WO2012103241A1

WO2012103241A1 - Guided contact and movement response generating article and method

Info

Publication number: WO2012103241A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/022584
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yair Greenberg
Original assignee: Yair Greenberg
Priority date: 2011-01-28
Filing date: 2012-01-25
Publication date: 2012-08-02

Abstract

An article for guided contact and movement entry, in relation to a surface which enables entry and generates response to the article. The article includes an element for enabling contact and movement relative to the surface. The article also includes an element for enabling guiding of the contact enabling element, able to enable movement of the contact enabling element for contact with the surface.

Description

GUIDED CONTACT AND MOVEMENT RESPONSE GENERATING

ARTICLE AND METHOD

Copyrightable Subject Matter

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

Background of the Invention

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention:

[0003] This invention relates generally to contact and movement response generating instruments, and more particularly, to an article and method for providing guided contact and movement response generation on a response generating entry enabling surface.

[0004] 2. General Background and State of the Art:

[0005] With the proliferation of contact and movement response generating entry enabling surfaces on devices, such as touch screens on cell phones, which include virtual or physical keyboards for enabling entry of elements on the screen by contact with keys in the keyboard, typically by finger contact, inaccuracies in such entries are frequent. Touch screen devices such as cell phones also are utilized for enabling drawing, sliding movement, and the play of games, where it is also important to enable accurate and precise entry of intended movements.

[0006] Users tend to struggle to enter the intended and correct keys on the keyboard with their fingers, and to generate intended and accurate drawing, sliding movement, and play of games entries, and frequently make unintended and incorrect entries and movements. Users with fingers wider than the keys, or with long fingernails, also tend to struggle with such entries and movements. User finger contact on such touch screen surfaces typically result in leaving dirt and grime, such as prints, grease, and smudges, on such surfaces, and in obscuring the screen. [0007] Writing instruments such as ball-point pens, which are lightweight, with cartridges including tips which are retractable and extendable, are very popular for enabling writing, drawing, and other movement-enabling operations.

[0008] Therefore, there has been identified a continuing need to provide articles and related methods for enabling intended and accurate entry of elements and movement on a contact entry enabling surface .

Invention Summary

[0009] Briefly, and in general terms, in accordance with aspects of the invention, and in a preferred embodiment, by way of example, there is provided an article for guided contact and movement entry in relation to a surface which enables entry and generates response to the article. The surface may comprise a touch screen in a touch screen device such as a cellphone. The touch screen may include a keyboard, which may constitute a virtual keyboard or a physical keyboard. The touch screen may also be utilized for enabling drawing, sliding movement, and the play of games. The article enables accurate and precise entry of intended movements by the user in relation to the touch screen device.

[00010] The article includes an element for enabling contact and movement relative to the surface. The element which enables the user to perform functions in relation to the surface may comprise a stylus. The functions which the stylus enables the user to perform include for example activating keys in a touch screen keyboard, drawing, sliding movement, and the play of games in a touch screen device. The stylus is comprised of a conductive silicon rubber and gel compound. The compound enables the stylus to provide control of the touch screen device.

[00011] The article also includes an element for enabling guiding of the stylus, able to enable movement of the stylus for contact with the surface. The guiding-enabling element comprises for example a ball point pen, with a top portion which comprises a push action cap which includes the stylus, providing increased functionality for the ball point pen.

[00012] In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the guiding-enabling element interacts with the touch screen so as to prevent dirt and grime, such as fingerprints, grease, and smudges, on such surfaces, which otherwise serve to obscure the screen and cause inaccuracies of movement and entry of unintended contacts.

[00013] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the guiding-enabling element is generally light in weight and readily gripped to enable accurate and controlled intended hand manipulation of the stylus to accurately perform the intended functions in relation to the touch screen.

[00014] These and other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example the features of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[00015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a guided contact and movement response-generating article of the present invention;

[00016] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a guided contact and movement response-generating article of the present invention;

[00017] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one side of a guided contact and movement response- generating article of the present invention;

[00018] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an opposite side of a guided contact and movement response-generating article of the present invention;

[00019] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a guided contact and movement response-generating article of the present invention;

[00020] FIG. 6 is bottom plan view of a guided contact and movement response-generating article of the present invention

[00021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a user using a top portion of a guided contact and movement response-generating article on a contact and movement entry enabling response- generating surface in the present invention; and [00022] FIG. 8 is perspective view of a user using a point of a guided contact and movement response-generating article extending through the body portion of a guided contact and movement entry enabling article being used on a surface in the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[00023] Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-8, in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding components, the article 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, enables guided contact and movement entry in relation to a surface 12, as seen particularly in FIG. 7. The article 10 enables guided contact with the surface 12, and entry in the surface 12 of movement generated by the guided contact. The article 10 is lightweight, hand held, and push action, which enables the user to guide it into contact with a surface, and to enter in the surface the movement generated by guidance of the article 10. The article 10 includes a retractable and extendable point 14.

[00024] The surface 12 enables entry therein of movement generated by guided contact therewith, and generates a response by entry of the guided movement. The surface 12 is a touch screen in a touch screen device such as a cellphone, which enables entry by actuation of keys in a keyboard, and/or drawing, sliding movement, and game playing, and generates a response in the touch screen 12 to such entries. The keyboard may constitute a virtual keyboard or a physical keyboard.

[00025] The touch screen device includes a controller, a processor, and a touch screen. The touch screen comprises a capacitive touchscreen panel is which consists of an insulator such as glass, coated with a transparent conductor such as indium tin oxide. Touching the surface of the touch screen results with a capacitive element results in a distortion of the screen's electrostatic field, measurable as a change in capacitance. A technology is used to determine the location of the touch. The location of the touch is then sent to the controller of the touch screen devise for processing.

[00026] An element 16 is able to contact the touch screen 12, and enables entry and generates a response in the touch screen 12. The element 16 enables the user to perform functions in relation to the surface 12. The functions which the element 16 enables the user to perform include for example activating keys in a touch screen keyboard, and/or drawing, sliding movement, and game playing. The element 16 comprises for example a stylus. The stylus 16 enables contact with the surface 12, and entry by such contact to actuate keys in a keyboard, drawing, sliding movement, and game playing It generates a response in the touch screen 12 to such contact, entry and actuation. The stylus 16 is comprised of a conductive silicon rubber and gel compound material. The silicon in the material is adjusted in its electrical response by controlling the number and charge (positive or negative) of current carriers in the silicon. Such adjusted electrical response assists control of the touch screen device. The material is also soft, smooth, and generally round-shaped.

[00027] The article 10 further includes a guiding-enabling element 18, to which the element 16 is secured, able to enable movement of the element 16 for contact with the surface 12. The guiding-enabling element 18 enables guiding thereof. The guiding-enabling element 18 comprises for example a ball point pen 18. The ball point pen 18 enables the user to guide movement so as for example to enable writing on a surface. The ball point pen 18 is able to be gripped by the user, and includes the stylus 16 secured to a push actuation cap at one end thereof for enabling the user to interact with the touch screen 12, and further includes the extendable and retractable point 14 at the opposite end thereof, for enabling the user to perform writing and drawing functions. The ball point pen 18 includes a retractable cartridge. It further includes a top portion, and a body portion with an opening for extension and retraction of a ball point ink cartridge therethrough. The top portion of the ball point pen 18 comprises a push action cap which includes the stylus 16.

[00028] In operation of the article 10, as shown in FIG. 7, the article 10 enables contact and movement for entry with respect to the surface 12, by the element 16. The article 10 further enables orientation and movement for contact with the surface 12, by the guiding-enabling element 18, to which the element 16 is secured. The stylus 16 enables contact with the surface 12. The bal l-point pen 18 enables guided movement of the element 16 for contact and movement entry relative to the surface 12.

[00029] FIG. 8 shows a user using an extended point 14 of the article 10, such as a ball point pen 18, which extends through the opening in the body portion thereof, being used on a surface 12 in the present invention. The ball-point pen 10 enables guided movement of the element 16 for contact and movement relative to a surface 12.

[00030] While the particular guided contact and movement entry enabling article as shown and disclosed in detail herein is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages previously stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design shown herein other than as described in the appended claims.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. An article for enabling guided contact and movement response generation with an entry enabling response generating surface, comprising:

a response generating entry enabling element, for enabling guided contact and movement response generation with the entry enabling response generating surface; and

a guiding-enabling element, to which the response generating entry enabling element is secured, able to enable guided contact and movement response generation of the response generating entry enabling element with the entry enabling response generating surface.

2. An article as in claim 1, wherein the response generating entry element comprises a stylus.

3. An article as in claim 1 , wherein the guiding-enabling element comprises a ball-point pen.

4. An article as in claim 1, wherein the guided contact enabling article includes a top portion, and a body portion with an opening therein.

5. An article as in claim 1 , wherein the entry enabling response generating surface comprises a touch screen.

6. An article as in claim 1, wherein the guiding-enabling element enables the user to write on a surface.

7. An article as in claim 1 , wherein the entry enabling response generating surface includes a keypad, which the response generating entry enabling element is able to contact.

8. An article as in claim 1 , wherein the response generating entry enabling element enables the user to perform functions in relation to the entry enabling response generating surface.

9. An article as in claim 1, wherein the entry enabling response generating surface comprises a capacitive touch panel.

10. An article as in claim 1, wherein the response generating entry enabling element is comprised of a soft smooth material, and is generally round-shaped.

1 1. An article as in claim 1 , wherein the article is generally light in weight to enable hand manipulation.

12. An article as in claim 1 , wherein the article comprises a hand-held push action article which includes a retractable and extendable point.

13. An article as in claim 2, wherein the stylus is comprised of a conductive silicon rubber and gel compound material.

14. An article as in claim 3, wherein the ball point pen includes a retractable cartridge.

15. An article as in claim 4, wherein the top portion comprises a push action cap which includes the stylus.

16. An article as in claim 4, wherein the body portion comprises the body portion of the bal l-point pen, and the opening enables extension and retraction of an ink cartridge therethrough.

17. An article as in claim 5, wherein the touch screen comprises a capacitive touchscreen panel.

18. An article as in claim 7, wherein the keypad comprises a touch screen keypad.

19. An article as in claim 8, wherein the functions which the response

generating entry enabling element enables the user to perform include activating keys in a touch screen keyboard.

20. An article as in claim 13, wherein the stylus conductive silicon rubber and gel compound material is soft, smooth, and generally round-shaped.

21. A method of enabling guided contact with an entry enabling response generating surface, in a system which comprises a response generating entry enabling element, for enabling guided contact and movement response generation with the entry enabling response generating surface; and a guiding-enabling element, to which the

response generating entry enabling element is secured, able to enable guided contact and movement response generation of the response generating entry enabling element with the entry enabling response generating surface, wherein the method comprises: enabling contact with the entry enabling response generating surface, by the response generating entry enabling element; and

enabling movement of the response generating entry enabling element for contact with the entry enabling response generating surface, by the guiding-enabling element, to which the response generating entry enabling element is secured.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein the response generating entry enabling element comprises a stylus, and wherein the method further comprises the stylus enabling contact with the entry enabling response generating surface.

23. A method as in claim 21., wherein the guiding-enabling element comprises a ball-point pen, and wherein the method further comprises the ball-point pen enabling guided movement of the response generating entry enabling element for contact with the entry enabling response generating surface