Analog Touchscreen Methods and Apparatus

• US 20110291981A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Movella Incorporated (Movella Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: mCube, Inc.
• Inventors: Yang, Xiao "Charles"
• Granted Patent: US 8,797,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computer implemented method for determining an intensity of user input to a computer system, performed by the computer system that is programmed to perform the method includes determining by a display, an indication of a finger position a user in response to a change in finger position relative to the computer system, wherein change in fin position is also associated with a magnitude of change, determining by a physical sensor of the computer system, the magnitude of change in response to the change in finger position, determining by the computer system, a user selection of a function to perform in response to the indication of the finger position, determining by the computer system, an input parameter associated with the function in response to the magnitude of change, and initiating performance by the computer system, of the function in response to the input parameter.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for determining an intensity of user input to a computer system, performed by the computer system that is programmed to perform the method comprising:

determining by a display of the computer system, an indication of a position of a first user-controlled user input device relative to the display of the computer system in response to a user-initiated change in state of the first user-controlled user input device relative to the computer system, wherein the user-initiated change in state is also associated with a magnitude of change;

determining by a physical sensor of the computer system, the magnitude of change in sensed physical properties by the physical sensor in response to the user-implemented change in state of the first user-controlled user input device relative to the computer system;

determining by the computer system, a user selection of a function to perform in response to the indication of the position of the first user-controlled user input device;

determining by the computer system, an input parameter associated with the function in response to the magnitude of change in sensed physical properties; and

initiating performance by the computer system, of the function in response to the input parameter.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the user-controlled user input device is selected from a group consisting of:

a finger of the user, a stylus, a capacitive-based stylus, a portion a body, an object.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the function comprises a function for adjusting an input parameter for a graphical manipulation program, wherein the input parameter is selected from a group consisting of:

position of one or more graphic elements displayed on the touch screen display, a brightness level, a contrast level, a gamma level, a sharpness level, a saturation level, a filter level.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the function comprises a function for adjusting an input parameter for a game selected from a group consisting of:

a force level input, a rate of movement, a rate of acceleration, a pitch parameter, a roll parameter, a tilt parameter, a zoom parameter, a pan parameter, a scroll parameter,

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the function comprises a function for adjusting an input parameter selected from a group consisting of:

a volume level, a microphone sensitivity level, a bass level, a treble level.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1

wherein the first user-controlled user input devices comprises at least one finger of the user;

wherein the user-initiated change in state of the first user-controlled user input device relative to the computer system comprises a user contacting at least one finger to the display;

wherein the indication of the position of the first user-controlled user input device comprises an indication of a position where the one finger of the user contacts the display.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6

wherein the physical sensor comprises a motion sensor, and

wherein the magnitude of change in sensed physical properties of the physical sensor comprises an acceleration of the motion sensor in response to the user contacting the one finger to the touchscreen.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 6

wherein the physical sensor comprises an air pressure sensor, and

wherein the magnitude of change in sensed physical properties of the physical sensor comprises a pressure determined by the air pressure sensor in response to the user contacting the one finger to the touchscreen.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 6

wherein the physical sensor comprises a gyroscope sensor, and

wherein the magnitude of change in sensed physical properties of the physical sensor comprises an rotation of the gyroscope sensor in response to the user contacting the one finger to the touchscreen.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1

wherein the first user-controlled user input devices comprises a magnetic device;

wherein the user-initiated change in state of the first user-controlled user input device relative to the computer system comprises a user moving the magnetic device from a first position to a second position relative to the display; and

wherein the indication of the position of the first user-controlled user input device comprises an indication of the second position.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10

wherein the physical sensor comprises a magnetic sensor, and

wherein the magnitude of change in physical property of the physical sensor comprises a change in sensed magnetic field determined by the magnetic sensor in response to the user moving the magnetic device from the first position to the second position.

12. A computing device comprising:

a display configured to display images to a user and configured to sense a user touch on the display;

a display controller coupled to the display, wherein the display controller is configured to determine a selected location on the display in response to the user touch;

a physical sensor, wherein the physical sensor is configured to sense physical forces acting upon the physical sensor and configured to determine magnitudes of change in physical forces acting upon the physical sensor in response to the user touch;

a processor coupled to the display controller and to the physical sensor, wherein the processor is programmed to determine a user-selected function to perform in response to the selected location on the display, and wherein the processor is programmed to initiate execution of the user-selected function in response to the magnitudes of change in physical forces.

13. The computing device of claim 12 wherein the physical sensor is selected from a group consisting of:

an accelerometer, an air pressure sensor.

14. The computing device of claim 12 wherein the physical sensor is selected from a group consisting of:

a gyroscope, a tilt sensor.

15. The computing device of claim 12 wherein the physical sensor is selected from a group consisting of:

a global positioning system receiver, a magnetic sensor.

16. The computing device of claim 12 wherein the display comprises a display selected from a group consisting of:

a capacitive display, a resistive display.

17. The computing device of claim 12 wherein the processor is programmed to receive the selected location on the display and the magnitudes of change in the physical forces in a manner selected from a group consisting of:

substantially simultaneously, serially.

18. The computing device of claim 12 wherein the physical sensor comprises a MEMS device upon a CMOS substrate.

19. The computing device of claim 12 wherein the physical sensor comprises at least a six-axis MEMS device.

20. The computing device of claim 12 wherein the physical sensor comprises at least a ten-axis MEMS device.