Multi-finger touch control method for touchpad

Abstract

This invention relates to a multi-finger touch control method for a touchpad. It utilizes the force sensing detection function of the touchpad to determine whether the downward pressure during multi-finger touch exceeds the heavy pressure threshold value to trigger a specific function. At the same time, in order to avoid triggering the right-click function when releasing, a first signal is also sent to generate a disguised change in the number of objects, so as to prevent the right-click signal from being triggered when the downward pressure is less than the release threshold value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a control method for a touchpad, and more particularly to a control method for performing multi-finger touch on a touchpad. Background Technology

[0002] Touchpads are the input devices for most electronic devices today. They operate and input data by sensing the coordinate position of a user's finger on the touchpad and the timing of the finger's contact and release. For example, to run a specific application or open a folder, the current method involves moving the finger on the touchpad to move the corresponding cursor displayed on the screen to the image of the desired application or folder. Then, the finger is quickly tapped twice on the touchpad and released to trigger a double-tap function, thus running the application or opening the folder.

[0003] However, existing touchpads have gradually incorporated force sensing in the Z-axis direction. By sensing the force applied to the touchpad by the user's fingers, force sensing can be effectively used to create more input gestures or other applications. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention combines force sensing detection to change the control method for triggering double-click function in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a multi-finger touch control method for a touchpad, wherein the touchpad includes a controller, and the control method includes the following steps:

[0006] a. Determine if multiple objects are in contact with the touchpad; if so, proceed to step b.

[0007] b. Determine whether the downward pressure of the object exceeds a first-pressure threshold value;

[0008] c. If step b is determined to be yes, the controller sends a specific function signal to an operating system and sends a first signal to the operating system, the first signal including a signal that one of the objects leaves the touchpad, and then sends a signal that an object touches the touchpad.

[0009] The advantage of this invention is that it generates a signal for a specific function by triggering it with force. Users do not need to operate the keyboard. They only need to continuously increase the force after contacting the keyboard with two fingers to generate the effect of triggering a specific function, which helps to improve the user experience.

[0010] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but this is not intended to limit the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a sequence diagram of the right-click function;

[0012] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 3 This is an example of a self-selection form;

[0014] Figure 4 This is a diagram of the first and second menus;

[0015] Figure 5 This is a timing diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 6 This is a timing diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 7 This is a timing diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] In the attached figures, the following labels are used:

[0019] S1: Key pressed signal

[0020] S2: Button not pressed signal

[0021] S3: Specific Function Signal

[0022] S4: First signal

[0023] S 41 Signal that the object leaves the touchpad

[0024] S 42 : Signal of an object touching the touchpad

[0025] T1: Custom Form

[0026] T2: First Menu

[0027] T3: Second Menu

[0028] TH1: Light pressure threshold value

[0029] TH2: Release threshold value

[0030] TH3: Heavy Pressure Threshold Detailed Implementation

[0031] The following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments of the present invention, further illustrates the technical means employed by the present invention to achieve its intended purpose.

[0032] Generally speaking, on a touchpad with force sensing, multi-finger gestures that trigger the right-click function, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, step 201 is executed first. Step 201 determines whether the number of objects is multiple (more than two). If the number of objects touching the touchpad is multiple, step 202 is executed continuously. If the number of objects is not multiple, step 201 is executed again. For the determined number of objects, the touchpad also sends an object quantity signal to the operating system of the electronic device corresponding to the touchpad. Step 202 determines whether the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds a light pressure threshold value TH1. If it does not exceed the light pressure threshold value TH1, step 203 is executed. Step 203 determines whether the downward pressure of the multiple objects is lower than a release threshold value TH2. If it is, step 204 is executed to send a button not pressed signal S2 to the operating system. If not, step 201 is executed again, where the light pressure threshold value TH1 is greater than the release threshold value TH2. For this operating system, when it has already received a signal indicating that there are multiple objects, and then receives a signal that the button is not pressed (S2), the operating system will determine whether the number of objects reported by the touchpad has changed during the period from exceeding the light pressure threshold TH1 to falling below the release threshold TH2, and whether the time difference between exceeding the light pressure threshold TH1 and falling below the release threshold TH2 is less than a preset time. If the number of objects is two and there is no change in the number, and the time difference is less than the preset time, the operating system will trigger a right-click function, which is the right-click function generated when the user taps the touchpad with two fingers and then releases it.

[0033] This invention aims to utilize two-finger pressure on the touchpad to trigger specific functions, such as... Figure 3 As shown, pressing the touchpad with two fingers activates a user-defined selection form T1 on the operating system; or, as shown... Figure 3 As shown, in a typical Microsoft Windows operating system, the right-click function of the touchpad is to open general control options as shown in the first menu T2 (meaning...). Figure 1 (The triggered situation), but if the right-click function is triggered by pressing down the shift key on the keyboard, the advanced control items shown in the second menu T3 will be opened. Therefore, the specific function can be the signal that the shift key has been pressed. Then, after the right-click function is triggered, the operating system will determine that the second menu T3 will be opened directly.

[0034] In one embodiment, the touchpad transmits signals to the operating system of the corresponding electronic device. Generally, the touchpad controller can directly transmit a signal packet to the operating system, or the touchpad controller can transmit a signal packet to a driver installed on the operating system, which then transmits the signal to the operating system. If the specific function is a custom selectable form T1, it usually requires the installation of the corresponding driver to execute. However, if the specific function is a signal that triggers the pressing of the shift key, it is a built-in function of the operating system and can therefore be executed directly by the operating system or still through the additionally installed driver.

[0035] Please see Figure 2 Cooperate Figure 5 As shown, the method of the present invention first executes step 201, which determines whether there are multiple objects. When there are multiple objects touching the touchpad, step 202 continues to be executed. For the determined number of objects, the touchpad will also send the number of objects signal to the operating system of the electronic device corresponding to the touchpad. Step 202 determines whether the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds a light pressure threshold value TH1. If it exceeds the light pressure threshold value TH1, step 205 is executed. Step 205 sends a button pressed signal S1 to the operating system by the controller of the touchpad. Then, step 206 determines whether the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds a heavy pressure threshold value TH3, wherein the heavy pressure threshold value TH3 is greater than the aforementioned light pressure threshold value TH1. When the downward pressure from the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold TH3, step 207 is executed. Step 207 means that the touchpad controller sends a specific function signal S3 to the operating system corresponding to the touchpad to trigger a specific function. The touchpad controller also sends a first signal S4 to the operating system. The first signal S4 includes a signal indicating that one of the multiple objects leaves the touchpad. 41 Then it sends a signal S that an object touches the touchpad. 42 The first signal S4 causes the operating system to have the illusion of a change in the number of objects before the multiple objects completely leave the touchpad. Thus, based on the fact that the number of objects has changed during the process of exceeding the light pressure threshold TH1 and falling below the release threshold TH2, when all the objects leave the touchpad and the downward pressure is less than the release threshold TH2, even though the touchpad will still send the button not pressed signal S2 to the operating system according to the procedure, since the operating system has determined that the number of objects reported by the touchpad has changed during the process of exceeding the light pressure threshold TH1 and falling below the release threshold TH2, the original right-click function of the operating system will not be triggered. This is based on the fact that regardless of... Figure 2 The self-selection form T1 shown is Figure 3As shown in the diagram, under normal usage scenarios, a user will only need to use one of the first menu T2 or the second menu T3 at a time. Therefore, the method of the present invention ensures that if the user opens the operating system's menu T1 or the second menu T3 by triggering a specific function, the right-click function will not be triggered to open the first menu T2.

[0036] In one embodiment, the case where two objects trigger the self-selection form T1 or the second menu T3 is illustrated, but it is not limited to the case where the number of objects is only two.

[0037] Depending on the specific function signal set, the transmission of that specific function signal will also differ, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the specific function signal S3 refers to the signal that opens the custom form T1; as Figure 6 As shown, this specific function signal S 3A This indicates that the Shift key has been pressed. Subsequently, when the downward pressure on the object is less than the release threshold TH2, a signal indicating that the Shift key has been released will be sent to the operating system.

[0038] In one embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, the touchpad controller sends the first signal S3 to the operating system after the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold TH3 and before the downward pressure of the multiple objects is less than the release threshold TH2. Since the operating system will trigger the preset right-click function when the downward pressure of the multiple objects is less than the release threshold TH2, the first signal S4 must be sent before the downward pressure of the multiple objects is less than the release threshold TH2. In the embodiment described above, as... Figure 5As shown, the touchpad controller sends the specific function signal S3 and the first signal S4 to the operating system when the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold TH3. That is, when the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold TH3, the specific function signal S3 and the first signal S4 are immediately sent to the operating system. Since it is impossible to predict when the multiple objects will release force, the immediately sent first signal S3 helps to ensure that the false notification of the change in the number of objects to the operating system is completed before the downward pressure of the two objects is less than the release threshold TH2. This avoids sending the first signal S4 too late, which would cause the right-click function to be triggered even if the notification of the change in the number of objects is not completed when the downward pressure of the multiple objects is less than the release threshold TH2. Furthermore, the timing of sending the specific function signal S3 can also be either immediate or delayed when the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold TH3. However, if the user feels a smoother operation, sending the specific function signal S3 immediately when the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold TH3 can help to respond to the user's gestures in real time, but this is not a limitation.

[0039] In one embodiment, the downward pressure of the multiple objects refers to the resultant force of the multiple objects or the individual force exerted by each of the multiple objects.

[0040] In one embodiment, the touchpad's controller performs operations within a predetermined time interval according to its processing speed. Figure 2 The judgment process, for example, every 1ms, involves distinguishing between 0 and 1 for the key press signal (S1) and the key not pressed signal (S2) within the transmitted signal packet. For instance, to send the key press signal (S1), the key signal is set to 1; to send the key not pressed signal (S2), the key signal is set to 0. For example, in conjunction with... Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, by Figure 5Looking at the timing diagram from left to right, when the current pressure is less than the light pressure threshold TH1 and less than the release threshold TH2, steps 201, 202, 203, and 204 are executed in each judgment, and the touchpad controller sends a button not pressed signal S2, meaning the button signal is 0. However, when the current pressure is less than the light pressure threshold TH1 and greater than the release threshold TH2, after executing steps 201, 202, and 203 in each judgment, the process returns to step 201. At this time, the touchpad controller is not triggered to send different button signals, so the button not pressed signal S2 is still sent, meaning the button signal is 0. The signal is sent as 0; then, when the current pressure exceeds the light pressure threshold TH1 but has not yet exceeded the heavy pressure threshold TH3, steps 201, 202, 205, and 206 are executed in each judgment and the process returns to step 201. The touchpad controller sends the button pressed signal S1, meaning that the button signal is sent as 1; when the current pressure exceeds the light pressure threshold TH1 and has exceeded the heavy pressure threshold TH3, steps 201, 202, 205, 206, and 207 are executed to send the specific function signal S3 and the first signal S4, and also send the button pressed signal S1, meaning that the button signal is sent as 1.

[0041] In summary, this invention uses the determination of the heavy pressure threshold value TH3 to trigger the specific function signal S3, and at the same time, sends the first signal S4 to avoid triggering the right-click function in general when triggering the specific function. Thus, the user can freely choose to trigger the general right-click function or the specific function by changing the pressure applied, thereby improving the convenience of use.

[0042] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above by way of embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0043] Of course, the present invention may have other various embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling multi-finger touch on a touchpad, wherein the touchpad includes a controller, characterized in that, The control method includes the following steps: a. Determine if multiple objects are in contact with the touchpad; if so, proceed to step b. b. Determine whether the downward pressure of the object exceeds a first-pressure threshold value; c. If step b is determined to be yes, the controller sends a specific function signal to an operating system and sends a first signal to the operating system, the first signal including a signal that one of the multiple objects leaves the touchpad, and then sends a signal that an object touches the touchpad.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, After step b, it is determined whether the downward pressure of the multiple objects is less than a release threshold value, wherein the release threshold value is less than the heavy pressure threshold value.

3. The multi-finger touch control method for a touchpad according to claim 2, characterized in that, In step c, the first signal is sent after the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold and before the downward pressure of the multiple objects is less than the release threshold.

4. The multi-finger touch control method for a touchpad according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step c, the first signal is sent immediately when the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold.

5. The control method for multi-finger touch control of a touchpad according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, In step c, the signal that triggers the specific function refers to sending a signal to open a custom form.

6. The multi-finger touch control method for a touchpad according to claim 5, characterized in that, In step c, the signal that triggers the specific function is sent immediately when the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold.

7. The control method for multi-finger touch control of a touchpad according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, In step c, the signal that triggers the specific function refers to sending a signal that the shift key is pressed.

8. The multi-finger touch control method for a touchpad according to claim 7, characterized in that, In step c, the signal that triggers the specific function is sent immediately when the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds the heavy pressure threshold.

9. The control method for multi-finger touch control of a touchpad according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Perform the following steps after step a and before step b: b01. Determine whether the downward pressure of the multiple objects exceeds a light pressure threshold. If yes, the controller sends a button press signal to the operating system and then continues to execute step b. If no, execute step b02. b02. Determine whether the downward pressure of the multiple objects is lower than a release threshold value. If so, the controller sends a button not pressed signal to the operating system. The heavy pressure threshold is greater than the light pressure threshold, and the light pressure threshold is greater than the release threshold.

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