JP6400622B2 - Mechanism for using and facilitating edge thumb sensors in computing devices - Google Patents

Description

  The field relates generally to computing devices and, more particularly, to using mechanisms for using and facilitating edge thumb sensors in computing devices.

  As the use of mobile devices increases, without increasing cost, size, or complexity and / or without reducing value, efficiency, or existing features (eg, using touch panels It has become increasingly important to make mobile devices easier to use.

  None of the current technologies meet the aforementioned criteria. For example, one way to increase the sensitivity or functionality of a touch panel is to add multiple other components to the device (eg, microcontroller, central processing unit (CPU) driver, cable or connector). This results in increased cost, increased size, increased complexity, and the like.

  Embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanism for using and facilitating a thumb sensor in a computing device. A method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a step of expanding a touch panel of a computing device to a flap of the touch panel used as a side sensor of the computing device, and a detecting step of detecting use of the side sensor. The use includes a touch of the side sensor by the user, and the detecting step includes a step of detecting a change at one or more intersections of the plurality of intersections of the conductive lines. The method may further include facilitating an action in response to the use of the side sensor.

  In one embodiment, the touch panel hardware of a computing device (eg, a smartphone) is used and its electrical row and column leads are expanded to form a thumb sensor. Therefore, no additional full sensor is necessary as a side sensor. This technology reduces hardware costs, device integration costs, manufacturing costs, unit test costs, and the like.

1 illustrates a computing device that uses and facilitates a thumb sensor mechanism, according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. FIG. 3 illustrates a thumb mechanism used in a computing device according to one embodiment of the invention. 1 illustrates a computing device that uses and facilitates a thumb sensor using a thumb sensor mechanism, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a computing device that uses and facilitates a thumb sensor using a thumb sensor mechanism, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates a computing device that uses and facilitates a thumb sensor using a thumb sensor mechanism, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 3 illustrates a method for using and facilitating a thumb sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 illustrates a computing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and are not limited by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like elements.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a computing device that uses and facilitates a thumb sensor mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, computing device 100 is shown as having a thumb sensor mechanism (“thumb mechanism”) 108 for using and facilitating a thumb sensor. The computing device 100 is, for example, a smartphone (for example, iPhone (registered trademark), BlackBerry (registered trademark), etc.), a handheld computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer (for example, iPad (registered trademark), Samsung). Mobile computing devices such as (registered trademark) Galaxy Tab (registered trademark)), laptop computers (eg, notebooks, netbooks, etc.), and set top boxes (eg, Internet-based cable television set top boxes) Etc.), desktop computers, server computers and the like. The computing device 100 includes an operating system 106 that functions as an interface between any hardware or physical resource of the computing device 100 and a user. The computing device 100 can further include a processor 102, a memory device 104, a network device, a driver, and the like. It should be noted that the terms “machine”, “device”, “computing device”, “computer”, “computing system” and the like are used throughout this document as synonyms that can be substituted for each other.

  In one embodiment, the computing device 100 further provides a hardware extension 110 that provides the necessary hardware and / or circuitry and is used to employ and facilitate the thumb sensor using the thumb sensor mechanism 108. Including. As further described with reference to the following figures, for example, in one embodiment, the touch panel of computing device 100 may be extended to a flap that functions as a thumb sensor using hardware extension 110.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a thumb mechanism used in a computing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the thumb mechanism 108 includes various components 202-208 for facilitating use of the thumb sensor, as described throughout this document. For example, the thumb mechanism 108 includes a thumb sensor expansion module (“expansion module”) 202. The expansion module 202 cooperates with the hardware extension 110 to understand and operate the hardware circuitry required to use an extension such as the touch panel flap of a computing device that functions as a thumb sensor. . The expansion module 202 is used to reduce the amount of hardware required to use a thumb sensor on one side (eg, the right side) of a mobile computing device that uses touch panel hardware. Thus, by expanding the capacitance detection capability of the touch panel including the thumb sensor, the cost, size, package, and the like of the thumb sensor can be significantly reduced. For example, to scan a trace that extends to the upper right corner of the touch panel for a right-handed user (or to the upper left corner of the touch panel for a left-handed user), for example, scanning Capacitance detection can be added to the touch panel. This is illustrated and further described with reference to FIG.

  In addition to the expansion module 202, a signal / sensor unit 204 is used to detect and analyze the user's touch whenever the user touches the thumb sensor. Similarly, for example, the signal / sensor unit 204 can detect, analyze and calculate signals and touches recognized via the thumb sensor in the same way as signals and touches are recognized via the touch panel. The integration module 206 is used to integrate the existing touch panel of the mobile computing device with the flap that functions as a thumb sensor. In addition, to integrate the touch panel and thumb sensor, for example, by providing integrated capacitance detection using a plurality of conductive lines extending between the touch panel and the thumb sensor, both the touch panel and thumb sensor Can be combined or integrated to work together.

  The thumb mechanism 108 further includes an action facilitator 208 that facilitates any action requested by the user via the thumb sensor. For example, if the user desires to scroll down or scroll up the screen using the thumb sensor, the action facilitator 208 works with the other components 202-206 as the screen is requested by the user. Ensure that it is scrolled down or up. As described above, the thumb mechanism 108 cooperates with the hardware extension 110 (eg, by providing a common conductive line between the touch panel and the thumb sensor) to facilitate the function and operability of the thumb sensor. Is intended. Finally, the user interface module 210 cooperates with the hardware extension 110 to provide the user with a user interface for conveniently operating the thumb sensor according to the intended purpose.

  Embodiments of the present invention may modify or add to the thumb mechanism 108 any number and type of components to facilitate the functionality and operability of the thumb sensor. Or may be deleted from the thumb mechanism 108. For the sake of brevity, clarity, and ease of understanding, and to focus on the thumb mechanism 108, many of the default or known components of the computing device are not shown and are described herein. It is not explained in the book. For example, the display of the computing device can be continuously (re) adjusted or (re) aligned based on changing information communicated by user input via a thumb sensor.

3A-3C illustrate a computing device that uses and facilitates a thumb sensor using a thumb sensor mechanism, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of the hardware extension 110 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In one embodiment, hardware extension 110 provides unified capacitive pad and circuitry for the touch panel 302 and thumb sensor 304 to be coupled. The hardware extension 110 couples the touch panel 302 with the thumb sensor 304, for example, charging and detection hardware for integrating hardware via conductive wires including the column lead 322 and row lead 324 shown. (Charging and sensing hardware) 312 is included. The number and function of column leads 322 and row leads 324 are shown merely as examples in the figures for ease of understanding, and in an actual computing device, column leads 322 and row leads 324 are shown. It is intended that the number and form of can be quite complex. As shown and described above, the thumb sensor 304 may be a flap (or a touch panel 302 of the mobile computing device 100 via a flexible joint 306) that may be a flexible extension of the touch panel 302 of the mobile computing device 100. Flap that can be combined and provided as a flap that is not continuous with the touch panel 302 and separated from the touch panel 302 by a flexible joint 306 . As shown in FIG. 3B, the flap thumb sensor can be rotated 90 degrees to the right and / or left side of computing device 100 (at joint 306). FIG. 3C illustrates one embodiment of a thumb sensor 304 with respect to placement on the computing device 100 and how it looks to the touch panel 302 and the human thumb 332. Embodiments are not limited to the illustrations in these figures, and the position, location, connection, size, type, etc. of touch panel 302 and thumb sensor 304 may vary depending on the changing technology and / or consumer needs and needs. Intended to change.

  Referring back to FIG. 3A, the column lead 322 and the row lead 324 may be electric wires or electronic wires that function as conductive wires that are spaced apart so as to be in close contact. Thus, the column lead 322 and the row lead 324 do not touch each other, but are spaced apart so that they are in close proximity at the row / column intersection 326, thereby forming a plurality of small capacitors. For example, in one embodiment, the row lead 324 is placed above (or below) the column lead 322 so as to function as a small capacitor to provide capacitive coupling of conductors as described above. Thus, it is possible to form an intersection where a space is opened. The signal / sensor unit 204 of FIG. 2 can be used to detect composite signals associated with these intersections 326 and any changes in these composite signals are received from the thumb sensor 304 that is touched by the user. Interpreted as user input or signal. Capacitance detection is based on capacitive coupling used in a wide variety of sensors for detecting and measuring proximity, location, position, movement, humidity, acceleration, and the like.

  For example, if the user touches the thumb sensor 304 in a particular manner, the user's touch is received by the integration module and then analyzed (eg, for changes detected at one or more intersections 326). Provided to the signal / sensor unit for evaluation and interpretation). Based on that analysis, an action plan is sent to the action facilitator of FIG. 2 to initiate or facilitate the appropriate action. For example, the analysis indicates whether the user's touch was only accidental or whether the user intended to press the thumb sensor 304 or whether the user wanted to scroll up and / or scroll down. Can be revealed. Appropriate actions can be displayed on the display screen by the display screen of the computing device 100 (e.g., providing a new set of information such as a new website being displayed on the screen, address for details). Click to open a contact in the book, scroll up and / or down the screen, display an error message, etc.).

  FIG. 4 illustrates a method of using and facilitating a thumb sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention. The method 400 may be performed by processing logic that may include hardware (eg, circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic, etc.), software (eg, instructions executed on a processing device, etc.), or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, method 400 may be performed by the thumb sensor mechanism of FIG.

  The method 400 begins by detecting use of the thumb sensor at process block 405. That is, in one embodiment, whenever the user touches the thumb sensor (or whenever the thumb sensor is pressed or the thumb sensor is rolled), as described above, the thumb sensor of the computing device and The use is detected by detecting the intersection point associated with the touch panel. At block 410, the use of the thumb sensor is analyzed and the intended purpose of the use is determined. For example, first, determine if it was accidental, and second, if it was not accidental, determine if the thumb sensor was pressed, rolled, scrolled, etc. Thus, the intended purpose can be determined. At block 415, an appropriate action is determined based on an analysis of its usage. In block 420, an appropriate action is facilitated.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a computing system 500 that uses and facilitates a thumb sensor referenced throughout this document in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The exemplary computing system 500 may be the same as or similar to the computing device 100 of FIG. The exemplary computing system 500 includes 1) one or more processors 501, at least one of which may include the functions described above, 2) MCH 502, and 3) (DDR RAM). ), System memory 503, 4) cache 504, 5) ICH 505, 6) graphics processor 506, 7) (CRT, TFT, LED, MOLED, LCD, DLP) And so on) and 8) one or more I / O devices 508.

  One or more processors 501 execute instructions to execute software routines implemented by the computing system. Instructions often involve some kind of operation performed on the data. Both data and instructions are stored in system memory 503 and cache 504. Cache 504 is typically designed to have a shorter latency than system memory 503. For example, the cache 504 may be integrated into one or more silicon chips that are the same as one or more processors and / or may be configured with faster SRAM cells. On the other hand, the system memory 503 can be configured using slower DRAM cells. By facilitating the storage of more frequently used instructions and data in the cache 504 rather than in the system memory 503, the overall performance efficiency of the computing system is improved.

  System memory 503 is intentionally made available to other components in the computing system. For example, data received from various interfaces (eg, keyboard and mouse, printer port, LAN port, modem port, etc.) into the computing system, or obtained from an internal storage element of the computing system (eg, a hard disk drive). Often, data that is stored is temporarily queued in system memory 503 before being manipulated by one or more processors 501 in the execution of a software program. Similarly, data that a software program determines to be transmitted from a computing system to an external entity via one of the computing system interfaces or stored in an internal storage element is often , Temporarily queued in system memory 503 before being transmitted or stored.

  The ICH 505 correctly passes such data between the system memory 503 and the appropriate corresponding computing system interface (and internal storage device if the computing device is so designed). Take the role of ensuring that. The MCH 502 is responsible for managing various competing system memory 503 access requests that may occur in close proximity to each other between one or more processors 501, interfaces and internal storage elements. In one embodiment, MCH 502 and ICH 505 may not be used separately. Rather, MCH 502 and ICH 505 may be provided as a single chipset that includes MCH 502, ICH 505, other controller hubs, and the like.

  One or more I / O devices 508 are also implemented in a typical computer system. An I / O device is generally responsible for transmitting data to and / or from a computing system (eg, a networking adapter). Alternatively, I / O devices are used for large scale non-volatile storage (eg, hard disk drives, etc.) within a computing system. The ICH 505 has a bidirectional point-to-point link between the ICH 505 itself and the discovered I / O device 508.

  Parts of the various embodiments of the invention may be provided as a computer program product. A computer program product may include a computer readable medium having computer program instructions stored thereon. Computer program instructions may be used to program a computer (or other electronic device) to cause the computer (or other electronic device) to perform processes according to embodiments of the present invention. The machine readable medium can be a floppy disk, optical disk, CD-ROM, magneto-optical disk, ROM, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, magnetic or optical card, flash memory, or other suitable for storing electronic instructions Types of media / machine readable media, but are not limited to these.

  The techniques shown in the figures can be implemented using code and data stored and executed in one or more electronic devices (eg, end stations, network elements). Such electronic devices use computer readable media to store code and data and communicate (internally and / or with other electronic devices via a network). Such computer readable media include, for example, non-transitory computer readable storage media (eg, magnetic disk, optical disk, RAM, ROM, flash memory device, phase change memory) and transitive computer readable transmission. Medium (eg, electrical signal, optical signal, acoustic signal, or other form of propagation signal (carrier wave, infrared signal, digital signal, etc.)). In addition, such electronic devices typically include one or more storage devices (non-transitional machine-readable storage media), user input / output devices (eg, keyboards, touch screens, and / or displays), and network connections. A set of one or more processors connected to one or more other components such as. The connection between the set of processors and other components is typically via one or more buses and bridges (also called bus controllers). Thus, the storage device of a given electronic device typically stores code and / or data for execution on the set of one or more processors of the electronic device. Of course, one or more portions of the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using various combinations of software, firmware, and / or hardware.

  In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that changes and modifications may be made to particular exemplary embodiments of the invention without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Will. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims (15)

A method of manufacturing a sensor comprising:
Expanding a touch panel of the computing device to a flap representing an edge of the computing device to create an integrated touch sensor of the computing device, the flap being connected via a flexible joint; Combined with a touch panel, including steps,
The touch panel is not continuous with the flap, and the flexible joint portion separates the touch panel and the flap,
Extending the touch panel includes integrating the touch panel and the edge into the integrated touch sensor;
The integrating includes providing integrated capacitance detection to the edge. The integrated touch sensor is
Including one or more side sensors provided on one or more sides of the computing device;
The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated touch sensor is provided at a 90 degree angle from the touch panel in front of the computing device. The integrated touch sensor is
Including one or more side sensors provided on one or more sides of the computing device;
The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated touch sensor is provided at an angle other than 90 degrees from the touch panel in front of the computing device.   The method of claim 1, wherein the integrated touch sensor comprises a thumb sensor triggered by a user touch provided via a user thumb or one or more fingers of the user.   The computing device includes one or more of a mobile computing device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a set-top box, and the mobile computing device is a smartphone, a handheld computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA). 2. The method of claim 1, comprising one or more of: a tablet computer, wherein the laptop computer comprises a notebook or a netbook. Detecting use of an integrated touch sensor including the touch panel extended to an edge of a computing device having a flap coupled to the touch panel via a flexible joint, the touch panel being continuous with the flap The flexible joint part separates the touch panel and the flap, and the use includes a touch of the integrated touch sensor by a user, and detecting the use of the integrated touch sensor is the integration Detecting changes at one or more of a plurality of intersections of conductive lines extending between the touch panel and the edge to provide integrated capacitance detection through a touch sensor;
Facilitating action in response to the use of the integrated touch sensor;
A computer-implemented method comprising: Analyzing the use to determine the intended purpose of the use by the user;
Selecting an action in accordance with the use and in accordance with the determined intended purpose;
The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising:   Detecting use of the integrated touch sensor further includes receiving a message related to the use of the integrated touch sensor from the one or more of the plurality of intersections, the plurality of intersections being The computer-implemented method according to claim 6, wherein the first conductive line provided on the touch panel is formed by being placed over the second conductive line provided on the edge of the computing device. Method. A computing device having a memory storing instructions for facilitating an edge sensor mechanism and a processing device for executing the instructions, the instructions being transmitted to the processing device,
Expanding a touch panel of the computing device to a flap representing an edge of the computing device to create an integrated touch sensor of the computing device, the flap via a flexible joint The touch panel is coupled to the touch panel, and the touch panel is not continuous with the flap, and the flexible joint portion separates the touch panel and the flap, and extending the touch panel includes the touch panel and the edge. Integrating with an integrated touch sensor, said integrating comprising providing integrated capacitance detection on said edge;
Detecting the use of the integrated touch sensor, wherein the use includes a touch of the integrated touch sensor by a user, and detecting the use of the integrated touch sensor includes detecting the use of the integrated touch sensor through the integrated touch sensor. Detecting a change at one or more of a plurality of intersections of conductive lines extending between the touch panel and the edge to provide capacitance detection;
Facilitating action in response to the use of the integrated touch sensor;
A system with a computing device that runs The processing device further analyzes the use and
Determine the intended purpose of the use by the user;
The system of claim 9, wherein an action is selected according to the use and according to the determined intended purpose.   Detecting use of the integrated touch sensor further includes receiving a message related to the use of the integrated touch sensor from the one or more of the plurality of intersections, the plurality of intersections being The system according to claim 9, wherein the system is formed by arranging a first conductive line provided on the touch panel so as to overlap a second conductive line provided on the edge. The integrated touch sensor is
Including one or more side sensors provided on one or more sides of the computing device;
The system of claim 9, wherein the integrated touch sensor is provided at a 90 degree angle from the touch panel in front of the computing device. The integrated touch sensor is
Including one or more side sensors provided on one or more sides of the computing device;
The system of claim 9, wherein the integrated touch sensor is provided at an angle other than 90 degrees from the touch panel in front of the computing device.   The system of claim 9, wherein the integrated touch sensor comprises a thumb sensor triggered by a user touch provided via a user thumb or one or more fingers of the user.   The computing device includes one or more of a mobile computing device, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and a set-top box, and the mobile computing device is a smartphone, a handheld computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA). 10. The system of claim 9, including one or more of: a tablet computer, wherein the laptop computer comprises a notebook or a netbook.

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