Detecting a palm touch on a surface

• US 8,446,374 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Westerman, Wayne Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Haley, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sasinowski, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/269,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20100117961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The detection of a palm touch on a touch surface, such as a mouse surface, is disclosed. A palm touch can be determined as the touch on the touch surface that has a radius exceeding a predetermined palm touch radius. Alternatively, a palm touch can be determined as the touch on the touch surface located beyond the expected distance between finger touches.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a non-input touch on a touch surface, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of touches substantially simultaneously on the touch surface, the touch surface having a top distal edge;

selecting a first pair of the touches, the first pair including a first touch and a second touch;

determining a first distance between the first touch and the second touch;

comparing the first distance to a distance threshold;

determining, based on the comparison, that the first distance exceeds the distance threshold; and

classifying, based on the determination that the first distance exceeds the distance threshold, at least one of the first and second touches as a non-input touch;

wherein determining the first distance comprises determining a vertical distance between the first and second touches, and classifying at least one of the first and second touches as non-input touches comprises;

determining that the first touch is vertically lower than the second touch; and

classifying the first touch as a non-input touch based on the determination that the first touch is vertically lower.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of touches includes a third touch, the method further comprising:

determining a distance of each of the plurality of touches to the top edge of the touch surface; and

determining that the second touch is the touch nearest to the top edge of the touch surface,

wherein selecting the first pair is based on the determination that the second touch is the touch nearest to the top edge of the touch surface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the number of touches; and

calculating the distance threshold based on the number of touches.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ranking the touches; and

calculating the distance threshold based on the ranks of the touches.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a vertical distance between each touch and the top edge,

wherein the touches are ranked based on the vertical distance between the touch and the top edge.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the touch nearest to the top edge is ranked higher than any other touch, and the touch farthest from the top edge is ranked lower than any other touch.

7. A computing system, comprising:

an input device including a plurality of input sensors configured to detect substantially simultaneous touches on a surface of the input device, the surface having a top distal edge; and

a processor in communication with the input device, the processor configured to

receive a plurality of touches substantially simultaneously on the surface of the input device,

select a first pair of the touches, the first pair including a first touch and a second touch,

determine a first distance between the first touch and the second touch,

compare the first distance to a distance threshold,

determine, based on the comparison, that the first distance exceeds the distance threshold, and

classify, based on the determination that the first distance exceeds the distance threshold, at least one of the first and second touches as a non-input touch;

wherein determining the first distance comprises determining a vertical distance between the first and second touches, and classifying at least one of the first and second touches as non-input touches comprises;

determining that the first touch is vertically lower than the second touch; and

classifying the first touch as a non-input touch based on the determination that the first touch is vertically lower.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of input sensors is incorporated into a touch sensor panel disposed on the surface of the input device.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the input device is incorporated in a computer mouse.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of input sensors is incorporated into a touch sensor panel disposed on the surface of the mouse.

11. A method for detecting a non-input touch on a touch surface, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of touches substantially simultaneously on the touch surface, the touch surface having a top distal edge;

selecting a first pair of the touches, the first pair including a first touch and a second touch;

determining the number of touches;

calculating a distance threshold based on the number of touches;

determining a first distance between the first touch and the second touch;

comparing the first distance to the distance threshold;

determining, based on the comparison, that the first distance exceeds the distance threshold; and

classifying, based on the determination that the first distance exceeds the distance threshold, at least one of the first and second touches as a non-input touch.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the first distance comprises determining a vertical distance between the first and second touches, and classifying at least one of the first and second touches as a non-input touch comprises:

determining that the first touch is vertically lower than the second touch; and

classifying the first touch as a non-input touch based on the determination that the first touch is vertically lower.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of touches includes a third touch, the method further comprising:

determining a distance of each of the plurality of touches to the top edge of the touch surface; and

determining that the second touch is the touch nearest to the top edge of the touch surface,

wherein selecting the first pair is based on the determination that the second touch is the touch nearest to the top edge of the touch surface.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

ranking the touches; and

calculating the distance threshold based on the ranks of the touches.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a vertical distance between each touch and the top edge,

wherein the touches are ranked based on the vertical distance between the touch and the top edge.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the touch nearest to the top edge is ranked higher than any other touch, and the touch farthest from the top edge is ranked lower than any other touch.

17. A computing system, comprising:

an input device including a plurality of input sensors configured to detect substantially simultaneous touches on a surface of the input device, the surface having a top distal edge; and

a processor in communication with the input device, the processor configured to

receive a plurality of touches substantially simultaneously on the surface of the input device,

select a first pair of the touches, the first pair including a first touch and a second touch,

determine the number of touches,

calculate a distance threshold based on the number of touches,

determine a first distance between the first touch and the second touch,

compare the first distance to the distance threshold,

determine, based on the comparison, that the first distance exceeds the distance threshold, and

classify, based on the determination that the first distance exceeds the distance threshold, at least one of the first and second touches as a non-input touch.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of input sensors is incorporated into a touch sensor panel disposed on the surface of the input device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the input device is incorporated in a computer mouse.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of input sensors is incorporated into a touch sensor panel disposed on the surface of the mouse.