Methods and systems for implementing modal changes in a device in response to proximity and force indications

• US 20070119698A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Day, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 9,182,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/510
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices implement changes in operating mode for a media player, wireless telephone, portable computer or other device having a force sensor and a proximity sensor. A force indication is received from the force sensor and a proximity indication is received from the proximity sensor responsive to user input. The device is then switched from a second operating mode to a first operating mode in response to an occurrence of user input being indicated by both the force and proximity indications. A trigger event occurring during one of the operating modes evokes a response by the device that is not evoked by the trigger event in the other of the first and the second operating modes.

Claims

1. A method of processing user input to a device having a force sensor and a proximity sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a force indication from the force sensor and a proximity indication from the proximity sensor; and

switching the device from a second operating mode to a first operating mode in response to an occurrence of user input being indicated by both the force and proximity indications, wherein a trigger event evokes a response by the device in the first operating mode but does not evoke the response by the device in the second operating mode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the switching step comprises switching to the first operating mode in response to the force and proximity indications both indicating the occurrence of user input at a substantially coincident time.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is at least one of the force and proximity indications.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least one of the force and proximity indications comprises both the force and proximity indications.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the response is a selection.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the response is cursor motion.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the response is menu navigation.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the response is scrolling action.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the response is variation of a control value.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of returning to the second operating mode when no user input is indicated for a predetermined period of time.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of returning to the second operating mode after a subsequent occurrence of user input being indicated by both the force and proximity indications.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is the force indication but not the proximity indication.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the trigger event is the proximity indication but not the force indication.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of activating a display of the device to relay information responsive to the proximity indication and the force indication together indicating user input of an insufficient force.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of presenting information responsive to the proximity indication and the force indication together indicating user input of force below a predetermined threshold and of duration longer than a predetermined duration.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing tactile feedback to a user of the device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the tactile feedback is provided as a function of the force indication.

18. A device configured to execute the method of claim 1.

19. A digital storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions are configured to execute the method of claim 1.

20. A device having an input region for accepting user input from an object, the device comprising:

a proximity sensor configured to produce a proximity indication as a function of proximity of the object to the input region;

a force sensor configured to produce a force indication as a function of a force applied by the object to at least a portion of the input region; and

a processing module configured to receive the force indication and the proximity indication and to switch the device from a second operating mode to a first operating mode in response to an occurrence of user input being indicated by both the force and proximity indications, wherein the processing module is further configured such that a trigger event evokes a response by the device in the first operating mode but does not evoke the response by the device in the second operating mode.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of a capacitive sensor and an inductive sensor.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the proximity sensor is a part of a touch pad.

23. The device of claim 20 wherein the force sensor is a switch.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the switch is a snap dome switch.

25. The device of claim 20 further comprising a haptic feedback device configured to apply feedback to a user of the device.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the haptic feedback device is an electromechanical actuator.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the haptic feedback device is coupled to the processing module and wherein the processing module is further configured to apply the feedback in response to the force indication.

28. The device of claim 25 wherein the haptic feedback device is part of the force sensor.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein the haptic feedback device comprises piezoelectric material.

30. The device of claim 20 wherein the device is a portable device selected from the group consisting of a portable media system, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, a laptop PC, a mobile telephone, a peripheral input device, and a remote control.

31. The device of claim 20 wherein the proximity sensor comprises at least one electrode, and the proximity indication comprises an indication of a capacitance between the at least one electrode and the object.

32. The device of claim 20 wherein the proximity sensor comprises at least two electrodes, and the proximity indication comprises an indication of a capacitance between the at least two electrodes.

33. The device of claim 20 further comprising a flexible circuit substrate containing at least a portion of the proximity sensor.

34. An input device for receiving user inputs from an object, the input device comprising:

a touch surface configured to reside on an external face of the host device;

a proximity sensor disposed proximate the touch surface and configured to produce a proximity indication in response to proximity of the object to the touch surface;

a force sensor disposed proximate to the proximity sensor and configured to produce a force indication in response to a force of the object applied to the touch surface; and

an electronic controller configured to receive the force indication and the proximity indication and to switch the device from a second operating mode to a first operating mode in response to an occurrence of user input being indicated by both the force and proximity indications, wherein the controller is further configured such that a trigger event evokes a response by the device in the first operating mode but does not evoke the response by the device in the second operating mode.

35. The input device of claim 34 wherein the object is a portion of a human being.

36. The input device of claim 34 further comprising an electromechanical actuator configured in at least partial contact with the touch surface and in communication with the electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller is configured to activate the electromechanical actuator to provide feedback to the user via the touch surface.

37. The input device of claim 34 wherein the touch surface is configured to be sealed with the external face of the host device.

38. The host device comprising the input device of claim 34.

39. A device for processing user input provided by an object, the device comprising:

means for providing a proximity indication in response to a proximity of the object;

means for providing a force indication in response to a force applied by the object; and

means for switching the device from a second operating mode to a first operating mode in response to an occurrence of user input being indicated by both the force and proximity indications, wherein the device is configured such that a trigger event evokes a response by the device in the first operating mode but does not evoke the response by the device in the second operating mode.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein at least one of the means for providing the proximity indication, the means for providing the force indication, and the means for switching the device is at least partially implemented as a software module.

41. A device configured to operate in a first operating mode in which a trigger evokes a response and a second operating mode in which the trigger does not evoke the response, the device comprising:

a force sensor configured to indicate object presence by detecting a force applied by an object;

a proximity sensor configured to indicate object presence by detecting proximity of an object; and

a controller configured to switch the device from the second operating mode to the first operating mode in response to an occurrence of object presence indicated by both the force sensor and the proximity sensor.

42. The device of claim 41 wherein the controller is further configured to return to the second operating mode after a predetermined period of time.

43. The device of claim 41 wherein the controller is further configured to return to the second operating mode in response to a second occurrence of object presence indicated by both the force sensor and the proximity sensor.

44. The device of claim 41 wherein the device is configured to be switched from the second operating mode to the first operating mode in response the force sensor and the proximity sensor both indicating the occurrence of object presence at a substantially coincident time.

45. The device of claim 41 wherein the trigger is the force detected by the force sensor and not the proximity detected by the proximity sensor.

46. The device of claim 41 wherein the trigger is the proximity detected by the proximity sensor and not the force detected by the force sensor.

47. The device of claim 41 wherein the trigger comprises both the force detected by the force sensor and the proximity detected by the proximity sensor.

48. The device of claim 41 wherein the second operating mode represents an input hold mode.

49. The device of claim 48 wherein the first operating mode represents an input mode, and wherein the trigger is the force detected by the force sensor.

50. The device of claim 48 wherein the first operating mode represents an input mode, and wherein the trigger is the proximity detected by the proximity sensor.

51. The device of claim 41 further comprising a storage medium configured for storing media content.

52. A method of processing user input to a device having a force sensor and a proximity sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a force indication from the force sensor and a proximity indication from the proximity sensor; and

switching the device from a second operating mode to a first operating mode in response to an occurrence of user input being indicated by both the force and proximity indications, wherein a trigger event evokes a response by the device in one of the first and the second operating modes but does not evoke the response by the device in the other of the first and the second operating modes.

53. An input device for receiving user inputs from an object, the input device comprising:

a touch surface configured to reside on an external face of the host device;

a proximity sensor disposed proximate the touch surface and configured to produce a proximity indication in response to the proximity of the object to the touch surface;

a force sensor disposed proximate to the proximity sensor and configured to produce a force indication in response to the force of the object applied to the touch surface; and

an electronic controller configured to receive the force indication and the proximity indication and to switch the device from a second operating mode to a first operating mode in response to an occurrence of user input being indicated by both the force and proximity indications, wherein the controller is further configured such that a trigger event evokes a response by the device in one of the first and the second operating modes but does not evoke the response by the device in the other of the first and the second operating modes.

54. A method of processing user input to a device having a force sensor and a proximity sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a force indication from the force sensor and a proximity indication from the proximity sensor; and

presenting information responsive to at least one of the proximity indication and the force indication indicating user input of force below a predetermined threshold.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the information is presented in response to the force indication indicating user input of force below the predetermined threshold for a duration longer than a predetermined time duration.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein the device comprises a display showing an icon, and wherein the information is related to the icon.

57. The method of claim 54 wherein the device comprises a display showing a plurality of icons and a cursor, and wherein the information is related to one of the plurality of icons proximate to the cursor.