Contact, motion and position sensing circuitry providing data entry associated with keypad and touchpad

• US 7,813,774 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Perez-Noguera, Gritsko
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro; Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chambers; Tangela T.
• Application Number:
  US11/465,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/550.1, 455/556.2
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates providing data entry associated with a keypad and a touchpad. An interface can facilitate receiving input data. A combined circuitry component can employ a keypad functionality and a touchpad functionality based on the input data utilizing a single circuitry.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an interface configured to receive an input; and

a combined circuitry component configured to provide one of keyboard functionality or touchpad functionality based on an analysis of the input;

wherein the combined circuitry component includes a layer substantially adjacent to the interface, and between the interface and another layer of the combined circuitry component, the layer configured to at least partly provide both the keyboard functionality and the touchpad functionality.

2. The system of claim 1, the keypad functionality includes a matrix key scanning principle associated with a keypad.

3. The system of claim 1, the touchpad functionality includes a matrix capacitance scanning principle in a variable-capacitance pointing device.

4. The system of claim 1, the touchpad functionality is based at least in part upon position sensing related to the input.

5. The system of claim 1, the input includes at least one of the following:

an indication of at least one of a contact or pressure, an input that can be detected with capacitance, an activation of a key on a keypad, an input associated with a keypad, or an input associated with a touchpad.

6. The system of claim 1, the keypad functionality or the touchpad functionality are configured to respond to utilization of a portion of a keypad.

7. The system of claim 1, the combined circuitry component is configured to utilize at least one of a processor component, an analog multiplexer component, or an analog-to-digital converter component to detect at least one of a surface contact or a key activation associated with a keypad.

8. The system of claim 1, the keypad functionality is configured to respond to a depressing of a key on a keypad.

9. The system of claim 1, the touchpad functionality is configured to detect motion associated with at least a portion of a surface contact related to a key on a keypad.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a portion of a circuit board to implement the keypad functionality or the touchpad functionality, the circuit board includes the layer substantially adjacent to the interface, a dielectric layer, and a bottom layer, the circuit board is coupled to an intelligent component configured to infer at least one of data entry, context related to data entry, handwriting, mode of operation, profiles, settings, preferences, dialect, purposeful surface contact, purposeful surface key depression or pre-programmed gestures.

11. The system of claim 10, the layer substantially adjacent to the interface includes a raised portion for a dome that relates to a key on a keypad.

12. The system of claim 11, the dielectric layer includes at least one opening aligned with the raised portion of the dome.

13. The system of claim 12, the bottom layer and the layer substantially adjacent to the interface include an electrically conductive material and, with the dielectric layer arranged therebetween, are configured to form a capacitor, the capacitor is coupled to a presentation component capable of rendering at least one of a dialogue box, a static control, a drop-down menu, a list box, a pop-up menu, a combo box, a radio button, a check box, a push button, a graphic box, a vertical scroll bar or a horizontal scroll bar.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device configured to utilize at least one of the keypad functionality or the touchpad functionality.

15. The system of claim 14, the device includes at least one of a smart phone, a mobile communication device, a cellular device, a text messenger, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a personal communicator, a handheld device, a handheld gaming device, a portable computer, a desktop, a laptop, a pager, a tablet PC, a communication device, any suitable device utilizing a keypad for data entry, an Internet browsing device, a stereo, a car stereo, a dashboard related to an automobile, or any device employing at least one key.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gesture component configured to respond to a pre-defined gesture.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the gesture component is trainable to assign a motion detected by the interface to at least one of a speed-dial feature, an address book feature, a speaker phone feature or a calculator feature.

18. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving an input at an input interface;

analyzing the input to determine whether to respond with one of a keypad functionality or a touchpad functionality; and

based on the analyzing, providing at least one of the keypad functionality or the touchpad functionality for data entry to a device, at least in part by sensing at a same layer of the device the input to at least partly provide either the keypad functionality or the touchpad functionality, the same layer being arranged substantially adjacent to the input interface, and between the input interface and another layer of the device associated with providing the at least one of the keypad functionality or the touchpad functionality.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

detecting a motion related to a surface contact on a keypad associated with the device; and

detecting a pressure related to a key on the keypad associated with the device.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising responding to a gesture linked to a function of the device.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

an interface configured to receive an input;

a layer configured to operate both in a capacitive sensing mode and in a mode responsive to pressure on a keypad; and

circuit-based logic configured to provide one of a keypad functionality or a touchpad functionality, responsive to the input, at least partly in one of the capacitive sensing mode or the mode responsive to pressure on the keypad;

wherein the layer is substantially adjacent to the interface, and between the interface and another layer associated with the circuit based logic.