METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR POWER CONSERVATION IN A MULTI-ZONE INPUT DEVICE

• US 20130120262A1
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Piot, Julien, Merminod, Baptiste, Dayer, Christophe, White, Niall, Harvey, Stephen, Fortin, Frederic, Meisser, Mathieu, Ramond, Nicolas, Mathis, Olivier, Croisonnier, Regis
• Granted Patent: US 9,489,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0332 Ergonomic shaped mouse adjustable to suit one of both hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0334 Ergonomic shaped mouse for vertical grip, whereby the hand controlling the mouse is resting or gripping it with an attitude almost vertical with respect of the working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03541 Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 : for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method includes placing an input device in a passive mode of operation and periodically monitoring a displacement sensor of the input device, receiving an indication of displacement from the displacement sensor, and placing the input device in an active mode of operation characterized by a power consumption level. The method also includes determining a passing of a predetermined time period since receiving the indication of displacement, placing the input device in a second active mode of operation characterized by a second power consumption level less than the power consumption level, and periodically monitoring one or more of a plurality of touch sensors. The method further includes receiving an indication of input from the one or more of the plurality of touch sensors and placing the input device in the active mode of operation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

placing an input device in a passive mode of operation;

periodically monitoring a displacement sensor of the input device;

receiving an indication of displacement from the displacement sensor;

placing the input device in an active mode of operation characterized by a power consumption level;

determining a passing of a predetermined time period since receiving the indication of displacement;

placing the input device in a second active mode of operation characterized by a second power consumption level less than the power consumption level;

periodically monitoring one or more of a plurality of touch sensors;

receiving an indication of input from the one or more of the plurality of touch sensors; and

placing the input device in the active mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a passing of a second predetermined time period since placing the input device in the second active mode of operation; and

placing the input device in the passive mode of operation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the passive mode of operation is characterized by a third power consumption level less than the second power consumption level.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input device comprises an electronic mouse.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a passing of a third predetermined time period since placing the input device in the active mode of operation; and

placing the input device in the second active mode of operation.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the input device comprises a plurality of common drive lines electrically connected to the multiple touch sensors and a plurality of sets of sense lines, each set of sense lines being electrically connected to one of the multiple touch sensors.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein placing the input device in the passive mode of operation comprises placing the plurality of common drive lines in a high impedance state.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the passive mode of operation is characterized by a first frame rate, the second active mode of operation is characterized by a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate, and the active mode of operation is characterized by a third frame rate higher than the second frame rate.

9. A method comprising:

placing a device in a first state of operation characterized by a first motion frame rate and a first touch frame rate;

receiving a signal from a sensor indicating motion of the device;

placing the device in a second state of operation characterized by a second motion frame rate higher than the first motion frame rate;

determining a passing of a predetermined time period since receiving the signal from the sensor indicating motion of the device;

placing the device in the first state of operation;

receiving a signal from a sensor indicating touching of the device; and

placing the device in a third state of operation characterized by a second touch frame rate higher than the first touch frame rate.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

determining a passing of a predetermined time period since receiving the signal indicating touching of the device; and

placing the device in the first state of operation.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the signal indicating touching of the device comprises a signal associated with a touch sensor.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the device further comprises an additional touch sensor, the touch sensor and the additional touch sensor being driven by common drive lines.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving the signal from the sensor indicating motion of the device;

placing the device in the second state of operation.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the second state of operation is characterized by the first touch frame rate.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the third state of operation is characterized by the first motion frame rate.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the device comprises an electronic mouse.

17. A method comprising:

placing a device in a first state of operation characterized by a first motion frame rate and a first touch frame rate;

receiving a first signal indicating activation of a touch sensor of the device;

placing the device in a second state of operation characterized by a second touch frame rate higher than the first touch frame rate;

determining a passing of a predetermined time period since receiving the first signal;

placing the device in the first state of operation;

receiving a second signal indicating motion of the device; and

placing the device in a third state of operation characterized by a second motion frame rate higher than the first motion frame rate.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

determining a passing of a predetermined time period since receiving the second signal; and

placing the computer peripheral device in the second state of operation.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

receiving a subsequent second signal indicating motion of the device;

placing the device in the third state of operation.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the second state of operation is characterized by the first motion frame rate.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the third state of operation is characterized by the second touch frame rate.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein the device comprises an electronic mouse.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein the device further comprises an additional touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor and the additional touch sensor are driven by common drive lines.

24. A method comprising:

providing an input device having a motion sensor, multiple touch pads, and a proximity sensor;

placing the input device in a passive mode of operation;

monitoring the motion sensor to provide a motion value;

monitoring the multiple touch pads to provide a plurality of touch values;

monitoring the proximity sensor to provide a proximity value;

determining an increase in the proximity value; and

placing the input device in an active mode of operation.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the increase in the proximity value is associated with motion of at least a portion of a user'"'"'s hand toward the input device.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein a plurality of drive lines are associated with the multiple touch pads, wherein the plurality of drive lines are operable to provide input signals to the proximity sensor.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein placing the input device in a passive mode of operation comprises placing the plurality of drive lines into a high impedance mode.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the passive mode of operation is characterized by a first frame rate and the active mode of operation is characterized by a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising, in the active mode of operation:

determining that the motion value is substantially zero;

determining that at least one of the plurality of touch values is non-zero; and

thereafter, transmitting a cursor movement command associated with the at least one of the plurality of touch values.

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising, in the active mode of operation:

determining that the motion value is non-zero;

determining that at least one of the plurality of touch values is non-zero; and

thereafter, transmitting a command associated with the at least one of the plurality of touch values.