Object position detector with edge motion feature and gesture recognition

• US 6,380,931 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Gillespie, David W., Day, Shawn P., Wolf, Ralph C., Allen, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,070
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/173, 345/157, 345/159, 345/160, 345/339, 341/33, 341/34, 178/18.06, 178/18.01, 178/19.06, 178/20.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.07, 178/19.03
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 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 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16

Abstract

Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad are disclosed. Tapping, pushing, hopping, and zigzag gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals for compensating for unintended motion of the conductive object on the touch-sensor pad during the gestures are also sent to the host.

Claims

1. A method for recognizing a tap gesture made on a touch-sensor pad in a touch sensing system providing X and Y position information to a host, including:

detecting a presence of a conductive object on the touch-sensor pad;

comparing the amount of time said conductive object is present on said touch pad with a reference amount of time;

comparing the amount of motion made by said conductive object while it is present on said touch pad with a reference amount of motion;

initiating a signal to the host indicating the occurrence of said tap gesture if the amount of time said conductive object is present on said touch pad is less than said reference amount of time and if the amount of motion made by said conductive object while it is present on said touch pad is less than said reference amount of motion; and

maintaining said signal for a predetermined period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

detecting in which of a plurality of predefined regions said tap gesture occurred; and

sending a second signal to the host indicating in which of said predefined regions on said sensor pad said tap gesture occurred.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined regions include at least one of the corners of the touch-sensor pad.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein one of the corners of the touch-sensor pad simulates a right mouse button click.

5. A method for recognizing a tap gesture made on a touch-sensor pad in a touch sensing system providing X and Y position information to a host, including:

detecting the occurrence of a tap gesture made by a tapping object on the touch-sensor pad;

detecting in which of at least one corner of the touch-sensor pad said tap gesture occurred; and

sending a signal to the host indicating the occurrence of said tap gesture and in which of at least one corner of said touch-sensor pad said tap gesture occurred.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one of the corners of the touch-sensor pad simulates a right mouse button click.

7. A method for recognizing a tap gesture made on a touch-sensor pad in a touch sensing system providing X and Y position information to a host, including the steps of:

detecting a presence of a conductive object on the touch-sensor pad;

comparing the amount of time said conductive object is present on said touch pad with a reference amount of time;

comparing the amount of motion made by said conductive object while it is present on said touch pad with a reference amount of motion;

initiating a signal to the host indicating the occurrence of said tap gesture if the amount of time said conductive object is present on said touch pad is less than said reference amount of time and if the amount of motion made by said conductive object while it is present on said touch pad is less than said reference amount of motion, and maintaining said signal for a predetermined period of time; and

sending X and Y position information to said host to substantially cancel out any unintended lateral motion of said tapping object on said touch-sensor pad during said tap gesture.