FORCE SENSING INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING FORCE INFORMATION

• US 20130154948A1
• Filed: 12/14/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Schediwy, Richard, Inscore, Kipling
• Granted Patent: US 8,633,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

The embodiments described herein provide devices, systems and methods that facilitate improved performance in an input device. The input device, for example, may include an input surface configured to rotate about a first axis, a proximity sensor configured to sense an input object in a sensing region proximate to the input surface of the input device, a force sensor configured to sense a force applied to the input surface of the input device, and a processing system communicatively coupled to the proximity sensor and the force sensor. The processing system may be configured to determine a position of the input object in the sensing region, and determine force information for the input object based upon the position of the input object, the force applied to the input surface, and a location of the force sensor relative to the first axis.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

an input surface configured to rotate about a first axis;

a proximity sensor configured to sense an input object in a sensing region proximate to the input surface of the input device;

a force sensor configured to sense a force applied to the input surface of the input device; and

a processing system communicatively coupled to the proximity sensor and the force sensor and configured to;

determine a position of the input object in the sensing region, and

determine force information for the input object based upon the position of the input object, the force applied to the input surface, and a location of the force sensor relative to the first axis.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the first axis is substantially parallel to an edge of the input surface.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to determine input information for the input object based upon at least one of positional information of the input object and the force information for the input object.

4. The input device of claim 3, wherein the processing system is further configured to emulate a type of user input when the input information meets a first input metric.

5. The input device of claim 4, wherein the processing system is further configured to emulate a second type of user input when the input information meets a second input metric.

6. The input device of claim 4, wherein the processing system is further configured to emulate the first type of user input when the input information meets a third input metric and multiple input objects are sensed by the proximity sensor.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein when multiple input objects are detected, a position of the second input object is used to determine force information.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the force sensor is further configured to provide a haptic response to the input surface.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input surface is further configured to rotate about a second axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the input device comprises multiple force sensors, and wherein the processing system is further configured to determine force information for the input object based on a location of the multiple force sensors relative to the first axis and the second axis.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured emulate a user input based upon the input information.

12. A processing system for an input device having an input surface configured to rotate about a first axis and configured to be touched by input objects and a force sensor configured to determine a force applied to the input surface, the processing system comprising:

sensing circuitry configured to sense input in a sensing region of the input device and the force applied to the input surface; and

a determination module configured to;

determine force information for the input object based upon a position of the input object on the input surface, the force applied to the input surface, and a location of the force sensor relative to the first axis.

13. The processing system of claim 12, wherein the determination module is further configured to determine input information for the input object based upon at least one of positional information of the input object and the force information for the input object.

14. The processing system of claim 12, wherein the input surface is further configured to rotate about a second axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis and wherein the determination module is further configured to determine force information for the input object based upon the position of the input object, the force applied to the input surface, and a location of the force sensor relative to the first axis and the second axis.

15. The processing system of claim 13, wherein the processing system is further configured to emulate a first type of user input when the input information meets a first input metric.

16. The processing system of claim 15, wherein the processing system is further configured to emulate a second type of user input when the input information is meets a second input metric

17. A method for determining force information for an input object interacting with an input device having an input surface configured to rotate about an axis and configured to be touched by input objects and a force sensor coupled to the input surface and configured to determine a representation of force applied to the input surface, the method comprising:

determining a position of an input object; and

determining force information for the input object based upon the position of the input object on the input surface, the representation of force applied to the input surface, and a location of the force sensor relative to the axis.

18. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

when multiple input objects are touching the input surface,

determining force information for the input objects based upon a position of the last input object to touch the input surface, the representation of the force applied to the input surface by the last input object to touch the input surface, and the location of the force sensor relative to the axis.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining input information for the input object based upon at least one of positional information of the input object and the force information for the input object.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising emulating a type of user input when the input information meets an input metric.