Patent ID: 10928906

Abstract:
A data entry device for entering predetermined characters by the finger of a user and converting the characters into a sequence of electronic signals representing the entered characters, that comprises a touch sensitive zone (2) on an outer surface, a processor (58) coupled to the touch sensitive zone (2) for sensing the zone (2) is touched, the processor (58) is programmed to recognize predetermined elementary finger movements and combinations thereof and to associate each of them with a character, wherein a closed boundary (10) is defined on the surface of the device above a portion of the touch sensitive zone (2) that has at least one haptic property differing from the haptic properties of the surrounding area, whereby the finger can definitely sense when the boundary (10) is touched, and the boundary (10) has an interior area constituting a data entry field (11) that has a centre region (16) which has at least one haptic property differing from the haptic properties of the portion beyond the centre region (16), whereby the finger when touching the centre zone (16) can sense being on the centre region (16), and the processor (58) is programmed so as to recognize when the centre region (16) is touched for a predetermined duration by the finger and interprets this event as the beginning of the entry of a character and from that moment starts observing and analyzing the combination of the elementary finger movements as long as the finger touches the data entry field (11), and when the finger has finished touching the data entry field (11) this is interpreted by the processor (58) as the end of the entry of the character, wherein the elementary finger movements can be radial movements between the centre zone (16) and one of a plurality of predetermined discrete special positions along the boundary (10) in both directions and arced movements along the boundary (10) from one special position to a neighbouring special position.