METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AN INPUT DEVICE

• US 20100082286A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Leung, Omar S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,798,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/165 using variations in capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/223 to joystick controls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an improved input device for a processing system, such as, for example a computer system; and an improved method for operating that input device. The system monitors at least one indicia, such as an operating parameter of the input device, where the operating parameter has a first characteristic when the input device is in one operating position or state, but where are the operating parameter has a second characteristic when the input device is in another position or state. In one example, the operating parameter includes generally vertical movement of the input device. In other embodiments, other operating parameters may be relied upon.

Claims

1. A method for identifying an off-surface movement of an input device for a processing system, comprising the acts of:

monitoring at least one indicia from an input device, said indicia obtained from an accelerometer, and having a first characteristic when said input device moves along a supporting surface and a second characteristic when said input device moves in the absence of a supporting surface;

identifying off-surface movement of the input device at least partially in response to a determination that the indicia exhibits said second characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of identifying comprises identifying the approximate time that said indicia transitions from exhibiting said first characteristic to exhibiting said second characteristic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one indicia comprises the response of a vibration sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one indicia comprises the response of a Z-axis movement sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one indicia comprises the response of a force sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

monitoring at least a second indicia from the input device, said second indicia having a third characteristic when said input device moves along a supporting surface and a fourth characteristic when said input device moves in the absence of a supporting surface;

identifying off-surface movement in response to said first and second indicia.

7. An input device for a processing system, comprising:

a sensor configured to provide an output signal in response to sensed vibration in response to movement of the device along a supporting surface; and

a processing assembly configured to determine at least one of device velocity and device acceleration at least partially in response to said output signal;

said processing assembly further configured to identify movement of said input device that is not along a supporting surface at least partially in response to said output signal.

8. The input device of claim 7, wherein said processing assembly comprises:

one or more processors; and

machine-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by said at least one or more processors, perform operations comprising, receiving said first output signal,

evaluating said first output signal relative to a reference to identify a characteristic representative of movement of the input device other than along a supporting surface; and

providing a second output signal indicative of movement other than along a supporting surface.

9. The input device of claim 8, wherein the machine-readable media further comprises instructions that when executed by said one or more processors, perform operations comprising changing an operating parameter of the input device at least partially in response to said second output signal.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the operation of changing an operating parameter of the input device at least partially in response to said second output signal comprises causing the input device to not output positioning information.

11. The input device of claim 9, wherein the operation of changing an operating parameter of the input device at least partially in response to said second output signal comprises preparing the input device to identify a possible forthcoming contact with a support surface.

12. A method for operating an input device for a processing system, comprising the acts of:

monitoring a first signal based on an output from a sensor in said input device, said first signal having a first characteristic indicative that said input device is possibly in contact with a supporting surface and a second characteristic indicating that said input device is possibly not in contact with a supporting surface;

monitoring a second signal based on an output from a sensor in said input device, said second signal having a third characteristic indicative that said input device is in possibly contact with a supporting surface and a fourth characteristic indicative that said input device is possibly not in contact with a supporting surface;

changing an operational condition of the input device at least partially in response to a determination that said first signal exhibits said second characteristic and said second signal exhibits said fourth characteristic.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said first and second signals are based on an output from the same sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said sensor is an accelerometer.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said sensor is an accelerometer disposed in the input device to identify acceleration along a vertical axis.

16. A method of operating an input device configured to provide positioning information to a computer system, and having a force sensor and an acceleration sensor, comprising the acts of:

monitoring the signal from the acceleration sensor to provide a first indicator of whether the input device may be in motion along a surface;

obtaining a velocity measurement from the acceleration sensor signal to provide a second indicator of whether the input device may be in contact with a surface;

in response to the first and second indicators, determining that the input device is not in contact with a surface; and

changing an operating parameter of the input device in response to determining that the input device is not in contact with the surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the act of changing an operating parameter comprises suspending the output of positioning information from the input device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the act of changing an operating parameter comprises preparing the input device to contact a support surface.

19. A computer system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a display;

at least one machine-readable storage medium; and

an input device, comprising,

a z-axis accelerometer configured to provide an output signal is response to movement of the input device along a supporting surface; and

a processing assembly configured to determine at least one of device velocity and device acceleration at least partially in response to said output signal; and

further configured to identify movement of said input device that is not along a supporting surface at least partially is response to said output signal.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said input device further comprises:

one or more processors;

machine-readable media; and

wherein said operations of said processing assembly are implemented at least in part through machine-readable instructions executed on said processor in said input device.

21. The computer system of claim 19, wherein said input device further comprises at least one processor, and wherein at least one of said first and second processing assemblies is implemented through machine-readable instructions executed at least in part on said processor in said input device.

22. At least one machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising,

monitoring a first indicator from an input device, said first indicator having a first characteristic when said input device moves in contact with a supporting surface and a second characteristic when said input device moves in the absence of a supporting surface;

monitoring a second indicator from an input device, said second indicator identifying when the input device moves in a manner not typically representative of a positioning movement;

in response to the first and second indicators, determining that apparent movement of an input device is not likely to be intended to be a positioning movement; and

changing an operating condition of the input device in response to the determination that the apparent movement of an input device is not likely to be intended to be a positioning movement.