wherein said tactilly recognizable region is on said tactile recognition block.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 147 words

A tactile recognition interface overlay for use with an input device by a visually impaired individual, said input device having a plurality of touch activated switches, said overlay comprising: an overlay member having a plurality of depressible members movable below a plane of said overlay member to engage respective ones of said plurality of touch activated switches; and a plurality of activation keys adapted to be slidably coupled to said overlay member over respective ones of said plurality of depressible members such that each of said plurality of activation keys is slidable in a predetermined direction generally parallel to said overlay member to engage a respective said depressible member to cause said depressible member to move below said plane of said overlay member, and wherein said activation key includes a tactile recognition block engaging region for removably engaging a tactile recognition block having a tactilly recognizable region.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 147 words

A tactile recognition interface overlay for use with an input device by a visually impaired individual, said input device having a plurality of touch activated switches, said overlay comprising: an overlay member having a plurality of depressible members movable below a plane of said overlay member to engage respective ones of said plurality of touch activated switches; and a plurality of activation keys adapted to be slidably coupled to said overlay member over respective ones of said plurality of depressible members such that each of said plurality of activation keys is slidable in a predetermined direction generally parallel to said overlay member to engage a respective said depressible member to cause said depressible member to move below said plane of said overlay member, and wherein said activation key includes a tactile recognition block engaging region for removably engaging a tactile recognition block having a tactilly recognizable region.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-05-09	2003-11-08	2004-05-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-05-09	2007-11-08	2008-05-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-05-09	2011-11-08	2012-05-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tactile recognition input device and overlay for use with an input device

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