Object position detector with edge motion feature and gesture recognition

• US 6,750,852 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• 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:
  US10/351,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/173, 345/174, 345/176, 345/177, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.04, 178/18.05, 178/18.07, 178/20.01
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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

The disclosed device is directed towards a method for recognizing a gesture made on a touch-sensor pad in a touch-sensing system providing X and Y position information to a host comprising detecting a first presence of a conductive object on the touch-sensor pad. The method includes comparing the duration of the first presence with a first reference amount of time, and initiating a first gesture signal to the host if the duration of the first presence is less than the first reference amount of time. The method also includes detecting a second presence of the conductive object on the touch-sensor pad and comparing the duration between the first presence and the second presence with a second reference amount of time. The method includes comparing the duration of the second presence with a third reference amount of time as well as terminating the first gesture signal if the duration between the first presence and the second presence is greater than the second reference amount of time; and maintaining the first gesture signal and repeatedly sending X and Y position information to the host until the occurrence of a terminating event if the amount of time between the first presence and the second presence is less than the second reference amount of time and if the duration of the second presence is greater than the third reference amount of time.

Claims

1. A method for recognizing a gesture made on a touch-sensor pad in a touch-sensing system providing X and Y position information to a host, comprising:

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

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

initiating a first gesture signal to the host if the duration of said first presence is less than said first reference amount of time;

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

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

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

terminating said first gesture signal if the duration between said first presence and said second presence is greater than said second reference amount of time; and

maintaining said first gesture signal and repeatedly sending X and Y position information to said host until the occurrence of a terminating event if the amount of time between said first presence and said second presence is less than said second reference amount of time and if the duration of said second presence is greater than said third reference amount of time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first gesture signal is a virtual-button signal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said terminating event is termination of said second presence.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said terminating event is a fourth reference amount of time after termination of said second presence.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said terminating event comprises detecting a third presence of said conductive object on the touch-sensor pad having a duration less than said first reference amount of time.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

defining at least one function zone on said touch-sensor pad;

determining whether said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within said at least one function zone on said touch-sensor pad; and

initiating said first gesture signal as one of a first type if said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within said at least one function zone and is of a second type if said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies outside of said at least one function zone.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

defining at least a first function zone and a second function zone on said touch-sensor pad;

determining whether said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within one of said first and second function zones on said touch-sensor pad; and

initiating said first gesture signal as one of a first type if said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within said first function zone and is of a second type if said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within said second function zone.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

terminating said first gesture signal and initiating and terminating a second gesture signal if the duration between said first presence and second presence is less than said second reference amount of time and if the duration of said second presence is less than said third reference amount of time.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said first gesture signal is a virtual-button signal.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said terminating event is termination of said second presence.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said terminating event is a fourth reference amount of time after termination of said second presence.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said terminating event comprises detecting a third presence of said conductive object on the touch-sensor pad having a duration less than said first reference amount of time.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

defining at least one function zone on said touch-sensor pad;

determining whether said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within said at least one function zone on said touch-sensor pad; and

initiating said first gesture signal as one of a first type if said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within said at least one function zone and is of a second type if said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies outside of said at least one function zone.

14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

defining at least a first function zone and a second function zone on said touch-sensor pad;

determining whether said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within one of said first and second function zones on said touch-sensor pad, and

initiating said first gesture signal as one of a first type if said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within said first function zone and is of a second type if said first presence is at an X position and a Y position that lies within said second function zone.