Raw data track pad device and system
First Claim
1. A track pad input device, comprising:
- a capacitive track pad sensor having a plurality of sensing elements, each sensing element associated with a region of the capacitive track pad sensor;
a data acquisition circuit electrically coupled to the capacitive track pad sensor for selectively encoding digital capacitance values for each of the plurality of sensing elements; and
a communication circuit for transmitting the digital capacitance values to a host processor for processing, wherein the host processor is also at least partially responsible for executing user-level tasks.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An input device and system are described that acquires (measures) raw track pad sensor data and transmits this data to a host computer where it is analyzed by an application executing on one or more host computer central processing units. The resulting input processing architecture provides a track pad input device that is both lower in cost to manufacture and more flexible than prior art track pad input devices. Lower costs may be realized by eliminating the prior art'"'"'s dedicated track pad hardware for processing sensor data (e.g., a processor and associated firmware memory). Increased flexibility may be realized by providing feature set functionality via software that executes on the host computer. In this architecture, track pad functionality may be modified, updated and enhanced through software upgrade procedures.
288 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A track pad input device, comprising:
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a capacitive track pad sensor having a plurality of sensing elements, each sensing element associated with a region of the capacitive track pad sensor;
a data acquisition circuit electrically coupled to the capacitive track pad sensor for selectively encoding digital capacitance values for each of the plurality of sensing elements; and
a communication circuit for transmitting the digital capacitance values to a host processor for processing, wherein the host processor is also at least partially responsible for executing user-level tasks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A track pad input device consisting essentially of:
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a track pad sensor having a plurality of sensing elements, each sensing element associated with a region of the track pad sensor;
a data acquisition circuit for selectively encoding a digital value representing a characteristic for each of the plurality of sensing elements; and
a communication circuit for transmitting the encoded digital values to a host processor for analysis, wherein the host processor is also at least partially responsible for executing user-level tasks. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A track pad input device comprising:
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a track pad sensor having a plurality of sensing elements, each sensing element associated with a region of the track pad sensor;
means for measuring a digital value for each of the plurality of sensing elements, the measured digital value representing a characteristic of the sensing element; and
means for transmitting the plurality of measured digital values to a host processor for processing, wherein the host processor is also at least partially responsible for executing user-level tasks. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A track pad input method, comprising:
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stimulating a plurality of sensor elements in a track pad sensor;
measuring a characteristic for each of the stimulated sensor elements, each measurement being encoded by a digital value;
transmitting the measured digital values to a host processor wherein the host processor is responsible, at least in part, for executing user-level tasks;
analyzing, with the host processor, the measured digital values; and
generating a signal representing a track pad input action based on the measured digital values. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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24. A computer system, comprising:
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one or more host processors for executing, at least in part, user-level tasks;
a display unit operatively coupled to the host processor;
a first communication circuit operatively coupled to the host processor; and
a track pad input device comprising a track pad sensor having a plurality of sensing elements, each sensing element associated with a region of the track pad sensor;
a data acquisition circuit electrically coupled to the track pad sensor for selectively encoding a digital value representing a characteristic for each of the plurality of sensing elements; and
a second communication circuit for transmitting the encoded digital values to the first communication circuit, where after at least one of the one or more host determine an action corresponding to manipulation of the track pad sensor. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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40. A track pad input method, comprising:
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stimulating a plurality of sensor elements in a track pad sensor using a single finger;
measuring a characteristic for each of the stimulated sensor elements, each measurement being encoded by a digital value;
transmitting the measured digital values to a host processor wherein the host processor is responsible, at least in part, for executing user-level tasks;
analyzing, with the host processor, the measured digital values; and
generating a signal representing a single-finger gesture based on the measured digital values. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A track pad input method, comprising;
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stimulating a plurality of sensor elements in a track pad sensor using multiple fingers simultaneously;
measuring a characteristic for each of the stimulated sensor elements, each measurement being encoded by a digital value;
transmitting the measured digital values to a host processor wherein the host processor is responsible, at least in part, for executing user-level tasks;
analyzing, with the host processor, the measured digital values; and
generating a signal representing a multi-finger gesture based on the measured digital values. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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Specification