Noise Adaptive Force Touch

• US 20170031495A1
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, John Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 10,055,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an electronic device having a force sensing device. The force sensing device receives a continuous force input which is translated into a discrete event. In order to more accurately determine the type of discrete event intended by a user, the electronic device is able to determine an amount of noise present in the electronic device and dynamically adjust force threshold values associated with the force sensing device.

Claims

1. A method for translating a continuous force input into a discrete event, the method comprising:

establishing a first force threshold and a second force threshold;

determining one or more operating conditions of the electronic device;

dynamically updating at least one of the first force threshold and the second force threshold based, at least in part, on the one or more operating conditions of the electronic device; and

triggering the discrete event when the continuous force input exceeds the dynamically updated first threshold and falls below the dynamically updated second threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions comprise an operating temperature of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions comprise an ambient temperature surrounding the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions comprise a mechanical vibration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions comprise an amount of sound being played back by the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically updating at least one of the first force threshold and the second force threshold comprises increasing a difference between the first force threshold and the second force threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein dynamically updating at least one of the first force threshold and the second force threshold comprises decreasing a difference between the first force threshold and the second force threshold.

8. A method comprising for determining a type of force input received on a surface of an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving a continuous force input on the surface;

determining, using a force sensing device, whether the continuous force input exceeds a first force input threshold;

when the continuous force input exceeds the first force input threshold, determining, using the force sensing device, when the continuous force input falls below a second force input threshold, the second force threshold being less than the first force input threshold; and

providing, by the force sensing device, a first input signal indicative of a discrete input that is associated with the continuous force input when the continuous force input falls below the second force input threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising dynamically updating at least one of the first force threshold or the second force threshold based, at least in part, on an operating condition of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the operating condition of the electronic device is an amount of noise present in the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a timeframe between when the force input exceeds the first force threshold and when the force input falls below the second force input threshold; and

providing a second input signal indicative of the type of force input received when the timeframe exceeds a timeframe threshold.

12. An electronic device comprising:

at least one sensor;

a force sensing device;

a processing unit; and

a memory coupled to the processing unit, the memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, causes the processing unit to determine a type of input received on a surface of the electronic device, the method comprising;

determining a first force threshold and a second force threshold that correspond to a type of discrete input;

determining, using data obtained by the at least one sensor, one or more operating conditions of the electronic device; and

dynamically updating at least one of the first force threshold and the second force threshold based, at least in part, on the one or more operating conditions of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the force sensing device comprises a strain sensor.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the force sensing device comprises a capacitive sensor.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the force sensing device is associated with a display stack of the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein force sensing device is associated with a mechanical input device.

17. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more operating conditions comprise an application that is executing on the electronic device.

18. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the one or more operating conditions comprise a charging state of the electronic device.

19. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the memory further stores instructions for providing a haptic output on the electronic device when it is determined that a received force input exceeds the dynamically updated first force threshold.

20. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the memory further stores instructions for providing a haptic output on the electronic device when it is determined that a received force input falls below the dynamically updated second force threshold.