Method for multiple gesture detection and verification on a touchpad

• US 7,804,490 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Inventors: Chien, Yung-Lieh, Lii, Jia-Yih
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdin; Shaheda A
• Application Number:
  US11/334,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20070013669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/176, 178 1801- 1809, 340/709
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

In a gesture detection method for a touchpad, various gestures such as tap, drag and double tap are determined by operating an object to touch on the touchpad, leave from the touchpad, and move on the touchpad.

Claims

1. A method for gesture detection on a touchpad, comprising the steps of:

a. verifying that an object touches on the touchpad, including;

monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;

monitoring a variation of the sensed value when the sensed value is greater than a threshold; and

determining that the object touches on the touchpad if the sensed value remains greater than the threshold within a first reference time interval and maintains a continuously increasing trend during the first reference time interval;

b. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of the object on the touchpad;

the direction that the object moves on the touch pad from a reference position if, during a third reference time interval, the sensed value maintains a continuously increasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a first direction and a continuously decreasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a second direction opposite to the first direction;

c. verifying that the object leaves the touchpad if the object is determined not to move on the touchpad in step b;

d. counting a departure time after the object leaves the touchpad; and

e. producing a gesture signal after the departure time reaches a second reference time interval;

wherein the increasing and decreasing trends are characterized by the calculated difference between a present and a subsequent sensed value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of verifying that the object leaves the touchpad comprises the steps of:

monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;

monitoring a variation of the sensed value when the sensed value is less than a threshold; and

determining that the object leaves the touchpad if the sensed value remains less than the threshold within a third reference time interval and maintains a continuously decreasing trend during the third reference time interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture signal comprises a combinational signal of a key-press and a key-release.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the gesture signal comprises a voltage level signal.

5. A method for gesture detection on a touchpad, comprising the steps of:

a. verifying that an object touches on the touchpad, including;

monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;

monitoring a variation of the sensed value when the sensed value is greater than a threshold; and

determining that the object touches on the touchpad if the sensed value remains greater than the threshold within a first reference time interval and maintains a continuously increasing trend during the first reference time interval;

b. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of the object on the touchpad;

the direction that the object moves on the touch pad from a reference position if, during a third reference time interval, the sensed value maintains a continuously increasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a first direction and a continuously decreasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a second direction opposite to the first direction;

c. verifying that the object leaves the touchpad if the object is determined not to move on the touchpad in step b;

d. counting a departure time after the object leaves the touchpad;

e. verifying that the object touches on the touchpad if the touchpad is detected to be touched again before the departure time reaches a second reference time interval;

f. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of whether the object on the touchpad;

g. calculating the position information of the object and initiating a gesture signal if the object moves on the touchpad; and

h. terminating the gesture signal when the object leaves the touchpad;

wherein the increasing and decreasing trends are characterized by the calculated difference between a present and a subsequent sensed value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of verifying that the object leaves the touchpad comprises the steps of:

monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;

monitoring a variation of the sensed value during a time interval when the sensed value is less than a threshold; and

determining that the object leaves the touchpad if the sensed value remains less than the threshold within a third reference time interval and maintains a continuously decreasing trend during the third reference time interval.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the gesture signal comprises a combinational signal of a key-press with the position information.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the position information comprises an absolute coordinate or a relative coordinate.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the position information comprises a relative displacement of the object on the touchpad.

10. A method for gesture detection on a touchpad, comprising the steps of:

a. verifying that an object touches on the touchpad, including;

monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;

monitoring a variation of the sensed value when the sensed value is greater than a threshold;

determining that the object touches on the touchpad if the sensed value remains greater than the threshold within a first reference time interval and maintains a continuously increasing trend during the first reference time interval;

b. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of the object on the touchpad;

the direction that the object moves on the touch pad from a reference position if, during a third reference time interval, the sensed value maintains a continuously increasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a first direction and a continuously decreasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a second direction opposite to the first direction;

c. verifying that the object leaves the touchpad if the object is determined not to move on the touchpad in step b;

d. counting a departure time after the object leaves the touchpad;

e. verifying that the object touches on the touchpad if the touchpad is detected to be touched again before the departure time reaches a second reference time interval;

f. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of the object on the touchpad;

g. verifying that the object leaves the touchpad again if the object is determined not to move on the touchpad in step f; and

h. producing a gesture signal;

wherein the increasing and decreasing trends are characterized by the calculated difference between a present and a subsequent sensed value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of verifying that the object leaves the touchpad comprises the steps of:

monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;

monitoring a variation of the sensed value during a time interval when the sensed value is less than a threshold; and

determining that the object leaves the touchpad if the sensed value remains less than the threshold within a third reference time interval and maintains a continuously decreasing trend during the third reference time interval.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the gesture signal comprises a combinational signal of a double key-press and a key-release.