US7158123B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Secondary touch contextual sub-menu navigation for touch screen interface
Assignee: Tahoe Research Ltd
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Filing: 2003-01-31
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Granted: 2007-01-02
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Expires: 2023-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A touch sensitive user interface of the type having a display screen for displaying images representative of menus and selectable list objects, for example; control logic responsive to the touch sensitive user interface for determining the contact position of a first probe and a second probe, such as two separate fingers, thereon, displaying menus including list objects representing primary and secondary features or functions respectively, so that a user may touch a selection on the primary menu with the first probe and subsequently touch an area on the display screen where a contextually related secondary menu is displayed for selection of contextually related features or functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Myers
- 👤 Marc J. Krolczyk
- 👤 Travis Eckler
- 👤 Jeremy H. L. Griffith
- 👤 Brandon S. McComber
- 👤 Richard S. Ranke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/042; G06F3/0421; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04883; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A touch sensitive user interface system including: a display screen ( 20 ) for displaying a plurality of primary and secondary images ( 86 , 92 ) representative of primary and secondary selectable options; touch sensitive means ( 56 ) for detecting the concurrent presence of at least one of a first probe ( 84 ) and a second probe ( 88 ) in contact with the display screen ( 20 ); and, control logic ( 38 ), responsive to the touch sensitive means ( 56 ), for determining the first probe contact position, defining for each primary image representative of a primary selectable option, a first probe contact area of predetermined size, over which contact with the first probe selects the primary option, displaying a secondary menu ( 90 ) including a plurality of secondary images representative of secondary selectable options, and defining for each secondary image representative of a secondary selectable option, a second contact area of predetermined size, over which contact with the second probe selects the secondary option.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A touch sensitive user interface system including: a display screen ( 20 ) for displaying a plurality of primary and secondary images ( 86 , 92 ) representative of primary and secondary selectable options; touch sensitive means ( 56 ) for detecting the concurrent presence of at least one of a first probe ( 84 ) and a second probe ( 88 ) in contact with the display screen ( 20 ); and, control logic ( 38 ), responsive to the touch sensitive means ( 56 ), for determining the first probe contact position, defining for each primary image representative of a primary selectable option, a first probe contact area of predetermined size, over which contact with the first probe selects the primary option, displaying a secondary menu ( 90 ) including a plurality of secondary images representative of secondary selectable options, and defining for each secondary image representative of a secondary selectable option, a second contact area of predetermined size, over which contact with the second probe selects the secondary option.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to determine a contact position of the second probe and display the secondary menu with focus in a contact area overlapping the second probe contact position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the secondary menu is contextually related to the selected primary option.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to complete the selected secondary option upon detection of contact release of the second probe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to deselect the secondary options upon detection of movement while maintaining contact of the contact position of the second probe to one of an area outside the secondary menu and a non-selection area inside the secondary menu.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the control logic is configured to remove the secondary menu upon detection of contact release of the second probe when the secondary options are deselected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the control logic is configured to upgrade the secondary menu to be the primary menu upon detection of contact release of the first probe, wherein the second probe subsequently functions as the first probe and vice versa.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
206 words
A touch sensitive user interface system, operated in a xerographic environment, including: a display screen for displaying a plurality of primary and secondary images representative of primary and secondary selectable options; said display screen having associated closely therewith a plurality of light source and light detector pairs arranged with respect to the display screen and defining an array of detection cells thereover, said light sources and light detector pairs arranged to detect concurrent impingement of at least one of a first probe and a second probe at one or more of said detection cells defined thereby, and produce at least one of a first detection signal and a second detection signal indicative of impingement and the location thereof respectively; and, control logic for providing correspondence between one or more detection cells and the primary selectable options, defining for each primary image representative of a primary selectable option a primary group of cells at which contact with the first probe selects the primary option, displaying a secondary menu including a plurality of secondary images representative of secondary selectable options, and defining for each secondary image representative of a secondary selectable option, a secondary group of cells, over which contact with the second probe selects the secondary option.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
206 words
A touch sensitive user interface system, operated in a xerographic environment, including: a display screen for displaying a plurality of primary and secondary images representative of primary and secondary selectable options; said display screen having associated closely therewith a plurality of light source and light detector pairs arranged with respect to the display screen and defining an array of detection cells thereover, said light sources and light detector pairs arranged to detect concurrent impingement of at least one of a first probe and a second probe at one or more of said detection cells defined thereby, and produce at least one of a first detection signal and a second detection signal indicative of impingement and the location thereof respectively; and, control logic for providing correspondence between one or more detection cells and the primary selectable options, defining for each primary image representative of a primary selectable option a primary group of cells at which contact with the first probe selects the primary option, displaying a secondary menu including a plurality of secondary images representative of secondary selectable options, and defining for each secondary image representative of a secondary selectable option, a secondary group of cells, over which contact with the second probe selects the secondary option.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the control logic is configured to determine a concurrent contact position of the second probe and display the secondary menu with focus in a contact area overlapping the second probe contact position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the secondary menu is contextually related to the selected primary option.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the control logic is configured to complete the selected secondary option upon detection of contact release of the second probe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the control logic is configured to deselect the secondary options upon detection of movement of the contact position while maintaining contact of the second probe to a group of cells not defined with respect to a secondary image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the control logic is configured to remove the secondary menu upon detection of contact release of the second probe while the secondary options are deselected.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the control logic is configured to upgrade the secondary menu to be the primary menu upon detection of contact release of the first probe, wherein the second probe subsequently functions as the first probe and vice versa.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for secondary touch navigation comprising: displaying a plurality of primary and secondary images representative of primary and secondary selectable options on a display screen; detecting the presence of at least one of a first probe and a second probe in contact with the display screen; determining the first probe contact position, defining for each primary image representative of a primary selectable option, a first probe contact area of predetermined size, over which contact with the first probe selects the primary option, selecting a primary option by contact with the first probe; displaying a secondary menu including a plurality of secondary images representative of secondary selectable options upon simultaneous contact of the second probe, and defining for each secondary image representative of a secondary selectable option, a second contact area of predetermined size, over which contact with the second probe selects the secondary option.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for secondary touch navigation comprising: displaying a plurality of primary and secondary images representative of primary and secondary selectable options on a display screen; detecting the presence of at least one of a first probe and a second probe in contact with the display screen; determining the first probe contact position, defining for each primary image representative of a primary selectable option, a first probe contact area of predetermined size, over which contact with the first probe selects the primary option, selecting a primary option by contact with the first probe; displaying a secondary menu including a plurality of secondary images representative of secondary selectable options upon simultaneous contact of the second probe, and defining for each secondary image representative of a secondary selectable option, a second contact area of predetermined size, over which contact with the second probe selects the secondary option.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as set forth in claim 15 , further including: determining a contact position of the second probe; and, displaying the secondary menu with focus in a contact area overlapping the second probe contact position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the secondary menu is contextually related to the selected primary option.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 15 , further including: completing the selected secondary option upon detection of contact release of the second probe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method as set forth in claim 15 , further including: deselecting the secondary options upon detection of movement of the contact position of the second probe to a non-selection area; and, removing the secondary menu upon detection of contact release of the second probe while the secondary options are deselected.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as set forth in claim 15 , further including: upgrading the secondary menu to be the primary menu upon detection of contact release of the first probe, wherein the second probe subsequently functions as the first probe and vice versa.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-01-01 | 2010-07-03 | 2011-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-01-01 | 2014-07-03 | 2015-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-01-01 | 2018-07-03 | 2019-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |