One dimensional and three dimensional extensions of the slide pad
First Claim
1. A method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device, comprising:
- measuring characteristics between a plurality of sense electrodes opposite a reference electrode on a movable pad;
determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics;
determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad; and
providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device;
wherein said measuring characteristics comprises measuring capacitances as follows;
driving high a first sense electrode and a second sense electrode;
driving low a third sense electrode and a fourth sense electrode; and
measuring a capacitance at the reference electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device includes measuring characteristics (e.g., capacitances) between sense electrodes and a reference electrode on a movable pad, determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the capacitances, determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad, and providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device.
In another embodiment of the invention, a pointing device mounted on a surface of a host device includes sense electrodes, a frame, a movable pad flexibly mounted in an opening of the frame. The movable pad includes a reference electrode opposite the sense electrodes. The opening limits the motion of the movable pad to a single axis on the surface and to an axis into the surface.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device, comprising:
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measuring characteristics between a plurality of sense electrodes opposite a reference electrode on a movable pad; determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics; determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad; and providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device; wherein said measuring characteristics comprises measuring capacitances as follows; driving high a first sense electrode and a second sense electrode; driving low a third sense electrode and a fourth sense electrode; and measuring a capacitance at the reference electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A pointing device mounted on a surface of a host device, comprising:
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a plurality of sense electrodes; a movable pad opposite the plurality of sense electrodes, the movable pad comprising a reference electrode; and a frame defining an opening, wherein the movable pad is flexibly mounted within the opening and the opening limiting motions of the movable pad on the surface along only one axis; springs coupling the movable pad to the frame; and a controller coupled to the plurality of sense electrodes and the reference electrode, the controller being configured to; measure characteristics between the plurality of sense electrodes opposite the reference electrode; determine three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics; determine the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad; and providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the host device.
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10. A method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device, comprising:
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measuring characteristics between a plurality of sense electrodes opposite a reference electrode on a movable pad; determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics; determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad; and providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device; wherein said determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics comprises;
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11. A method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device, comprising:
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measuring characteristics between a plurality of sense electrodes opposite a reference electrode on a movable pad; determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics; determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad; and providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device; wherein said determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics comprises;
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Specification