CAPACITIVE TOUCH CONTROLS LOCKOUT

• US 20130069903A1
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Geiger, Avi R., Hill, Andrew W., Raken, Jan, Evans, Duane Martin, Schultz, John David, Kyriacou, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,754,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

In embodiments of capacitive touch controls lockout, a computing device includes a touch-screen display for user interaction, and includes one or more capacitive touch controls for user selection as a device input to initiate a device action. The computing device also includes a lockout service that is implemented to disable one or more of the capacitive touch controls based on user interaction with the touch-screen display.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a touch-screen display configured for user interaction;

one or more capacitive touch controls configured for user selection as a device input to initiate a device action; and

a memory and a processor to implement a lockout service that is configured to disable one or more of the capacitive touch controls based on user interaction with the touch-screen display.

2. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is configured to receive a service input of the user interaction based on a user input to the touch-screen display.

3. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is configured to receive a service input of the user interaction based on a user input on the touch-screen display adjacent a capacitive touch control.

4. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is configured to receive a service input of the user interaction based on a user slide input direction of approach towards a capacitive touch control.

5. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is configured to receive a service input of the user interaction based on coordinated multiple user inputs on the touch-screen display.

6. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is further configured to re-enable one or more of the capacitive touch controls after a duration of time and no additional user interaction with the touch-screen display.

7. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is further configured to disable a capacitive touch control for a variable duration of time based on a position of the user interaction with the touch-screen display.

8. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is further configured to disable the one or more capacitive touch controls for a duration of time, after which one or more of the capacitive touch controls re-enable without input from the lockout service.

9. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is configured to receive an override input to re-enable a capacitive touch control that has been disabled, the override input received as a held user selection of the capacitive touch control for a duration of time.

10. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is further configured to disable a first capacitive touch control based on a user input to select a second capacitive touch control.

11. A computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lockout service is further configured to initiate active user feedback to indicate that a capacitive touch control has been disabled.

12. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

activating a touch-screen display for user interaction;

enabling one or more capacitive touch controls for user selection as a device input to initiate a device action; and

disabling one or more of the capacitive touch controls based on user interaction with the touch-screen display.

13. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, further comprising receiving a service input of the user interaction based on at least one of:

a user input to the touch-screen display;

a user input on the touch-screen display adjacent a capacitive touch control;

a user slide input direction of approach towards a capacitive touch control;

or

coordinated multiple user inputs on the touch-screen display.

14. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, further comprising re-enabling one or more of the capacitive touch controls after a duration of time and no additional user interaction with the touch-screen display.

15. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, wherein a capacitive touch control is disabled for a variable duration of time based on a position of the user interaction with the touch-screen display.

16. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, wherein the one or more capacitive touch controls are disabled for a duration of time, after which the one or more capacitive touch controls re-enable without an activation input.

17. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, further comprising receiving an override input to re-enable a capacitive touch control that has been disabled, the override input based on a held user selection of the capacitive touch control for a duration of time.

18. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 12, wherein a first capacitive touch control is disabled based on a user input to select a second capacitive touch control.

19. A touch controls lockout system, comprising:

one or more capacitive touch controls configured for user selection as a device input to initiate a device action; and

a lockout service executable by a processor and configured to disable one or more of the capacitive touch controls based on user interaction with a touch-screen display of a computing device.

20. A touch controls lockout system as recited in claim 19, wherein the lockout service is further configured to receive a service input of the user interaction based on at least one of:

a user input to the touch-screen display;

a user input on the touch-screen display adjacent a capacitive touch control;

or

a user slide input direction of approach towards a capacitive touch control.