Sensing user input at display area edge

• US 8,614,666 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dighde, Rajesh Manohar, Whitman, Christoper A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US13/651,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20130229335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 345/76, 345/102, 345156-179, 313/512, 463/20
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1064 with a coil spring perpendicular to the pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/08 with springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/46 Magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/38 by folding , e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1618 the display being foldable up to the back of the other housing with a single degree of freedom, e.g. by 360° rotation over the axis defined by the rear edge of the base enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1681 Details related solely to hinges hinge details related to the transmission of signals or power are classified in G06F1/1683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1683 for the transmission of signal or power between the different housings, e.g. details of wired or wireless communication, passage of cabling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 : Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 : Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 : Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 : Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 : Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 : Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 : using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 : Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 : using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 : by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/541 : via adapters, e.g. between incompatible applications
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/00 : Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/14 : Operating parts, e.g. push-button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 : with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 : characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/704 : characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/78 : characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 : characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/79 : characterised by the form of the contacts, e.g. interspersed fingers or helical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 : characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/82 : characterised by contact space venting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 : Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/02 : Interspersed fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/036 : to solve particular problems
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/058 : Contact area function of position on layered keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/006 : mounted on spacer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/004 : Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/006 : Individual areas
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2213/016 : in adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/004 : Larger or different actuating area
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/006 : Different feeling for different switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/01 : Off centre actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/032 : Operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/26 : for interlocking two or more switches H01H13/568 takes precedence; by a detachable member H01H9/28 ; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/323
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 : Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 : using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 : comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 : by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0226 : Hinges
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0234 : Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

One or more sensors are disposed to sense user inputs in an active display area as well as user inputs in an extended area that is outside of the active display area. Data for user inputs, such as gestures, may include data from user inputs sensed in both the active display area and outside of the active display area. The user inputs can begin and/or end outside of the active display area.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing, in a display device having one or more sensors, user input based at least in part on proximity of an object to an active display area of the display device and based at least in part on proximity of the object to an area outside of the active display area; and

determining, based on both the proximity of the object to the active display area and the proximity of the object to the area outside of the active display area, the user input.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, the user input beginning in the area outside of the active display area and ending in the active display area.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, the user input beginning in the active display area and ending in the area outside of the active display area.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, user input data being provided for determining the user input in response to the user input being predicted to be in the active display area in the future.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, the user input being predicted to be in the active display area in the future in response to a direction of the user input being towards the active display area.

6. A method as recited in claim 4, the user input being predicted to be in the active display area in the future in response to both a direction of the user input being towards the active display area and a velocity of the user input being greater than a threshold amount.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, input data describing locations of the object not being provided for determining the user input as long as the object is sensed as being outside of the active display area and the user input is not predicted to be in the active display area in the future.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, the display device being included in a computing device, and the user input comprising a gesture indicating one or more functions of the computing device to initiate.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, the area outside of the active display area comprising an extended sensor area surrounding and adjacent to the active display area.

10. A computing device comprising a housing configured in a handheld form factor and a display device supported by the housing and having an active display area, the display device having one or more sensors disposed for sensing user input based at least in part on proximity of an object to the active display area and based at least in part on proximity of the object to an area outside of the active display area, the computing device further comprising an input handler module configured to determine, based on both the proximity of the object to the active display area and the proximity of the object to the area outside of the active display area, the user input.

11. A computing device as recited in claim 10, at least one of the one or more sensors being disposed in an extended sensor area surrounding the active display area such that proximity of the object is sensed by the computing device along the edge of the active display area before the object is sensed by ones of the one or more sensors disposed in the active display area.

12. A computing device as recited in claim 10, the one or more sensors comprising sensors that sense the object touching the display device.

13. A computing device as recited in claim 10, the one or more sensors being included in an input sensor layer of the display device extending beyond an active display layer of the display device.

14. A computing device as recited in claim 10, input data describing locations of the object being provided, in response to a location of the object being sensed by at least one of the one or more sensors in the active display area, to the input handler module for determination of the user input.

15. A computing device as recited in claim 10, input data describing locations of the object being provided, in response to the user input being predicted to be in the active display area in the future, to the input handler module for determination of the user input.

16. A computing device as recited in claim 15, the user input being predicted to be in the active display area in the future in response to both a direction of the user input being towards the active display area and a velocity of the user input being greater than a threshold amount.

17. A computing device as recited in claim 10, input data describing locations of the object not being provided to the input handler module for determination of the user input as long as the object is sensed as being outside of the active display area and the user input is not predicted to be in the active display area in the future.

18. A computing device as recited in claim 10, the area outside of the active display area comprising an extended sensor area surrounding and adjacent to the active display area.

19. A computing device as recited in claim 18, the extended sensor area extending approximately two millimeters outside the active display area.

20. A computing device comprising:

a display device having one or more sensors disposed for sensing user input based at least in part on proximity of an object to an active display area of the display device and based at least in part on proximity of the object to an area outside of the active display area;

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon multiple instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to determine, based on both the proximity of the object to the active display area and the proximity of the object to the area outside of the active display area, the user input.