Object position detector with edge motion feature and gesture recognition

• US 7,450,113 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Gillespie, David W., Day, Shawn P., Wolf, Ralph C., Allen, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar; Vijay
• Application Number:
  US11/303,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 345156-160, 178 1801- 1809, 178 1901- 1907, 178 2001- 2004
• 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

A method of indicating a gesture proximate a touch-sensor pad is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting a first presence of a conductive object proximate to the touch-sensor pad, and initiating a gesture signal if the first presence lasts a first duration of time that is less than a first reference amount of time. In this embodiment, the method further comprises detecting a second presence occurring a first elapsed time after an end of the first presence, and terminating the gesture signal if the first elapsed time is greater than a second reference amount of time, otherwise maintaining the gesture signal at least until an end of the first elapsed time and at least until an occurrence of a terminating event. This and other embodiments can be used to initiate virtual-button signals in response to specific gestures by the user.

Claims

1. A method for responding to a plurality of presences of an object proximate to a touch-sensor pad, wherein said plurality of presences includes a first presence and a second presence, said first presence lasting a first duration of time and said second presence occurring a first elapsed time after an end of said first presence and lasting a second duration of time, the method comprising:

initiating a gesture signal if said first duration of time is less than a first reference amount of time;

terminating said gesture signal after said end of said first presence if said first elapsed time is greater than a second reference amount of time;

terminating said gesture signal and initiating and terminating a second gesture signal after an end of said second presence if said first elapsed time is less than said second reference amount of time and if said second duration of time is less than said third reference amount of time; and

terminating said gesture signal after said end of said second presence if said first elapsed time is less than said second reference amount of time and if said second duration is greater than said third reference amount of time.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first reference amount of time and said third reference amount of time are equal in length.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising terminating said gesture signal after an end of a third presence if a second elapsed time is less than a fourth reference amount of time, said third presence occurring said second elapsed time after said end of said second presence.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said second reference amount of time and said fourth reference amount of time are equal in length.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising terminating said gesture signal after an end of a third presence lasting a third duration of time if said third duration of time is less than a fourth reference amount of time.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said first reference amount of time and said fourth reference amount of time are equal in length.

7. A method for indicating a gesture proximate to a touch-sensor pad, the method comprising:

detecting a first presence of a conductive object proximate to said touch-sensor pad in one of a plurality of predefined regions of said touch-sensor pad, said first presence lasting a first duration of time;

providing a gesture signal if said first duration of time is less than a first reference amount of time, wherein said gesture signal is of a first type if said first presence is in a first one of said plurality of predefined regions and wherein said gesture signal is of a second type different from said first type if said first presence is in a second one of said plurality of predefined regions.

8. A method for indicating a gesture proximate to a touch-sensor pad, the method comprising:

detecting a first presence of a conductive object proximate to said touch-sensor pad, said first presence lasting a first duration of time;

initiating a gesture signal if said first duration of time is less than a first reference amount of time;

detecting a second presence of said conductive object proximate to said touch-sensor pad, said second presence occurring a first elapsed time after an end of said first presence;

terminating said gesture signal if said first elapsed time is greater than a second reference amount of time, otherwise maintaining said gesture signal at least until an end of said first elapsed time and at least until an occurrence of a terminating event.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said gesture signal is a virtual-button signal.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said touch-sensor pad is configured to provide position information to a host.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said position information is two-dimensional position information.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said touch-sensor pad comprises a planar touch-sensitive surface.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said touch-sensor pad is capacitive.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said touch-sensor pad comprises a first set of conductive lines.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said touch-sensor pad further comprises a second set of conductive lines, said second set of conductive lines forming a matrix with said first set of conductive lines.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein said first presence has a first amount of motion during said first duration, and wherein said initiating of said gesture signal occurs if said first amount of motion is less than a reference amount of motion.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein said gesture signal is maintained for a predetermined amount of time after said terminating event.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein said terminating event comprises an end of said second presence.

19. The method of claim 8 wherein said terminating event comprises a passage of a predetermined amount of time after an end of said second presence.

20. The method of claim 8 wherein said terminating event comprises a detection of a third presence of said conductive object proximate to said touch-sensor pad that lasts a third duration of time where said third duration of time is less than a fourth reference amount of time.

21. The method of claim 8 wherein said terminating event comprises detection of a third presence of said conductive object proximate to said touch-sensor pad, said third presence having a starting position proximate to an ending position of said second presence.

22. The method of claim 8 wherein said second presence lasts a second duration of time, and said maintaining of said gesture signal occurs if said second duration is greater than a third reference amount of time.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said second presence has an amount of motion during said second duration of time, and said maintaining of said gesture signal occurs if said amount of motion is greater than a reference amount of motion.

24. The method of claim 8 wherein said first presence has a first amount of motion during said first duration of time and said initiating of said gesture signal occurs if said first amount of motion is less than a first reference amount of motion, and wherein said second presence has a second amount of motion during said second duration and said maintaining of said gesture signal occurs if said second amount of motion is greater than a second reference amount of motion.

25. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

detecting a finish of said second presence finishing in a central region of said touch-sensor pad not including any predefined peripheral regions of said touch-sensor pad;

detecting a third presence of said conductive object proximate to said touch-sensor pad, said third presence occurring a second elapsed time after said finish of said second presence; and

maintaining said gesture signal through said second elapsed time and at least until said occurrence of said terminating event.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said maintaining step occurs if said second presence has a speed of motion greater than a threshold speed.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said second presence has a second duration, and said maintaining step occurs if cursor motion occurs during said second duration.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said maintaining step occurs if said second elapsed time is less than a fourth reference amount of time and greater than a fifth reference amount of time, the method further comprising:

terminating said gesture signal if said second elapsed time is greater than said fourth reference amount of time.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said fourth reference amount of time and second reference amount of time are equal in length and said fifth reference amount of time and third reference amount of time are equal in length.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein said terminating event comprises a detection of a fourth presence of said conductive object proximate to said touch-sensor pad, said fourth presence lasting a fourth duration of time less than a fourth reference amount of time.

31. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining if said first presence is in one of a plurality of predefined regions of said touch-sensor pad, wherein said gesture signal is of a first type if said first presence is in a first one of said plurality of predefined regions and wherein said gesture signal is of a second type different from said first type if said first presence is in a second one of said plurality of predefined regions.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said first one of said plurality of predefined regions is a corner region of said touch-sensor pad.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said gesture signal of said first type simulates a right mouse button click.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said gesture signal of said second type simulates a left mouse button click.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein said gesture signal of said second type is configured to cause cursor movement.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein said gesture signal is of a third type if said first presence is in a third one of said plurality of predefined regions, said gesture signal of a third type different from at least one of said gesture signal of first type and said gesture signal of said second type.

37. The method of claim 8 wherein said second presence lasts a second duration, the method further comprising:

terminating said gesture signal and initiating and terminating a second gesture signal if said first elapsed time is less than said second reference amount of time and if said second duration is less than said third reference amount of time.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said gesture signal and said second gesture signal are both virtual-button signals.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein said gesture signal is maintained for a predetermined amount of time after a finish of said second presence.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein said initiating of said second gesture signal occurs a predetermined amount of time after said terminating of said gesture signal.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein said second gesture signal is maintained for a predetermined amount of time.

42. The method of claim 37 wherein said first presence has a first amount of motion during said first duration and said second presence has a second amount of motion during said second duration, and said terminating said gesture signal and initiating and terminating said second gesture signal occur if said first amount of motion is less than a reference amount of motion and said second amount of motion is less than a second reference amount of motion.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein said first reference amount of motion and said second reference amount of motion are the same.

44. The method of claim 37 wherein said terminating event is a finish of said second presence.

45. The method of claim 37 wherein said terminating event is a passage of an amount of time greater than or equal to a fourth reference amount of time after a finish of said second presence.

46. The method of claim 8 wherein said initiating said gesture signal and maintaining said gesture signal are performed by a driver.