US5825352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiple fingers contact sensing method for emulating mouse buttons and mouse operations on a touch sensor pad
Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corp
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Filing: 1996-02-28
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Granted: 1998-10-20
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Expires: 2016-02-28
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for detecting an operative coupling between one or more fingers or other appropriate objects and a touch pad includes processes for detection of multiple maxima with intermediate minima in appropriate sequences to emulate the operations of cursor control and button actuations in a pointing and control device.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen J. Bisset
- 👤 Bernard Kasser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:23
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/044; G06F3/0446; G06F3/0416; G06F3/0418; G06F3/04186; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04883; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/041; G06F2203/04104; G06F2203/04108; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for detecting the operative coupling of multiple fingers to a touch sensor involving the steps of scanning the touch sensor to (a) identify a first maxima in a signal corresponding to a first finger, (b) identify a minima following the first maxima, (c) identify a second maxima in a signal corresponding to a second finger following said minima, and providing an indication of the simultaneous presence of two fingers in response to identification of said first and second maxima.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for detecting the operative coupling of multiple fingers to a touch sensor involving the steps of scanning the touch sensor to (a) identify a first maxima in a signal corresponding to a first finger, (b) identify a minima following the first maxima, (c) identify a second maxima in a signal corresponding to a second finger following said minima, and providing an indication of the simultaneous presence of two fingers in response to identification of said first and second maxima.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of causing a pointing device click function to occur in response to the detection of at least a second maxima.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of enabling a "drag" function to occur in response to the detection of at least a second maxima.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of enabling a "select" function in response to the detection of at least a second maxima.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of enabling an "ink" function in response to the detection of at least a second maxima.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said touch sensor includes a plurality of lines, said maxima being a largest local variation in a signal value on one of said lines due to capacitive coupling of a finger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said maxima are peaks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of comparing a distance between said first maxima and said second maxima to a predefined threshold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: providing a first control function in response to the detection of the movement of two fingers: detecting the reaching of an edge of said touch sensor by said two fingers; detecting a first time corresponding to the removal of said fingers from said touch sensor; detecting a second time corresponding to the replacement of said two fingers on said touch sensor; and continuing said first control function if said first and second times are within a predetermined time limit of each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: detecting a distance between said first and second maxima.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: providing a drag control function in response to detecting a movement in substantial unison of two said fingers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: providing a click function in response to the removal and reappearance of said second maxima within a predetermined period of time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: detecting a movement of said first maxima; detecting a removal and replacement of said maxima within a predetermined time period; controlling a cursor function in response to said movement of said first maxima; and providing a control function in response to said removal and replacement of said second maxima.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: selecting an appropriate control function based on a combination of a number of fingers detected, an amount of time said fingers are detected, and any movement of said fingers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining if said first and second maxima are within 5 centimeters, and only providing said indication of the presence of two fingers if said first and second maxima are within 5 centimeters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of calculating first and second centroids corresponding to said first and second fingers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second maxima are required to be higher than a first threshold, and said minima is required to be less than a second threshold.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
A touch sensor for detecting the operative coupling of multiple fingers comprising: means for scanning the touch sensor to (a) identify a first maxima in a signal corresponding to a first finger, (b) identify a minima following the first maxima, and (c) identify a second maxima in a signal corresponding to a second finger following said minima, and means for providing an indication of the simultaneous presence of two fingers in response to identification of said first and second maxima.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
80 words
A touch sensor for detecting the operative coupling of multiple fingers comprising: means for scanning the touch sensor to (a) identify a first maxima in a signal corresponding to a first finger, (b) identify a minima following the first maxima, and (c) identify a second maxima in a signal corresponding to a second finger following said minima, and means for providing an indication of the simultaneous presence of two fingers in response to identification of said first and second maxima.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 further comprising: means for selecting an appropriate control function based on a combination of a number of fingers detected, an amount of time said fingers are detected, and any movement of said fingers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 wherein said touch sensor includes a plurality of lines, said maxima being a largest local variation in a signal value on one of said lines due to capacitive coupling of a finger.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 wherein said maxima are peaks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 further comprising means for comparing a distance from said first maxima to said second maxima to a predefined threshold.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
100 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 further comprising: means for providing a first control function in response to the detection of the movement of two fingers: means for detecting the reaching of an edge of said touch sensor by said two fingers; means for detecting a first time corresponding to the removal of said fingers from said touch sensor; means for detecting a second time corresponding to the replacement of said two fingers on said touch sensor; and means for continuing said first control function if said first and second times are within a predetermined time limit of each other.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 further comprising: means for detecting a distance between said first and second maxima.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 further comprising: means for providing a drag control function in response to detecting a movement in substantial unison of two said fingers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 further comprising: means for providing a click function in response to the removal and reappearance of said second maxima within a predetermined period of time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
65 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 further comprising: means for detecting a movement of said first maxima; means for detecting a removal and replacement of said maxima within a predetermined time period; means for controlling a cursor function in response to said movement of said first maxima; and means for providing a control function in response to said removal and replacement of said second maxima.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The touch sensor of claim 18 further comprising: means for selecting an appropriate control function based on a combination of a number of fingers detected, an amount of time said fingers are detected, and any movement of said fingers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The sensor of claim 18 further comprising means for determining if said first and second maxima are within 5 centimeters, and only providing said indication of the presence of two fingers if said first and second maxima are within 5 centimeters.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The sensor of claim 18 further comprising means for calculating first and second centroids corresponding to said first and second fingers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The sensor of claim 18 wherein said first and second maxima are required to be higher than a first threshold, and said minima is required to be less than a second threshold.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-19 | 2002-04-20 | 2002-10-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-19 | 2006-04-20 | 2006-10-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-19 | 2010-04-20 | 2010-10-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |