Ulllted States Patent [19]
`Bisset et al.
`
`[54] MULTIPLE FINGERS CONTACT SENSING
`METHOD FOR EMULATING MOUSE
`BUTTONS AND MOUSE OPERATIONS ON A
`
`[75] Inventors: Stephen J. Bisset, Palo Alto; Bernard
`_
`Kassen Menlo Park both of Cahf-
`
`_
`_
`_
`[73] Asslgneei Logltech, 1116-, Fremont, Callf-
`
`[21] App1_ NO; 608,116
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 28, 1996
`
`Related U-S- Application Data
`
`[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 582,768, Jan. 4, 1996, abandoned.
`
`US005825352A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,825,352
`Oct. 20, 1998
`
`5/1991 GruaZ et al. .......................... .. 345/173
`5,016,008
`4/1993 McCloud
`.. 434/156
`5,203,704
`7/1994 Logan et al. .
`. 345/173
`5,327,161
`5,365,461 11/1994 Stein 6[ al. ............................ ..
`5,376,946 12/1994 Mikan ................................... .. 345/173
`5,432,531
`7/1995 Calder et al. ..... ..
`.
`5,442,376
`8/1995 Tannenbaum et al
`. 345/156
`5,463,388 10/1995 Boie et al. ........ ..
`341/33
`
`. 345/173
`2/1996 Miller et al. .
`5,495,077
`. 345/173
`6/1996 Arbeitman etal. .
`5,528,266
`178/18
`8/1996 Gillespie et al.
`5,543,591
`. 345/174
`5,565,658 10/1996 Gerpheide et al. .
`5,648,642
`7/1997 Miller et al. ............................ .. 178/18
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1991 WIPO I
`WO 91/03039
`WO 97/18508 5/1997 WIPO ........................... .. G06F 3/033
`
`[51] Int. Cl.6
`
`G09G 5/00; G09G 5/08
`
`_
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`‘I
`_
`I,
`
`[52] US. Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . . . . . . . .. 345/173; 345/157
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 345/156, 157,
`345/160, 173, 174, 145; 178/18; 341/33
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`SYnaPtlCs Brochure> SYnaPtlCs Touch Pad> PP- H9
`Primary Examiner—Jeffery Brier
`Assistant Examiner—Paul A. Bell
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—ToWnsend and Townsend and
`Crew
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`379217166 11/1975 VOIPF -
`5 2
`813051011‘ """"""""""""""""""" "
`344173
`4’55O’221 “$1985 ?aglgste?
`345/174
`4,639,720
`1/1987 Rympalski ‘616i: .................
`4,686,332
`8/1987 Greanias etal. ...................... .. 345/173
`
`Method and apparatus for detecting an operative coupling
`between one or more ?ngers or other appropriate objects and
`a touch pad includes processes for detection of multiple
`maxim With intermedi?te minima in appropriate Sequences
`to emulate the operanons of Cursor Control and button
`
`4,733,222
`
`3/1988 Evans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . .. 341/33
`
`actuations in a Pointing and Control device
`
`4,736,191
`4,914,624
`
`345/157
`4/1988 MatZke et al.
`4/1990 Dunthorn .............................. .. 345/173
`
`31 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`
`Y PROFILE
`
`'
`1
`
`I
`
`l
`
`FINGER m coumcr
`WITH wucn SENSOR
`
`X
`
`PROFILE
`
`_
`
`_- -_
`
`7'°\
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`Y2°\
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`_I"E"" m :1 m
`|
`2
`0
`Zselec?)
`a
`T—
`
`YPROHLE v YPROFILE %
`I
`TOUCH PAD
`|
`roucn PAD
`
`I
`
`1' m g
`
`l
`
`I
`
`I
`
`l
`
`I
`
`I
`
`J
`
`I
`
`ll @ Hemmer
`SENSOR
`
`rmcsnuonu
`
`wnu TOUCH
`
`X
`
`_ _
`
`PROFILE _- —_- —_
`
`X
`
`_
`
`PROFILE _- -_
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 1 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.20,1998
`
`Sheet 1 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 2 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.20,1998
`
`Sheet 2 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`SENSOR
`
`-\50
`
`\
`\
`
`YDIRECTION
`
`CONDUCTORS
`
`— _ _ —
`
`X DIRECTION CONDUCTORS
`
`ANALOG MULTIPLEXOR
`
`”‘ 45
`
`CIRCUIT TO MEASURE
`CHANGES IN CAPACITANCE
`OF SENSOR CONDUCTORS
`
`EH70
`
`ANALOG-TO- DIGITAL A“ B0
`CONVERTER
`
`MICROCONTROLLER "'60
`
`INTERFACE TO PC OR OTHER DEVICE
`
`FIG: 2.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 3 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.20,1998
`
`Sheet 3 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`85;-
`
`_ [95
`
`__
`
`__
`
`__
`
`.
`
`F/GZ 3.
`
`1o51_
`
`_ lno
`
`1-761 4.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 4 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 5 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 6 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 20, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`[295
`Set Xobsoluie =
`XweighfSum/Xsum
`
`(Xpeukl-XValley) >
`(Xpeuk|)/4? and
`
`Xpeukl> Ffhresh? and
`Xpeuk2>Ffhresh?
`
`YES
`
`Xbu?on = Down
`
`320
`
`[-761 6-2.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 7 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.20,1998
`
`Sheet 7 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`g E
`
`on
`
`swig
`
`E225
`
`\\ 25g]
`
`o2
`/ 2;; 6, v
`
`s
`
`o8.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 8 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.20,1998
`
`Sheet 8 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`TOO\
`
`705\
`
`WDEO DISPLAY
`my
`C=CURSOR
`PDsITIoII
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`[m
`
`Y PROFILE
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`Y PROFILE
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`l
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`I
`
`I
`
`|
`
`|
`
`'
`I
`
`FINGER IN CONTACT
`WITH TOUCHSENSOR
`
`x
`
`PROFILE
`
`_
`
`_- ~_
`
`X
`
`—
`
`PROFILE _- -_
`
`7'°\
`
`'
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`@171
`
`M u
`
`72°\
`
`Y PROFILE
`I
`
`I
`
`II
`
`I
`
`l
`
`‘
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`[q Q
`
`Y PROFILE
`|
`
`|
`
`I'
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`LEE
`
`select
`
`I
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`FINGER NOT III
`
`O ncoIIIAcI
`SENSOR
`
`WITH TOUCH
`
`x
`
`_ -
`
`PROFILE _- -__- -_
`
`X
`
`—
`
`PROFILE _" '_
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 9 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.20,1998
`
`Sheet 9 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`730\
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`CBUTTON
`
`740\
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`lcaurrou
`
`I
`
`I
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`I
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`F-III » PIR
`
`X
`
`PRoFILE
`
`-
`
`_- -_
`
`x
`
`PRoFILE
`
`_ _
`
`_“ “__' -_
`
`I50 \
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`
`755\
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`
`TOUCHPAD
`
`Y PROFILE
`
`CBUTTON
`
`TOUCHPAD
`
`Y PRoFILE
`‘
`
`I
`
`l
`
`I]
`
`x
`
`_ _
`
`mm - - - -
`
`x
`
`PRoFILE
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 10 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 20, 1998
`
`Sheet 10 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`760
`\
`
`MENU
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`'
`
`770
`\
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`
`BUTTON
`C ACTIVATE
`
`Y PROFILE
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`CBUTTON
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`YPROFILE
`I
`
`I
`
`|
`
`I I
`
`X
`
`PROFILE
`
`_ _
`
`_“ _—_ "_
`
`X
`
`PROFILE
`
`T80\
`
`WDEO mspLAY
`
`790\
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`
`caunou
`
`Y PROFILE
`I
`
`|
`
`I
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`T
`
`Y PROFILE
`
`cBUTTON
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`E
`
`_—_ _—_ _—_
`X
`PROFILE _ _ _ _
`
`X
`PROFILE
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 11 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct.20,1998
`
`Sheet 11 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`8°°\
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`BU
`
`CBUTTON
`
`YPROFILE
`
`'
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`I
`
`805\
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`
`BUTTON
`MENU
`CBUTTON -_| 2
`3 4
`TOUCHPAD
`
`'1' (OW/01
`
`8|0\
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`
`BUTTON
`MENU
`cannon 2
`
`TOUCH PAD
`
`WW
`
`Y PROFILE
`
`X
`PROFILE
`
`FIG: 75.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 12 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 20, 1998
`
`Sheet 12 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`82°B\
`vIOEO DISPLAY
`MEN" W "U
`I
`2
`c= OORsOR
`POSITION
`
`0
`
`vIOEO DISPLAY
`ml
`BUTTON UP
`
`Y PROFILE
`
`TOUCHPAD
`
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`'
`
`|
`
`I
`
`O FINGER IN CONTACT
`WITH TOUCH SENSOR
`
`YPROFILE
`|
`
`I
`
`I
`
`'
`
`I
`
`TOUCHPAD
`
`x
`PROFILE
`
`_
`- -_
`
`x
`_
`PROFILE _- -
`
`8200\
`
`825A \
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`@
`
`BUTTON OOIIIII
`
`TOUCHPAD
`
`Y PROFILE
`l
`
`l
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I
`
`vIOEO DISPLAY
`@
`BUTTON OOvIrI
`
`MENU 0
`'2
`5
`
`Y PROFILE
`
`I
`
`I
`
`I"
`
`|
`
`I
`
`A
`
`TOUCHPAD
`
`(q
`
`x
`
`_ _
`
`PROFILE _- -_- -_
`
`x
`
`_ _
`
`PROFILE
`
`- - — —_
`
`FIG. 7F-/.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 13 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 20, 1998
`
`Sheet 13 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`B25B\
`
`C=CURSOR
`posmou
`
`Y PROFILE
`I
`
`I
`
`l
`
`l
`
`I
`
`825D\
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`m
`BUTTON DOWN
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`1m]
`BUTTON DOWN
`
`TOUCHPAD
`
`Y PROFILE
`I
`
`l
`
`I
`
`1'
`
`I
`
`I
`
`TOUCHPAD
`
`Q
`
`X
`
`_—_
`
`X
`
`_—_ _—_
`
`PROFILE
`
`_
`
`_ _ _
`
`a25c\
`
`Y PROFILE
`I
`
`I
`
`l
`
`I
`
`I
`
`|
`
`I
`
`VIDEO DISPLAY
`WEI]
`BUTTON 0mm
`
`aso\
`
`vmeo DISPLAY
`m
`
`Y PROFILE
`
`TOUCHPAD
`
`/"'\
`.
`I
`W \
`
`I
`,1
`"’ BUTTON UP
`
`x
`PROFILE
`
`_ _
`- - - —_
`
`x
`PROFILE
`
`F/GI 7F-2.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 14 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 20, 1998
`
`Sheet 14 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`400
`
`405
`
`SCAN CONDUCTORS;
`STORE IN RAM
`i
`Xcompuie
`l
`Ycompufe
`
`/450
`
`440
`
`{865
`Finger=0
`L
`
`Finger=|
`i
`/3T5
`
`Xmo?on = Xubsolufe -Xubso|ufePrevious
`Ymofion= Yabsolute -Yabsolufe Previous
`
`Finger=
`Finger Previous
`
`{ 895
`Mo’rion = No
`
`{900
`Moiion=Yes
`
`H6. 8-].
`
`L
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 15 of 27
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`0a. 20, 1998
`
`Sheet 15 0f 17
`
`5,825,352
`
`Report Button = Down
`Set Bu?onPrevious=D?
`
`[925
`Report BuHon= Up
`Sef Buf’ronPrevious= Up
`
`Bu?onPrevious=Up
`AND Finger=2
`
`BuHonPrevious=Down
`AND [Finger =0
`0R (Finger =|
`AND Mo’rion=Yes)]
`
`920
`FingerPrevious=Finger
`AND
`Mofion=Yes
`
`935
`
`Set Xabsolu’rePrevious = Xubsoluie,
`Set Yobsolu’rePrevious= Yubsolu’re,
`Se’r FingerPrevious= Finger
`
`940
`
`GO TO
`START
`
`F /6 8-2.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 16 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 17 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 18 of 27
`
`

`
`1
`MULTIPLE FINGERS CONTACT SENSING
`METHOD FOR EMULATING MOUSE
`BUTTONS AND MOUSE OPERATIONS ON A
`TOUCH SENSOR PAD
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation of US. patent applica
`tion Ser. No. 08/582,768, ?led Jan. 4, 1996, abandoned.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to touchpad
`devices, and more particularly relates to touchpad devices
`Which detect at least the presence of one or more objects
`such as ?ngers to effectuate preselected control functions.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Touch sensing devices are Well knoWn, and take a number
`of different forms. Perhaps the best knoWn are resistive
`membrane position sensors, Which have been used in a
`number of different applications for many years. Such
`devices have been used as keyboards, position indicators,
`and so forth. Other types of touch sensing devices include
`resistive tablets, surface acoustic Wave devices, touch sen
`sors based on strain gages or pressure sensors, and optical
`sensors.
`Yet another touch sensing technology is capacitive
`sensing, in Which the location of a ?nger (or in some
`instances another object such as a stylus) over a sensing
`device is determined by virtue of variations in capacitance
`under and around the location of the ?nger. Typical of
`capacitive touch sensing devices are touch screens and
`capacitive pads Which employ a matrix of roW and column
`electrodes and detect, for example, either the transcapaci
`tance betWeen roW and column electrodes or the effective
`capacitance to virtual ground. Other capacitive techniques
`are also knoWn. Some touch sensitive devices are knoWn to
`use interpolation for more precisely identifying the location
`of a ?nger or stylus.
`Typical of each of these prior art devices is that each of
`them senses any contact as that of only one ?nger at a time.
`Cursor movement is straightforWard With one ?nger, and
`tapping of a ?nger on the surface of the pad can be detected
`and acted upon in a manner similar to detecting the actuation
`of a button on a mouse. Single and double taps can be used
`as simple equivalents of single and double mouse clicks.
`With a single-?nger touchpad, the click and drag function
`is more dif?cult. With single ?nger detection, dragging has
`been implemented With schemes such as uptap (?nger lifted
`and placed doWn again quickly), tap-and-a-half, and sticky
`drag (drag lock turns on automatically after the ?nger is
`placed in one location Without moving for more than a
`certain time, such as one second). All of these methods take
`more time and/or more ?nger motions than it takes to
`perform the equivalent function With a mouse, and are not
`intuitive to users familiar With electronic mice. Prior art
`touch pads are thus less attractive for general use than a
`mouse.
`Another commonly used function in the prior art is that of
`clicking a box (or icon or displayed “button”) or series of
`boxes (such as “connecting the dots”). With a mouse, the
`cursor is moved into position by moving the mouse, then the
`click occurs With a doWn-up motion of the ?nger to actuate
`a button or sWitch. With a touchpad typical of the prior art,
`the cursor is moved into position With the ?nger, then the
`click occurs With a tap of the ?nger Which moved the cursor.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,825,352
`
`2
`This requires an up-doWn-up-doWn ?nger motion to do the
`same thing as simply the “doWn-up” motion of the mouse
`button. In general, any touchpad equivalent to a mouse
`button-clicking function requires an extra “up .
`.
`. up”
`motion of the ?nger, because the ?nger must be lifted off the
`pad before and after the tap.
`The time and stress associated With the extra motion is
`signi?cant. Human factors studies have shoWn that such
`touchpads yield loWer productivity than a mouse in many
`applications. This someWhat limits touchpads to those
`applications, such as portable computing, Where use of a
`mouse is inconvenient due to space or other considerations.
`There is therefore a need for a touchpad capable of yielding
`the same productivity as a mouse.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a novel method and appa
`ratus for sensing the proximity of multiple simultaneous
`?ngers or other appropriate objects to a touch sensor. The
`present invention may be implemented based on any con
`ventional touch sensing technology, although an exemplary
`embodiment involves the use of a capacitive touch sensing
`device similar to that described in US. patent application
`Ser. No. 08,478,290, entitled Touch Sensing Method and
`Apparatus, ?led Jun. 7, 1995, and assigned to the assignee
`of the present application. The numerous modi?cations to
`such a basic device required to implement the present
`invention are described generally beloW, and in detail here
`inafter. Alternatively, the present invention may be used With
`the method and apparatus described in the US. patent
`application Ser. No. 08/582,769, entitled Touch Pad Sensing
`Method and Apparatus, having as inventors Bemi Joss,
`Bernard Kasser and Stephen Bisset, ?led on Jan. 4, 1996,
`and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the
`relevant portions of Which are incorporated herein by ref
`erence.
`Operation of the present invention includes tWo aspects:
`detection of multiple objects, typically ?ngers, and assign
`ment of various functions to particular actions by the move
`ment of one or both ?ngers. The detection function can be
`general, but in a simple, exemplary implementation can be
`limited to a tWo-?nger function such as the combination of
`the index ?nger and middle ?nger. In general, these are the
`tWo most dextrous ?ngers, and they Work Well together. As
`a result, for this exemplary embodiment, the touchpad need
`only distinguish betWeen the tWo ?ngers in one dimension
`since the tWo ?ngers are typically side by side. In addition,
`the touchpad need only detect the second ?nger in reason
`ably close proximity to the ?rst ?nger. In most situations, the
`distance betWeen ?nger centers Will be less than ?ve centi
`meters. Additional combinations of ?ngers, such as three
`?ngers tapping simultaneously or other combinations, may
`also be implemented in accordance With the methodology of
`the present invention.
`For clarity of explanation, the present invention can be
`described in most of its applications by establishing one
`?nger as controlling movement of the cursor, and the second
`?nger as controlling functions equivalent to a mouse button
`or sWitch. In this context, one ?nger may be considered the
`“point” ?nger, While the other is the “click” ?nger. Various
`conventional functions may then be de?ned accordingly. For
`example, “drag” may be effected by moving the tWo ?ngers
`in unison, “point and click” may be effected by moving the
`cursor With the ?rst ?nger and tapping With the second
`?nger, “point and double click” may be effected by moving
`the cursor With the ?rst ?nger and double tapping With the
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 19 of 27
`
`

`
`3
`second ?nger, and so on. “Click and Drag” may be per
`formed simply by moving the cursor to the appropriate
`position With the ?rst ?nger, placing both ?rst and second
`?ngers on the pad, and moving both ?ngers together. The
`function may be concluded by simply raising one or both
`?ngers. Similarly, connecting the dots may be performed
`simply by moving the cursor from dot to dot With the ?rst
`?nger, and then clicking on the dot by tapping With the
`second ?nger. It Will be apparent to those skilled in the art
`that these functions may be de?ned differently and still fall
`Within the scope of the present invention. It Will also be
`apparent that many of these operations Will be intuitive to
`experienced mouse users, as soon as the correspondence
`betWeen mouse functions and the tWo ?ngers is demonstated
`to the user, and thus their implementation in a touchpad
`context makes them especially desirable.
`In addition to the foregoing functions, Which can be
`performed (albeit aWkWardly and less intuitively) With con
`ventional touch pads, there are additional functions that can
`be performed With tWo ?ngers and Which can have substan
`tial analogs to the use of a mouse or even go beyond
`conventional mouse functions. For example, detection and
`location of tWo ?ngers Will permit the touchpad to report to
`a host system the distance betWeen the tWo ?ngers. This can
`be used, for example, in paint or other programs to deter
`mine line Width or other spacing functions, or any other
`“variable value” function. Similarly, tapping With both ?n
`gers at the same time may be de?ned as an alternate,
`shorthand method for a double tap (such as may be de?ned
`for the middle button in a Logitech mouse) or may be
`de?ned as a special function, similar to the “right button”
`functions of a mouse. Such special functions may have
`particular value in operating systems such as WindoWs 95
`Where, for example, implementation of the Object VieWer
`function is an important special function. Such functions can
`be implemented readily With a triple ?nger tap, a double tap
`of tWo ?ngers, or other convenient combination.
`Another function Which may be implemented With tWo
`?nger detection is “drag lock”. This function may be used
`When a drag function is underWay, but at least one of the
`?ngers reaches the edge of the pad before the drag function
`is complete. Touchpad operation may be controlled to main
`tain the drag mode if, for example, both ?ngers are lifted off
`the pad Within a threshold period of one another, and are
`then placed doWn on the pad again Within a suitable time
`period. In some implementations, highly extended time
`periods may be suitable in this context.
`A further function Which may be readily implemented
`With the present invention is the ability to operate in relative
`mode, Where a ?rst ?nger performs a key function, and a
`second ?nger controls some attribute of the operation per
`formed by the ?rst ?nger. For example, a ?rst ?nger con
`tacting a touch pad may cause a cursor to move across a
`screen, While contact (and removal) of a second ?nger With
`the screen may turn an image, or “ink” on (and off). The
`resulting image, or “ink,” is de?ned by the motion of the ?rst
`?nger during the period When the second ?nger is also in
`contact With the pad; gaps in the “ink” occur When the
`second ?nger is lifted aWay from the pad. The function may,
`in some Ways, be thought of as electronic ?nger painting, but
`has the additional advantage of alloWing multiple characters
`to be Written on a touch pad. Thus, With the use of tWo
`?ngers, hand printing of text With gaps betWeen the letters
`and Words becomes feasible and convenient, Whereas it is
`impractical With the prior art “tap and a half” method of
`turning on the ink.
`Yet another function Which may be implemented With the
`present invention is use of the touchpad in absolute mode.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`5,825,352
`
`4
`Most prior art touchpad devices operate, like mice, in
`relative mode by indicating the distance travelled relative to
`the starting point of the motion. Touchpads, on the other
`hand, can also be operated in absolute mode, Where the
`absolute position of the ?nger on the pad is detected and
`reported to the host system or application. In absolute mode,
`multi-?nger detection alloWs the ?rst ?nger to point to the
`desired absolute position, While the second ?nger performs
`Whatever “click” operation is desired Without requiring a
`removal of the ?rst ?nger Which might lessen accuracy or
`resolution.
`Also included Within the present invention is the detection
`and location of more than tWo ?ngers, With accompanying
`functional de?nitions permitting such multiple contacts to
`indicate pointing device or other control operations, such as
`musical keyboards.
`It is therefore one object of the present invention to
`provide a touchpad system capable of detecting a plurality of
`contacts such as ?ngers.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`touchpad device capable of locating a plurality of contacts
`such as ?ngers.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`method for detecting the presence of more than one ?nger on
`a touch pad device.
`It is a still further object of the present invention to
`provide a method for locating each of a plurality of ?ngers
`on a touch pad device.
`It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
`a method for effecting the “point and click” function on a
`touchpad through the use of multiple ?ngers.
`Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide
`a method for effecting the “click and drag” function on a
`touchpad through the use of multiple ?ngers.
`A still further object of the present invention is to provide
`a method for effecting on a touchpad, through the use of
`multiple ?nger contacts, a plurality of conventional mouse
`button functions.
`Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
`method and apparatus for effecting on a touchpad, through
`the use of multiple ?nger contacts, a plurality of enhanced
`functions.
`Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide
`a method and apparatus for electronic ?nger painting.
`These and other objects of the invention may be better
`appreciated from the folloWing detailed description of the
`invention, taken together With the appended ?gures.
`THE FIGURES
`FIG. 1 shoWs a perspective vieW of a device according to
`the present invention.
`FIG. 2 shoWs in block diagram form the electronics of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 3 shoWs a ?nger pro?le for tWo non-overlapping
`?ngers as sensed by the present invention.
`FIG. 4 shoWs a ?nger pro?le for tWo closely-spaced
`?ngers as sensed by the present invention.
`FIG. 5 shoWs in How diagram form the steps for a high
`level algorithm for a pointing device according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 6 shoWs in How diagram form the steps for com
`puting motion and “button” states.
`FIGS. 7A—7F2 shoW in diagrammatic form an exemplary
`sequence of ?nger contacts and movements across a touch
`sensor.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 20 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 21 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 22 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 23 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 24 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 25 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 26 of 27
`
`

`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1027
`Page 27 of 27