Device, method, and user interface for processing intensity of touch contacts

• US 9,542,037 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Ledet, Raleigh J., Dixon, Ryan S., Beck, Nils T., Wells, Nicole M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US14/868,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20160259470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An electronic device detects a first touch input on a first touch region of a touch-sensitive surface, and identifies a first intensity model identifier associated with the first touch region. In response to detecting the first touch input, the device determines a first intensity of the first touch input on the first touch region; determines a first touch characterization parameter; and, subsequently sends to a first software application the first touch characterization parameter. The device also detects a second touch input on a second touch region of the touch-sensitive surface, and identifies a second intensity model identifier associated with the second touch region. In response to detecting the second touch input, the device determines a second intensity of the second touch input on the second touch region; determines a second touch characterization parameter; and, subsequently sends to the first software application the second touch characterization parameter.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface, wherein the electronic device includes one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface and the electronic device stores a first software application;

displaying a user interface that includes a first display region and a second display region that is distinct from the first display region;

while displaying the user interface;

detecting a first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region;

in response to detecting the first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region;

determining a first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and a first set of one or more thresholds associated with the first display region, determining a first touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the first touch characterization parameter, sending first touch information to the first software application, wherein the first touch information includes the first touch characterization parameter;

detecting a second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region;

in response to detecting the second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region;

determining a second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and a second set of one or more thresholds associated with the second display region, determining a second touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the second touch characterization parameter, sending second touch information to the first software application, wherein the second touch information includes the second touch characterization parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first display region corresponds to a user interface of the first software application and the second display region corresponds to a user interface of a second software application.

3. The method of claim 1, including identifying a first intensity model identifier, associated with the first display region of the user interface, from a plurality of predefined intensity model identifiers;

in response to detecting the first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region, determining the first touch characterization parameter in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the first intensity model identifier;

identifying a second intensity model identifier, associated with the second display region of the user interface, from the plurality of predefined intensity model identifiers; and

,

in response to detecting the second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region, determining the second touch characterization parameter in accordance with the second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the second intensity model identifier.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the first display region overlaps with at least a portion of the second display region.

5. The method of claim 4, including:

detecting a third touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to an overlap region of the user interface, corresponding to overlap of the first display region and the second display region of the user interface;

selecting an intensity model identifier between the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier for the overlap region of the user interface; and

,

in response to detecting the third touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

determining a third intensity applied by the third touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the third intensity applied by the third touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the selected intensity model identifier, determining a third touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the third touch characterization parameter, sending third touch information to the first software application, wherein the third touch information includes the third touch characterization parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein both the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier are associated with priorities applicable to the overlap region of the user interface, and the intensity model identifier is selected based on the priorities of the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier for the overlap region.

7. The method of claim 5, including:

foregoing determination of a touch characterization parameter in accordance with the third intensity and one or more thresholds associated with an intensity model identifier that has not been selected between the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first intensity model identifier has been selected for the overlap region, the method including:

subsequent to detecting the third touch input,

detecting a fourth touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the overlap region of the user interface; and

selecting the second intensity model identifier for the overlap region; and

, in response to detecting the fourth touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

determining a fourth intensity applied by the fourth touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the fourth intensity applied by the fourth touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the one or more thresholds associated with the second intensity model identifier, determining a fourth touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the touch characterization parameter, sending fourth touch information to the first software application, wherein the fourth touch information includes the fourth touch characterization parameter.

9. The method claim 3, including:

in response to detecting the first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region, generating a first tactile output in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the one or more thresholds associated with the first intensity model identifier; and

,

in response to detecting the second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region, generating a second tactile output in accordance with the second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the one or more thresholds associated with the second intensity model identifier.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive surface;

one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface;

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs and a first software application, wherein the one or more programs are configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a user interface that includes a first display region and a second display region that is distinct from the first display region;

while displaying the user interface;

detecting a first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region;

in response to detecting the first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region;

determining a first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and a first set of one or more thresholds associated with the first display region, determining a first touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the first touch characterization parameter, sending first touch information to the first software application, wherein the first touch information includes the first touch characterization parameter;

detecting a second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region;

in response to detecting the second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region;

determining a second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and a second set of one or more thresholds associated with the second display region, determining a second touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the second touch characterization parameter, sending second touch information to the first software application, wherein the second touch information includes the second touch characterization parameter.

11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

identifying a first intensity model identifier, associated with the first display region of the user interface, from a plurality of predefined intensity model identifiers;

in response to detecting the first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region, determining the first touch characterization parameter in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the first intensity model identifier;

identifying a second intensity model identifier, associated with the second display region of the user interface, from the plurality of predefined intensity model identifiers; and

,

in response to detecting the second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region, determining the second touch characterization parameter in accordance with the second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the second intensity model identifier.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to detecting the first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region, generating a first tactile output in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the one or more thresholds associated with the first intensity model identifier; and

,

in response to detecting the second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region, generating a second tactile output in accordance with the second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the one or more thresholds associated with the second intensity model identifier.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the first display region overlaps with at least a portion of the second display region.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

detecting a third touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to an overlap region of the user interface, corresponding to overlap of the first display region and the second display region of the user interface;

selecting an intensity model identifier between the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier for the overlap region of the user interface; and

,

in response to detecting the third touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

determining a third intensity applied by the third touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the third intensity applied by the third touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the selected intensity model identifier, determining a third touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the third touch characterization parameter, sending third touch information to the first software application, wherein the third touch information includes the third touch characterization parameter.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein both the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier are associated with priorities applicable to the overlap region of the user interface, and the intensity model identifier is selected based on the priorities of the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier for the overlap region.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

foregoing determination of a touch characterization parameter in accordance with the third intensity and one or more thresholds associated with an intensity model identifier that has not been selected between the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the first intensity model identifier has been selected for the overlap region, and the one or more programs include instructions for:

subsequent to detecting the third touch input,

detecting a fourth touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the overlap region of the user interface; and

selecting the second intensity model identifier for the overlap region; and

, in response to detecting the fourth touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

determining a fourth intensity applied by the fourth touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the fourth intensity applied by the fourth touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the one or more thresholds associated with the second intensity model identifier, determining a fourth touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the touch characterization parameter, sending fourth touch information to the first software application, wherein the fourth touch information includes the fourth touch characterization parameter.

18. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the first display region corresponds to a user interface of the first software application and the second display region corresponds to a user interface of a second software application.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs including instructions, which, when executed by an electronic device with a touch-sensitive surface and one or more sensors to detect intensity of contacts with the touch-sensitive surface, cause the device to:

display a user interface that includes a first display region and a second display region that is distinct from the first display region;

while displaying the user interface;

detect a first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region;

in response to detecting the first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region;

determine a first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and a first set of one or more thresholds associated with the first display region, determine a first touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the first touch characterization parameter, send first touch information to the first software application, wherein the first touch information includes the first touch characterization parameter;

detect a second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region;

in response to detecting the second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region;

determine a second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and a second set of one or more thresholds associated with the second display region, determine a second touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the second touch characterization parameter, send second touch information to the first software application, wherein the second touch information includes the second touch characterization parameter.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

identifying a first intensity model identifier, associated with the first display region of the user interface, from a plurality of predefined intensity model identifiers;

in response to detecting the first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region, determining the first touch characterization parameter in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the first intensity model identifier;

identifying a second intensity model identifier, associated with the second display region of the user interface, from the plurality of predefined intensity model identifiers; and

,

in response to detecting the second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region, determining the second touch characterization parameter in accordance with the second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the second intensity model identifier.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in response to detecting the first touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the first display region, generating a first tactile output in accordance with the first intensity applied by the first touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the one or more thresholds associated with the first intensity model identifier; and

,

in response to detecting the second touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the second display region, generating a second tactile output in accordance with the second intensity applied by the second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the one or more thresholds associated with the second intensity model identifier.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the first display region overlaps with at least a portion of the second display region.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

detecting a third touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to an overlap region of the user interface, corresponding to overlap of the first display region and the second display region of the user interface;

selecting an intensity model identifier between the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier for the overlap region of the user interface; and

,

in response to detecting the third touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

determining a third intensity applied by the third touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the third intensity applied by the third touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and one or more thresholds associated with the selected intensity model identifier, determining a third touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the third touch characterization parameter, sending third touch information to the first software application, wherein the third touch information includes the third touch characterization parameter.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein both the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier are associated with priorities applicable to the overlap region of the user interface, and the intensity model identifier is selected based on the priorities of the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier for the overlap region.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

foregoing determination of a touch characterization parameter in accordance with the third intensity and one or more thresholds associated with an intensity model identifier that has not been selected between the first intensity model identifier and the second intensity model identifier.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the first intensity model identifier has been selected for the overlap region, and the one or more programs include instructions for:

subsequent to detecting the third touch input,

detecting a fourth touch input at a location on the touch-sensitive surface that corresponds to the overlap region of the user interface; and

selecting the second intensity model identifier for the overlap region; and

, in response to detecting the fourth touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

determining a fourth intensity applied by the fourth touch input on the touch-sensitive surface;

in accordance with the fourth intensity applied by the fourth touch input on the touch-sensitive surface and the one or more thresholds associated with the second intensity model identifier, determining a fourth touch characterization parameter; and

,

subsequent to determining the touch characterization parameter, sending fourth touch information to the first software application, wherein the fourth touch information includes the fourth touch characterization parameter.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the first display region corresponds to a user interface of the first software application and the second display region corresponds to a user interface of a second software application.