Input device and method for adjusting a parameter of an electronic system

• US 8,174,504 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Arthur, Kevin, Mason, William R. III, Day, Shawn P.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIESY, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US12/391,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20100097332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Input devices and methods are provided for effecting adjustment, in which a sensing system is adapted to detect motion of a first object and a second object in a sensing region and a processing system coupled to the sensing system. The processing system is adapted to detect a change in position of the first object relative to the second object, the first and second objects being simultaneously present in the sensing region, and effect a change in a parameter in response to a motion of the first object in the sensing region.

Claims

1. A method for effecting adjustment of a parameter comprising:

detecting a change in position of a first object relative to a second object in a sensing region, the first object and the second object being simultaneously present in the sensing region;

determining a first measurement descriptive of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region;

indicating a first adjustment to the parameter in response to the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region, wherein a magnitude of the first adjustment to the parameter is based on the first measurement;

detecting a transition event;

detecting a motion of the first object in the sensing region after the transition event;

determining a second measurement descriptive of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicating a second adjustment to the parameter in response to the detecting the motion of the first object and a continuous presence of at least one of the first and second objects in the sensing region between a beginning of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region and a beginning of the motion of the first object in the sensing region, wherein a magnitude of the second adjustment to the parameter is based on the second measurement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition event comprises removal of at least one of the first and second objects from the sensing region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition event comprises the first measurement passing a threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a first measurement descriptive of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region comprises:

determining a change in distance descriptive of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining a first measurement descriptive of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region comprises:

determining a change in angle descriptive of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second motion of the first object in the sensing region after the detecting the motion of the first object in the sensing region, wherein the second motion opposes the first motion;

determining a third measurement descriptive of the second motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicating a third adjustment to the parameter in response to the detecting the second motion of the first object, the third adjustment to the parameter being based on the third measurement, wherein the third adjustment to the parameter does not oppose the second adjustment to the parameter.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second motion of the first object in the sensing region after the detecting the motion of the first object in the sensing region, wherein the second motion opposes the first motion;

determining a third measurement descriptive of the second motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicating a third adjustment to the parameter in response to the detecting the second motion of the first object, the third adjustment to the parameter being based on the third measurement, wherein the third adjustment to the parameter opposes the second adjustment to the parameter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is selected from a group consisting of:

a zoom function to an image displayed on a display, and a rotate function to an image displayed on a display.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second measurement is a path length of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region.

10. A method for effecting adjustment of a parameter using a sensor device having a sensing region, the method comprising:

detecting a change in an angle descriptive of a position of a first object relative to a second object in the sensing region, the first object and the second object being simultaneously present in the sensing region;

determining a first measurement descriptive of the change in the angle descriptive of the position of the first object relative to the second object;

indicating a first adjustment in response to the change in the angle, wherein a magnitude of the first adjustment is based on the first measurement;

entering an adjustment mode for effecting adjustment of the parameter after the detecting the change in an angle;

detecting a motion of the first object in the sensing region after the detecting the change in the angle;

determining a second measurement descriptive of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicating a second adjustment to the parameter after the entering the adjustment mode in response to the detecting the motion of the first object in the sensing region, wherein a magnitude of the second adjustment to the parameter is based on the second measurement.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the entering the adjustment mode comprises:

in response to the change in the angle passing a threshold, entering the adjustment mode.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the measurement is a path length of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region.

13. An input device comprising:

a sensing system adapted to detect the presence and motion of a first object and a second object in a sensing region;

a processing system coupled to the sensing system, the processing system being adapted to;

determine a first measurement descriptive of a change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region;

indicate a first adjustment to a parameter in response to the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region, wherein a magnitude of the first adjustment to the parameter is based on the first measurement;

detect a transition event occurring after the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region;

determine a second measurement descriptive of a motion of the first object relative to the sensing region, the motion of the first object occurring after the detected transition event; and

indicate a second adjustment to the parameter in response to the motion of the first object and a continuous presence of at least one of the first and second objects in the sensing region between a beginning of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region and a beginning of the motion of the first object in the sensing region, wherein a magnitude of the second adjustment to the parameter is based on the second measurement.

14. The input device of claim 13, wherein the transition event comprises removal of at least one of the first and second objects from the sensing region.

15. The input device of claim 13, wherein the transition event comprises the first measurement passing a threshold.

16. The input device of claim 13, wherein the first measurement descriptive of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region comprises a change in distance.

17. The input device of claim 13, wherein the first measurement descriptive of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region comprises a change in angle.

18. The input device of claim 13, wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

determine a third measurement descriptive of a second motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicate a third adjustment to the parameter in response to the second motion of the first object, the third adjustment to the parameter being based on the third measurement, wherein the third adjustment to the parameter does not oppose the second adjustment to the parameter.

19. The input device of claim 13, wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

determine a third measurement descriptive of a second motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicate a third adjustment to the parameter in response to the second motion of the first object, the third adjustment to the parameter being based on the third measurement, wherein the third adjustment to the parameter opposes the second adjustment to the parameter.

20. The input device of claim 13, wherein the parameter is selected from a group consisting of:

a zoom function to an image displayed on a display, and a rotate function to an image displayed on a display.

21. The input device of claim 13, wherein at least the second measurement is a path length of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region.

22. An input device comprising:

a sensing system adapted to detect the presence and motion of a first object and a second object in a sensing region;

a processing system coupled to the sensing system, the processing system being adapted to;

detect a change in an angle descriptive of a position of a first object relative to a second object in the sensing region, the first object and the second object being simultaneously present in the sensing region;

determine a first measurement descriptive of the change in the angle descriptive of the position of the first object relative to the second object;

indicate a first adjustment in response to the change in the angle, wherein a magnitude of the first adjustment is based on the first measurement;

enter an adjustment mode to effect continued adjustment of the parameter after the detecting the change in the angle;

detect a motion of the first object in the sensing region after the detecting the change in the angle;

determine a measurement descriptive of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicate continued adjustment to the parameter in response to the detecting the motion of the first object in the sensing region wherein a magnitude of the adjustment to the parameter is based on the measurement.

23. The input device of claim 22, wherein the processing system is further adapted to enter the adjustment mode in response to the change in the angle.

24. The input device of claim 22, wherein the measurement is a path length of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region.

25. A program product comprising:

an input device program adapted to;

detect a change in position of a first object relative to a second object in a sensing region, the first object and the second object being simultaneously present in the sensing region;

determine a first measurement descriptive of the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region;

indicate a first adjustment to a parameter in response to the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region, wherein a magnitude of the first adjustment to the parameter is based on the first measurement;

detect a transition event after the change in position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region;

detect a motion of the first object in the sensing region after the transition event;

determine a second measurement descriptive of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicate a second adjustment to the parameter in response to the motion of the first object and a continuous presence of at least one of the first and second objects in the sensing region between a beginning of the transition event and a beginning of the motion of the first object in the sensing region, wherein a magnitude of the second adjustment to the parameter is based on the second measurement; and

non-transitory computer-readable media bearing the input device program.

26. The program product of claim 25, wherein the transition event comprises removal of at least one of the first and second objects from the sensing region.

27. The program product of claim 25, wherein the transition event comprises the first measurement passing a threshold, and wherein the first measurement comprises at least one of a change in an angle descriptive of a position of the first object relative to the second object in the sensing region and a distance separating the first and second objects.

28. The program product of claim 25, wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

determine a third measurement descriptive of a second motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicate a third adjustment to the parameter in response to the second motion of the first object and a continuous presence of at least one of the first and second objects in the sensing region between a beginning of the motion of the first object in the sensing region and a beginning of the second motion of the first object in the sensing region, the third adjustment to the parameter being based on the third measurement.

29. The program product of claim 25, wherein the second measurement is a path length of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region.

30. A method for effecting adjustment of a parameter comprising:

detecting a change in position of a first object and a second object relative to a sensing region, the first object and the second object being simultaneously present in the sensing region;

determining a first measurement descriptive of the change in position of the first object and the second object relative to the sensing region;

indicating a first adjustment to the parameter in response to the change in position of the first object and the second object relative to the sensing region, wherein a magnitude of the first adjustment to the parameter is based on the first measurement;

detecting a transition event after detecting the change in position of the first object and the second object relative to the sensing region;

detecting a motion of the first object in the sensing region after the detecting the transition event;

determining a second measurement descriptive of the motion of the first object relative to the sensing region; and

indicating a second adjustment to the parameter in response to the detecting the motion of the first object and a continuous presence of at least one of the first and second objects in the sensing region between a beginning of the change in position of the first object and the second object relative to the sensing region and a beginning of the motion of the first object in the sensing region, wherein a magnitude of the second adjustment to the parameter is based on the second measurement.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the transition event comprises removal of at least one of the first and second objects from the sensing region.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the transition event comprises the first measurement passing a threshold.