Information handling system interactive totems

• US 10,139,929 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Krishnakumar, Karthik, Ancona, Rocco, Knoppert, Michiel Sebastian Emanuel Petrus, Ligameri, Mark R., Acevedo, Daniel, Morrison, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cerullo, Liliana
• Application Number:
  US15/617,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20170269722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04184 Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A totem device accepts inputs from an end user and communicates the inputs to an information handling system through a capacitive mat by moving an interactive portion of the totem relative to a main portion. In one embodiment, the capacitive mat integrates a display that presents input images proximate the totem, such as a volume gauge or mouse keys. Interactive portions include compressible materials that alter surface area pressed against a capacitive mat when pressed upon and plungers that move independent of a main body to press. In one embodiment, a camera captures images of the totem to enhance the distinguishing of inputs.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a processor operable to execute instructions to process information;

memory interfaced with the processor and operable to store the information;

a graphics system interfaced with the processor and memory, the graphics system operable to generate the visual images for presentation at one or more display devices;

a capacitive mat display device interfaced with the graphics system and operable to present the visual images, the capacitive mat disposed on a surface and including capacitive sensors operable to detect touches;

a totem disposed on the capacitive mat and sized to move to plural positions on the capacitive mat, the totem having a main body and at least one interactive portion, the main body having a perimeter, the interactive portion responding to end user manipulation to move a touch of the interactive portion across the capacitive mat relative to the main body perimeter; and

an input device controller interfaced with the capacitive mat display and operable to detect first end user inputs by analyzing movement of the main body from first to second positions on the capacitive mat, and to detect second end user inputs by analyzing movement of the interactive portion relative to the main body perimeter.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface module interfaced with the input device controller and operable to present a user interface on the capacitive mat display device based upon the location of the totem main body;

wherein the input device controller determines the end user inputs based at least in part upon the user interface presented by the user interface module.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the interactive portion rotates relative to the main body.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 wherein the user interface controller selectively presents a volume scale proximate the totem and the input device controller detects end user volume inputs to adjust a speaker volume by an amount of rotation of the interactive portion relative to the main body.

5. A method for determining inputs made by a totem disposed on a capacitive mat, the method comprising:

detecting a totem main body on the capacitive mat;

detecting first end user inputs based upon movement of the main body on the capacitive mat from a first position on the capacitive mat to a second position on the capacitive mat;

applying a first value to the first end user inputs based upon the movement of the main body on the capacitive mat;

detecting a second end user input based upon movement of a totem interactive portion in contact with the capacitive mat, the totem interactive portion coupled with the main body and moving across the capacitive mat relative to the main body in response to the second end user input; and

applying a second value to the second end user inputs made at the interactive portion by detecting the interactive portion'"'"'s disposition relative to the main body.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

presenting visual images with a display integrated in the capacitive mat; and

presenting a user interface proximate the totem and indicating the type of input associated with the interactive portion.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein applying a second value further comprises analyzing a relative position of the interactive portion proximate to but not touching the capacitive mat.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

detecting plural totem interactive portions, each totem interactive portion comprising a capacitive element having a capacitive value; and

analyzing the capacitive values of the totem interactive portions with the capacitive mat to determine end user inputs at a selected of the plural totem interactive portions.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

capturing an image of the totem with a camera; and

applying the captured image to aid in detecting end user inputs to the totem interactive portion.

10. A totem system for accepting inputs to an information handling system, the totem system comprising:

a main body sized to rest on a capacitive mat and move to plural positions on the capacitive mat;

an interactive portion coupled to the main body, the interactive portion movable relative to the main body and the capacitive mat, the interactive portion contacting the capacitive mat at different positions relative to the main body during movement relative to the main body; and

an input device controller stored in non-volatile memory and operable to execute on a processor to receive signals from the capacitive mat and distinguish inputs to the interactive portion by detecting a relative position of the interactive portion to the main body, the input device further operable to distinguish input based upon movement of the main body to different positions on the capacitive mat, wherein the movement of the main body provides an input separate from the relative position of the interactive portion.

11. The totem system of claim 10 wherein the interactive portion rotates relative to the main body, the interactive portion remaining in contact with the capacitive mat during the rotating.

12. The totem system of claim 10 wherein the interactive portion moves in contact with the capacitive mat within a perimeter of the main body.

13. The totem system of claim 10 wherein the interactive portion moves in contact with the capacitive mat outside of a perimeter of the main body.