Patent ID: 7903002

Claim:
A method of processing user input with an electronic device, comprising: sensing vibrations in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the vibrations generated by movement of an object against a surface of the electronic device, the sensing including detecting vibration information that is indicative of direction, speed and duration of the movement; generating signals corresponding to the sensing in the first direction and generating signals corresponding to the sensing in the second direction; and analyzing the signals corresponding to the sensed vibrations to determine a character from user input of constituent parts of the character by identifying meaningful user input related to a series of natural writing style strokes that correspond to the constituent parts of the character as indicated by the direction, speed and duration of the movement; and wherein the surface of the electronic device is a user input surface that has an arrangement of raised or depressed features purposefully configured to enhance vibration production and to load vibrations with distinguishable vibration information regarding direction, speed and duration of the movement of the object; and wherein movement of the object against the features generates mathematically distinct frequency or phase changes in the generated signals of the vibration sensors in response to each of movement of the object from left to right, movement of the object from right to left, movement of the object from top to bottom, movement of the object from bottom to top, movement of the object diagonally, and movement of the object in a non-linear fashion.