Device And Method Of Controlling A Computer Using Centroids

• US 20120026117A1
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ultra-Scan Corporation (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schneider, John K., Kitchens, Jack C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,063,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A computer control system and a method of controlling a computer are disclosed. One such system includes an area-array sensor and a processor. The processor may have a navigation mode, and when set to this mode, the processor is configured to execute certain tasks. Those tasks may include acquiring a first information set and acquiring a second information set from the sensor. The first information set may represent reflected energy received by the sensor at the first time and the second information set may represent reflected energy received by the sensor at the second time. The first information set indicates a first contact area corresponding to that portion of an indicator object (such as a finger or stylus) which contacts the platen at the first time, and the second information set indicates a second contact area corresponding to that portion of the indicator object which contacts the platen at the second time. Centroids of the contact areas are used to determine a navigation control measurement that may be used to control a computer.

Claims

1. A computer control system, comprising:

an area-array sensor having a platen and an energy detector, wherein the sensor is configured to detect energy reflected from a surface of the platen;

a processor in communication with the area-array sensor, wherein the processor is configured in a navigation mode to;

(a) at a first time, acquire a first information set from the detector, the first information set representing reflected energy received by the energy detector, the first information set indicating a first contact area corresponding to a portion of an indicator object, the portion being in contact with the platen at the first time;

(b) at a second time, acquire a second information set from the detector, the second information set representing reflected energy received by the energy detector, the second information set indicating a second contact area corresponding to a portion of the indicator object, the portion being in contact with the platen at the second time;

(c) use the first information set to determine a first centroid location, the first centroid location being the first contact area'"'"'s centroid location;

(d) use the second information set to determine a second centroid location, the second centroid location being the second contact area'"'"'s centroid location;

(c) compare the first centroid location to the second centroid location;

(d) identify a difference between the first centroid location and the second centroid location; and

(e) calculate a navigation control measurement using the difference.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the navigation control measurement is used to control a cursor displayed on a monitor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the navigation control measurement is a distance between the first centroid location and the second centroid location.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the navigation control measurement is a velocity, the velocity being the distance between the first centroid location and the second centroid location divided by a time difference, the time difference being elapsed time between acquiring the first information set and acquiring the second information set.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the navigation control measurement is a direction from the first centroid location to the second centroid location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the area-array sensor detects a longitudinal wave that has been reflected.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the longitudinal wave is ultra-sound.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the area-array sensor detects an electromagnetic wave that has been reflected.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic wave is light.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mode-switch for selecting between a surface-description mode and the navigation mode, wherein the processor is configured in the surface-description mode to receive information about a finger on a platen, and process the received information as surface-description data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the mode-switch is a mechanical switch.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the mode-switch is a software switch which is set by the processor in response to a user input request.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator object is a finger.

14. A method of effecting a change in a state of a computer system, comprising:

providing an area-array sensor having a platen and an energy detector, wherein the detector is configured to detect energy reflected from a surface of the platen;

providing a processor in communication with the area-array sensor;

at a first time, acquiring a first information set from the detector, the first information set representing reflected energy detected by the energy detector, the first information set indicating a first contact area corresponding to a portion of the indicator object, the portion being in contact with the platen at the first time;

at a second time, acquiring a second information set from the detector, the second information set representing reflected energy received by the energy detector, the second information set indicating a second contact area corresponding to a portion of the indicator object, the portion being in contact with the platen at the second time;

use the first information set to determine a first centroid location, the first centroid location being the first contact area'"'"'s centroid location;

use the second information set to determine a second centroid location, the second centroid location being the second contact area'"'"'s centroid location;

comparing the first centroid location to the second centroid location;

identifying a difference between the first centroid location and the second centroid location; and

calculating a navigating control measurement using the difference; and

using the navigating control measurement to effect a change in a state of a computer system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in state is a change to a cursor displayed on a monitor of the computer system.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in state is a position change to an object displayed on a monitor of the computer system, and the control measurement is a distance between the first centroid location and the second centroid location, and the distance is correlated to the position change.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in state is a velocity of an object displayed on a monitor of the computer system, and the control measurement is a velocity, the velocity being the distance between the first centroid location and the second centroid location divided by a time difference, the time difference being elapsed time between acquiring the first information set and acquiring the second information set.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in state is a movement direction of an object displayed on a monitor of the computer system, and the control measurement is a centroid movement direction, the centroid movement direction being a direction from the first centroid location to the second centroid location, and the object movement direction is correlated to the centroid movement direction.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in state is a change in a computer control variable.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the control variable is an audio volume level.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the control variable is a brightness level.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in state is a change in a graphical user interface.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in state includes selecting an application provided by a computer.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in state includes closing an application provided by a computer.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in state includes interrupting a routine being executed by the computer.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the area-array sensor detects a longitudinal wave that has been reflected.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the longitudinal wave is ultra-sound.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein the area-array sensor detects an electromagnetic wave that has been reflected.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the electromagnetic wave is light.