Patent ID: 8786555
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: G06F,G09B

Abstract:
1. A touchscreen device capable of manipulating one or more user-input elements from a retracted or extended three-dimensional (3D) orientation and from an active or idle condition, the touchscreen device comprising: the one or more user-input elements comprising a plurality of movable pins, wherein each movable pin in the plurality of movable pins is in the active or the idle condition, wherein each movable pin in the plurality of movable pins functions as a touch sensitive key when in the active condition such that, when functioning as the touch sensitive key, data is communicated to a user upon recognizing a user touch input, and wherein each movable pin in the plurality of movable pins functions as an idle key when in the idle condition such that, when functioning as the idle key, data is communicated to a user without recognizing the user touch input; a processing unit for monitoring operations being carried out by one or more applications capable of running on the touchscreen device, and for automatically identifying one or more operations as being associated with first configuration settings of a first set of movable pins when a first application is running on the touchscreen device, and second configuration settings of a second set of movable pins when a second application distinct from the first application is running on the touchscreen device, and for accessing the first and second configuration settings at a storage location, wherein the one or more operations are invoked independently of user-initiated actuations entered to the touchscreen device; a flexible touchpad for rendering a user-interface (UI) display, and for expressing at least a first and a second static physically-extending 3D keypad generated by the manipulation of the one or more user-input elements; and an electromechanical device for manipulating the plurality of movable pins according to a particular application presently running on the touchscreen device, the manipulating comprising: