Multi-function keys providing additional functions and previews of functions

• US 9,575,568 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2014
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Odell, Daniel L., Mockler, Justin, Sheik-Nainar, Mohamed Ashraf
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiyabu, Karin
• Application Number:
  US14/268,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for providing additional functionality using multi-function keys. The device includes key assemblies for receiving a contact input or a press input. A processing system is coupled to the key assemblies and configured to determine a number of objects contacting a key assembly. The processing system provides a first response when the key assembly has received the press input from a first number of objects and provides a second response when key assembly has received the press input from a second number of objects. The method includes determining a number of objects contacting a key assembly and whether the key assembly has received a contact input or a press input. A first response is provided when the key assembly has received the press input from a first number of objects and a second function is provided when key assembly has received the press input from a second number of objects.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a plurality of key assemblies, at least some of the plurality of key assemblies having a touch sensitive surface;

a processing system coupled to the plurality of key assemblies and configured to;

determine whether a quantity of a first number of objects is greater than a single object, wherein the first number of objects is simultaneously contacting a respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies;

determine whether the first number of objects simultaneously contacts the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies without producing a key depression of the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies;

provide, in response to determining that the first number of objects simultaneously contacting the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies failed to produce the key depression and the quantity of the first number of objects is greater than the single object, a preview visual representation of a first response within a display, wherein the preview visual representation shows an action taken when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies is pressed; and

provide, in response to determining that the first number of objects produced the key depression, the first response within the display.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising providing a preview visual representation of a second response when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has received a simultaneous contact input from a second number of objects, wherein the second number of objects is greater than the single object.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has a label indicating a first function provided by the first response and wherein the second response comprises a second function related to the label associated with the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies.

4. The input device of claim 2, wherein the processing system is further configured to provide a third response when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has received a press input from a third number of objects, wherein the third number of objects is greater than the single object.

5. The input device of claim 2, wherein the processing system is further configured to determine when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has been released following a press input from the first number of objects, and to:

provide the second response for so long as the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies is pressed by the second number of objects; and

ceasing to provide the second response when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has been released following the press input from the second number of objects.

6. The input device of claim 2, wherein the processing system is further configured to determine when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has been released following a press input from the first number of objects, and to:

provide the second response after the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies receives a press input from the second number of objects and has been released following the press input from the second number of objects; and

continuing to provide the second response until the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies receives the press input from the second number of objects and has been released following the press input from the second number of objects.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has a programmable function and the first response comprises enabling the programmable function to be reprogrammed.

8. The input device of claim 7, wherein a preview visual representation of the programmable function is provided when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies receives the simultaneous contact from the first number of objects.

9. The input device of claim 8, wherein when the programmable function of the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has not been assigned, the preview visual representation of the programmable function indicates that the programmable function is available to be programmed.

10. A method of activating multiple functions for a respective key assembly among a plurality of key assemblies, the method comprising:

determining whether a quantity of a first number of objects is greater than a single object, wherein the first number of objects is simultaneously contacting a touch sensitive surface of the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies;

determining whether the first number of objects simultaneously contacts the touch sensitive surface of the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies without producing a key depression of the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies;

providing, in response to determining that the first number of objects simultaneously contacting the touch sensitive surface of the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies failed to produce the key depression and the quantity of the first number of objects is greater than the single object, a preview visual representation of a first response within a display, wherein the preview visual representation shows an action taken when the touch sensitive surface of the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies is pressed; and

providing, in response to determining that the first number of objects produced the key depression, the first response within the display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a preview visual representation of a second response when the touch sensitive surface of the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies receives a simultaneous contact from a second number of objects, wherein the second number of objects is greater than the single object.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a third response when a third number of objects provides a press input to the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies, wherein the third number of objects is greater than the single object.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second response is activated while the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies receives a press input from the second number of objects.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second response is activated when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies receives a press input from the second number of objects, and is deactivated when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies releases the press input from the second number of objects.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first response corresponds to a label on the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies and the second response activates a function related to the label.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has a programmable function and the first response enables the programmable function of the key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies to be reprogrammed.

17. A device, comprising:

a plurality of key assemblies, at least some of the plurality of key assemblies having a touch sensitive surface;

a display, coupled to a processing system for displaying information provided by the processing system; and

the processing system being coupled to the plurality of key assemblies and configured to;

determine whether a quantity of a first number of objects is greater than a single object, wherein the first number of objects is simultaneously contacting a respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies;

determine whether the first number of objects simultaneously contacts the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies without producing a key depression of the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies; and

provide, in response to determining that the first number of objects simultaneously contacting the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies failed to produce the key depression and the quantity of the first number of objects is greater than the single object, a preview visual representation of a first response within the display, wherein the preview visual representation shows an action taken when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies is pressed; and

provide, in response to determining that the first number of objects produced the key depression, the first response within the display.

18. The input device of claim 17, wherein a preview visual representation of a second response is displayed on the display when the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has received a simultaneous contact input from a second number of objects, wherein the second number of objects is greater than the single object.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the second response is activated after the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has received a press input from the second number of objects and is deactivated after the respective key assembly among the plurality of key assemblies has released the press input from the second number of objects.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the first response is activated for so long as the first number of objects provides a press input.