Proximity sensor device and method with activation confirmation

• US 8,947,364 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Feland, John Morgan III, Le, Thuy Thanh Bich, Huie, Mark Andrew, Hovden, Torbjorn, Acker, Phillip Frank Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles V
• Application Number:
  US11/841,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20090051660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,724 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• 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 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A touch sensor device and method is provided that facilitates improved device usability. Specifically, the touch screen device and method provide user interface functionality while reducing the possibility of inadvertent activation of certain functions. The touch screen device comprises a proximity sensor adapted to detect object presence in a sensing region, a display screen overlapping the sensing region, and a processor. The touch screen device is adapted to provide user interface functionality by facilitating the display of user interface elements and the selection and activation of corresponding functions. For certain functions, the touch screen device and method uses the presence of a second object to confirm selection of a function before that function will be performed. So configured, the touch device screen is able to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent activation for certain functions on the device.

Claims

1. A touch screen interface for an electronic device, the touch screen interface comprising:

a display screen;

a sensor proximate to the display screen, the sensor adapted to sense object presence in a sensing region, wherein the sensing region overlaps at least part of the display screen; and

a processor, the processor coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to;

responsive to an identified presence of a first object in the sensing region, identify a selected function that corresponds to a location of the first object in the sensing region; and

responsive to an identified presence of a second object in the sensing region within a specified temporal period that overlaps with the identified presence of the first object in the sensing region, confirm the selected function.

2. The touch screen interface of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured such that, for the identified presence of the second object to be within the specified temporal period that overlaps with the identified presence of the first object, the identified presence of the second object must begin after the identified presence of the first object begins, and the identified presence of the second object must temporally overlap with the identified presence of the first object.

3. The touch screen interface of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured such that, for the identified presence of the second object to be within the specified temporal period that overlaps with the identified presence of the first object, the identified presence of the first object must begin after the identified presence of the second object begins, and the identified presence of the first object must temporally overlap with the identified presence of the second object.

4. The touch screen interface of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to indicate adjustment relating to the selected function responsive to motion of the second object in the sensing region occurring after the identified presence of the second object in the sensing region.

5. The touch screen interface of claim 4 wherein the processor is configured to indicate adjustment responsive to said motion of the second object in the sensing region occurring within a specified time period of a beginning of the identified presence of a second object in the sensing region.

6. The touch screen interface of claim 4 wherein the selected function is selected from a group consisting of scrolling, zooming, panning and rotating.

7. The touch screen interface of claim 1 wherein the selected function is a button function.

8. The touch screen interface of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to indicate adjustment relating to the selected function responsive to motion of the first object in the sensing region occurring after the processor confirms the selected function.

9. The touch screen interface of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to identify a substantially simultaneous appearance of two objects in the sensing region, and wherein the processor is configured to select a substantially stationary object in the two objects as the first object and a select a substantially non-stationary object in the two objects as the second object.

10. The touch screen interface of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to confirm the selected function responsive to the identified presence of the second object in the sensing region regardless of a location of the identified presence of the second object in the sensing region.

11. The touch screen interface of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to indicate adjustment relating to the selected function responsive to motion of the second object in the sensing region regardless of location of the motion of the second object in the sensing region.

12. A touch screen interface for an electronic device, the touch screen interface comprising:

a display screen configured to display a plurality of icons, each icon identifying a location on the touch screen interface corresponding to a function on the electronic device;

a capacitive sensor proximate to the display screen, the capacitive sensor adapted to sense object presence in a sensing region, wherein the sensing region overlaps at least part of the display screen; and

a processor, the processor coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to;

responsive to an identified presence of a first object in the sensing region, identify a selected function that corresponds to an icon in the plurality of icons that is proximate a location of the first object in the sensing region; and

responsive to an identified presence of a second object in the sensing region beginning both after the identified presence of the first object begins, and before the identified presence of the first object ends, confirm the selected function regardless of a location of the identified presence of the second object in sensing region.

13. The touch screen interface of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to motion of the second object in the sensing region after the identified presence of the second object in the sensing region, indicate adjustment relating to the selected function responsive to motion of the second object in the sensing region.

14. A method for indicating a function on a touch screen, the method comprising:

monitoring electrical signals with a processor for indicia of object presence in a sensing region provided by the touch screen;

responsive to an identified presence of a first object in the sensing region, identify a selected function that corresponds to a location of the first object in the sensing region; and

responsive to an identified presence of a second object in the sensing region within a specified temporal period that overlaps with the identified presence of the first object in the sensing region, confirm the selected function.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein, for the identified presence of the second object to be within the specified temporal period that overlaps with the identified presence of the first object, the identified presence of the second object must begin after the identified presence of the first object begins, and the identified presence of the second object must temporally overlap with the identified presence of the first object.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein, for the identified presence of the second object to be within the specified temporal period that overlaps with the identified presence of the first object, the identified presence of the first object must begin after the identified presence of the second object begins, and the identified presence of the first object must temporally overlap with the identified presence of the second object.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of indicating adjustment relating to the selected function responsive to motion of the second object in the sensing region occurring after the identified presence of the second object in the sensing region.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of indicating adjustment relating to the selected function comprises indicating adjustment responsive to said motion of the second object in the sensing region occurring within a specified time period of a beginning of the identified presence of a second object in the sensing region.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the selected function is selected from a group consisting of scrolling, zooming, panning and rotating.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the selected function is a button function.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of indicating adjustment relating to the selected function responsive to motion of the first object in the sensing region occurring after the identified presence of a second object in the sensing region.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of identifying a substantially simultaneous appearance of two objects in the sensing region, and further comprising the step of selecting a substantially stationary object in the two objects as the first object and a selecting a substantially non-stationary object in the two objects as the second object.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of confirming the selected function is performed regardless of a location of the identified presence of the second object in the sensing.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the step indicating adjustment relating to the selected function responsive to motion of the first object in the sensing region is performed regardless of a location of the motion of the first object in sensing region.

25. A program product comprising:

a) a sensor program, the sensor program adapted to;

responsive to an identified presence of a first object in a sensing region of a touch screen, identify a selected function that corresponds to a location of the first object in the sensing region;

responsive to an identified presence of a second object in the sensing region within a specified temporal period that overlaps with the identified presence of the first object in the sensing region, confirm the selected function; and

b) non-transitory computer-readable media bearing said sensor program.

26. A touch screen interface for an electronic device, the touch screen interface comprising:

a display screen;

a sensor proximate to the display screen, the sensor adapted to sense object presence in a sensing region, wherein the sensing region overlaps at least part of the display screen; and

a processor, the processor coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to;

responsive to an identified presence of a first object in the sensing region simultaneously occurring with an identified presence of a second object in the sensing region, and after a beginning of a motion of either the first or the second object, identify a selected function that corresponds to a location of one of the first and second objects;

responsive to the motion of the either the first or the second object, indicate an adjustment relating the selected function.

27. The touch screen interface of claim 26, wherein

the location of one of the first and second objects is a location of whichever of the first and the second object that is nonstationary in the sensing region.

28. The touch screen interface of claim 26, wherein

the location of one of the first and second objects is a location of whichever of the first object and the second object is stationary in the sensing region.