METHOD AND APPARATUS TO REJECT ACCIDENTAL CONTACT ON A TOUCHPAD

• US 20100141603A1
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steven P. Hotelling
• Original Assignee: Steven P. Hotelling
• Inventors: HOTELLING, STEVEN P.
• Application Number:
  US12/691,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141603A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment, a portable computer having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position. Palm rest areas are formed by a touchpad disposed on the surface of the base assembly. In an alternative embodiment, a touchpad disposed on the base assembly has a width that extends substantially into the palm rests areas of the base assembly.

Claims

1. A method for processing two-handed touchpad input, the method comprising:

receiving multiple touchpad inputs, wherein the touchpad inputs result from physical contact with a first hand and a second hand on one or more touchpads disposed on a portable computer;

associating the touchpad input from the first hand with a first device functionality;

associating the touchpad input from the second hand with a second device functionality; and

displaying the first and second device functionalities on a display screen of the portable computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the touchpad is divided into multiple sensing regions and wherein the touchpad input from the first hand is received due to contact with a first sensing region of a first touchpad and the touchpad input from the second hand is received due to contact with a second sensing region of the first touchpad.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the touchpad input from the first hand is received due to contact with a first touchpad and the touchpad input from the second hand is received due to contact with a second touchpad.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device functionality is a cursor control operation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device functionality is one of the following:

scrolling, panning, rotation, and zooming of objects or data on the display screen.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a probability of intentional contact for the contact with the touchpad input from the first hand; and

estimating a probability of intentional contact for the contact with the touchpad input from the second hand.

7. A machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to perform a method for processing two-handed touchpad input, the method comprising:

receiving multiple touchpad inputs, wherein the touchpad inputs result from physical contact with a first hand and a second hand on one or more touchpads disposed on a portable computer;

associating the touchpad input from the first hand with a first device functionality;

associating the touchpad input from the second hand with a second device functionality; and

displaying the first and second device functionalities on a display screen of the portable computer.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the touchpad input from the first hand is received due to contact with a first sensing region of a first touchpad and the touchpad input from the second hand is received due to contact with a second sensing region of the first touchpad.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the touchpad input from the first hand is received due to contact with a first touchpad and the touchpad input from the second hand is received due to contact with a second touchpad.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first device functionality is a cursor control operation.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the second device functionality is one of the following:

scrolling, panning, rotation, and zooming of objects or data on the display screen.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising:

estimating a probability of intentional contact for the contact with the touchpad input from the first hand; and

estimating a probability of intentional contact for the contact with the touchpad input from the second hand.

13. A portable computer comprising:

a processor;

a display screen coupled to the processor; and

one or more touchpads coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to

receive multiple touchpad inputs, wherein the touchpad inputs result from physical contact with a first hand and a second hand on the one or more touchpads,

associate the touchpad input from the first hand with a first device functionality,

associate the touchpad input from the second hand with a second device functionality, and

display the first and second device functionalities on the display screen.

14. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the touchpad input from the first hand is received due to contact with a first sensing region of a first touchpad and the touchpad input from the second hand is received due to contact with a second sensing region of the first touchpad.

15. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the touchpad input from the first hand is received due to contact with a first touchpad and the touchpad input from the second hand is received due to contact with a second touchpad.

16. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the first device functionality is a cursor control operation.

17. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the second device functionality is one of the following:

scrolling, panning, rotation, and zooming of objects or data on the display screen.

18. The portable computer of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

estimate a probability of intentional contact for the contact with the touchpad input from the first hand; and

estimate a probability of intentional contact for the contact with the touchpad input from the second hand.