Devices and methods for processing and disambiguating touch inputs using intensity thresholds based on prior input intensity

• US 9,910,524 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2016
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wells, Nicole M., Gum, Leah M., Kocienda, Kenneth L., Moussette, Camille, Mouilleseaux, Jean-Pierre M., Kopin, Joshua B., Fennis, Jules K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Ilana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Nguyen H
• Application Number:
  US15/270,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20180067596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An electronic device detects a change in intensity of an input on an input element that includes detecting an increase in intensity followed by a decrease in intensity, and recognizes at least a portion of the change in intensity of the input as a first input event that is associated with a first operation, for example a single click operation. After recognizing the first input event, the device delays performance of the first operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a second input event, wherein the delay is limited by a default delay time period. If the second event is recognized before default delay time period has elapsed, a second operation is performed and the first operation is not performed. However, if early-confirmation criteria for the first input event are met before the default delay period elapses, the first operation is performed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display and an intensity sensitive input element for detecting intensity of user inputs with the input element;

detecting a change in intensity of an input on the input element that includes an increase in intensity of the input on the input element followed by a decrease in intensity of the input on the input element;

recognizing at least a portion of the change in intensity of the input as a first input event that is associated with a first operation;

after recognizing the first input event, delaying performance of the first operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a second input event, wherein the delay is limited by a default delay time period; and

after delaying performance of the first operation;

in accordance with a determination that the second input event has been recognized before the default delay time period has elapsed, performing a second operation and forgoing performance of the first operation;

in accordance with a determination that early-confirmation criteria for the first input event have been met before the default delay time period has elapsed without the second input event being recognized, performing the first operation before the default delay time period has elapsed, wherein the early-confirmation criteria for the first input event comprise criteria that the intensity of the input remains below a confirmation intensity threshold for more than an early confirmation time threshold; and

in accordance with a determination that the default delay time period has elapsed without the early-confirmation criteria for the first input event being met and without the second input event being recognized, performing the first operation once the default delay time period has elapsed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after delaying performance of the first operation;

in accordance with a determination that a second input event has been recognized after the default delay time period has elapsed, performing a third operation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a change in intensity of the input on the input element includes continuously detecting the input on the input element.

4. The method of claim 1, including detecting a sequence of distinct inputs on the input element, separated by periods during which no input is detected on the input element, and repeating the recognizing and delaying with respect to a plurality of the inputs in the sequence of distinct inputs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the early confirmation time threshold is less than half the default delay time period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation intensity threshold is below an up-click intensity threshold used for recognizing the second input event.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the up-click intensity threshold is determined in accordance with a characteristic intensity of the input during the detected increase in intensity of the input in which the input reached a peak intensity prior to detecting the decrease in intensity of the input on the input element.

8. The method of claim 1, including monitoring a duration of a fast timeout period starting when the intensity of the input decreases below the confirmation intensity threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the duration of the fast timeout period comprises a cumulative amount of time, after the fast timeout period starts, that the intensity of the input is below the confirmation intensity threshold.

10. The method of claim 1, including determining the confirmation intensity threshold in accordance with a peak characteristic intensity of the input detected during the detected increase in intensity of the input, prior to detecting the decrease in intensity of the input on the input element.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation intensity threshold is independent of a peak characteristic intensity of the input detected during the detected increase in intensity of the input.

12. The method of claim 1, including:

monitoring a duration of the default timeout period starting when the intensity of the input increases to a down-click intensity threshold; and

/or

monitoring a duration of the default timeout period starting when the intensity of the input decreases to an up-click intensity threshold.

13. The method of claim 1, including:

generating a first tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the first input event;

or

generating a second tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the second input event;

or

generating the first tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the first input event and generating the second tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the second input event.

14. The method of claim 1, further including:

after recognizing the second input event, delaying performance of the second operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a third input event, wherein the delay is limited by a second default delay time period; and

after delaying performance of the second operation;

in accordance with a determination that the third input event has been recognized before the second default delay time period has elapsed, performing a third operation and forgoing performance of the second operation;

in accordance with a determination that early-confirmation criteria for the second input event have been met before the second default delay time period has elapsed without the third input event being recognized, performing the second operation before the second default delay time period has elapsed; and

in accordance with a determination that the second default delay time period has elapsed without the early-confirmation criteria for the second input event being met and without the third input event being recognized, performing the second operation once the second default delay time period has elapsed.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first operation comprises;

ceasing to display a user interface for an application, or

scrolling from one screen of icons in an application launching user interface, to another screen of icons in the application launch user interface, and

the second operation comprises a multitasking operation.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after delaying performance of the first operation:

in accordance with a determination that the first input event meets long press input criteria before the second input event has been recognized, performing a third operation and forgoing performance of the first operation and the second operation.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein:

recognition of the first input event is based on detection of a change in a characteristic intensity of an input with reference to a first intensity threshold; and

recognition of the second input event is based on detection of a change in a characteristic intensity of an input with reference to a second intensity threshold that is different from the first intensity threshold.

18. An electronic device, comprising:

a display;

an intensity sensitive input element for detecting intensity of user inputs with the input element;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

detecting a change in intensity of an input on the input element that includes an increase in intensity of the input on the input element followed by a decrease in intensity of the input on the input element;

recognizing at least a portion of the change in intensity of the input as a first input event that is associated with a first operation;

after recognizing the first input event, delaying performance of the first operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a second input event, wherein the delay is limited by a default delay time period; and

after delaying performance of the first operation;

in accordance with a determination that the second input event has been recognized before the default delay time period has elapsed, performing a second operation and forgoing performance of the first operation;

in accordance with a determination that early-confirmation criteria for the first input event have been met before the default delay time period has elapsed without the second input event being recognized, performing the first operation before the default delay time period has elapsed, wherein the early-confirmation criteria for the first input event comprise criteria that the intensity of the input remains below a confirmation intensity threshold for more than an early confirmation time threshold; and

in accordance with a determination that the default delay time period has elapsed without the early-confirmation criteria for the first input event being met and without the second input event being recognized, performing the first operation once the default delay time period has elapsed.

20. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after delaying performance of the first operation;

in accordance with a determination that a second input event has been recognized after the default delay time period has elapsed, performing a third operation.

21. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein detecting a change in intensity of the input on the input element includes continuously detecting the input on the input element.

22. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for detecting a sequence of distinct inputs on the input element, separated by periods during which no input is detected on the input element, and repeating the recognizing and delaying with respect to a plurality of the inputs in the sequence of distinct inputs.

23. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the early confirmation time threshold is less than half the default delay time period.

24. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the confirmation intensity threshold is below an up-click intensity threshold used for recognizing the second input event.

25. The electronic device of claim 24, wherein the up-click intensity threshold is determined in accordance with a characteristic intensity of the input during the detected increase in intensity of the input in which the input reached a peak intensity prior to detecting the decrease in intensity of the input on the input element.

26. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for monitoring a duration of a fast timeout period starting when the intensity of the input decreases below the confirmation intensity threshold.

27. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the duration of the fast timeout period comprises a cumulative amount of time, after the fast timeout period starts, that the intensity of the input is below the confirmation intensity threshold.

28. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for determining the confirmation intensity threshold in accordance with a peak characteristic intensity of the input detected during the detected increase in intensity of the input, prior to detecting the decrease in intensity of the input on the input element.

29. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the confirmation intensity threshold is independent of a peak characteristic intensity of the input detected during the detected increase in intensity of the input.

30. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

monitoring a duration of the default timeout period starting when the intensity of the input increases to a down-click intensity threshold; and

/or

monitoring a duration of the default timeout period starting when the intensity of the input decreases to an up-click intensity threshold.

31. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

generating a first tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the first input event;

or

generating a second tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the second input event;

or

generating the first tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the first input event and generating the second tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the second input event.

32. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:

after recognizing the second input event, delaying performance of the second operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a third input event, wherein the delay is limited by a second default delay time period; and

after delaying performance of the second operation;

in accordance with a determination that the third input event has been recognized before the second default delay time period has elapsed, performing a third operation and forgoing performance of the second operation;

in accordance with a determination that early-confirmation criteria for the second input event have been met before the second default delay time period has elapsed without the third input event being recognized, performing the second operation before the second default delay time period has elapsed; and

in accordance with a determination that the second default delay time period has elapsed without the early-confirmation criteria for the second input event being met and without the third input event being recognized, performing the second operation once the second default delay time period has elapsed.

33. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein:

the first operation comprises;

ceasing to display a user interface for an application, or

scrolling from one screen of icons in an application launching user interface, to another screen of icons in the application launch user interface, and

the second operation comprises a multitasking operation.

34. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for, after delaying performance of the first operation:

in accordance with a determination that the first input event meets long press input criteria before the second input event has been recognized, performing a third operation and forgoing performance of the first operation and the second operation.

35. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein:

recognition of the first input event is based on detection of a change in a characteristic intensity of an input with reference to a first intensity threshold; and

recognition of the second input event is based on detection of a change in a characteristic intensity of an input with reference to a second intensity threshold that is different from the first intensity threshold.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by an electronic device with a display, and an intensity sensitive input element for detecting intensity of user inputs with the input element, cause the electronic device to:

detect a change in intensity of an input on the input element that includes an increase in intensity of the input on the input element followed by a decrease in intensity of the input on the input element;

recognize at least a portion of the change in intensity of the input as a first input event that is associated with a first operation;

after recognizing the first input event, delay performance of the first operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a second input event, wherein the delay is limited by a default delay time period; and

after delaying performance of the first operation;

in accordance with a determination that the second input event has been recognized before the default delay time period has elapsed, perform a second operation and forgo performance of the first operation;

in accordance with a determination that early-confirmation criteria for the first input event have been met before the default delay time period has elapsed without the second input event being recognized, perform the first operation before the default delay time period has elapsed, wherein the early-confirmation criteria for the first input event comprise criteria that the intensity of the input remains below a confirmation intensity threshold for more than an early confirmation time threshold; and

in accordance with a determination that the default delay time period has elapsed without the early-confirmation criteria for the first input event being met and without the second input event being recognized, perform the first operation once the default delay time period has elapsed.

36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

after delaying performance of the first operation;

in accordance with a determination that a second input event has been recognized after the default delay time period has elapsed, perform a third operation.

37. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein detecting a change in intensity of the input on the input element includes continuously detecting the input on the input element.

38. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to detect a sequence of distinct inputs on the input element, separated by periods during which no input is detected on the input element, and repeat the recognizing and delaying with respect to a plurality of the inputs in the sequence of distinct inputs.

39. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the early confirmation time threshold is less than half the default delay time period.

40. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the confirmation intensity threshold is below an up-click intensity threshold used for recognizing the second input event.

41. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 40, wherein the up-click intensity threshold is determined in accordance with a characteristic intensity of the input during the detected increase in intensity of the input in which the input reached a peak intensity prior to detecting the decrease in intensity of the input on the input element.

42. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to monitor a duration of a fast timeout period starting when the intensity of the input decreases below the confirmation intensity threshold.

43. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein the duration of the fast timeout period comprises a cumulative amount of time, after the fast timeout period starts, that the intensity of the input is below the confirmation intensity threshold.

44. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to determine the confirmation intensity threshold in accordance with a peak characteristic intensity of the input detected during the detected increase in intensity of the input, prior to detecting the decrease in intensity of the input on the input element.

45. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the confirmation intensity threshold is independent of a peak characteristic intensity of the input detected during the detected increase in intensity of the input.

46. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

monitor a duration of the default timeout period starting when the intensity of the input increases to a down-click intensity threshold; and

/or

monitor a duration of the default timeout period starting when the intensity of the input decreases to an up-click intensity threshold.

47. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

generate a first tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the first input event;

or

generate a second tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the second input event;

or

generate the first tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the first input event and generate the second tactile output in conjunction with recognizing the second input event.

48. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

after recognizing the second input event, delay performance of the second operation while monitoring subsequent changes in intensity of the input for a third input event, wherein the delay is limited by a second default delay time period; and

after delaying performance of the second operation;

in accordance with a determination that the third input event has been recognized before the second default delay time period has elapsed, perform a third operation and forgo performance of the second operation;

in accordance with a determination that early-confirmation criteria for the second input event have been met before the second default delay time period has elapsed without the third input event being recognized, perform the second operation before the second default delay time period has elapsed; and

in accordance with a determination that the second default delay time period has elapsed without the early-confirmation criteria for the second input event being met and without the third input event being recognized, perform the second operation once the second default delay time period has elapsed.

49. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein:

the first operation comprises;

ceasing to display a user interface for an application, or

scrolling from one screen of icons in an application launching user interface, to another screen of icons in the application launch user interface, and

the second operation comprises a multitasking operation.

50. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions which, when executed by the electronic device, cause the electronic device to, after delaying performance of the first operation:

in accordance with a determination that the first input event meets long press input criteria before the second input event has been recognized, perform a third operation and forgo performance of the first operation and the second operation.

51. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein:

recognition of the first input event is based on detection of a change in a characteristic intensity of an input with reference to a first intensity threshold; and

recognition of the second input event is based on detection of a change in a characteristic intensity of an input with reference to a second intensity threshold that is different from the first intensity threshold.