Proximity sensor device and method with adjustment selection tabs

• US 7,825,797 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Zawde, Fidel, Trent, Ray Alexander Jr., Feland, John, Huie, Mark, Le, Thuy T. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US11/445,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20070283263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345173-179, 340/539.23, 340/539.22, 340/531, 340/461, 715/700, 715/727, 715/728, 715762-764, 715/771, 715/787, 715862-864, 341/20, 341/33, 341/34, 341/35, 178 1801- 2001
• US Class Current: 340/539.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A proximity sensor device and method is provided that facilitates improved usability. Specifically, the proximity sensor device and method provides the ability for a user to easily select the type of adjustment inputted by the proximity sensor device. In one embodiment, the proximity sensor device includes an adjustment region and one or more start tabs adjacent to the adjustment region. The proximity sensor also includes a processor adapted to indicate adjustment of a first type responsive to sensed object motion originating in a first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region. Thus, a user can cause an adjustment of the first type by introducing an object proximate the first start tab, and moving the object from the first start tab and into the adjustment region.

Claims

1. A proximity sensor device, the proximity sensor device comprising:

a sensor, the sensor adapted to detect object motion proximate the sensor, the

sensor including;

an adjustment region;

a first start tab adjacent to the adjustment region; and

a processor, the processor coupled to the sensor and adapted to indicate adjustment of a first type responsive to sensed object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a first of two opposite directions along a path proximate the adjustment region, where the adjustment of the first type is continued in response to the object motion continuing in the adjustment region in the first of the two opposite directions, and where the processor is further adapted to indicate adjustment of another type responsive to sensed object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a second of the two opposite directions.

2. The proximity sensor device of claim 1 wherein the processor is further adapted to indicate adjustment of an additional type responsive to object motion originating in the adjustment region.

3. The proximity sensor device of claim 1 wherein:

the sensor further comprises a second start tab adjacent to the adjustment region; and

wherein the processor is adapted to indicate adjustment of a second type responsive to object motion originating in the second start tab and continuing in the adjustment region where the adjustment of the second type is continued in response to the object motion continuing in the adjustment region.

4. The proximity sensor device of claim 2 wherein the adjustment of a first type comprises adjusting a value of a first parameter, and wherein the adjustment of an additional type comprises adjusting a value of a second parameter.

5. The proximity sensor device of claim 4 wherein the first parameter comprises playback speed and wherein the second parameter comprises volume control.

6. The proximity sensor device of claim 1 wherein the adjustment of a first type comprises a user interface navigation.

7. The proximity sensor device of claim 6 wherein the user interface navigation comprises at least one of scrolling, cursor control and menu navigation.

8. The proximity sensor device of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor device is implemented to input to an electronic device.

9. The proximity sensor device of claim 1 wherein the adjustment region has a substantially circular shape.

10. The proximity sensor device of claim 1 wherein the adjustment region has a substantially rectangular shape.

11. The proximity sensor device of claim 1 wherein the adjustment region has a substantially annular shape that surrounds an interior region.

12. The proximity sensor device of claim 11 further comprising at least one input button in the interior region.

13. The proximity sensor device of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor adapted to detect object motion capacitively.

14. The proximity sensor device of claim 1 wherein adjustment of the another type is opposite adjustment of the first type.

15. A proximity sensor device, the proximity sensor device comprising:

a capacitive sensor, the capacitive sensor adapted to detect object motion proximate the sensor capacitively, the capacitive sensor including;

an adjustment region;

a first start tab extending from the adjustment region;

a second start tab extending from the adjustment region; and

a processor, the processor coupled to the capacitive sensor and adapted to indicate adjustment of a first type responsive to object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a first of two opposite directions along a path proximate the adjustment region, where the adjustment of the first type is continued in response to the object motion continuing in the adjustment region in the first of the two opposite directions, and where the processor is further adapted to indicate adjustment of another type responsive to sensed object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a second of the two opposite directions, the processor further adapted to indicate adjustment of a second type responsive to object motion originating in the second start tab and continuing in the adjustment region, where the adjustment of the second type is continued in response to the object motion continuing in the adjustment region.

16. The proximity sensor device of claim 15 wherein the processor is further adapted to indicate selection of an item responsive to object lifting from the adjustment region.

17. The proximity sensor device of claim 15 wherein the adjustment of the first type is changeable responsive to other user input.

18. The proximity sensor device of claim 17 wherein the other user input comprises at least one of pressing a tab key, using multiple input objects and using multiple taps.

19. A input device for a media player, the input device comprising:

a capacitive sensor, the capacitive sensor adapted to detect object motion proximate the sensor capacitively, the capacitive sensor including;

an annular-shaped adjustment region, the annular-shaped adjustment region having an outer perimeter and an inner region;

a first start tab extending from the outer perimeter of the annular-shaped adjustment region;

a second start tab extending from the outer-perimeter of the annular shaped adjustment region;

a button in the inner region; and

a processor, the processor coupled to the capacitive sensor and adapted to indicate an increase in media player volume responsive to object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a first direction, the processor further adapted to indicate a decrease in the media player volume responsive to object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a second direction, the processor further adapted to indicate a change in media player playback speed responsive to object motion originating in the second start tab and continuing in the adjustment region.

20. The proximity sensor device of claim 19 wherein the button comprises a play button, and wherein the processor is adapted to indicate a change in playing status responsive to object motion proximate the play button.

21. The proximity sensor device of claim 20 wherein the change in playing status comprises a change to playing from pausing when a current playing status is pausing, and wherein the change in playing status comprises a change from pausing to playing when the current playing status is playing.

22. The proximity sensor device of claim 19 wherein the processor is adapted to indicate an increase in media player volume responsive to object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a first direction, and wherein the processor is adapted to indicate a decrease in media player volume responsive to object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a second direction.

23. The proximity sensor device of claim 19 wherein the processor is adapted to indicate a fast forward change in media player playback speed responsive to object motion originating in the second start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in the first direction, and wherein the processor is adapted to indicate a reverse change in media player playback speed responsive to object motion originating in the second start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in the second direction.

24. A method of indicating adjustment in a device, the method comprising:

monitoring to detect object motion proximate a proximity sensor, the proximity sensor including an adjustment region, a first start tab adjacent to the adjustment region; and

selectively indicating adjustment of a first type responsive to object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a first of two opposite directions along a path proximate the adjustment region, where the adjustment of the first type is continued in response to the object motion continuing in the adjustment region in the first of the two opposite directions, and where the processor is further adapted to indicate adjustment of another type responsive to sensed object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a second of the two opposite directions.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the proximity sensor further comprises a second start tab adjacent to the adjustment region, and further comprising the step of selectively indicating adjustment of a second type responsive to object motion originating in the second start tab and continuing in the adjustment region, where the adjustment of the second type is continued in response to the object motion continuing in the adjustment region.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of selectively indicating adjustment of an additional type responsive to object motion originating in the adjustment region.

27. A program product comprising:

a) a proximity sensor program, the proximity sensor program adapted to indicate adjustment of a first type responsive to object motion originating in a first start tab of a proximity sensor device and continuing in a first of two opposite directions along a path proximate an adjustment region of the proximity sensor device, where the adjustment of the first type is continued in response to the object motion continuing in the adjustment region in the first of the two opposite directions, and where the processor is further adapted to indicate adjustment of another type responsive to sensed object motion originating in the first start tab and continuing in the adjustment region in a second of the two opposite directions; and

b) computer-readable media bearing said proximity sensor program.

28. The program product of claim 27 wherein the proximity sensor program is further adapted to selectively indicate adjustment of a second type responsive to object motion originating in a second start tab of the proximity sensor device and continuing in the adjustment region of the proximity sensor device, where the adjustment of the second type is continued in response to the object motion continuing in the adjustment region.

29. The program product of claim 27 wherein the proximity sensor program is further adapted to selectively indicate adjustment of an additional type responsive to object motion originating in the adjustment region of the proximity sensor device.