Universal user interface device

摘要

A flexible, scalable hardware input device for interacting with a variety of devices ranging from a phone, to a media playback device to a steering wheel or a tablet PC is provided. The input device includes a set of mechanical input controls, each mapping to one or more independent functions and a set of touch sensitive input control areas (e.g., capacitive), where each touch sensitive input control area receives touch input independently. In addition, one or more of the touch sensitive input control areas interchangeably overlay one or more of the mechanical input controls, whereby interaction with the touch sensitive input control areas is processed together to determine a corresponding function for controlling the application, service or computing device.

主权项

1. A user interface component comprising:
a mechanical layer comprising a plurality of mechanical input controls actuatable to provide a corresponding first set of input functionality for controlling at least one of an application, service, or computing device, wherein each mechanical input control maps to an independent function; and a touch sensitive layer comprising a plurality of touch sensitive input control areas, with each touch sensitive input control area comprising at least one touch sensitive sensor, wherein:
each touch sensitive input control area receives touch input independently from each of the other touch sensitive input control areas;at least one of the plurality of touch sensitive input control areas overlays at least one of the plurality of mechanical input control areas;at least a first portion of the plurality of touch sensitive input control areas recognizes directional gestures made substantially in a plane defined by the touch sensitive layer, the directional gestures comprising a horizontal gesture that crosses a center area of the touch sensitive layer overlaying a mechanical input control area and causes a media item that is being rendered to skip forward a predetermined amount of time or a predetermined percentage of the duration of the media item; andat least one of the plurality of touch sensitive input control areas comprises a touch sensitive layer configured to simulate a trackball, wherein a finger gesture when crossing a center portion of the touch sensitive layer translates to a greater velocity input than when reaching an edge of the touch sensitive layer.