Systems and methods for determining user input using position information and force sensing

Abstract

The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of errors that may be caused by the motion of detected objects on such input devices, and in particular, to the effect of aliasing errors on input devices that use capacitive techniques to generate images of sensor values. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of aliasing errors by using force values indicative of force applied to the input surface. Specifically, the devices and methods use the force value to disambiguate determined position information for objects detected in the images of sensor values. This disambiguation of position information can lead to a reduction in the effects of aliasing errors and can thus improve the accuracy and usability of the input device.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 619,344, filed Apr. 2, 2012FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention generally relates to electronic devices, and more specifically relates to input devices.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Input devices including proximity sensor devices (also commonly called touchpads or touch sensor devices) are widely used in a variety of electronic systems. A proximity sensor device typically includes a sensing region, often demarked by a surface, in which the proximity sensor device determines the presence, location and / or motion of one or more input objects. Proximity sensor devices may be used to provide interfaces for the electronic system. For example, proximity sensor devices are often used as input devices for larger computing systems (such as opaque touchpads integrated in, or peripheral to, notebook or desktop computers, or as transparent sensor devices integrated with display scree...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides devices and methods that improve the performance of input devices by reducing errors caused by the motion of detected objects. This is achieved by using force values indicative of force applied to the input surface to disambiguate position information for objects detected in images of sensor values. This disambiguation can lead to a reduction in the effects of aliasing errors and improve the accuracy and usability of the input device. In one embodiment, a processing system is provided for an input device having a plurality of sensor electrodes and at least one force sensor to determine if an input object detected in a first image of sensor values and a second image of sensor values remains in contact with the input surface. This determination can disambiguate the positional information for the detected objects and improve the accuracy and usability of the input device.

Problems solved by technology

Specifically, because of the time required to generate each capacitive image, image sensors can be sensitive to errors caused by quickly moving objects.

For example, aliasing errors may arise when sequential images show input objects at different locations.

In such cases it can be difficult to determine if the detected input objects are the same input object or different input objects.

Likewise, it can be difficult to determine where a detected object first entered or later exited the sensing region.

These aliasing errors can occur when objects are quickly moving within or in and / or out of the sensing region.

In such situations the proximity sensor device can incorrectly interpret the presence and movement of such objects.

Such errors can thus result in unwanted or missed user interface actions, and thus can frustrate the user and degrade the usability of the device.

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