Interaction modes for object-device interactions

• US 10,042,446 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yoon, Kangjin, Kim, Sungchan, Kim, Yangwook, Post, Ernest Rehmi, Bau, Olivier, Sadi, Sajid
• Primary Examiner(s): Sharifi-Tafreshi, Koosha
• Application Number:
  US15/093,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20160216794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 345173, 345174, 178 1801- 1811
• 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 2203/04106 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 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes determining, based on output from a sensor, a proximity of an object to a device and comparing the determined proximity to a threshold proximity. The method further includes selecting, based on the comparison, an interaction mode for processing interactions between the object and the device. The method further includes processing interactions between the object and the device according to the selected interaction mode.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes; and

a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying instructions; and

one or more processors coupled to the media and configured to execute the instructions to;

determine, based on output from the sensor, a proximity of an object to the apparatus;

compare the determined proximity to a threshold proximity;

select, based on the comparison, an interaction mode for processing interactions between the object and the apparatus, the interaction mode comprising one of;

a first interaction mode wherein the position of an object is determined relative to a first number of the electrodes; and

a second interaction mode wherein the position of the object is determined relative to a second number of the electrodes that is greater than the first number of the electrodes; and

when the second interaction mode is selected, detect, based on an electromagnetic interference (EMI) signal received at the sensor, the object, wherein the EMI signal is generated at least in part by an electronic component external to the apparatus; and

when the first interaction mode is selected, detect, based on a capacitive signal generated at the sensor by the object, at least a portion of the object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the proximity comprises an amplitude of a signal received by the electrode, wherein the signal is based on the EMI signal coupled to the object.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the signal comprises one or more signals within one or more frequency bands.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the proximity comprises a distance of the object relative to the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to select, based on one or more user preferences, the interaction mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to select, based on data associated with a software application, the interaction mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to:

process, based on the capacitive signal, interactions between the portion of the object and the apparatus when the apparatus is in the first interaction mode; and

process, based on the EMI signal, interactions between the object and the apparatus when the apparatus is in the second interaction mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to:

in the first interaction mode, determine a position of the object relative to the apparatus at a resolution of or greater than a single electrode; and

in the second interaction mode, determine a position of the object relative to the apparatus at a resolution of two or more of the plurality of electrodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the instructions to initiate one or more of:

a notification that the interaction mode has changed;

or

a notification identifying the selected interaction mode.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

in the second interaction mode a pointer is displayed on a display of the apparatus, wherein the position of the pointer corresponds to the position of the object relative to the apparatus; and

in the first interaction mode the pointer is not displayed.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a hand and the portion of the object comprises one or more fingers of the hand.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processors are further configured to execute the instructions to:

when the second interaction mode is selected, detect, based on a signal generated at the sensor by the object, the motion of the object; and

when the first interaction mode is selected, detect, based on a signal generated at the sensor by the portion of the object, the motion of the portion of the object.

10. One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media embodying instructions that are operable when executed to:

determine, based on output from a sensor a device, a proximity of an object to the device, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes;

compare the determined proximity to a threshold proximity; and

select, based on the comparison, an interaction mode for processing interactions between the object and the apparatus, the interaction mode comprising one of;

a first interaction mode wherein the position of an object is determined relative to a first number of the electrodes; and

a second interaction mode wherein the position of the object is determined relative to a second number of the electrodes that is greater than the first number of the electrodes; and

when the second interaction mode is selected, detect, based on an electromagnetic interference (EMI) signal received at the sensor, the object, wherein the EMI signal is generated at least in part by an electronic component external to the apparatus; and

when the first interaction mode is selected, detect, based on a capacitive signal generated at the sensor by the object, at least a portion of the object.

11. The media of claim 10, wherein

the proximity comprises an amplitude of a signal received by the electrode, wherein the signal is based on the EMI signal coupled to the object.

12. The media of claim 10, wherein the proximity comprises a distance of the object relative to the device.

13. The media of claim 10, wherein

the media further embodies instructions that are operable when executed to:

select the capacitive signal to use for processing interactions between the portion of the object and the device when the device is in the first interaction mode; and

select the EMI signal to use for processing interactions between the object and the device when the device is in the second interaction mode.

14. The media of claim 10, wherein

the media further embodies instructions that are operable when executed to:

in the first interaction mode, determine a position of the object relative to the device at a resolution of or greater than a single electrode; and

in the second interaction mode, determine a position of the object relative to the device at a resolution of two or more of the plurality of electrodes.

15. The media of claim 10, wherein the media further embodies instructions that are operable when executed to initiate one or more of:

a notification that the interaction mode has changed;

or

a notification identifying the selected interaction mode.

16. A method comprising:

determining, based on output from a sensor of a device, a proximity of an object to the device, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of electrodes;

comparing the determined proximity to a threshold proximity;

selecting, based on the comparison, an interaction mode for processing interactions between the object and the apparatus, the interaction mode comprising one of;

a first interaction mode wherein the position of an object is determined relative to a first number of the electrodes; and

a second interaction mode wherein the position of the object is determined relative to a second number of the electrodes that is greater than the first number of the electrodes; and

when the second interaction mode is selected, detecting, based on an electromagnetic interference (EMI) signal received at the sensor, the object, wherein the EMI signal is generated at least in part by an electronic component external to the apparatus; and

when the first interaction mode is selected, detecting, based on a capacitive signal generated at the sensor by the object, at least a portion of the object.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein

the proximity comprises an amplitude of a signal received by the electrode, wherein the signal is based on the EMI signal coupled to the object.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein

the media further embodies instructions that are operable when executed to:

selecting the capacitive signal to use for processing interactions between the portion of the object and the device when the device is in the first interaction mode; and

selecting the EMI signal to use for processing interactions between the object and the device when the device is in the second interaction mode.