Systems and methods for detecting a press on a touch-sensitive surface

• US 10,126,942 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Marsden, Randal J., Hole, Steve, Closson, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Eurice, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US14/732,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20150324116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960775 Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes

Abstract

Systems and methods for displaying and intuitively interacting with keyboards on a touch-sensitive surface are disclosed herein. In one aspect, a method is performed at an electronic device with one or more processors, memory, a touch-sensitive display, and one or more touch sensors coupled to the touch-sensitive display. The method includes: displaying a plurality of keys on a keyboard on the touch-sensitive display and detecting, by the one or more touch sensors, a first contact at a first key of the plurality of keys on the keyboard. The method further includes: determining a value of a signal corresponding to the first contact. When the value is above a first non-zero threshold, the method includes actuating the first key. When the value is between a second non-zero threshold and the first non-zero threshold, the method includes forgoing actuating the first key.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

one or more processors;

memory storing one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a keyboard, on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of different symbols displayed on respective individual keys;

detecting a touch input at the touch-sensitive display while the touch-sensitive display is operated in a keyboard mode;

in response to detecting the touch input at the touch-sensitive display, determining whether the touch input corresponds to typing at the displayed keyboard;

upon determining that the touch input corresponds to typing;

interpreting the touch input as a keyboard event; and

activating one or more keys on the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display based on a location of the touch input;

detecting, via the touch-sensitive display, a predefined mode-changing gesture over the displayed keyboard; and

in response to detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture over the displayed keyboard;

ceasing to display the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display; and

operating the touch-sensitive display in a touchpad mode that interprets gestures on the touch-sensitive display as touchpad inputs.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein:

ceasing to display the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display includes;

ceasing to display a plurality of symbols on respective individual keys of the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, and

displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, a representation of a touchpad.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture includes detecting a user pressing and holding a predefined number of contacts for a predefined amount of time on the touch-sensitive display.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture includes detecting that a user has stopped providing typing inputs at the displayed keyboard for at least a predefined amount of time.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture includes detecting, via a vibration sensor of the electronic device, a tap outside of the touch-sensitive display.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein activating one or more keys on the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display based on a location of the touch input includes determining relative displacement of the touch input relative to a resting position and determining appropriate one or more keys to activate based on the relative displacement.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for, after interpreting an additional touch input on the touch-sensitive display as a first touchpad event while the touch-sensitive display is operating in the touchpad mode, moving a cursor on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with the additional touch input.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for, after interpreting the additional touch input as the first touchpad event, detecting a tap on the touch-sensitive display immediately followed by a dragging motion across the touch-sensitive display and, in response, interpreting the dragging motion as a second touchpad event, wherein the second touchpad event corresponds to dragging a currently-displayed object across the touch-sensitive display.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

in response to detecting a sliding motion across the touch-sensitive display while it is operating in the touchpad mode, interpreting the sliding motion as a touchpad event, where the sliding motion is distinct from the predefined mode-changing gesture.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for, after interpreting the sliding motion as a touchpad event, determining whether a path followed by the sliding motion on the touch-sensitive display traces out a word and, in accordance with a determination that the path followed by the sliding motion traces out the word, outputting text on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the word.

11. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with one or more processors, memory, and a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of different symbols displayed on respective individual keys;

detecting a touch input at the touch-sensitive display while the touch-sensitive display is operated in a keyboard mode;

in response to detecting the touch input at the touch-sensitive display, determining whether the touch input corresponds to typing at the displayed keyboard;

upon determining that the touch input corresponds to typing;

interpreting the touch input as a keyboard event; and

activating one or more keys on the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display based on a location of the touch input;

detecting, via the touch-sensitive display, a predefined mode-changing gesture over the displayed keyboard; and

in response to detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture over the displayed keyboard;

ceasing to display the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display; and

operating the touch-sensitive display in a touchpad mode that interprets gestures on the touch-sensitive display as touchpad inputs.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein ceasing to display the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display includes:

ceasing to display a plurality of symbols on respective individual keys of the keyboard on the touch-sensitive, display, and

displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, a representation of a touchpad.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture includes detecting a user pressing and holding a predefined number of contacts for a predefined amount of time on the touch-sensitive display.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture includes detecting that a user has stopped providing typing inputs at the displayed keyboard for at least a predefined amount of time.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture includes detecting, via a vibration sensor of the electronic device, a tap outside of the touch-sensitive display.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein activating one or more keys on the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display based on a location of the touch input includes determining relative displacement of the touch input relative to a resting position and determining appropriate one or more keys to activate based on the relative displacement.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after interpreting an additional touch input on the touch-sensitive display as a first touchpad event while the touch-sensitive display is operating in the touchpad mode, moving a cursor on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with the additional touch input.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, after interpreting the additional touch input as the first touchpad event, detecting a tap on the touch-sensitive display immediately followed by a dragging motion across the touch-sensitive display and, in response, interpreting the sliding motion as a second touchpad event, wherein the second touchpad event corresponds to dragging a currently-displayed object across the touch-sensitive display.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

in response to detecting a sliding motion across the touch-sensitive display while it is operating in the touchpad mode, interpreting the sliding motion as a touchpad event, where the sliding motion is distinct from the predefined mode-changing gesture.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, after interpreting the sliding motion as a touchpad event, determining whether a path followed by the sliding motion on the touch-sensitive display traces out a word and, in accordance with a determination that the path followed by the sliding motion traces out the word, outputting text on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the word.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the electronic device to:

display a keyboard, on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the keyboard includes a plurality of different symbols displayed on respective individual keys;

detect a touch input at the touch-sensitive display while the touch-sensitive display is operated in a keyboard mode;

in response to detecting the touch input at the touch-sensitive display, determine whether the touch input corresponds to typing at the displayed keyboard;

upon determining that the touch input corresponds to typing;

interpret the touch input as a keyboard event; and

activate one or more keys on the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display based on a location of the touch input;

detect, via the touch-sensitive display, a predefined mode-changing gesture over the displayed keyboard; and

in response to detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture;

cease to display the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display; and

operate the touch-sensitive display in a touchpad mode that interprets gestures at the touch-sensitive display as touchpad inputs.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein ceasing to display the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display includes:

ceasing to display a plurality of symbols on respective individual keys of the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display, and

displaying, on the touch-sensitive display, a representation of a touchpad.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture includes detecting a user pressing and holding a predefined number of contacts for a predefined amount of time on the touch-sensitive display.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture includes detecting that a user has stopped providing typing inputs at the displayed keyboard for at least a predefined amount of time.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein detecting the predefined mode-changing gesture includes detecting, via a vibration sensor of the electronic device, a tap outside of the touch-sensitive display.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein activating one or more keys on the keyboard on the touch-sensitive display based on a location of the touch input includes determining relative displacement of the touch input relative to a resting position and determining appropriate one or more keys to activate based on the relative displacement.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, further cause the electronic device to, after interpreting an additional touch input on the touch-sensitive display as a first touchpad event while the touch-sensitive display is operating in the touchpad mode, move a cursor on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with the touch input.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, further cause the electronic device to, after interpreting the additional touch input as the first touchpad event, detect a tap on the touch-sensitive display immediately followed by a dragging motion across the touch-sensitive display and, in response, interpret the sliding motion as a second touchpad event, wherein the second touchpad event corresponds to dragging a currently-displayed object across the touch-sensitive display.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, further cause the electronic device to:

in response to detecting a sliding motion across the touch-sensitive display while it is operating in the touchpad mode, interpret the sliding motion as a touchpad event, where the sliding motion is distinct from the predefined mode-changing gesture.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors of the electronic device, further cause the electronic device to, after interpreting the sliding motion as a touchpad event, determine whether a path followed by the sliding motion on the touch-sensitive display traces out a word and, in accordance with a determination that the path followed by the sliding motion traces out the word, output text on the touch-sensitive display corresponding to the word.