I 1111111111111111 11111 1111111111 11111 11111 111111111111111 lll111111111111111
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`US007821425B2
`
`US 7,821,425 B2
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`c12) United States Patent
`(45)Date of Patent:
`
`Oct. 26, 2010
`
`
`Philipp
`
`(54)CAPACITIVE KEYBOARD WITH
`
`
`NON-LOCKING REDUCED KEYING
`AMBIGUITY
`
`
`
`(75)Inventor: Harald P hilipp, Ramble (GB)
`
`
`
`4,305,135 A 12/1981 Dahl et al.
`
`
`
`4,420,744 A 12/1983 Jesson
`
`4,616,213 A 10/1986 Danish
`
`
`4,617,554 A 10/1986 Krause et al.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4,954,823 A 9/1990 Binstead
`
`
`
`
`4,651,133 A * 3/1987 Ganesan et al. ............... 341/26
`
`5,189,417 A * 2/1993 Caldwell et al. .............. 341/26
`
`
`
`(73) Assignee: Atmel Corporation, San Jose, CA (US)
`
`
`
`
`
`( *) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`
`
`
`
`
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`
`
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 827 days.
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/279,402
`
`EP
`
`
`
`0609021 A2 8/1994
`
`
`
`
`
`Apr. 12, (22) Filed:2006
`
`(65)
`
`
`
`P rior Publication Data
`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`
`
`US 2006/0192690Al Aug. 31, 2006
`
`ISA from PCT /GB/00227 5, an application substantially the same as
`
`
`
`
`
`the captioned case.
`
`
`
`
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(Continued)
`
`(63)Continuation-in-part of application No. 11/160,885,
`
`
`Primary Examiner-Albert K Wong
`
`
`
`
`
`filed on Jul. 14, 2005, now Pat. No. 7,256,714, which is
`
`
`
`(74)Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McDermott Will & Emery
`
`
`
`a continuation of application No. 10/617,602, filed on
`LLP
`
`Jul. 11, 2003, now Pat. No. 6,993,607.
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(57)
`
`
`
`
`(60)Provisional application No. 60/597,851, filed on Dec.
`
`
`21, 2005, provisional application No. 60/395,368,
`Keyboards, keypads and other data entry devices can suffer
`
`
`
`filed on Jul. 12, 2002.
`
`
`
`
`from a keying ambiguity problem. In a small keyboard, for
`
`
`
`
`
`
`example, a user's finger is likely to overlap from a desired key
`(51)Int. Cl.
`
`
`
`
`to onto adjacent ones. An iterative method of removing key­
`H03M 11100 (2006.01)
`
`
`
`ing ambiguity from a keyboard comprising an array of capaci­
`
`
`
`(52)U.S. Cl. ........................... 341/33; 341/26; 345/173;
`
`
`
`
`
`tive keys involves measuring a signal strength associated with
`
`400/479.1; 200/600
`
`
`each key in the array, comparing the measured sign al
`
`
`(58)Field of Classification Search ................... 341/20,
`
`
`
`
`strengths to find a maximum, determining that the key having
`
`
`
`341/22, 26, 33; 400/479.1; 345/173; 200/600;
`
`
`
`
`the maximum signal strength is the unique user-selected key,
`
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`178/18.01; 702/65, 64
`
`
`
`and maintaining that selection until either the initially
`
`
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`
`
`selected key's signal strength drops below some threshold
`
`
`
`exceeds the first key's level or a second key's sign al strength
`
`signal strength.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`
`
`4,145,748 A 3/ 1979 Eichelberger et al.
`
`
`
`
`
`40 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`□□□□
`
`□ □
`
`
`
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`US 7,821,425 B2
`
`Page 2
`
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`2004/0008129 Al 1/2004 Philipp
`
`0689122 Al 12/1995
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`A 11/1995 Fukazawa 5,469,159
`
`
`5,469,364 A * 11/1995 Hughey et al ................. 702/65
`
`
`
`EP
`
`
`5,508,700 A 4/ 1996 Taylor
`
`et al.
`
`5,583,498 A 12/1996 Sukigara
`
`5,585,733 A 12/1996
`
`
`Paglione
`
`5,730,165 A 3/ 1998 Philipp
`
`5,844,506 A 12/1998 Binstead
`
`
`
`5,933,102 A 8/ 1999 Miller
`
`et al.
`
`6,137,427 A 10/2000 Binstead
`
`
`
`6,452,514 Bl 9/2002 Philipp
`
`
`6,466,036 Bl 10/2002 Philipp
`
`
`
`6,943,705 Bl 9/2005 Bolender et al.
`
`
`
`7,091,886 B2 8/2006 DePue et al.
`
`
`7,158,054 B2 1/2007 Pihlaja
`
`Written Opinion ofISA (EPO) in PCT/GB/00275.
`
`
`
`"U.S. Appl. No. 10/617,602, Amendment filed Jan. 27, 2005", 6
`pages.
`
`
`2005", 9 pages.
`
`
`2007", 8 pages.
`
`
`
`"U.S. Appl. No. 10/617,602, Notice of Allowance mailed Apr. 27,
`
`"U.S. Appl. No. 11/160,885, Notice of Allowance mailed Jun. 8,
`
`
`
`* cited by examiner
`
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`
`U.S. Patent Oct. 26, 2010
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`US 7,821,425 B2
`
`□□□□
`
`□
`
`□
`
`□□□□
`
`FIG. 1A
`
`IPR2020-00778
`Apple EX1001 Page 3
`
`

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`
`U.S. Patent Oct. 26, 2010
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`US 7,821,425 B2
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`IPR2020-00778
`Apple EX1001 Page 4
`
`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`Sheet 3 of 7
`Oct. 26, 2010
`
`US 7,821,425 B2
`
`7
`
`7
`
`6
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`
`FIG. 2
`
`7
`
`7
`
`IPR2020-00778
`Apple EX1001 Page 5
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`

`

`
`U.S. Patent
`Sheet 4 of 7
`Oct. 26, 2010
`
`US 7,821,425 B2
`
`8
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`IPR2020-00778
`Apple EX1001 Page 6
`
`

`

`--------------------------------------------
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`= N
`
`FIG. 4 2,o
`
`Number
`Result
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`
`1 6 ------------
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`18�
`
`-------(
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`
`Count
`Terminal
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`
`IPR2020-00778
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`

`

`
`U.S. Patent Oct. 26, 2010
`
`Sheet 6 of 7 US 7,821,425 B2
`
`Start
`K1 Inactive
`or
`Reset
`
`Acquire S1
`
`
`Signal for
`KeyK1
`
`24
`
`NO
`
`DI1 = DI1 - Z
`lim¢
`
`29
`
`YES
`
`-28
`
`Compare S1
`with Sj
`all j
`
`All other Sj
`
`NO
`
`31
`
`YES
`
`DI1 = DI1 + 1
`limT.C.
`
`NO
`
`33
`
`YES
`
`K1 =ON
`KJ = OFF, J f. 1t-----�
`Clear DIJ, J t- 1
`
`To K1
`Active
`FIG. 5A
`
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`

`

`
`U.S. Patent Oct. 26, 2010
`
`Sheet 7 of 7 US 7,821,425 B2
`
`Key K 1 Active
`
`34
`
`Acquire New S1
`
`Signal for Key K1
`
`NO DI1 = DI1 -Z
`lim¢
`
`39
`
`YES
`
`36
`
`37
`
`NO
`
`40
`
`YES
`
`YES
`
`38
`
`DI1 = DI1 + 1
`lim. T.C.
`
`Turn K1
`OFF
`
`To Key K1 Inactive
`
`FIG. 5B
`
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`
`
`US 7,821,425 B2
`
`1
`
`
`
`CAPACITIVE KEYBOARD WITH
`
`
`
`NON-LOCKING REDUCED KEYING
`
`2
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`AMBIGUITY
`
`BACKGROUND INFORMATION
`
`One aspect of the invention is that it may provide an itera­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tive method of removing keying ambiguity by measuring a
`
`
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of the inventor's
`5
`
`
`
`associated with each key in an array, detected sign al strength
`
`
`U.S. Ser. No. 11/160,885, filed on Jul. 14, 2005 now U.S. Pat.
`
`
`
`
`comparing the measured signal strengths to find a maximum,
`
`
`
`No. 7,256,714, which is a continuation of the inventor's
`
`
`
`
`determining that the key having the maximum signal strength
`
`
`application Ser. No. 10/617,602, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,
`
`
`
`is the unique user-selected first key, and maintaining that
`
`
`607, filed on Jul. 11, 2003, which claimed the priority of his
`
`
`
`drops selection until either the first key's sign al strength
`
`
`
`
`U.S. provisional application 60/395,368, filed Jul. 12, 2002.
`10
`
`below some threshold level or a second key's sign al strength
`
`
`
`
`Moreover, this application claims the priority of the inven­
`
`
`exceeds the first key's When any key is sign al strength.
`
`
`
`
`
`tor's provisional application 60/597,851, filed Dec. 21, 2005.
`
`
`
`
`
`selected its signal strength value may enhanced relative to all
`
`
`
`the other keys so as to deselect all other keys. In this aspect,
`
`
`
`the array under consideration may be a keyboard, or any
`
`
`15 convenient subset thereof.
`
`
`
`The invention relates to method and apparatus for control­
`A particular preferred embodiment of the invention is an
`
`
`
`
`
`ling an array of non-bistable keys, such as capacitive position
`
`array of capacitive keys in which each key has a respective
`
`
`
`
`sensors, and, more specifically for preventing accidental false
`
`
`
`
`detection integrator counter (DI) associated with it. Each DI
`
`
`
`inputs from keys adjacent to a selected key in a capacitive
`
`
`
`is a clocked counter that counts up by one incremental value
`keyboard.
`20
`
`
`
`on each capacitive acquisition cycle during which a sign al
`
`
`
`
`Arrays of capacitive proximity sensors are often used in
`
`
`
`strength from the associated key is above some nominal
`
`
`
`
`keyboards, keypads and other touch-input apparatus. Two
`
`
`
`threshold value, and that counts down toward zero if the
`
`
`
`characteristics of capacitive sensors that lead to their use
`
`
`
`
`signal strength is less than the nominal value. A controller
`
`
`instead of conventional metallic switches are: 1) Capacitive
`
`
`receives a respective input from each DI and determines that
`
`
`
`sensors can be made in small sizes, which is desirable if a
`25
`
`
`
`one of the keys is selected, e.g., wins, when the detection
`
`
`
`
`small, tightly packed keyboard is required; and 2) Capacitive
`
`
`integration (DI) count associated with that key meets a
`
`
`
`sensors are particularly easy to environmentally seal, which is
`
`
`
`
`respectively selected terminal count value, TC. The incre­
`
`
`
`
`desirable if the keyboard is to be used in a wet environment or
`
`
`
`same as down can be the mental magn itude used for counting
`
`where there is a concern that contaminants may be spilled on
`
`
`that for counting up, e.g., 1, or it can be different, e.g., 2, to
`the keyboard.
`30
`
`
`
`
`preferentially accelerate the count-down 'losing' process
`
`
`
`
`
`Conventional capacitive sensors, when tightly packed, or
`
`
`
`
`
`over the winning process, in order to facilitate better suppres­
`
`
`
`
`
`when used in the presence of conductive liquid films, suffer a
`
`
`
`sion of noise. The rate of counting down any of the DI
`
`
`
`
`
`keying ambiguity problem. In a small keyboard, for example,
`
`
`
`
`
`counters can also be the complete value, i.e., the DI can be
`
`
`
`
`a user's finger is likely to overlap from a desired key to onto
`
`
`
`
`cleared in one cycle. In this embodiment, when two or more
`
`
`adjacent ones. This is especially problematic if the user has
`35
`
`
`
`keys have signal strengths above their nominal thresholds, the
`
`
`
`large fingers or if he or she presses on the keyboard surface
`
`
`
`
`
`key with the lesser signal strength will have its associated DI
`
`hard enough to deform his or her finger. The same sort of
`
`
`decremented or cleared each cycle while this condition exists.
`
`
`effect is found when a conducting film is spilled on a key­
`
`
`
`If any two or more keys have equal and maximal sign al
`
`
`
`board, in which case the user's finger is sensed as though it
`
`
`
`
`strengths, such keys' DI's will continue to increment until the
`
`
`
`
`were the size of the puddle. Problems of this sort are particu­
`40
`
`
`
`
`first to reach its TC 'wins' and is set as the unique user­
`
`
`larly acute in cash register keyboards used in food service
`
`selected key.
`
`
`
`establishments where beverage and food sauce spills are a
`In another aspect of the invention, the DI of a key selected
`
`
`
`
`
`
`frequent occurrence.
`
`
`
`
`at a first instant may be decremented or cleared and that key
`In his U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,165, the inventor teaches a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`deselected even if the signal strength of that key is above the
`
`
`
`
`capacitive field sensor employing a single coupling plate and
`45
`
`
`
`
`threshold value and its DI equals its associated TC value, if
`
`
`a method of detecting a change in capacitance of the coupling
`
`
`
`
`
`second key becomes selected at a later instant by virtue of its
`
`
`
`
`plate, Cx, to ground. The apparatus taught in U.S. Pat. No.
`
`
`
`signal strength being greater than the of the sign al strength
`
`
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`5,730,165 comprises pulse circuitry for charging the coupling
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`first key while also being above its own threshold value and
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`plate and for subsequently transferring the charge from the
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`having its associated DI equal its associated TC. If there are
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`plate into a charge detector, which may be a sampling capaci-50
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`multiple keys with signal strengths above their associated
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`tor, Cs. The transferring operation is carried out by means of
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`threshold values, their associated Dis will count up and down
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`a transfer switch electrically connected between the coupling
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`in competition, until one key's DI finally equals its TC and
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`plate and the charge detector. The disclosure ofU.S. Pat. No.
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`wins over all others including over the previously selected
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`5,730,165 is herein incorporated by reference.
`key.
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`In his U.S. Pat. No. 6,466,036 the inventor teaches pulse 55
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`circuitry for measuring capacitance to ground, the circuitry
`In the above discussions, it should be understood that the
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`comprising a plurality of electrical switching elements, each
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`has been than another principle of having one sign al greater
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`of which has one side electrically connected to either a power
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`somewhat simplified for explanatory purposes. In order to
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`supply voltage or to a circuit ground point. This circuit
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`avoid indecisiveness and eliminate oscillation between two or
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`arrangement, which may be used with a keyboard as well as
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`more keys having more or less the same signal strengths, the
`60
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`for many other applications, is more compatible with avail­
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`winning key may preferably be given a slight advantage in
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`able integrated circuit practices design and manufacturing
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`subsequent repetitions of the decision process. This may be
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`than is prior art pulse circuitry, which commonly had one side
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`done, for example, by requiring a non-selected key's signal to
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`of at least one switching element floating. These improved
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`exceed the currently selected key's signal by a small amount.
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`arrangements thereby provide superior performance at a 65
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`This can be done by subtracting a small amount off the signals
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`lower manufacturing cost. The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No.
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`of non-selected keys, or by adding a small amount onto the
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`6,466,036 is herein incorporated by reference.
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`selected key's signal.
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`IPR2020-00778
`Apple EX1001 Page 10
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`US 7,821,425 B2
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`4
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
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`permits the smooth rollover of key selection as a finger slides FIGS. la to le show an array of tightly spaced capacitive
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`3
`An advantage of this method over those disclosed in my
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`U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,607 is that the method disclosed herein
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`from one key to the next, while still reducing key ambiguity. buttons.
`FIG. 2 shows a 2-D touch surface such as a capacitive
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`In the aforementioned patent, the first key to win remains
`5
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`mouse surface or a capacitive touch screen, with buttons
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`selected even if the maximal signal strength has shifted to a
`around it.
`new key, provided that the first key has enough signal strength
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`left to retain its state, i.e., by having its signal strength in
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`FIG. 3 shows a 2-D touch surface such as a capacitive
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`excess of its associated threshold value. Therefore the instant
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`mouse surface or a capacitive touch screen, with a guard ring
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`invention may be referred to as 'non-locking' key ambiguity
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`10 disposed around it to suppress activation of the touch screen
`reduction.
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`area when a finger strays just outside the 2-D mouse or screen
`area.
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`In yet another aspect of the invention, if the signal strengths
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`FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a preferred appa­
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`of two keys that are approaching a detection threshold value
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`ratus of the invention.
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`and that are both in a defined keyboard neighborhood both
`FIG. Sa is a flow chart showing logical operations carried
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`exceed the threshold value and their signal strengths are equal
`15
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`out in a preferred method of the invention when Key 1 is
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`to each other ( or are within a selected tolerance value) at the
`initially active.
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`same time, an algorithm executed by a controller may be used
`FIG. Sb is a flow chart showing logical operations carried
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`to declare one of the two keys to be active and the other to be
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`out in a preferred method of the invention when Key 1 is
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`inactive. It will be recognized that a wide variety of algo­
`initially inactive.
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`rithms are possible and include, but are not limited to, a 20
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`random, or pseudo-random selection of the active key, or a
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`declaration of activity based on which key was scanned first.
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`The principle also applies in the minimal case where the
`In studying this Detailed Description, the reader may be
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`DI's terminal count (TC) is chosen to be equal to one. This is
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`aided by noting definitions of certain words and phrases used
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`functionally the same as though there were no DI, but rather
`25
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`throughout this patent document. Wherever those definitions
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`just a simple signal comparison function with an inhibiting
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`are provided, those of ordinary skill in the art should under­
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`logic gate following it. Here, the inputs to the inhibiting gate
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`stand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions
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`also includes the logical comparisons of the signal strengths
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`apply to both preceding and following uses of such defined
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`among the keys in a neighborhood in order to skew subse­
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`words and phrases. At the outset of this Description, one may
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`quent comparisons to favor the already selected key over 30
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`note that the terms "include" and "comprise," as well as
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`competing keys having respective output sign als above
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`derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the
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`respective threshold values.
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`term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or. The word 'key' as
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`Those skilled in the keyboard arts will understand that the
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`generally used in this Disclosure and as specifically used in
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`above-mentioned neighborhoods can be defined in a wide
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`the Claims attached hereto refers to a touchable portion of a
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`variety of ways. In some cases, a neighborhood of a given key 35
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`mechanical to electrical transducing device that is non­
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`may consist of all the keys immediately adjacent the given
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`bistable in nature. This term specifically excludes conven­
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`key, or may comprise all the keys having no more than one key
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`tional mechanical switches in which two or more electrical
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`between them and the given key. In other cases, the neighbor­
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`conductors are moved into or away from contact with each
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`hood may comprise all the keys in a matrix array---e.g., in a
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`other to make or break an electrical connection. The terms
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`keyboard for use in a numerical data entry application in 40
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`'keyboard', 'key pad' and the like all refer to arrays ofkeys for
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`which only one key is to be active at a time so that the
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`data input without limitation as to the size or configuration of
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`sequence of input digits is uniquely determined. In other
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`the array. A 'key' can also be a dimensional sensing surface
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`cases, such as in a typing or computer-input keyboard, the
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`such as an XY touch screen or a 'trackpad', or a sensing zone
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`neighborhood of a key may comprise all other keys in the
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`not intended for normal human data entry such as an object or
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`keyboard except for special purpose keys, such as a capitali-
`45
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`body part sensor. 'Touch' can mean either human or mechani­
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`zation shift key, a control key, and the like. Moreover, some
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`cal contact or proximity to a key. 'User' can mean either a
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`embodiments of the invention provide a keyboard that is
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`human or a mechanical object. A 'finger' can be, inter alia, a
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`configurable by a user who programs a controller to selec­
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`human finger, a mechanical finger or a stylus.
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`tively consider or ignore various keys in an array. In some
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`Capacitive sensors, unlike bistable electromechanical
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`cases there might be two neighborhoods, each acting inde-
`50
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`switches which are either open or closed, provide a signal that
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`pendently of the other for key ambiguity resolution purposes.
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`varies with the degree of touch or extent or coupling between
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`Although it is believed that the foregoing rather broad
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`a user's finger and a sensing element of a keyboard. Other
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`s=ary description may be of use to one who is skilled in
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`non-bistable touch sensors, such as an array of piezoelectric
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`the art and who wishes to learn how to practice the invention,
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`sensors in which the output from a given sensor increases
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`it will be recognized that the foregoing recital is not intended
`55
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`with increasing activation force, share many of the properties
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`to list all of the features and advantages. Those skilled in the
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`of capacitive keys. Thus, much of the subsequent disclosure
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`art will appreciate that they may readily use both the under­
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`should be understood as being relevant to non-capacitive keys
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`lying ideas and the specific embodiments disclosed in the
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`to a degree of that also provide an output sign al responsive
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`following Detailed Description as a basis for designing other
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`coupling between the key and a user's finger, stylus, or other
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`arrangements for carrying out the same purposes of the
`60
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`key-activating or pointing implement that is proximate the
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`present invention and that such equivalent constructions are
`key.
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`within the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest
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`Turning now to FIG. lA, one finds an array of 'N' tightly
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`form. Moreover, it may be noted that different embodiments
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`spaced capacitive keys in a key panel 11 which would benefit
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`of the invention may provide various combinations of the
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`from the invention. When using such small key panels it is
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`recited features and advantages of the invention, and that less 65
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`inevitable that a finger will encompass much more than the
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`than all of the recited features and advantages may be pro­
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`intended key. A finger touching a principle desired key elec-
`vided by some embodiments.
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`IPR2020-00778
`Apple EX1001 Page 11
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`

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`US 7,821,425 B2
`
`6
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`5
`trade 1 could easily create a 'fingerprint' outline 3, as shown signal strength for purposes of key suppression, while the
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`in dashed lines, where the fingerprint has a centroid location
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`outer 'key' 8 acts to detect errant touch which falls partially on
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`A. This fingerprint also encompasses keys other than the
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`both 6 and 8. The area 6 can comprise any suitable input
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`intended key. The amount of intersecting surface area
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`arrangement such as a capacitive mouse surface, a capacitive
`between the dashed line and each key area is a reasonable
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`5 touch screen or a keypad comprising discrete keys.
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`representation of the amount of signal level change each
`8 is not necessarily In this example, the gu ard electrode
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`intersected key will receive due to the touch, although even
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`intended as an actual control key. A finger sliding from 3 to 4
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`non-touched keys will also see an increase in signal due to
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`would still potentially leave the active screen 6, but in fact the
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`mere finger proximity and to fringe-field effects within the
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`touch would not be legal since its areal centroid at 'b' lies
`touch panel.
`10
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`principally outside the input area. 'Key' 8 detects this out-of­
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`In this case, the desire is to select the one and only one key
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`position fingerprint and appropriate logic causes the screen 6
`which is intended by the user while suppressing outputs from
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`to fall out of detection or to be ignored by further processing.
`adjacent keys intersected by the fingerprint. In this 'non­
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`do It may be noted that some uses of the gu ard ring structure
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`locking' key suppression invention, if the finger slides to a
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`not involve having a finger touching the keypad. For example,
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`new key location 4, shown dotted with its centroid at location
`15
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`one could arrange a guard ring around a capacitive cell phone
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`B, where the movement is shown by the arrow from A to B,
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`keypad and use the guard ring output to suppress readings
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`this movement will not cause the first key 1 to remain solely
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`from all the keys in the keypad while the user was talking on
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`retain its active even though it has sufficient sign al to still
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`state, i.e., its signal still lies above its threshold level despite
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`the cell phone and holding the keypad of the phone against his
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`being reduced by the movement to a new key. Instead, the
`or her head.
`20
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`invention provides that the newly intended key 2, having a
`The guard electrode 'key' 8 in the latter case can also be a
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`larger signal level due to a higher degree of fingerprint inter­
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`discrete solid electrode shape, for example a rectangle, disk,
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`section than key 1, becomes the solely active key by switching
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`arc, or stripe or other shape, placed in some other location
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`off the active state of key 1.
`
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`reasonably proximate input area 6. This guard electrode
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`FIGS. lb and le further detail
`the change in sign als on the
`25
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`would be activated by placing the product against the user's
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`keys of FIG. la by virtue of the relative electrode surface
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`head or other body part (for example placing the product in a
`lb)
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`intersections with the fingerprint first at location A (FIG.
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`clothing pocket with the keypad side towards the user's body)
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`and then at location B (FIG. le). The signal strengths are
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`in order to suppress further output from the keypad under
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`shown in the bar plots in the lower portions of the respective
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`such adverse conditions. A suitable position for such a 'key'
`
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`figures. It is desired that in order for a key to 'win' the status
`30
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`might be near the earpiece of a cell phone, some distance
`
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`of user-selected key, its signal change must exceed a thresh­
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`old value, and its signal has to be the largest. In FIG. lb, key
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`away from the keypad or touchscreen.
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`1 wins. In FIG. le, key 2 wins.
`The gu ard electrode 'key' 8 can also be either a ring as
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`If the key selection method operates solely by picking a
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`shown in FIG. 3, or a discrete solid electrode shape, such as a
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`maximum signal strength, the keyboard may be subject to an 35
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`rectangle, disk, arc, or stripe or other shape, placed in some
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`undesirable rapid switching back and forth between two keys
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`other location reasonably proximate the input area 6 so as to
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`having nearly-identical ( e.g., fingerprint sign al strengths
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`be activated by a mechanical closure. This could provide a
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`areas). This sort of' chatter' is preferably prevented by biasing
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`cover which, when closed, would cause the gu ard key 8 to
`
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`or skewing the key selection method to favor an already
`
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`induce the suppression of input area 6.
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`
`
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`selected key. That is, the switchover process is made slightly
`40
`In order to make the determination of an out-of-position
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`more difficult than would occur with straight equivalence.
`
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`fingerprint for use with the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the
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`This bias may be provided in many ways in subsequent key
`
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`same sorts of biasing arrangements can be used to prevent
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`selection decisions. These ways may be equivalent to adding
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`chatter as discussed supra. However, relationships described
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`with the selected an incremental value to the sign al associated
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`above with respect to FIG. 2 presume the gain of the sensing
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`key; multiplying the signal strength of the selected key by a 45
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`channels with respect to finger surface area to be comparable,
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`value greater than one in subsequent selections; subtracting a
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`so that equivalent fingerprint surface areas on different keys
`asso­respective incremental value from the sign al strengths
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`produce comparable signal changes. This is not always the
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`ciated with each of the non-selected keys; or multiplying the
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`case in any of the instances described with respect to FIGS.
`signal strength of each of the non-selected keys by a respec­
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`keys may not be 50 la-e, 2 or 3. The electrode sizes of different
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`tive value less than one.
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`equal, and for various reasons (such as stray loading capaci­
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`mouse or FIG. 2 shows a configu ration of a capacitive
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`tance variations, etc.) the electrical gains among the various
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`capacitive touch screen area 6 with surrounding buttons 7.
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`keys can differ. In these instances the incremental values
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`The principles of operation described in conjunction with
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`added might be negative. Alternatively, signals from compet­
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`FIG. la-e apply similarly to FIG. 2, in that the area 6 can be
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`ing keys could be scaled into a state of equivalence by using
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`treated as a single key with a single signal strength for pur-55
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`scaling constants that are experimentally determined to
`
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`poses of key suppression. FIG. 2 applies when the keys 7 are
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`accord with a particular configuration. In any event, one can
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`very close to pointing surface 6 and fingerprints 3 and 4 can
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`scale and/or offset the signals into equivalence for compari­
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`overlap both the capacitive screen and one or more capacitive
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`son purposes and thereby create the desired suppression
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`the buttons. Moreover, it should be recogn ized that although
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`effect without chatter.
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`drawing depicts a two-dimensional touch surface, the same
`60
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`considerations apply to a one-dimensional touch surface of
`Turning now to FIG. 4, one finds a schematic representa­
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`the sort commonly referred to as a slider, scroll-wheel, or the
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`tion of apparatus of the invention 10, comprising an array of
`like.
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`N capacitive proximity sensors 12 labeled "Key 1", . . . , "Key
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`FIG. 3. shows a configuration of a capacitive touch input
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`N". Each of the sensors 12 has an output to a respective
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`area 6 with a surrounding 'key' 8. The principles of operation
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`65 counter logic 14 that supplies data to and is controlled by
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`
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`described in conjunction with FIG. 1 apply similarly to FIG.
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`suitable control logic 16. Those skilled in the electronic arts
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`3, in that the area 6 can be treated as a single key with a single
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`
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`will appreciate that although the counters 14 and control logic
`
`IPR2020-00778
`Apple EX1001 Page 12
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`

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`US 7,821,425 B2
`
`8
`
`7
`of counter values as described supra can be numerically
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`16 are depicted with discrete blocks in the schematic diagram,
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`
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`reversed to achieve the same effect and should be considered
`these features could be provided either by separate physical
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`to be logically equivalent to the above explanation.
`circuit elements, or could all be provided by a single micro­
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`
`
`
`Note that in FIG. Sa, in order for a key to gain dominance
`controller, as depicted by the dashed phantom line 18 in FIG.
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`4. Moreover, although the array of keys 12 is depicted as
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`5 over an already active key, it must exceed the active key's last
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`
`
`
`being a simple linear array, it will be appreciated by one who
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`
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`measured signal level by a small added amount 'k', as shown
`
`
`
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`reads the complete disclosure contained herein that many
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`in Step 30 to prevent selection dithering. Although the value
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`ot