Touch sensing of user input device

• US 10,386,940 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Young, Ishihara, James Alec, Schenone, Scott, Groene, Ralf, Demenschonok, Filipp, Baum, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fox, Joseph P
• Application Number:
  US14/928,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20170123520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Examples are disclosed herein that relate to user input. One example provides a method comprising receiving user inputs from a user input device, monitoring a touch-sensitive display device for detection of a presence of the user input device via the touch-sensitive display device, when the user input device is detected by the touch-sensitive display device, utilizing a first user input mode in which a first user interface is displayed on the touch-sensitive display device at a location based upon a location of the input device on the touch-sensitive display device, and when the user input device is not detected by the touch-sensitive display device, utilizing a second user input mode in which a second user interface is displayed at a location on the touch-sensitive display device not based upon a location of the input device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving user inputs from a user input device;

monitoring a touch-sensitive display device for detection of a presence of the user input device via the touch-sensitive display device;

when the user input device is detected as being located on the touch-sensitive display device via sensing of a capacitive pattern on a base of the user input device, and is connected via a wireless connection to the touch-sensitive display device, utilizing a first user input mode in which a first user interface for receiving inputs from the user input device is displayed on the touch-sensitive display device, the first user interface comprising user interface elements displayed at locations adjacent to a location of the input device on the touch-sensitive display device,

tracking movement of the user input device, and

moving the first user interface in response to tracking the movement of the user input device; and

when the user input device is not detected as being located on the touch-sensitive display device as determined by not sensing the capacitive pattern and is connected via the wireless connection to the touch-sensitive display device, utilizing a second user input mode in which a second user interface for receiving inputs from the user input device is displayed on the touch-sensitive display device, wherein the user interface elements are displayed at predetermined locations on the touch-sensitive display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface elements include one or more selectable user interface elements.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising

receiving rotational input from the user input device;

and

in response to receiving the rotational input, changing a selection of the one or more selectable user interface elements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of the user input device includes detecting a conductive pattern on the user input device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a haptic feedback setting to the user input device, the haptic feedback setting instructing the user input device to output haptic feedback in response to a rotational input supplied via the user input device meeting a range of rotational input specified by the haptic feedback setting.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to receiving an indication from the user input device that a stylus has docked in a recess of the user input device, altering at least one function of a displayed user interface.

7. On a user input device having a rotational input mechanism and a haptic feedback mechanism, a method of providing haptic feedback, comprising:

receiving a first haptic feedback setting mapping a first range of rotational input of the rotational input mechanism to a haptic feedback output, the first range comprising a first angular distance;

receiving a first rotational input that meets the first range of rotational input at the input device, the first rotational input comprising a rotation in a first direction, and in response activating the haptic feedback mechanism;

receiving a second haptic feedback setting mapping a second range of rotational input of the rotational input mechanism device to the haptic feedback output, the second range comprising a second angular distance different than the first angular distance; and

receiving a second rotational input that meets the second range of rotational input of the input device, the second rotational input comprising another rotation in the first direction, and in response activating the haptic feedback mechanism;

wherein the first and second haptic feedback settings are determined based on respective positions of one or more user interface elements in a user interface of a computing device receiving input from the user input device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the haptic feedback mechanism is coupled to the rotational input mechanism.

9. An input device comprising:

a control configured for rotation about an axis and for depression along the axis;

a rotational encoder configured to sense rotation of the control;

a base comprising a conductive pattern, the conductive pattern comprising a first conductive element, a second conductive element coplanar with the first conductive element, and a dielectric material separating the first conductive element and the second conductive element, wherein the control is rotatable and depressible relative to the base;

a haptic feedback mechanism configured to output haptic feedback; and

a communications subsystem configured to transmit information regarding rotation and depression of the control to a display device and configured to receive a haptic feedback setting from the display device for controlling the haptic feedback, wherein the haptic feedback setting includes an instruction for the haptic feedback mechanism to output haptic feedback in response to rotation of the control about the axis meeting a range of rotational input determined based on respective positions of one or more user interface elements in a user interface of the display device.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the rotational encoder is further configured to sense one or more of a speed and a direction of a rotational displacement of the control.

11. The input device of claim 9, wherein the rotational encoder comprises an optical encoder.

12. The input device of claim 9, wherein the conductive pattern comprises a bullseye pattern.

13. The input device of claim 9, further comprising a door openable to access a power source of the input device, the door biased toward a closed position via a spring-biased hinge and held in the closed position via one or more magnets.

14. The input device of claim 9, wherein the communications subsystem is further configured to transmit information regarding one or more of a rotational displacement of the control sensed by the rotational encoder, a communication pairing signal, and a battery life indication of a battery in the input device.

15. The input device of claim 9, further comprising a light source configured to output a low battery life indication.

16. The input device of claim 9, further comprising a first material on a first portion of a surface of the base and a second material on a second portion of the surface of the base, the first material configured for sliding movement across the display device, the second material configured to oppose the sliding movement across the display device.

17. The input device of claim 9, further comprising a recess including a sensor configured to sense docking of a stylus in the recess, the communications subsystem further configured to transmit an indication of the docking of the stylus.

18. The input device of claim 9, further comprising a recess configured to receive and charge the stylus.