Additional Touch-Gesture Sensors for Rear or Sides of Mobile Devices

Abstract

A method for providing user interface features to a mobile device involving locating a touch-responsive sensor touchpad to the rear and/or at least one side of a mobile device. Touch-gesture measurement information from the touch-responsive sensor touchpad is processed and used to create an output signal responsive to a touch gesture imparted wherein the output signal is used to control an aspect of a software application operating on the mobile device. The mobile device can be configured to be selectively responsive to particular temporal patterns of touch, particular regions of touch, and/or particular movements of touch. Touch gestures can include various types of squeezing gestures, path-tracing touch gestures, and touch pattern gestures. Recognized gestures can be used to control the mobile device and/or software application running on the mobile device.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for providing user interface features to a mobile device, the method comprising:
 Locating a touch-responsive sensor touchpad to a side of a mobile device;   Receiving touch-gesture measurement information from the touch-responsive sensor touchpad and translating the measurement information into numerical measurement data;   Processing the numerical measurement data on processor comprised by the mobile device to produce touch gesture recognition; and   Providing an output signal responsive to the touch gesture recognition,   Wherein the output signal is responsive to a touch gesture imparted to the touch-responsive sensor touchpad, and   Wherein the output signal is used to control an aspect of a software application operating on the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least a second a touch-responsive sensor touchpad is located on another side of the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is further configured to be responsive to at least one squeezing gesture executed by squeezing the sides of the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the mobile device is further configured to be responsive to a squeezing gesture comprising two squeeze actions made in quick succession. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the mobile device is further configured to be responsive to a squeezing gesture comprising three squeeze actions made in quick succession. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein a squeezing gesture is used on power off the mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the touch-responsive sensor touchpad comprises a low-resolution tactile sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the touch-responsive sensor touchpad comprises a capacitive tactile sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular temporal patterns of touch. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular regions of touch. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular movements of touch. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to a touch gesture tracing a path on the surface of the touchpad. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to a touch pattern rendered on the surface of the touchpad. 
     
     
         14 . A method for providing user interface features to a mobile device, the method comprising:
 Locating a touch-responsive sensor touchpad to the rear area of a mobile device;   Receiving touch-gesture measurement information from the touch-responsive sensor array touchpad and translating the measurement information into numerical measurement data;   Receiving touch-gesture measurement information from the touch-responsive sensor touchpad and translating the measurement information into numerical measurement data;   Processing the numerical measurement data on processor comprised by the mobile device to produce touch gesture recognition; and   Providing an output signal responsive to the touch gesture recognition,   Wherein the output signal is responsive to a touch gesture imparted to the touch-responsive sensor touchpad, and   Wherein the output signal is used to control an aspect of a software application operating on the mobile device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein at least a second a touch-responsive sensor touchpad is located on a side of the mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the touch-responsive sensor touchpad comprises a low-resolution tactile sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the touch-responsive sensor touchpad comprises a capacitive tactile sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular temporal patterns of touch. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular regions of touch. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to particular movements of touch. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to a touch gesture tracing a path on the surface of the touchpad. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the mobile device is configured to be selectively responsive to a touch pattern rendered on the surface of the touchpad.