Methods and apparatus for distinguishing between touch system manipulators

• US 8,514,187 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dickinson, Timothy, Alberth, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Bibbins, Latanya
• Application Number:
  US12/570,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04186 Touch location disambiguation

Abstract

A touch system user interface determines a signal profile associated with the use of a manipulator with a touch sensor component. The signal profile corresponding to a plurality of signal levels along a surface of the touch sensor component. The system calculates a geometrical attribute of that portion of the signal profile that exceeds a threshold signal value (e.g., the area or shape of the region) and determines a type of the manipulator (e.g., stylus, human finger, etc.) based on the calculated geometrical attribute.

Claims

1. A user interface method comprising:

determining a signal profile associated with the use of a manipulator with a touch sensor component, the signal profile corresponding to a plurality of signal levels along a surface of the touch sensor component;

calculating a geometrical attribute of that portion of the signal profile having a value that exceeds a threshold signal value; and

determining a type of the manipulator based on the calculated geometrical attribute;

wherein calculating the geometrical attribute includes calculating a first cross-sectional area of the signal profile at a first threshold signal value, and calculating a second cross-sectional area of the signal profile at a second threshold signal value; and

wherein determining the type of the manipulator includes determining that the type of the manipulator is a first type when the first cross-sectional area is substantially equal to a first threshold cross-sectional area, and determining that the type of the manipulator is a second type when the second cross-sectional area is substantially equal to a second threshold cross-sectional area.

2. The user interface method of claim 1, wherein the geometric attribute is selected from the group consisting of perimeter shape and planar area.

3. The user interface method of claim 1, further including selecting an input mode from a plurality of input modes based on the type of the manipulator.

4. The user interface method of claim 3, further including selecting a default mode from the plurality of input modes after a predetermined period of inactivity of the touch sensor component.

5. The user interface method of claim 1, further including selecting a first input mode when the manipulator is the first type, and selecting a second input mode when the manipulator is the second type.

6. The user interface method of claim 5, further including reporting a plurality of touch system events using the selected input mode until the cross-sectional area of the signal profile at a threshold signal value is not substantially equal to the threshold cross-sectional area corresponding to the selected input mode.

7. The user interface method of claim 5, wherein the first type corresponds to a human finger, and the second type corresponds to a stylus.

8. The user interface method of claim 7, wherein the first threshold signal value is greater than the second threshold signal value.

9. The user interface method of claim 1, wherein determining the signal profile includes receiving a signal profile associated with a capacitive touch sensor component.

10. A touch system comprising:

a touch sensor component; and

a processor configured to receive a sensor signal from the touch sensor component;

wherein the processor includes a touch detection module configured to determine a signal profile associated with the sensor signal, a signature computation module which is configured to calculate an attribute of the signal profile at a threshold signal value, and a manipulator determination module, which is configured to determine a type of the manipulator based on the computed attribute;

wherein the calculated attribute is a cross-sectional area, and the signal computation module of the processor is further configured to;

determine a first cross-sectional area of the signal profile at a first threshold signal value, and calculate a second cross-sectional area of the signal profile at a second threshold signal value;

determine that the type of the manipulator is a first type when the first cross-sectional area is substantially equal to a first threshold cross-sectional; and

determine that the type of the manipulator is a second type when the second cross-sectional area is substantially equal to a second threshold cross-sectional area.

11. The touch system of claim 10, wherein the processor includes a mode selection module configured to select one of a plurality of input detection modes based upon the type of the manipulator.

12. The touch system of claim 11, wherein the mode selection module of the processor is further configured to select a default mode from the plurality of input modes after a predetermined period of inactivity of the touch sensor component.

13. The touch system of claim 10, wherein the mode selection module of the processor is further configured to select a first input mode when the manipulator is the first type, and select a second input mode when the manipulator is the second type.

14. The touch system of claim 13, wherein the touch detection module of the processor is further configured to report a plurality of touch system events using the selected input mode until the cross-sectional area of the signal profile at a threshold signal value is not substantially equal to the threshold cross-sectional area corresponding to the selected input mode.

15. The touch system of claim 13, wherein the processor further includes a gain controller configured to scale a gain associated with the touch sensor component based on the selected mode.

16. The touch system of claim 13, wherein the first type corresponds to a human finger, and the second type corresponds to a stylus.

17. The touch system of claim 10, wherein one or more of the touch detection module, the signature computation module, and the manipulator determination module includes one or more sets of stored instructions for execution by a microprocessor.

18. A wireless communication device including a touch system, the touch system comprising:

a touch sensor component for detecting an interaction with a touch sensor surface and producing a sensor signal associated therewith; and

a processor configured to receive the sensor signal from the touch sensor component;

wherein the processor includes a touch detection module configured to determine a signal profile associated with the sensor signal, a cross sectional area computation module configured to calculate a geometrical attribute of the signal profile; and

a manipulator determination module configured to determine a type of the manipulator based on the computed geometrical attribute;

wherein the computed geometrical attribute is a cross-sectional area, and the processor is further configured to;

determine a first cross-sectional area of the signal profile at a first threshold signal value, and calculate a second cross-sectional area of the signal profile at a second threshold signal value;

determine that the type of the manipulator is a first type when the first cross-sectional area is substantially equal to a first threshold cross-sectional; and

determine that the type of the manipulator is a second type when the second cross-sectional area is substantially equal to a second threshold cross-sectional area.