Vibration sensing system and method for categorizing portable device context and modifying device operations

• US 9,557,843 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Garrone, Ryan J., Mayo, Sean A., Mullin, Scott A., Cameron, Gordon C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US14/543,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20150070290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• 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 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods for operating a computing device including determining an amount of pressure exerted on a touch-sensitive surface of the computing device. According to the various embodiments, a touch input is received by the touch-sensitive surface. The amount of pressure exerted by the touch input on the touch-sensitive surface is then determined. The computing device operates in a first manner when a first amount of pressure is received and operates in a second manner when a second amount of pressure is received.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processor performs a method for operating the computing device, the method comprising;

receiving a first touch input on a touch-sensitive surface of the computing device, the first touch input having a first amount of pressure;

in response to receiving the first touch input, causing an application executing on the computing device to provide a first output on a display;

receiving a second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface of the computing device, the second touch input having a second amount of pressure that is different than the first amount of pressure; and

in response to receiving the second touch input, causing the application executing on the computing device to provide a second output on the display that is different than the first output.

2. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to determine the first amount of pressure and the second amount of pressure.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the first touch input is a gesture.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the second touch input is a gesture.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first touch input and the second touch input is provided by a stylus.

15. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising an actuator operative to provide a vibration in response to the first touch input.

16. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising an actuator operative to provide a vibration in response to the second touch input.

6. A method for operating a computing device, comprising:

receiving a touch input on a touch-sensitive surface;

determining an amount of pressure of the touch input;

causing an application being executed on the computing device to provide a first output on a display of the computing device in response to a determination that a first amount of pressure is received by the touch-sensitive surface; and

causing the application being executed on the computing device to provide a second output on the display of the computing device in response to a determination that a second amount of pressure is received by the touch-sensitive surface.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the touch input is provided by a stylus.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the touch input is a gesture.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining a holding state of the computing device based on feedback received from one or more sensors associated with the computing device.

17. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a vibration when the first amount of pressure is received by the touch-sensitive surface.

18. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a vibration when the second amount of pressure is received by the touch-sensitive surface.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor perform a method for operating a computing device, comprising:

receiving a first touch input on a touch-sensitive surface of the computing device, the first touch input having a first amount of pressure;

in response to receiving the first touch input, causing an application executing on the computing device to provide a first output on a display;

receiving a second touch input on the touch-sensitive surface of the computing device, the second touch input having a second amount of pressure that is different than the first amount of pressure; and

in response to receiving the second touch input, causing the application executing on the computing device to provide a second output on the display that is different than the of output.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to determine the first amount of pressure and the second amount of pressure.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first touch input is a gesture.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the second touch input is a gesture.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first touch input and the second touch input is provided by a stylus.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions for causing an actuator to provide a vibration in response to the first touch input.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising instructions for causing an actuator to provide a vibration in response to the second touch input.