Method of operating a multi-zone input device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating an input device in conjunction with a host device, the method comprising:
- monitoring a displacement sensor configured to detect movement of the input device relative to a work surface;
monitoring a first touch zone of the input device, the first touch zone configured to detect a touch movement along a surface of the first touch zone;
monitoring a second touch zone of the input device, the second touch zone configured to detect a touch movement along a surface of the second touch zone, the second touch zone being physically separate from the first touch zone, such that a portion of a housing of the input device separates the two touch zones;
simultaneously detecting no movement by the displacement sensor and detecting a touch movement signal on the surface of the first touch zone;
inhibiting the first input command based on the combination of detecting movement by the displacement sensor and detecting the touch movement on the first touch zone;
determining that no movement is detected along the second touch zone of the input device;
determining a first input command based on the combination of detecting no movement by the displacement sensor, detecting the touch movement gesture on the first touch zone, and detecting no touch movement gesture on the second touch zone;
andtransmitting a signal associated with the first input command from the input device to the host device.
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Abstract
A method of operating an input device in conjunction with a host device includes determining that the input device is in a stationary state and receiving a first signal from a first sense zone of the input device. The method also includes determining an input command based on determining that the input device is in the stationary state and the first signal and transmitting a signal associated with the input command from the input device to the host device.
87 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of operating an input device in conjunction with a host device, the method comprising:
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monitoring a displacement sensor configured to detect movement of the input device relative to a work surface; monitoring a first touch zone of the input device, the first touch zone configured to detect a touch movement along a surface of the first touch zone; monitoring a second touch zone of the input device, the second touch zone configured to detect a touch movement along a surface of the second touch zone, the second touch zone being physically separate from the first touch zone, such that a portion of a housing of the input device separates the two touch zones; simultaneously detecting no movement by the displacement sensor and detecting a touch movement signal on the surface of the first touch zone; inhibiting the first input command based on the combination of detecting movement by the displacement sensor and detecting the touch movement on the first touch zone; determining that no movement is detected along the second touch zone of the input device; determining a first input command based on the combination of detecting no movement by the displacement sensor, detecting the touch movement gesture on the first touch zone, and detecting no touch movement gesture on the second touch zone; and transmitting a signal associated with the first input command from the input device to the host device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating an input device in conjunction with a host device, the method comprising:
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determining that a first sense zone of the input device is in an unactivated state, the first sense zone being a two-dimensional touch sensor; receiving a signal associated with a click action from a second sense zone, the second sense zone being a two-dimensional touch sensor, the second touch zone configured to detect a touch movement along a surface of the second touch zone, the second touch zone being physically separate from the first touch zone, such that a portion of a housing of the input device separates the two touch zones; receiving a motion signal from a displacement sensor comprising a second signal associated with movement of the input device in one or two dimensions relative to a surface; determining an input command based on determining substantially simultaneously that the first sense zone is in the unactivated state, the second sense zone is providing the click action, and the displacement sensor is providing the motion signal; and transmitting a third signal associated with the input command from the input device to the host device. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method comprising:
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providing an input device having a displacement sensor and a plurality of two-dimensional touch pads; receiving a motion signal from the displacement sensor comprising a signal associated with movement of the input device in one or two dimensions relative to a surface; receiving a first touch signal from one of the plurality of two-dimensional touch pads, wherein the first touch signal is associated with at least one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation; receiving a second touch signal from another of the plurality of two-dimensional touch pads, wherein the second touch signal is associated with a horizontal scrolling motion; determining that the motion signal, the first touch signal, and the second touch signal are received substantially simultaneously; and generating and transmitting a control signal corresponding to the displacement sensor signal, the first touch signal, and the second touch signal, wherein the control signal is associated with at least one of a forward action or a back action to an electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An input device comprising:
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a processor; a first touch sensor coupled to the processor, the first touch sensor configured to detect a touch along two-dimensions on the surface of the first touch sensor; a second touch sensor configured to detect a touch movement along a surface of the second touch sensor, the second touch sensor being physically separate from the first touch sensor, such that a portion of a housing of the input device separates the two touch sensors; and a displacement sensor to detect movement of the input device along a work surface, wherein the processor is configured to generate an input command in response to substantially simultaneously detecting a touch or gesture on the first touch sensor, detecting no gesture on the second touch sensor and detecting no movement of the input device by the displacement sensor.
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Specification