Touch sensitive panel detecting hovering finger
First Claim
1. A user input device comprising:
- a communications interface;
a touch sensitive pad having a plurality of touch sensitive elements including;
at least one central touch sensitive element with a first touch sensitive element value; and
a set of touch sensitive elements located about the at least one central touch sensitive element, wherein each of the set of touch sensitive elements have a second touch sensitive element value being lower to that of the at least one central touch sensitive element; and
processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and to the touch sensitive pad, the processing circuitry operable to;
scan the plurality of touch sensitive elements to measure a plurality of touch sensitive element values, which includes the first and the second touch sensitive element values;
initially detect a hovering finger condition by comparing the plurality of touch sensitive element values to a hovering finger threshold pattern, the plurality of touch sensitive element values including the first touch sensitive element value of the at least one central touch sensitive element of the plurality of touch sensitive elements and, upon a favorable comparison to the hovering finger threshold pattern;
alter a sensitivity of the set of the touch sensitive elements and the at least one central touch sensitive element;
provide a distance value of the hovering finger condition relative to the touch sensitive pad; and
provide a three-dimensional position based on the distance value of the hovering finger condition relative to the touch sensitive pad based at least in part upon a plurality of the second touch sensitive element values of the set of touch sensitive elements.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A touch sensitive pad with a plurality of touch sensitive elements and processing circuitry coupled to a communications interface and to the touch sensitive pad for scanning the plurality of touch sensitive elements to measure a plurality of touch sensitive element values. The plurality of touch sensitive element values is compared to a hovering finger threshold pattern. Upon a favorable comparison, a hovering finger condition is determined, and a position of the hovering finger in three-dimensions is detected with respect to the touch sensitive pad. The plurality of touch sensitive element values is compared to a touching finger threshold pattern. Upon a favorable comparison, a touching finger condition is determined, and a position of the touching finger is detected upon the touch sensitive pad.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A user input device comprising:
- a communications interface;
a touch sensitive pad having a plurality of touch sensitive elements including; at least one central touch sensitive element with a first touch sensitive element value; and a set of touch sensitive elements located about the at least one central touch sensitive element, wherein each of the set of touch sensitive elements have a second touch sensitive element value being lower to that of the at least one central touch sensitive element; and processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and to the touch sensitive pad, the processing circuitry operable to; scan the plurality of touch sensitive elements to measure a plurality of touch sensitive element values, which includes the first and the second touch sensitive element values; initially detect a hovering finger condition by comparing the plurality of touch sensitive element values to a hovering finger threshold pattern, the plurality of touch sensitive element values including the first touch sensitive element value of the at least one central touch sensitive element of the plurality of touch sensitive elements and, upon a favorable comparison to the hovering finger threshold pattern; alter a sensitivity of the set of the touch sensitive elements and the at least one central touch sensitive element; provide a distance value of the hovering finger condition relative to the touch sensitive pad; and provide a three-dimensional position based on the distance value of the hovering finger condition relative to the touch sensitive pad based at least in part upon a plurality of the second touch sensitive element values of the set of touch sensitive elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a communications interface;
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11. A method for operating a user input device that has a communications interface, at least one touch sensitive pad having a plurality of touch sensitive elements, and processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and to the at least one touch sensitive pad, the method comprising:
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scanning the plurality of touch sensitive elements to measure a plurality of touch sensitive element values; initially detecting a hovering finger condition by comparing the plurality of touch sensitive element values to a hovering finger threshold pattern, the plurality of touch sensitive element values including a first touch sensitive element value of at least one central touch sensitive element of the plurality of touch sensitive elements and including a second touch sensitive element value of each of a remainder of the plurality of touch sensitive elements, the second touch sensitive element value being lower to that of the at least one central touch sensitive element and, upon a favorable comparison to the hovering finger threshold pattern; altering a sensitivity of the plurality of touch sensitive elements; providing a distance value of the hovering finger condition relative to the touch sensitive pad; and providing a three-dimensional position based on the distance value of the hovering finger condition relative to the touch sensitive pad based at least in part upon the second touch sensitive element value of the each of the remainder of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for operating a user input device that has a communications interface, the method comprising:
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scanning a plurality of touch sensitive elements of a touch sensitive pad to measure a plurality of touch sensitive element values; initially detecting a hovering finger condition by comparing the plurality of touch sensitive element values to a hovering finger threshold pattern, the plurality of touch sensitive element values including a first touch sensitive element value of at least one central touch sensitive element of the plurality of touch sensitive elements and including a second touch sensitive element value of each of a remainder of the plurality of touch sensitive elements, the second touch sensitive element value being lower to that of the at least one central touch sensitive element and, upon a favorable comparison to the hovering finger threshold pattern; altering a sensitivity of the plurality of touch sensitive elements; providing a distance value of the hovering finger condition relative to the touch sensitive pad; and providing a three-dimensional position based on the distance value of the hovering finger condition relative to a plane of the touch sensitive pad based at least in part upon a set of the second touch sensitive element values of the remainder of the plurality of touch sensitive elements located about the at least one central touch sensitive element.
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Specification