CONTACT, MOTION AND POSITION SENSING CIRCUITRY

• US 20080042978A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Perez-Noguera, Gritsko
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• 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 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates providing data entry associated with a keypad and a touchpad. An interface can facilitate receiving input data. A combined circuitry component can employ a keypad functionality and a touchpad functionality based on the input data utilizing a single circuitry.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates providing data entry associated with a keypad and a touchpad, comprising:

an interface that facilitates receiving input data; and

a combined circuitry component that employs a keypad functionality and a touchpad functionality based on the input data utilizing a single circuitry.

2. The system of claim 1, the keypad functionality is a matrix key scanning principle associated with a keypad.

3. The system of claim 1, the touchpad functionality is a matrix capacitance scanning principle in a variable capacitance pointing device.

4. The system of claim 1, the touchpad functionality is based at least in part upon position sensing related to the input data.

5. The system of claim 1, the input data is at least one of the following:

a contact of a keypad surface;

a partial depressing of a key on a keypad;

a user input utilizing a portion of a digit;

a portion of a human body that can be detected with capacitance;

an activation of a key on a keypad;

an input associated with a keypad; and

an input associated with a touchpad.

6. The system of claim 1, the keypad functionality and the touchpad functionality are employed utilizing a portion of a keypad.

7. The system of claim 1, the combined circuitry component utilizes at least one of a processor component, an analog multiplexer component, and a analog-to-digital converter component to detect at least one of a surface contact and a key activation associated with a keypad.

8. The system of claim 1, the keypad functionality is a depressing of a key on a keypad.

9. The system of claim 1, the touchpad functionality is a motion detection associated with at least a portion of a surface contact related to a key on a keypad.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a portion of a circuit board to implement the keypad functionality and the touchpad functionality, the circuit board includes a top layer, a dielectric layer, and a bottom layer.

11. The system of claim 10, the top layer includes a raised portion for a dome that relates to a key on a keypad.

12. The system of claim 11, the dielectric layer includes at least one opening aligned with the raised portion of the dome.

13. The system of claim 12, the bottom layer and the top layer are an electrically conductive material that creates a capacitor with the dielectric layer in between.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device that utilizes at least one of the keypad functionality and the touchpad functionality.

15. They system of claim 14, the device is at least one of a smart phone, a mobile communication device, a cellular device, a text messenger, a portable digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, a personal communicator, a handheld device, a handheld gaming device, a portable computer, a desktop, a laptop, a pager, a tablet PC, a communication device, any suitable device utilizing a keypad for data entry, an Internet browsing device, a stereo, a car stereo, a dashboard related to an automobile, any device employing at least one key.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gesture component that provides at least one of a pre-defined gesture associated with a device function and a user-defined gesture associated with a device function.

17. A computer-implemented method that facilitates providing data entry associated with a keypad and a touchpad, comprising:

receiving input data;

analyzing the input data to ascertain one of a keypad functionality and a touchpad functionality; and

providing at least one of the keypad functionality and the touchpad functionality for data entry to a device on a single circuitry.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting a motion related to a surface contact on a keypad associated with the device; and

detecting an pressing related to a key on a keypad associated with the device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising employing a gesture linked toward a device function.

20. A computer-implemented system that facilitates providing data entry associated with a keypad and a touchpad, comprising:

means for receiving input data; and

means for employing a keypad functionality and a touchpad functionality based on the input data utilizing a single circuitry.