Abstract:
A touch interface that includes a plurality of push-buttons, each of which has a first stage portion and a second stage portion. A display screen displays a plurality of display items each of which is associated with a corresponding one of the push-buttons. Activation of the first stage portion of one of the push-buttons causes the corresponding display item on the screen to highlight thereby indicating to the user that the push-button associated with that display item is being pressed, without launching a function associated with the display item. This allows the user to determine whether or not he is pressing the correct push-button prior to activating a function without taking his eyes off of the display screen. If the user is satisfied that he is contacting the correct push-button, the user can then activate the second stage portion and thereby launch the function.

Description:
FIELD 
     The device, system, and method relates generally to a touch interface in communication with a display device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Systems that include a keyboard and a display device are known. A traditional keyboard generally provides at least one kind of tactile feedback when the keys are pressed. A key is an example of a push activated button, which allows the user to feel when the key is pushed. This feel is a form of a tactile feedback. This example of tactile feedback allows the user to develop the ability for touch-typing. Touch-typing allows the user to keep her eyes on the display device while using the keyboard for input. Generally, touch-typing provides faster input because the user does not have take her eyes off of the display device to look at the keyboard when interacting with a system that has the traditional keyboard and display device. 
     The traditional keyboard has a plurality of keys, wherein each key is identified and fixed to a particular input. For example, the “A” key is labeled “A” and provides input for the alphanumeric character “A.” Further, traditional keyboards do not provide any visual feedback on the display screen that the user is touching a particular key on the keyboard. This requires the user to learn to touch-type and make an assumption that a particular key is being selected. The only visual feedback the user receives is after the key has been pushed all the way to activate the input associated with the key. For a user who has not learned to touch-type, the user must look down at the keyboard, move the finger away from the keys, visually search for and identify the desired key from the plurality of keys, and then push the desired key to activate the key input, then look at the screen of the display device and confirm that the desired key has been pressed. 
     Keyboards have been developed to provide alterable key assignments. For example, a keyboard that uses Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) on or below each key to indicate to the user the key assignment is known. LCD may be provided on the top surface of the key. LCD may be provided below the key and the key made of a clear material such that the LCD is visible by the user. In such devices, a key first labeled “A” that first provides input for the alphanumeric character “A” may be changed to a second label “B” and changed to provide input for the alphanumeric character “B,” dynamically or statically. Dynamically means while the user is using the device. Statically means the user must first stop using the device for input to change the display on the LCDs prior to using the new labels and associated input function of the key(s). Although such modifiable keyboard may be capable of providing a dynamically changeable input device to changing needs of the user or software, such changes can lead to challenges to the user such that touch-typing becomes challenging if not impossible. For example, the user&#39;s fingers would overlap the small LCD screens of the keys obscuring the new key labels. Accordingly, if the key that was labeled “A” has changed to the label “B,” the user would have to take the fingers off from the key and must look at the keyboard to recognize that this change in the label has occurred. There would be other challenges for the user to touch-type using a keyboard that uses LCDs on or below the keys. 
     Other systems provide a touch pad with a display matrix, wherein the display matrix is displayed on the screen of the display device. The display matrix simulates a selection of items that may be selected and/or activated by the user interacting with the touch pad. The display matrix displays matrix items that are associated with portions of the touchpad, such that when that portion of the touchpad is touched, the selected display matrix item is determined to be activated and/or selected. Because there is a separation of the touchpad and the matrix display on the screen, frequently the user takes her eyes off of the screen to look at the touchpad to make a selection and then move her eyes back to the screen. If an error is found to have been made in the selection, the user must again take her eyes off from the screen and look back at the touchpad to select and touch the desired area or portion of the touchpad that is associated with the display matrix item. Generally, a touchpad does not provide any tactile feedback, beyond the feel of a substantially hard and smooth surface. 
     Touch screens wherein the display device also acts as a touch activated input are known. Systems that include a touch screen generally include a layer provided on top of a display device, wherein the display device displays such as a matrix of keys on the screen of the display device. The user touches the screen to activate the displayed key. Touch screens can provide different displays of matrix of keys such that the same location on the screen may be used to activate differently identified keys. For example, at one time, on one display, a portion of the screen may indicate the “A” key and at a later time, the same portion of the screen may indicate the “B” key. When the user is using the matrix of keys for input, touch screens require a display of the matrix of keys to be on the screen. This requirement can take up a portion of the screen area, such that a significant portion of the screen of the display device is obstructed by the displayed matrix of keys. Often, touch screen interface requires a dedicated amount of display space on the screen. Screens are generally a flat and hard surface. Because the user is interacting with a generally flat surface of the screen, the user does not experience a tactile feed back when using touch screens. The lack of tactile feedback makes touch-typing difficult. The lack of tactile feedback can lead to more errors in the input from the user. The lack of tactile feedback generally forces the user to take her eyes off of the output portion of the screen to look at the input portion or the matrix of keys, which can lead to slower input and more frequent correction of errors. 
     All of the above devices, systems, and methods can lead to problems in a stressful operations environment when errors are not generally acceptable. Accordingly, devices, systems and methods for an improved touch interface that can provide one or more advantages of a push button interface for touch-typing and also provide one or more advantages of displays of a matrix of keys touch screens and/or touch pads are desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a device, system, and a method for a touch interface. An indication is provided to a user to enable the user to determine whether or not he is about to press a correct button prior to activating a function associated with the button, without requiring the user to take his eyes off of a display screen. If the user is satisfied that he is about to press the correct button, the user can then activate the button and thereby launch the function associated with the button. 
     In one embodiment, a touch interface device includes a plurality of push-buttons, each push-button having a first stage portion with a contact surface configured to be touched by a finger, and a second stage portion having a top surface. The first stage portion is provided on at least a portion of the top surface of the second stage portion and is moveable relative to the second stage portion. A signal output component is provided that communicates a signal when the first stage portion of one of the first stage portions is activated and communicates a signal when the second stage portion is activated. The first stage portion may be configured to be activated when the first stage portion is pushed with a low force. In addition, the contact surface may include a concave portion. 
     In another embodiment, a touch interface system includes a push-button device that has a plurality of push-buttons, each push-button having a first stage portion and a second stage portion. A display screen is connected to the push-button device. The display screen displays a plurality of display items, where each display item is associated with a corresponding one of the push-buttons of the push-button device. The push-button device further includes a signal output component that is configured to communicate a first signal when the first stage portion of one of the push-buttons is activated by a user that results in a modification of the corresponding display item on the display screen to indicate to the user that the user is contacting the push-button corresponding to the modified display item, and is configured to communicate a second signal when the second stage portion of the one push-button is activated by the user. The buttons of the push-button device can be arranged in a matrix. 
     A method includes coupling the push-button device to the display screen, and displaying the plurality of display items on the display screen, where each display item is associated with a corresponding one of the push-buttons of the push-button device. When the first stage portion of one of the push-buttons is activated by a user, a first signal is sent that results in a modification of the corresponding display item on the display screen to indicate to the user that the user is contacting the push-button corresponding to the modified display item. In addition, when the second stage portion of the one push-button is activated by the user, a second signal is sent that can, for example, launch a function that is associated with the corresponding display item. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the system when a first stage of a key is activated according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the system when a second stage of the key is activated according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a push-button according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of a touch interface system. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 5  used in a different manner. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of a device according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8A  illustrates a display matrix according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8B  illustrates a display matrix according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8C  illustrates a display matrix according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8D  illustrates a display matrix according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The term “modification” is defined herein to include “transformation” are used interchangeably herein. The term “screen” is defined herein to include a display area or a portion of a display area visible to a user. Examples of devices that have a screen are monitors and projectors. The term “key” is defined herein to include a physical button that activates an input. Accordingly, in such a system, the key is in communication with other devices. Activating an input outputs a signal from the key to another device in the system. The term “input signal” is not defined or limited to a direction of a signal flow. The term “input signal” means a signal that communicates that the user has provided an input. Thus, an “input signal” may be sent via an output of a device or a system to another device or a system. Being in communication means that the key&#39;s output is sent to another device, directly, indirectly, via wire, via wireless, or in combinations thereof. Thus, a key is considered to be in communication with a display device if pressing the key causes a change in the display of the display device. An example of an indirect communication includes a computer being an intermediate device that is between the key and the display device. Accordingly, the key&#39;s output may communicate with the computer using standard interface technologies such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), PS/2, RS-232 or other common and established computer interfaces for an input device. The computer in turn may communicate with the display device via RGB, Panel Link, HDMI, VGA, S-Video, or other common and established interfaces between a computer and a display device. The display device may be, for example and not limited to, CRT, LCD, Plasma, OLED, Projector, or other devices. The indirect communication using the computer as the intermediate device may be performed by a software or a hardware having instructions that provides sensing of the key to affect the display on the display device. The term “push-button” is defined herein to include a key. Accordingly, the term “key” is used herein interchangeably with push-button. A push- button is generally activated by pressing down or pushing. Generally, a standard button force may be required to activate the push-button. The standard button force is approximately 0.6 Newton (N). The force may be more or less than 0.6 N. A push-button may be configured to be activated by a movement of the push-button. One example of a movement is approximately 4 mm travel distance. The travel distance may be more or less than 4 mm. The term “touch activated” is defined herein to include generating an output by sufficient physical contact. Sufficient physical contact means there is a measurable physical contact between the user and the key by detecting an electrical potential, a magnetic field, an optical variation, a low force, or any combinations thereof. A “low force” is defined to include approximately 0.15 N. A “low force” is defined to include wherein the force is sufficient to move a key by a travel distance of approximately 1 mm. A touch-type capable surface on a key includes structural features on the surface that allow a user to determine by touch that a finger is substantially touching a particular key. Examples of structural features include, but are not limited to, a concave portion, a convex portion, and other structural features that can be felt by the finger to facilitate touch-typing for user. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example of a system according to an embodiment prior to touch or contact by the user. The touch interface system  10  includes a display device  100 . The display device  100  includes a screen  102 . The screen  102  is capable of displaying multiple displays.  FIG. 1  is showing an example wherein a first display  104  is being displayed on the screen  102 . 
     The touch interface system  10  also includes a touch interface device  200  that is in communication with the display device  100 . The communication may be direct or indirect. The communication may be unidirectional or bidirectional. The touch interface device  200  includes one or more keys. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the touch interface device  200  is illustrated to have two keys, a first key  202  and a second key  212 . The first key  202  is shown with a first stage portion  204  and a second stage portion  206 . The second key  212  is shown with a first stage portion  214  and a second stage portion  216 . The touch interface device  200  also includes a signal output component  250  that communicates with other devices, such as the display device  100 . It is envisioned that other embodiments of the touch interface device has more than two keys. It is envisioned that other embodiments of the touch interface device has an 
     N×M matrix of keys, wherein N and M may be the same or different integers. It is envisioned that other embodiments of the touch interface device may include multiple matrix of keys. It is envisioned that other embodiments of the touch interface device may include ergonomic distribution of keys according to the right hand or the left hand or both hands. It is envisioned that the touch interface device may include other ergonomic features. The 1×2 matrix example of the touch interface device  200  illustrated in  FIG. 1  is only an example and other configurations and layouts of the device would be obvious to one skilled in the art. For example, the device is not required to have a square or rectangular matrix configuration of keys. The keys of other embodiments may be in a circular configuration or layout. 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  when the first stage of a key is activated.  FIG. 2  shows when the user&#39;s  300  finger touches the first stage portion  214  with sufficient physical contact to activate the touch interface device  200 , and in particular the first stage portion  214  of the second key  212 . Activation of the first stage causes a signal output component  250  to communicate this input of first stage activation of the second key  212  with an output of the first stage activation signal to the display device  100 .  FIG. 2  shows that this activation causes the display matrix  106  to be displayed on the display screen  102  overlaid on top of the first display  104  such that the display matrix  106  is substantially visible to the user. For example, the display matrix  106  being displayed may be implemented by instructions in OpenGL. OpenGL may provide the capability to produce a layered display of the display matrix  106 . For example, the display matrix  106  may be displayed in a layer above other program windows displayed on the display screen  102 . For example, the display matrix  106  may be displayed with semi-transparency so that the operator could still see and react to display events that may occur in windows displayed behind the display matrix  106  on the display screen  102 . For example, the semi-transparency may be implemented by an alpha-blending technique in graphics programming. Other implementations are also possible. The display matrix  106  is displayed on the display screen  102  as long as the first stage activation signal is active. For example, the first stage activation signal is active as long as the first stage portion is being contacted with sufficient physical contact by the user  300 . Upon there being no more sufficient physical contact between the user  300  and the first stage portion  214 , the display matrix  106  would depart the screen. Alternatively, upon there being no more sufficient physical contact between the user  300  and the first stage portion  214 , the display matrix  106  would depart the screen after a defined period of time. The defined period of time may be a predetermined period of time. The defined period of time may be user defined. For example, a user may define the period of time to be  3  seconds, whereupon when the user  300  makes sufficient physical contact with the first stage portion  214 , the display matrix  106  would be displayed on the display screen  102 . Upon the user  300  removing the finger from the first stage portion  214  so that there is no more a sufficient physical contact between the user  300  and the first stage portion  214 , the display matrix  106  would continue to be displayed on the display screen  102  for 3 seconds and then stop being displayed on the display screen  102 . The display matrix  106  includes sufficient number of matrix items that are each associated with each key of the touch interface device  200 . In  FIG. 2 , the display matrix  106  includes a matrix item  108  associated with the first stage of the first key  202  being displayed in such a way to indicate that it has not been selected, and a matrix item  110  associated with the first stage of the second key  212 , that is illustrated in  FIG. 2  to indicate that the user&#39;s finger has activated the first stage of the second key  212 . Accordingly, in the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the indicator includes a visual indicator of which key&#39;s first stage has been activated. An audial indicator may also be included along with or without the visual indicator. For example, a tone of a particular frequency, amplitude, or other qualities may be an indicator that a first stage of a particular key has been activated. In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the user  300  is aware that the user&#39;s  300  finger is in contact with the touch interface device  200  because the display matrix  106  is being displayed. Further, the user is aware that the user&#39;s finger  300  has provided sufficient physical contact with the second key  212  because the matrix item  110  associated with the first stage of the second key  212  is being displayed with an indicator, for example highlighted, to indicate that contact. The user is also aware that the user&#39;s finger  300  is not in sufficient physical contact with the first key  202  because the matrix item  108  associated with the first key  202  is displayed without an indicator, for example in non-highlighted form, to indicate that it has not been selected. The user is aware of all of these things without having to look down at the touch interface device  200 . Although  FIG. 2  shows that the visual display matrix  106  is a matrix layout that is similar to the touch interface device  200 , it is not required to be so. For example, items associated with various keys of the touch interface device  200  may be displayed anywhere on the screen  102 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an example wherein the second stage of the second key  212  is activated according to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The user has provided enough force to push the second key  212  to activate the second stage portion  216  of the second key. This activation communicates an output for second stage activation from the second key  212  to the display device  100 . In this example, such an activation causes the first display  104  to be replaced by a second display  400  on the screen  102 . Other actions and results are possible,. including a redisplay of secondary matrix display for further selection of matrix items by the user (not illustrated). 
       FIG. 4  shows the side view of a push-button  500  that can be used for the keys  202 ,  212 . The push-button  500  includes a first stage portion  502 . The first stage portion  502  includes a contact surface  504 . The contact surface  504  of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  is concave. The push-button  500  also includes a second stage portion  506 . The second stage portion  506  includes a top surface  508 . The first stage portion  502  is provided on top of the top surface  508 . The first stage portion  502  may be provided on at least a portion of the top surface  508 . Activation of the first stage portion  502  causes an output for the first stage activation  510  to be communicated to another device. The second stage portion  506  is push activated. Activation of the second stage portion  506  causes an output for the second stage activation  512  to be communicated to another device. Another device may include a computer, processor, and/or display device. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show another example of a touch interface system. The touch interface system  20  includes a display device  600  that includes a screen  602 . The screen  602  is capable of displaying multiple displays.  FIG. 5  shows one example of a display  604  displayed on the screen  602 . 
     The touch interface system  20  includes a touch interface device  700  that is in communication with the display device  600 . The communication may be direct or indirect. The communication may be unidirectional or bidirectional. The example is shown with a touch interface device  700  that includes a plurality of push-buttons. The plurality of push-buttons are arranged in a N×M matrix, wherein N=M=4 in the example shown. Other layouts of push-buttons are possible. The push-buttons are two-stage push-buttons as described with respect to  FIGS. 1-4 , where each push-button includes a touch activated surface that produces a first stage activation signal and a push activated key that produces a second stage activation signal. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the touch interface device  700  is illustrated to have sixteen push-buttons, but a greater or less number of push-buttons are possible and envisioned. One of the push-buttons  708 , and another push-button  712  are discussed below. 
       FIG. 5  shows an example of a display matrix  607  that is displayed on the screen  602 , for example when the user&#39;s finger touches one of the push-buttons. In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the display matrix  607  has display items  608  that are each associated with a corresponding one of the push-buttons of the touch interface device  700 . It is not required that every push-button of the touch interface device  700  be active and associated with a display item  608  of the display matrix  607 . For example, the push-button  708  is shown to be associated with the display item  608  of the display matrix  607 . In  FIG. 5 , the push-button  712  is not associated with any of the display items of the display matrix  607 . Therefore, in  FIG. 5 , only the upper two rows of push-buttons are active and have associated display items  608 , while the lower two rows of push-buttons are inactive. 
       FIG. 6  shows another example where push button  712  is associated with a display item  612  of the display matrix  607 , and all of the push buttons are active and have an associated display item in the display matrix  607 . 
     Accordingly, what is displayed on the display matrix  607  may or may not directly match the layout of the touch interface device  700  or the layout of the push-buttons. Alternatively, the display matrix  607  may have display items that are more in number than the number of buttons on the touch interface device  700 , allowing for scrolling of the display matrix vertically and/or horizontally on the screen  602 . 
     The operation of the system  20  in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is similar to the operation discussed above for the system  10 . When the user touches the first stage portion of one of the push-buttons that is active, the corresponding display item on the display screen highlights or otherwise indicates to the user that he is touching that button and about to push the button to activate the function associated with the corresponding display item. If the user is pressing the wrong button, he can correct himself before pressing the incorrect button. If the user determines that he is pressing the correct button, he can continue pressing the button to activate the second stage portion and launch the function associated with the corresponding display item. 
       FIG. 7  shows another example touch interface device  800  having a 4×4 matrix of keys  801 ,  802 ,  803 ,  804 ,  805 ,  806 ,  807 ,  808 ,  809 ,  810 ,  811 ,  812 ,  813 ,  814 ,  815 ,  816 . One or more of the keys  801 ,  802 ,  803 ,  804 ,  805 ,  806 ,  807 ,  808 ,  809 ,  810 ,  811 ,  812 ,  813 ,  814 ,  815 ,  816  may be or similar to the push-button  500  shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B,  8 C, and  8 D show display matrixes  900 ,  920 ,  940 ,  960  that are displayed on a display screen, wherein only one of the display matrixes  900 ,  920 ,  940 ,  960  is displayed when and in accordance with the user&#39;s interaction with the touch interface device  800  of  FIG. 7 , when a key is activated such that the one of the display matrixes  900 ,  920 ,  940 ,  960  is displayed on the display screen overlaid on top of the display such that one of the display matrixes  900 ,  920 ,  940 ,  960  is substantially visible to the user. 
     For example, when the user activates key  801  on the touch interface device  800  the display matrix  900  shown in  FIG. 8A  is displayed on the display screen. The display matrix  900  shows a certain number of display items  901 ,  902 ,  903 ,  904 ,  913 ,  914 ,  915 ,  916  that are each associated with the keys  801 ,  802 ,  803 ,  804 ,  813 ,  814 ,  815 ,  816  of the touch interface device  800 . The display matrix  900  does not show display items associated with some of the keys  805 ,  806 ,  807 ,  808 ,  809 ,  810 ,  811 ,  812  of the touch interface device  800 . Accordingly, pressing the key  805  would not cause further transformation of the display matrix  900  because a display item associated with key  805  is not displayed in the display matrix  900 . In contrast, when the first stage portion of the key  801  is activated by the user, a first signal is sent to the display such that a transformation of the corresponding display item  901  is modified to indicate visibly on the screen so that the user can observe that the user is contacting the key  801  corresponding to the display item  901 . 
     When the user activates key  802  on the touch interface device  800  the display matrix  920  shown in  FIG. 8B  is displayed on the display screen. When the first stage portion of the key  802  is activated by the user, a first signal is sent to the display such that a modification of the corresponding display item  922  is transformed to indicate visibly on the screen so that the user can observe that the user is contacting the key  802  corresponding to the display item  922 . Further, when the key  802  is activated, additional display items  925 ,  926 ,  929  are displayed on the display matrix  920 . The additional display items  925 ,  926 ,  929  are each respectively and positionally associated with corresponding keys  805 ,  806 ,  809  on the touch interface device  800 . 
     For example, when the user activates key  815  on the touch interface device  800  the display matrix  940  shown in  FIG. 8C  is displayed on the display screen. When the first stage portion of the key  815  is activated by the user, a first signal is sent to the display such that a modification of the corresponding display item  955  is transformed to indicate visibly on the screen so that the user can observe that the user is contacting the key  815  corresponding to the display item  955 . Further, when the key  815  is activated, additional display items  946 ,  949 ,  950  are displayed on the display matrix  940 . The additional display items  946 ,  949 ,  950  each respectively correspond to keys  806 ,  809 ,  810  on the touch interface device  800 . When the first stage portion of the key  809  is activated by the user, the corresponding display item  969  is transformed to indicate visibly on the screen so that the user can observe that the user is contacting the key  809 . When the key  809  is activated, the display matrix is transformed to the display matrix  960  shown in  FIG. 8D . The display matrix  960  shows additional display items  968 ,  972  to be displayed. The display items  968 ,  972  are each respectively associated with corresponding keys  808 ,  812  of the touch interface device  800 . 
     Preferred embodiments have been described. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed and disclosed, including the full scope of equivalents thereof.