METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTENDED ADJUSTMENT BASED ON RELATIVE POSITIONING OF MULTIPLE OBJECTS CONTEMPORANEOUSLY IN A SENSING REGION

• US 20090201261A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: DAY, Shawn P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,446,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A touch sensor device and method is provided that facilitates improved device usability. Specifically, the device and method provide improved user interface functionality by facilitating extended parameter adjustment using proximity sensor devices. The device includes a processing system and a sensor adapted to detect objects in a sensing region. The device is adapted to provide user interface functionality by determining a measurement descriptive of a location of a first object relative to a location of a second object, and applying a first rate for adjusting a visual parameter such that the visual parameter adjusts even if the first object is stationary relative to the second object, where the first rate is based on the measurement. By so providing a first rate for adjusting a parameter, the device facilitates extended user input.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

a display configured to show an image;

a proximity sensor adapted to detect objects in a sensing region; and

a processing system coupled to the display and the proximity sensor, the processing system configured to;

determine a measurement descriptive of a location of a first object relative to a location of a second object contemporaneously in the sensing region; and

apply a first rate of adjustment to a parameter of the image such that the parameter adjusts even if the first object is stationary relative to the second object in the sensing region, wherein the first rate of adjustment is based on the measurement.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the measurement comprises a direction defined by the location of the first object and the location of the second object.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the measurement comprises a distance defined by the location of the first object and the location of the second object.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine a direction defined by the location of the first object and the location of the second object; and

apply a second rate of adjustment to a second parameter of the image such that the second parameter adjusts even if the first object is stationary relative to the second object, wherein the second rate of adjustment is based on the direction.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to determine a measurement by:

determining the location of the first object and the location of the second object responsive to the first and second objects being in the sensing region contemporaneously; and

determining the measurement using the locations of the first and second objects.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to apply a first rate of adjustment to a parameter by:

defining a first range of measurements, the first range having hysteresis such that the first range is larger if the measurement is in the first range and smaller if the measurement is outside the first range; and

utilizing the first rate to adjust the parameter responsive to the measurement being in the first range.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to apply a first rate of adjustment to a parameter by:

determining an initial measurement between an initial location of the first object and an initial location of the second object;

defining a first range based on the initial measurement; and

utilizing the first rate to adjust the parameter responsive to the measurement being in the first range.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein

the processing system is configured to apply a first rate of adjustment to a parameter by utilizing the first rate to adjust the parameter responsive to the measurement being in a first range of measurements, and wherein:

the processing system is further configured to apply a quantity of adjustment to the parameter responsive to the measurement being in a second range different from the first range, wherein the quantity of adjustment is based on a difference between the measurement and a prior measurement, and wherein the prior measurement is defined by a prior location of the first object and a prior location of the second object.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to apply a first rate of adjustment to a parameter by:

determining the first rate based on a difference between the measurement and a reference measurement.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to apply a first rate of adjustment to a parameter by:

determining a static first rate responsive to the measurement being in a first range.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to apply a first rate of adjustment to a parameter by:

applying a first rate based on the measurement and at least one characteristic selected from the set consisting of;

a force associated with the first and second objects, a capacitance associated with the first and second objects, and a duration of time that measurements descriptive of locations of the first object relative to respective contemporaneous locations of a second object have been in a first range.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

cease adjustment of the parameter responsive to at least one of the first and second objects exiting the sensing region.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

cease applying a first rate of adjustment to the parameter responsive to a reversal of motion of the first object relative to the second object.

14. A method of adjusting a parameter using a proximity sensor adapted to detect objects in a sensing region, the method comprising

sensing a first object and a second object contemporaneously in the sensing region;

determining a measurement descriptive of a location of the first object relative to a location of the second object contemporaneously in the sensing region; and

providing a first rate of adjustment for adjusting a parameter such that the parameter adjusts even if the first object is stationary relative to the second object in the sensing region, wherein the first rate of adjustment is based on the measurement.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a measurement comprises:

determining at least one of a direction and a distance based on the location of the first object and the location of the second object.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing an indication to cease adjustment of the parameter responsive to at least one of the first and second objects moving away from the sensing region.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the measurement comprises a distance defined by the location of the first object and the location of the second object, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining a direction defined by the location of the first object and the location of the second object; and

applying a second rate of adjustment to a second parameter of the image such that the second parameter adjusts even if the first object is stationary relative to the second object, wherein the second rate of adjustment is based on the direction.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a first rate of adjustment comprises:

defining a first range of measurements, the first range having hysteresis such that the first range is larger if the measurement is in the first range and smaller if the measurement is outside the first range; and

indicating the first rate responsive to the measurement being in the first range.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein providing a first rate of adjustment comprises:

determining an initial measurement between an initial location of the first object and an initial location of the second object;

determining a first range of measurements based on the initial measurement; and

indicating the first rate responsive to the measurement being in the first range of measurements.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein:

providing a first rate of adjustment comprises indicating the first rate responsive to the measurement being in a first range of measurements, and wherein;

the processing system is further configured to provide a quantity of adjustment for adjusting the parameter responsive to the measurement being in a second range different from the first range, wherein the quantity of adjustment is based on a difference between the measurement and a prior measurement, wherein the prior measurement is defined by a prior location of the first object and a prior location of the second object.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein providing a first rate of adjustment comprises:

indicating a static first rate responsive to the measurement being in a first range of measurements.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a first rate of adjustment comprises:

indicating the first rate based on the measurement and at least one characteristic selected from the set consisting of;

a force associated with the first and second objects, a capacitance associated with the first and second objects, and a duration of time that measurements descriptive of locations of the first object relative to respective contemporaneous locations of a second object have been in a first range.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a first rate of adjustment comprises:

repeatedly indicating an amount of adjustment.

24. The method claim 14, further comprising:

ceasing adjustment responsive to a reversal of motion of the first object relative to the second object.

25. A program product comprising:

a) a proximity sensor program, the proximity sensor program executable by a computing system to;

sense a first object and a second object contemporaneously in a sensing region;

determine a measurement descriptive of a location of the first object relative to a location of the second object contemporaneously in the sensing region,

determine a first rate of adjustment based on the measurement; and

apply the first rate of adjustment to a parameter such that the parameter adjusts even if the first object is stationary relative to the second object in the sensing region; and

b) computer-readable media bearing said proximity sensor program.

26. A proximity sensor device comprising:

a sensor adapted to detect objects in a sensing region; and

a processing system coupled to the sensor, the processing system configured to;

determine a distance between a location of a first object and a location of a second object contemporaneously in the sensing region; and

provide a first rate for adjusting a visual parameter such that the visual parameter adjusts even if the first object is stationary relative to the second object, wherein the first rate is based on the distance.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the processing system is configured to provide a first rate of adjustment by:

determining the first rate for increasing the visual parameter responsive to the distance being in a first range of distances; and

determining the first rate for decreasing the visual parameter responsive to the distance being in a second range of distances different from the first range of distances.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein the visual parameter is a magnification level, and wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine a quantity of adjustment responsive to the distance being in a third range different from the first and second ranges, wherein the quantity of adjustment is based on a difference between the distance and a prior distance, and wherein the prior distance is defined by a prior location of the first object and a prior location of the second object; and

indicate the quantity of adjustment for adjusting the visual parameter

29. A proximity sensor device comprising:

a sensor adapted to detect objects in a sensing region; and

a processing system coupled to the sensor, the processing system configured to;

determine a direction defined by a location of a first object and a location of a second object contemporaneously in the sensing region; and

provide a first rate for adjusting a visual parameter such that the visual parameter adjusts even if the first object is stationary relative to the second object, wherein the first rate is based on the direction.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein the processing system is configured to provide a first rate for adjusting a visual parameter by:

determining the first rate for increasing the visual parameter responsive to the direction being in a first range of directions; and

determining the first rate for decreasing the visual parameter responsive to the direction being in a second range of directions different from the first range of directions.

31. The device of claim 30 wherein the visual parameter is rotation angle, and wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine a quantity of adjustment responsive to the direction being in a third range of directions different from the first and second ranges, wherein the quantity of adjustment is based on a difference between the direction and a prior direction, and wherein the prior direction is defined by a prior location of the first object and a prior location of the second object; and

indicate the quantity of adjustment for adjusting the visual parameter

32. An proximity sensor device comprising:

a sensor adapted to detect objects in a sensing region; and

a processing system coupled to the sensor, the processing system configured to;

determine a location of a first object in the sensing region;

determine a location of a second object contemporaneously in the sensing region.

determine a measurement descriptive of the location of the first object relative to the location of the second object;

determine a quantity of adjustment responsive to the measurement differing from a prior measurement, wherein the prior measurement is descriptive of a prior location of the first object in the sensing region relative to a prior location of the second object contemporaneously in the sensing region;

indicate the quantity of adjustment for adjusting a parameter;

determine a rate of adjustment responsive to at least one of the first and second objects being in an outer portion of the sensing region; and

indicate the rate for adjusting the parameter such that the parameter adjusts even if the at least one of the first and second objects is stationary in the outer portion.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

determine a second rate of adjustment based on the measurement; and

indicate the second rate for adjusting the parameter such that the parameter adjusts even if the first object is stationary relative to the second object.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

cease adjustment responsive to a reversal of motion of the first object relative to the second object.