Object position detector with edge motion feature and gesture recognition

• US 6,414,671 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Gillespie, David W., Day, Shawn P., Wolf, Ralph C., Allen, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M.
• Application Number:
  US09/046,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/159, 345/160, 345/173, 345/174, 345/358, 345/169, 178/18.01, 178/18, 178/19.01, 178/18.06, 178/20.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.07, 178/19.03, 341/33, 382/119, 382/181, 382/186, 382/187, 382/189
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• 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: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16

Abstract

Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad and for cursor motion are disclosed. Tapping, drags, pushes, extended drags and variable drags gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals indicating the position of a conductive object and distinguishing between the peripheral portion and an inner portion of the touch-sensor pad are also sent to the host.

Claims

1. A method for recognizing a drag gesture made on a touch-sensor pad in a touch-sensing system, including the steps of:

detecting a first presence of an object on the touch-sensor pad;

comparing the duration of said first presence with a first reference amount of time;

generating a drag gesture signal indicating the occurrence of a gesture if the duration of said first presence is less than said first reference amount of time;

detecting a second presence of said object on the touch-sensor pad;

comparing the duration between said first presence and second presence with a second reference amount of time;

maintaining said drag gesture signal and repeatedly generating X and Y information for the duration of said second presence if the amount of time between said first presence and second presence is less than said second reference amount of time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said touch-sensing system sends said drag gesture signal and said X and Y information to a host.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said X and Y information is positional information.

4. A method for recognizing a double tap gesture made on a touch-sensor pad in a touch-sensing system, including the steps of:

detecting a first presence of an object on the touch-sensor pad;

comparing the duration of said first presence with a first reference amount of time;

generating a first signal indicating the occurrence of said gesture if the duration of said first presence is less than said first reference amount of time;

terminating said first signal if a second reference amount of time passes before a second presence is detected;

detecting a second presence of said object on the touch-sensor pad;

comparing the duration of said second presence with a third reference amount of time;

terminating said first signal if the duration of said second presence is less than said third reference amount of time; and

generating a second signal indicating said second gesture after the termination of said first signal.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said touch-sensing system sends said first signal and said second signal to a host.