Multi-force input device
First Claim
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1. An input device comprising:
- a contact sensor to detect a first, a second, and a third object engaging a surface of the input device at a first location, a second location, and a third location, respectively;
a force sensor array to determine a total force magnitude and a force centroid of a force applied to the surface; and
a processor configured to;
determine a contact centroid based on the first location, the second location, and the third location;
resolve a force vector with the determined total force magnitude originating at the force centroid into a first component, a second component, and a third component each originating at the force centroid and terminating at the first, the second, and the third locations, respectively;
determine an average contact location between the first location and the second location; and
adjust a magnitude of the first component and a magnitude of the second component based, at least in part, on the average contact location and the contact centroid.
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Abstract
A force-sensitive input device for receiving user input. The input device can include a contact (e.g., touch) sensor and a plurality of force sensors. By combining the information from a multi-touch event with information from each of the plurality of force sensors, a contact centroid and a force centroid can be determined. Thereafter, by projecting a vector defining the force applied to the input device onto a vector defined between the contact centroid and an individual contact location, a magnitude of force applied at that contact location can be approximated.
209 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An input device comprising:
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a contact sensor to detect a first, a second, and a third object engaging a surface of the input device at a first location, a second location, and a third location, respectively; a force sensor array to determine a total force magnitude and a force centroid of a force applied to the surface; and a processor configured to; determine a contact centroid based on the first location, the second location, and the third location; resolve a force vector with the determined total force magnitude originating at the force centroid into a first component, a second component, and a third component each originating at the force centroid and terminating at the first, the second, and the third locations, respectively; determine an average contact location between the first location and the second location; and adjust a magnitude of the first component and a magnitude of the second component based, at least in part, on the average contact location and the contact centroid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating an input device comprising a plurality of force sensors coupled to a surface of the input device, the method comprising:
- determining a first location, a second location, and a third location of a first, a second, and a third object engaging the surface;
determining a contact centroid from a group comprising the first and the second locations; determining a first and a second contact vector originating at the contact centroid and terminating at the first and the second locations respectively; determining a combined force magnitude from individual force magnitudes received from each force sensor of the plurality of force sensors; determining a force centroid from positions of each force sensor of the plurality of force sensors relative to the surface; determining a force vector originating at the force centroid and having a magnitude based on the combined force magnitude; determining a first and a second force projection vector by projecting the force vector onto each of the first and the second contact vectors respectively; scaling the first and the second force projection vectors by the magnitude of the first and the second contact vectors, respectively, and by the combined force magnitude; and associating a first and a second contact force with the first and the second locations, the first and second contact force having magnitudes proportionally based on the magnitudes of the first and the second force projection vectors, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- determining a first location, a second location, and a third location of a first, a second, and a third object engaging the surface;
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17. A method of operating an input device comprising a plurality of force sensors coupled to a surface of the input device, the method comprising:
- determining a contact centroid from a plurality of contact locations of at least three objects engaging a surface of the input device;
determining a plurality of contact vectors each originating at the contact centroid and each terminating at a respective one of the contact locations; determining a force centroid and a force vector from the plurality of force sensors based at least in part on the position of each force sensor of the plurality of force sensors; determining a contact force for each contact location of the plurality of contact locations, each contact force based on the contact centroid and the force centroid; determining at least one subgroup of contact locations, each subgroup comprising at least two contact locations of the plurality of contact locations; and
determining, for each subgroup;an average contact vector from the at least two contact locations; an average contact force based on the average contact vector and the force centroid; and adjusting the contact force for each of the at least two contact locations based on the magnitude of the average contact force. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
- determining a contact centroid from a plurality of contact locations of at least three objects engaging a surface of the input device;
Specification