Input device having a dimensionally configurable input area

• US 10,318,065 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Jonathan R., Bunney, Jr., Mark A., Strongwater, Daniel M., Jackson, Benjamin G., Hulbert, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adediran, Abdul-Samad A
• Application Number:
  US15/227,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20180039376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 1 1, 345168, 345169, 345173, 345174, 362545, 715816
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04186 Touch location disambiguation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94026 Automatic threshold calibration; e.g. threshold automatically adapts to ambient conditions or follows variation of input
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960705 Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe

Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a user input device and methods for expanding an input area in response to an estimation of the accuracy of touch input or the likelihood that a series of touches will hit an intended touch target area. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a first capacitive area defined by a first electrode and a second capacitive area defined by the first electrode and a second electrode. The embodiment further includes a processing unit that may be configured to, in a first mode, execute an operation in response to a touch received in the first capacitive area. The processing unit may be configured to, in a second mode, execute the operation in response to the touch received in the second capacitive area.

Claims

1. A user input device, comprising:

a first capacitive area defined by a first electrode;

a second capacitive area defined by the first electrode and a second electrode; and

a processing unit operatively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode;

wherein the user input device is configured to;

determine a predicted input accuracy for a touch input on the user input device, the predicted input accuracy based at least in part on two or more successive prior touch inputs applied to the first capacitive area;

define a dimensionally variable input area within the second capacitive area based on the predicted input accuracy; and

execute an operation in response to receiving the touch input within the dimensionally variable input area.

2. The user input device of claim 1, wherein the predicted input accuracy corresponds to a probability that one of a series of touches will occur outside of the first capacitive area.

3. The user input device of claim 1, wherein the dimensionally variable input area is expanded in response to a reduction in the predicted input accuracy.

4. The user input device of claim 1, wherein the dimensionally variable input area corresponds to a threshold value of a composite output of the first and second electrodes.

5. The user input device of claim 4, wherein the threshold value is decreased in response to a reduction in the predicted input accuracy.

6. The user input device of claim 1, wherein:

the user input device is configured to determine if the touch input is received within the dimensionally variable input area by;

determining a first weighted output by applying a first weighting factor to a first output of the first electrode;

determining a second weighted output by applying a second weighting factor to a second output of the second electrode;

determining a composite signal using at least one of the first and second weighted outputs; and

determining that the touch input is received within the dimensionally variable input area if the composite signal is greater than a threshold value.

7. The user input device of claim 1, wherein:

the user input device is further configured to modify the predicted input accuracy based on an amount of light detected by the user input device.

8. The user input device of claim 1, wherein the predicted input accuracy is reduced in response to receiving a series of touches targeted at the first capacitive area.

9. The user input device of claim 1, wherein the user input device is further configured to modify the predicted input accuracy based at least in part on a detected motion of the user input device.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving a touch contact on a touch-sensitive surface defined by a first electrode and a second electrode;

determining a first output of the first electrode;

determining a second output of the second electrode;

applying a weighting factor to either the first output of the first electrode or the second output of the second electrode;

determining a composite signal using the first and second outputs;

in a first mode of operation, determining whether the touch contact is within a first dimensionally configurable input region in response to the composite signal being greater than a first threshold value, the first dimensionally configurable input region having a first size; and

in a second mode of operation, determining whether the touch contact is within a second dimensionally configurable input region in response to the composite signal being greater than a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value, the second dimensionally configurable input region having a second size larger than the first size and at least partially encompassing the first dimensionally configurable input region.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the composite signal is a sum of the first and second outputs.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a magnitude of the composite signal varies based on a location of the touch contact along a path that traverses the first and second electrodes.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the method further comprises measuring an environmental condition; and

the mode of operation is selected based on the measured environmental condition.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the measured environmental condition comprises at least one of:

an amount of light;

or

an amount of motion.

15. A user input device, comprising:

a first electrode having an outer boundary and defining a first sensing area; and

a second electrode at least partially surrounding the first electrode and having an inner boundary that has a first boundary shape that corresponds to a second boundary shape of the outer boundary of the first electrode, wherein the second electrode and the first electrode define a second sensing area; and

the user input device is configured to;

in a first mode, execute an operation in response to a touch received in the first sensing area; and

in a second mode, execute the operation in response to the touch received in the second sensing area.

16. The user input device of claim 15, wherein the second electrode completely surrounds a perimeter of the first sensing area first electrode.

17. The user input device of claim 15, wherein:

the user input device further comprises a motion sensor; and

the user input device is further configured to alternate between the first and the second modes based on a signal from the motion sensor.

18. The user input device of claim 15, wherein:

the user input device further comprises an illumination layer configured to;

in the first mode, illuminate a least a portion of the first sensing area; and

in the second mode, illuminate at least a portion of the second sensing area.

19. The user input device of claim 15, wherein the user input device is further configured to alternate between the first and the second modes based on a change in an environmental condition.

20. The user input device of claim 19, wherein the environmental condition is an ambient motion.