Object position detector with edge motion feature and gesture recognition

• US 6,610,936 B2
• Filed: 08/12/1997
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Gillespie, David W., Day, Shawn P., Wolf, Ralph C., Allen, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US08/899,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20020093491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,205 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/172, 345/173, 345/179, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 178/18.02, 178/18.06, 178/18.07, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/19.05, 382/119, 382/180, 382/181, 382/182, 382/186, 382/187, 382/188, 382/313, 382/314
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• 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 push gesture made on a touch sensing element of a pointing device providing X and Y pointing information to a host, including the steps of:

detecting a presence of an object on said touch sensing element at a pressure greater than a threshold;

initiating a push gesture signal to the host when said pressure becomes greater than said threshold;

detecting when said pressure of said object falls below a second threshold; and

maintaining said push gesture signal and repeatedly sending X and Y pointing information to said host until said pressure drops below said second threshold.

2. A method for recognizing a touch gesture made on a touch sensing element of a pointing device providing X and Y pointing information to a host, including the steps of:

detecting the presence of an object touching said touch sensing element at a first time;

sending first X and Y pointing information to said host after said first time;

detecting the occurrence of said touch gesture by said object beginning at a second time later than said first time; and

sending second X and Y pointing information to said host at said second time to substantially cancel out said first X and Y pointing information.