One dimensional and three dimensional extensions of the slide pad

• US 7,616,195 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2005
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sachs, Todd S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, MY CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US11/051,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20060176270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 345/174, 345/184, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.06
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device includes measuring characteristics (e.g., capacitances) between sense electrodes and a reference electrode on a movable pad, determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the capacitances, determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad, and providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device.

In another embodiment of the invention, a pointing device mounted on a surface of a host device includes sense electrodes, a frame, a movable pad flexibly mounted in an opening of the frame. The movable pad includes a reference electrode opposite the sense electrodes. The opening limits the motion of the movable pad to a single axis on the surface and to an axis into the surface.

Claims

1. A method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device, comprising:

measuring characteristics between a plurality of sense electrodes opposite a reference electrode on a movable pad;

determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics;

determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad; and

providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device;

wherein said measuring characteristics comprises measuring capacitances as follows;

driving high a first sense electrode and a second sense electrode;

driving low a third sense electrode and a fourth sense electrode; and

measuring a capacitance at the reference electrode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional motion inputs comprise an up or down input, a left or right input, and an in or out input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional motion inputs comprise a pan up or down input, a pan left or right input, and a zoom in or out input.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said measuring characteristics comprises measuring capacitances between (1) a first sense electrode and the reference electrode, (2) a second sense electrode and the reference electrode, (3) a third sense electrode and the reference electrode, and (4) a fourth sense electrode and the reference electrode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad is selected from the group consisting of:

(1) providing a one-to-one correspondence between the three-dimensional displacements and the three-dimensional motion inputs;

(2) scaling the three-dimensional displacements into the three-dimensional motion inputs;

(3) translating the three-dimensional displacements into velocities; and

(4) a combination of (1), (2), and (3).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics comprises:

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics comprises:

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the movable pad is movable within an opening in a frame.

9. A pointing device mounted on a surface of a host device, comprising:

a plurality of sense electrodes;

a movable pad opposite the plurality of sense electrodes, the movable pad comprising a reference electrode; and

a frame defining an opening, wherein the movable pad is flexibly mounted within the opening and the opening limiting motions of the movable pad on the surface along only one axis;

springs coupling the movable pad to the frame; and

a controller coupled to the plurality of sense electrodes and the reference electrode, the controller being configured to;

measure characteristics between the plurality of sense electrodes opposite the reference electrode;

determine three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics;

determine the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad; and

providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the host device.

10. A method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device, comprising:

measuring characteristics between a plurality of sense electrodes opposite a reference electrode on a movable pad;

determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics;

determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad; and

providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device;

wherein said determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics comprises;

11. A method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device, comprising:

measuring characteristics between a plurality of sense electrodes opposite a reference electrode on a movable pad;

determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics;

determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad; and

providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device;

wherein said determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the characteristics comprises;