Methods and systems for implementing modal changes in a device in response to proximity and force indications

• US 9,933,876 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Day, Shawn P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, NELSON C
• Application Number:
  US14/924,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20160048256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices implement changes in operating mode for a media player, wireless telephone, portable computer or other device having a force sensor and a proximity sensor. A force indication is received from the force sensor and a proximity indication is received from the proximity sensor responsive to user input. The device is then switched from a second operating mode to a first operating mode in response to an occurrence of user input being indicated by both the force and proximity indications. A trigger event occurring during one of the operating modes evokes a response by the device that is not evoked by the trigger event in the other of the first and the second operating modes.

Claims

1. A processing system for an input device, the processing system configured to:

while in a first operating mode, receive a first force indication from a force sensor, receive a first proximity indication from a proximity sensor and provide a first response based on one of the first force indication and the first proximity indication indicating input user occurrence,

wherein when only one of the first force indication and the first proximity indication indicate input user occurrence, the processing system provides the first response, and

wherein when both of the first force indication and the first proximity indication indicate input user occurrence, the processing system provides the first response; and

while in a second operating mode, receive a second force indication from the force sensor, receive a second proximity indication from the proximity sensor, and provide a second response when both the second force indication and the second proximity indication indicate input user occurrence and wherein when only one of the second force indication and the second proximity indication indicate input user occurrence, the processing system does not provide the second response.

2. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the second response comprises switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode.

3. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the first response comprises a user interface feature.

4. The processing system of claim 1, further configured to calibrate at least one of the proximity sensor based on proximity indication and the force sensor based on the force indication while in the second operating mode.

5. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the second response comprises at least one of activating a feedback device, display device, or the input device.

6. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the second response is further based the force indication and proximity indication occurring at a substantially coincidental time.

7. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance between a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode.

8. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance between a sensor electrode and an input object.

9. The processing system of claim 1, wherein the processing system drives a feedback device based on at least one of the first response and the second response.

10. An input device comprising:

a proximity sensor;

a force sensor; and

a processing system coupled to the proximity sensor and the force sensor, the processing system configured to;

while in a first operating mode, receive a first force indication from the force sensor, receive a first proximity indication from the proximity sensor and provide a first response based on one of the first force indication and the first proximity indication indicating input user occurrence,

wherein when only one of the first force indication and the first proximity indication indicate input user occurrence, the processing system provides the first response, and

wherein when both of the first force indication and the first proximity indication indicate input user occurrence, the processing system provides the first response; and

while in a second operating mode, receive a second force indication from the force sensor, receive a second proximity indication from the proximity sensor, and provide a second response when both the second force indication and the second proximity indication indicate input user occurrence and wherein when only one of the second force indication and the second proximity indication indicate input user occurrence, the processing system does not provide the second response.

11. The input device of claim 10, wherein the proximity sensor device is a capacitive sensing device.

12. The input device of claim 10, further comprising a feedback device configured to provide feedback in response to at least one of the first response and the second response.

13. The input device of claim 10, wherein the force sensor comprises the feedback device.

14. The input device of claim 10, wherein the processing system comprises a sensor processor, and wherein the processing system is configured to provide the first response and the second response to a device processor.

15. A method of processing user input in an input device, the method comprising:

while in a first operating mode, receiving a first force indication from a force sensor, receiving a first proximity indication from a proximity sensor and providing a first response in response to one of the first force indication and the first proximity indication indicating input user occurrence,

wherein when only one of the first force indication and the first proximity indication indicate input user occurrence, the processing system provides the first response, and

wherein when both of the first force indication and the first proximity indication indicate input user occurrence, the processing system provides the first response; and

while in a second operating mode, receiving a second force indication from the force sensor, receiving a second proximity indication from the proximity sensor, and providing a second response in response to both the second force indication and the second proximity indication indicating input user occurrence and wherein in response to only one of the second force indication and the second proximity indication indicate input user occurrence, the second response is not provided.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second response comprises switching from the second operating mode to the first operating mode.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second response is further based on the force indication and proximity indication occurring at a substantially coincident time.