Method and apparatus for configuring and selectively sensing use of a device

• US 9,684,396 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Original Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Inventors: Soelberg, Tino
• Primary Examiner(s): SIMPSON, LIXI CHOW
• Application Number:
  US13/712,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20140160037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for subdividing a touch-sensitive interface of a mouse accessory into a first plurality of sectors for defining a first plurality of mouse buttons, where each sector of the first plurality of sectors corresponds to a distinct mouse button. The method can further include receiving a first signal from the touch-sensitive interface of the mouse accessory, detecting, from the first signal a selection of a sector of the first plurality of sectors, and generating a second signal indicating the selection of the sector. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer mouse, comprising:

an adjustable, touch-sensitive interface, wherein the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface comprises a first sensor for detecting physical contact of the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface by a user and a second sensor for detecting when the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface has been depressed;

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface and the memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising;

receiving, from a computing device communicatively coupled to the computer mouse, an identity of a first plurality of sectors of the computer mouse according to a user input to define a first plurality of mouse buttons, wherein the user input is received via a graphical user interface provided at the computing device;

receiving user input to identify a plurality of virtual regions via an illustration of the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface presented on the graphical user interface provided at the computing device;

configuring the computer mouse with the user input received through the graphical user interface;

subdividing the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface into the first plurality of sectors, responsive to the input that defines the first plurality of sectors, wherein each sector of the first plurality of sectors corresponds to a distinct mouse button;

receiving a first signal from the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface, wherein the first signal comprises a coordinate signal generated by the first sensor, wherein the first signal comprises an actuation signal generated by the second sensor, wherein the actuation signal comprises a first indication that the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface has been depressed, and

wherein the coordinate signal comprises a second indication of a selection of a sector of the first plurality of sectors;

detecting from the first signal the selection of the sector of the first plurality of sectors, wherein the selection of the sector indicates the distinct mouse button associated with the sector based on a location of a physical contact applied to the touch-sensitive interface; and

transmitting to the computing device a second signal indicating the selection of the sector that corresponds to the distinct mouse button.

2. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises detecting the selection of the sector according to the first indication and the second indication.

3. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise modifying the first plurality of sectors from additional user input received via the graphical user interface provided at the computing device to generate a second plurality of sectors for defining a second plurality of mouse buttons, and wherein the second plurality of mouse buttons are distinct from the first plurality of mouse buttons.

4. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a capacitive sensor.

5. The computer mouse of claim 4, wherein the capacitive sensor is divided into a plurality of electrically isolated regions, and wherein each of the plurality of electrically isolated regions corresponds to one of the plurality of sectors.

6. The computer mouse of claim 4, wherein subdividing the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface comprises subdividing a plurality of virtual regions of the capacitive sensor into the plurality of sectors.

7. The computer mouse of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise receiving user input via the graphical user interface provided at the computing device to identity the plurality of virtual regions of the capacitive sensor.

8. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein subdividing the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface comprises subdividing the touch-sensitive interface into a plurality of virtual regions, wherein the plurality of virtual regions map into the plurality of sectors.

9. The computer mouse of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise causing each of the plurality of sectors to be distinctly highlighted according to a geographic shape of each of the plurality of virtual regions to identify the plurality of mouse buttons associated with the plurality of sectors.

10. The computer mouse of claim 9, wherein the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface comprises light emitting material, and wherein of the plurality of sectors is distinctly highlighted by selectively enabling portions of the light emitting material.

11. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the second signal is transmitted over a wireless interface.

12. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

presenting an interface to identify a plurality of virtual regions of a mouse accessory according to a user input to define configuration data, wherein the interface comprises a graphical user interface to receive the user input to define the plurality of virtual regions according to the configuration data;

subdividing a touch-sensitive interface of the mouse accessory into a first plurality of sectors for defining a first plurality of mouse buttons according to the configuration data, wherein each sector of the first plurality of sectors corresponds to a distinct mouse button, wherein the touch-sensitive interface is adjustable, and wherein the first plurality of mouse buttons are defined according to a user input to define the touch-sensitive interface, wherein the graphical user interface presents an illustration of the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface of the mouse accessory to receive the user input to define the plurality of virtual regions;

receiving a first signal from the touch-sensitive interface of the mouse accessory, wherein the first signal comprises a first indication of a selection of a sector of the first plurality of sectors, and wherein the selection of the sector indicates the distinct mouse button associated with the sector;

receiving a second signal from a second sensor for detecting when the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface has been depressed, wherein the second signal comprises a second indication that the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface has been depressed;

detecting, responsive to receiving the first indication and the second indication, the selection of the distinct mouse button; and

transmitting the distinct mouse button.

13. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein subdividing the touch-sensitive interface comprises subdividing the touch-sensitive interface into a plurality of virtual regions, wherein the plurality of virtual regions map into the plurality of sectors.

14. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the second sensor comprises a switch to determine when the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface has been depressed.

15. A method, comprising:

presenting, by a computing system comprising a processor, an interface to identify a plurality of virtual regions of a mouse accessory according to a user input to define configuration data, wherein the interface comprises a graphical user interface to receive the user input to define the plurality of virtual regions according to the configuration data;

subdividing, by the computing system, an adjustable, touch-sensitive interface of the mouse accessory into a first plurality of sectors for defining a first plurality of mouse buttons according to the configuration data, wherein each sector of the first plurality of sectors corresponds to a distinct mouse button, wherein the graphical user interface presents an illustration of the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface of the mouse accessory to receive the user input to define the plurality of virtual regions;

receiving, by the computing system, a first signal from the adjustable, touch-sensitive interface of the mouse accessory, wherein the first signal comprises a coordinate signal and an actuation signal, wherein the coordinate signal indicates which of the plurality of sectors has been selected, and wherein the actuation signal indicates that the touch-sensitive interface has been depressed;

detecting, by the computing system, responsive to receiving both the coordinate signal and the actuation signal from the first signal, a selection of a sector of the first plurality of sectors, wherein the selection of the sector indicates the distinct mouse button associated with the sector; and

generating, by the computing system, a second signal indicating the selection of the sector, wherein the second signal indicates that the touch-sensitive interface has been depressed that corresponds to the distinct mouse button.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the computing system is a computer communicatively coupled to the mouse accessory, wherein subdividing the touch-sensitive interface comprises subdividing the touch-sensitive interface into a plurality of virtual regions, wherein the plurality of virtual regions map into the plurality of sectors.