Touch input transitions

• US 8,922,499 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2010
• Issued: 12/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Westerman, Wayne Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US12/891,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 345/104, 178 1801- 2004, 715/863
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Selection of input of a touch sensing surface is provided. Contacts on or near a surface are tracked to obtain touch information of the contacts. A first gesture is detected corresponding to first touch information of a number of contacts performing an activity, and a first input corresponding to the first gesture is selected. A second gesture is detected corresponding to second touch information of a number of contacts performing an activity. A determination of whether to select a second input corresponding to the second gesture is made. The second input is selected if third information satisfies a predetermined criteria, and the first input is maintained if the third information does not satisfy the predetermined criteria.

Claims

1. A method of selecting input of a computer system including a touch sensing surface, the method comprising:

tracking one or more contacts on or near the surface to obtain touch information of the contacts;

determining a number of the one or more contacts;

determining whether the one or more contacts are in motion;

determining whether the one or more contacts are at a rolling stop; and

selecting an input based on the number of contacts, whether the contacts are in motion, and whether the contacts are at a rolling stop;

wherein determining whether the one or more contacts are at a rolling stop further comprises;

determining a first average speed of the one or more contacts motion over a first period of time;

determining a second average speed of the one or more contacts motion over a second period of time, the second period of time shorter than the first period of time; and

comparing the first average speed and the second average speed to determine whether the one or more contacts are decelerating.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting an input further comprises:

when the number of contacts is three and all three contacts are in motion at a rolling stop, selecting a three-finger input;

when the number of contacts is four and the four contacts are in vertical motion at a rolling stop, selecting a view all windows input;

when the number of contacts is four and the four contacts are in horizontal motion at a rolling stop, selecting an application-switching input; and

when the number of contacts is two or five or if not all contacts are in motion, maintaining a point input.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the three-finger input is either a swipe input or drag input.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the number of contacts is one, determining whether at least one additional contact is detected;

when at least one additional contact is detected, determining the number of additional contacts; and

when the number of additional contacts is not four, determining whether the at least one additional contact is made during a rolling stop.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein selecting an input further comprises:

when the number of additional contacts is three and if the at least one additional contact is made during a rolling stop, selecting a four-finger input;

when the number of additional contacts is two and if the at least one additional contact is made during a rolling stop, selecting a three-finger input; and

when the number of additional contacts is one and if the at least one additional contact is made during a rolling stop, selecting either a scroll input or a tap input.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the three-finger input is either a swipe input or drag input.

7. A computing system including a touch sensing surface, the system comprising:

a contact tracker configured to track one or more contacts on or near the surface to obtain touch information of the contacts;

an input selection system configured to

determine a number of the one or more contacts;

determine whether the one or more contacts are in motion;

determine whether the one or more contacts are at a rolling stop; and

select an input based on the number of contacts, whether the contacts are in motion, and whether the contacts are at a rolling stop;

wherein the input selection system further comprises;

a first autoregressive filter configured to provide an indication of a first average speed of a contact motion over a first period of time;

a second autoregressive filter configured to provide an indication of a second average speed of the contact motion over a second period of time, the second period of time shorter than the first period of time; and

a processor configured to compare the first average speed and the second average speed to determine whether the one or more contacts are decelerating.

8. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the input selection system is further configured to:

when the number of contacts is three and all three contacts are in motion at a rolling stop, select a three-finger input;

when the number of contacts is four and the four contacts are in vertical motion at a rolling stop, select a view all windows input;

when the number of contacts is four and the four contacts are in horizontal motion at a rolling stop, select an application-switching input; and

when the number of contacts is two or five or if not all contacts are in motion, maintain a point input.

9. The computing system of claim 8, wherein the three-finger input is either a swipe input or drag input.

10. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the input selection system is further configured to:

when the number of contacts is one, determine if at least one additional contact is detected;

when at least one additional contact is detected, determine the number of additional contacts; and

when the number of additional contacts is not four, determine if the at least one additional contact is made during a rolling stop.

11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein the selection system is further configured to:

when the number of additional contacts is three and if the at least one additional contact is made during a rolling stop, select a four-finger input;

when the number of additional contacts is two and if the at least one additional contact is made during a rolling stop, select a three-finger input; and

when the number of additional contacts is one and if the at least one additional contact is made during a rolling stop, select either a scroll input or a tap input.

12. The computing system of claim 11, wherein the three-finger input is either a swipe input or drag input.