JP7317784B2 - A mobile device that eliminates unintentional contact with touch sensors - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the field of electronic devices, and more specifically to mobile devices that eliminate unintentional contact with touch sensors.

Mobile devices, including cell phones, smart phones, mobile internet devices (MIDs), handheld computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other similar devices, are one for the operation that allows input to the mobile device. or may include multiple sensors.

Such mobile devices will generally be held in a hand for operation. In many situations, holding the device is followed by input into one or more applications or services, or reading of information from the screen of the mobile device.

US patent application Ser. No. 12/650,582 US patent application Ser. No. 12/646,220

However, depending on the location of the touch sensor on the mobile device, holding the device in the user's hand may result in unintentional contact with the touch sensor. In such situations, the mobile device will typically detect a touch on the touch sensor when the user of the device does not intend any action and is unaware that the touch sensor has actually been touched. . This can result in erroneous input by the user into the mobile device.

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to mobile devices that eliminate unintentional touch sensor contact.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a mobile device that provides exclusion of unintentional touches to the touch sensor; FIG. 10 illustrates contact rejection in a rest position according to embodiments of a mobile device; FIG. 10 illustrates rejection of accidental touches as an input according to embodiments of mobile devices; FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of elements of a mobile device that provide exclusion of unintentional touches to the touch sensor; FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a process for transforming sensor data to represent user intent and perception based on contact area. FIG. FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a mobile device that provides exclusion of unintentional touches to the touch sensor;

Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers refer to like elements.

As used herein, "mobile device" refers to mobile electronic devices or systems, including mobile phones, smart phones, mobile internet devices (MIDs), handheld computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other similar devices. means

As used herein, a "touch sensor" provides an input signal generated by physical contact by the user, proximity of the user, or both (sometimes commonly referred to as contacting the touch sensor). means a sensor configured to, including sensors that detect contact by a thumb or other finger of a user of a device or system, including a mobile device. A touch sensor may include, but is not limited to, a capacitive sensor, which can detect finger or hand contact on the capacitive sensor. Touch sensors may include sensors that serve a number of different purposes in the operation of a device or system.

As used herein, "side touch sensor" means a touch sensor that detects user contact, including the user's finger or hand, on at least one side of a device or system, including a mobile device. A side touch sensor is a touch sensor that is at least partially physically located on at least one side of the mobile device, or a touch sensor that is not physically located on at least one side of the mobile device but is located on said side of the mobile device. Includes side touch sensors that detect user contact.

When using a mobile device that has a touch sensor on its side, users sometimes unintentionally act on the sensor. For example, the user may simply read information on the touchscreen while holding the device in the palm of their hand, or they may use the thumb of the hand holding the device to act on the touchscreen. . In such cases, the palm of the user's hand, for example, may wrap lightly around the bottom edge of the touch sensor, which may appear as a touch on the side touch sensor.

In another example, the user may hold the device, such as while reading information from the screen, simply by placing the user's thumb on the sensor or index finger on the edge of the sensor. This type of unintentional contact with the touch sensor can become more frequent when the touch sensor is longer on the side of the mobile device. In this case, since the user intentionally acts on the upper part of the sensor, the sensor may register an unintentional action on the lower part of the touch sensor.

If not addressed, these unintended effects are problematic in at least two scenarios. In the first scenario, the user is actively trying to interact with the touchscreen of the mobile device. In this case, unintentional touch sensor motion that is detected will conflict with touch screen motion, and the system will, for example, randomly respond to either of these two inputs or generate an error condition. , which can disrupt the mobile device user experience.

In a second scenario, the mobile device uses a long touch sensor and there can be both intentional touches on the top portion of the sensor and unintentional touches on the bottom portion of the sensor. In operation, any of these multiple touches (one intentional touch and one unintentional touch) to the touch sensor are randomly triggered, again depending on the user's experience of the mobile device. It can be confusing.

In some embodiments, the mobile device provides exclusion of unintentional touch sensor contact. In some embodiments, a mobile device addresses the above problem of unintentional contact of side touch sensors by identifying user intent and masking unintentional actions on side touch sensors.

Some embodiments provide devices, systems and methods that analyze the shape and movement characteristics of a user's resting fingers/palms and filter out these signals, thereby avoiding unintentional gestures. do. In some embodiments, the approach involves analyzing various long-term statistics about features extracted from relevant sensor readings during operation. If long-term statistics suggest that the effect is static (and therefore unintentional), the effect is suppressed. In this way, conflicts with any intentional user actions, such as touch screen actions or valid finger actions on long sensors, are prevented.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a mobile device that provides exclusion of unintentional touches to touch sensors. In some embodiments, the mobile device 100 provides for elimination of static finger and hand positions on the touch sensor. In some embodiments, mobile device 100 includes a screen 105 for viewing displayed information, which both presents data and images to the user and receives input from the user. may include a touch screen for In some embodiments, mobile device 100 further includes side touch sensors 110 for receiving input from the user in the form of gestures from the user's thumb or other finger.

In some embodiments, the mobile device 100 provides exclusion of the stationary position of the user's 115 finger or hand on the side touch sensors. In some embodiments, the mobile device includes an indication 120 of unintentional contact with the mobile device. This unintentional contact indicator 120 may be stored in non-volatile memory, and the mobile device may use statistical analysis of the contact on the touch sensor 110 to indicate whether the contact is intentional on the touch sensor. Decide if it should be excluded as a non-contact.

In some embodiments, touch sensor 110 may include capacitive sensors and may include other sensors such as optical sensors. For example, US Patent Application No. 12/650,582 (Optical Capacitive Thumb Control with Pressure Sensor) filed December 31, 2009; See patent application Ser. No. 12/646,220 (Contoured Thumb Touch Sensor Apparatus).

FIG. 2 illustrates stationary position contact elimination according to an embodiment of a mobile device. In some embodiments, mobile device 200 includes side touch sensors (hidden in this view). In operation, the hand 210 of the user of the mobile device 200 may inadvertently contact the side touch sensor while holding the mobile device 200 with the hand in the rest position 220 .

In some embodiments, the mobile device provides contact exclusion based on statistical analysis of contacts over time. For example, in this example the contact point 225 is a large area on the side touch sensor and the contact will generally tend not to move. In some embodiments, statistical analysis of these and related factors is used to determine that the touch was unintentional and eliminate the signal from this touch of the side touch sensors.

FIG. 3 illustrates rejection of accidental touches as input according to embodiments of a mobile device. In some embodiments, mobile device 300 includes side touch sensors (hidden in this view). In this example, the side touch sensor may have a long length to the extent that unintentional contact may be made at the bottom of the side touch sensor. In operation, hand 310 of the user of mobile device 300 may contact side touch sensors at multiple locations when the hand is in an active position for control input 320 . In this illustration, the user's thumb is contacting the side touch sensor at first point 330 to provide input to mobile device 300 . However, the user's hand is still in contact with the side touch sensor at the second point 335 . This is due to the length of the side touch sensors, the particular size of the user's hand, and the particular manner in which the mobile device 300 is held in the user's hand. In this situation, the second contact 335 can be constant, but can also turn on and off when there is a change in the first contact point 330 in order for the user to provide input to the mobile device 300 .

In some embodiments, the mobile device provides exclusion of second contact points 335 based on statistical analysis of contacts over time. For example, in this example, the second contact point 335 is located in the lower area of the side touch sensor and is present in addition to the first contact point 330 . In some embodiments, the second contact 335 uses a statistical analysis that includes recognizing that there are two contact points and the second contact point is at the bottom edge of the side touch sensor. Decide that it is unintentional and eliminate the signal from this contact on the side touch sensor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of elements of a mobile device that provide exclusion of unintentional touches to the touch sensor. In some embodiments, mobile device 400 includes side touch sensors 425 that are used to provide input to the mobile device through gesture manipulations of the user's thumb or other finger. In some embodiments, mobile device 400 further includes one or more processors 430 for processing signals and commands, including input received from side touch sensors.

In some embodiments, mobile device 400 includes a control module or algorithm 435 that eliminates inadvertent touches to side touch sensors 425 . In some embodiments, the mobile device collects data generated by side touch sensors 425 from touches on the sensors and performs statistical analysis on such touches over time. In some embodiments, statistical analyzes include, but are not limited to:

(1) Determination of contact point size. For example, a large contact point may indicate that a user's hand is wrapping around mobile device 400 and making unintentional contact with side touch sensor 425 .

(2) determination of contact point movement; For example, lack of movement of a particular contact point may indicate that the user's hand is in a stationary position and contact with side touch sensor 425 is being used to hold the mobile device.

(3) determining the shape of the contact point on the side touch sensor 425; For example, the shape may show a hand wrapping around mobile device 400 .

(4) determining the number of contact points on the side touch sensor 425; For example, a portion below side touch sensor 425 indicates that a second contact point below the first contact point is an inadvertent contact with the side touch sensor when providing input to mobile device 400 . may indicate.

The mobile device further includes one or more transmitters and receivers 406 for wireless transmission and reception of data; one or more antennas 404 for transmission and reception of such data; a user interface 442, including a graphical user interface (GUI), for communication between the mobile device 400 and a user of the device; and for providing a visual display to the user of the mobile device 400 display circuitry or controller 444; and location circuitry or elements including GPS circuitry or elements 446.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a process for transforming sensor data to represent user intent and perception based on contact area. In some embodiments, once the mobile device is operational 500, the mobile device can proceed with normal operation, including receiving 505 sensor input. In some embodiments, sensor input includes input from side touch sensors.

In some embodiments, indications of unintentional contact with side touch sensors are developed 515, which may include empirical development of such indications based on mobile device usage. In some embodiments, when the mobile device detects 510 contact with a side touch sensor, a comparison is made 520 of the shape and motion characteristics to an indication of unintentional contact.

In some embodiments, a query 530 is made that determines how contact with the side touch sensor compares to an indication of unintentional contact. This question includes, but is not limited to:

535 for the shape and size of the contact area. For example, is there a large contact area that appears to be in the shape of a hand wrapped around a mobile device?

540 for minimal movement of the contact area. such as showing that the hand is holding the mobile device in a stationary position.

545 as to whether there are multiple contact points. indicate that there is a first contact point providing input to the mobile device, and gesture with the thumb or other finger of the user's hand, such as the contact point on the lower portion of the side touch sensor; Such as showing a second contact point that indicates the part of the user's hand holding the mobile device while running.

In some embodiments, if the result of comparing the touch on the sensor with an indication of unintentional touch on the side touch sensor is the conclusion that the touch was intentional, the touch is accepted and the side touch is Interpreted as gesture input to sensor 550 . If the result of comparing contact on the sensor with an indication of unintentional contact on the side touch sensor results in the conclusion that the contact was unintentional, then the contact is disregarded as an unintentional contact on the side touch sensor. , there is no input to the mobile device 555 .

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a mobile device that provides exclusion of unintentional touches to touch sensors. Certain standard well-known components not relevant to this description are not shown in this figure. Under some embodiments, mobile device 600 comprises an interconnect or crossbar 605 or other communication means for the transmission of data. Device 600 may include processing means for processing information, such as one or more processors 610 coupled to interconnect 605 . Processor 610 may comprise one or more physical processors and one or more logical processors. Interconnect 605 is shown as a single interconnect for simplicity, but may represent multiple different interconnects or buses, and component connections to such interconnect may vary. have a nature. The interconnect 605 shown in FIG. 6 is an abstract representation of any one or more separate physical buses, point-to-point connections, or both connected by appropriate bridges, adapters or controllers. It is a thing.

In some embodiments, device 600 includes one or more touch sensors 670 . In some embodiments, touch sensor 670 may include capacitive sensor 672 and may include a side touch sensor, such as side touch sensor 425 illustrated in FIG. In some embodiments, the device 600 provides exclusion of unintentional touches to the side touch sensors based on touch area analysis, such touch area analysis including, for example, the size of the touch area, Shape and motion, as well as the number of contact areas present are included.

In some embodiments, device 600 also includes random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device or element as main memory 614 for storing information and instructions for execution by the processor. RAM memory comprises dynamic RAM (DRAM), whose memory content needs to be refreshed, and static RAM (SRAM), whose content does not need to be refreshed but which is expensive. DRAM memory may include synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), which includes clock signals to control signals, and extended data-out DRAM (EDO DRAM). In some embodiments, the memory of the system may include specific registers or other dedicated memory. Device 600 may also include read only memory (ROM) 616 or other static storage device for storing static information and instructions for the processor. Device 600 may include one or more non-volatile memory elements 618 for storage of certain elements, including flash memory. In some embodiments, ROM memory 616 or non-volatile memory 618 is an unintentional touch sensor for use in eliminating touch sensors determined to be unintentional touches by the user of device 600 . It may also include storing data regarding the contact indicator 620 .

Device 600 may also be coupled to output display 640 via interconnect 605 . In some embodiments, display 640 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or any other display technology for displaying information or content to a user. In some embodiments, display 640 may include a touchscreen that is also used as at least part of an input device. In some embodiments, display 640 may be or include an audio device, such as a speaker, for providing audio information.

One or more transmitters or receivers 645 may also be connected to interconnect 605 . In some embodiments, device 600 may include one or more ports 650 for receiving or transmitting data. Device 600 may further include one or more antennas 655 for reception of data by radio signals.

Device 600 may also comprise a power device or system 660, which may comprise a power source, battery, solar cell, fuel cell, or other system or device for providing or generating electrical power. . Power provided by power supply device or system 660 may be distributed to the elements of device 600 as needed.

In the above description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It may be evident, however, that the invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form. There may be intermediate structure between illustrated components. Components described and illustrated herein may have additional inputs or outputs not illustrated or described.

Different embodiments may involve different processes. These processes may be performed by hardware components, computer programs used to cause general or special purpose processors, or logic circuits programmed with instructions to perform these operations. or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions. Alternatively, processing may be performed by a combination of hardware and software.

Portions of the various embodiments may also be provided as a computer program product for execution by one or more processors that perform processes according to certain embodiments. It may also include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores computer instructions used to program a computer (or other electronic device). Computer readable media include, but are not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical discs, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), magneto-optical discs, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM) , erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electronically erasable PROM (EEPROM), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or any other type of computer readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. good. Additionally, embodiments may be downloaded as a computer program product, which may be transferred from a remote computer to a requesting computer.

Although many of the methods have been described in their most basic form, processing may be added or subtracted from any of these methods without departing from the basic scope of the invention. information may be added or subtracted from any of the messages described. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many further modifications and adaptations can be made. The specific embodiments are provided to illustrate rather than limit the invention. The scope of embodiments of the present invention should not be determined by the specific examples provided above, but should be determined solely by the claims.

When an element “A” is said to be coupled to an element “B”, element A may be directly coupled to element B or indirectly through element C, for example. In this specification or claim, when we say that a component, feature, structure, process or property A "results in" a component, feature, structure, process or property B, this means that "A" at least partially Means that there may also be at least one other component, feature, structure, process or property that causes "B" but helps "B" to occur. In this specification, a particular component, feature, No structure, treatment or property need be included. If the specification and claims refer to "a" or "an" element, this does not mean that there is only one of the elements described.

An embodiment is an implementation or example of the invention. References herein to "an embodiment," "one embodiment," "some embodiments," or "another embodiment" refer to the specific features, structures, or features described in connection with that embodiment. A feature is meant to be included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily in all embodiments. The various appearances of "an embodiment," "one embodiment," or "some embodiments" are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. In the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features are often referred to as a single embodiment, drawing or description thereof to simplify the disclosure and aid in understanding one or more of the various aspects. It should be recognized that they are grouped together in This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more than one feature as expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are expressly incorporated into this application, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Claims (15)

a computing device,
one or more processors;
storage for storing instructions to be executed by the processor;
A user's touch is detected through a touch screen located on the top surface of the computing device and a side touch sensor located on the side of the computing device;
The side touch sensor has a constant length along the side surface,
The processor
identifying one or more contact points along the length of the side touch sensor based on the touch of the user;
determining whether the touch of the user is intentional;
If the touch is determined to be intentional, interpreting the touch on the side touch sensor as an input;
ignoring the touch on the side touch sensor if the touch is determined to be unintentional;
is configured as
Said judgment is
based on the position of the contact point on the side touch sensor,
the processor is further configured to act in response to the position of the contact point interpreted as the input if it determines that the touch was intentional;
the contact point located in the upper region of the side touch sensor is determined to be an intentional touch by the user; and
it is determined that the contact point located in the lower area of the side touch sensor is not an intentional touch by the user;
computing device. the determination of whether the touch by the user is intentional is based on a statistical analysis of the contact points over a predetermined period of time for the touch by the user;
A computing device as recited in claim 1 . the statistical analysis includes at least one of the contact point size, the contact point movement, the contact point shape, and the number of the contact points;
A computing device according to claim 2 . the movement of the contact point is expressed as the minimum movement of the contact point;
A computing device according to claim 3. the touch screen is the display of the computing device; and
the display can provide audio information by comprising an audio device;
A computing device as recited in claim 1 . A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device,
on said computing device;
detecting a user's touch through a touch screen located on the top surface of the computing device and a side touch sensor located on the side of the computing device;
identifying one or more contact points along the length of the side touch sensor based on the touch of the user;
determining whether the touch of the user is intentional;
If the touch is determined to be intentional, interpreting the touch on the side touch sensor as an input;
ignoring the touch on the side touch sensor if the touch is determined to be unintentional;
let me
the determination is made based on the position of the contact point on the side touch sensor; and
The side touch sensor has a constant length along the side, and
the computing device acting in response to the position of the contact point interpreted as the input if it determines that the touch was intentional;
the contact point located in the upper region of the side touch sensor is determined to be an intentional touch by the user; and
it is determined that the contact point located in the lower area of the side touch sensor is not an intentional touch by the user;
computer program. the determination of whether the touch by the user is intentional is based on a statistical analysis of the contact points over a predetermined period of time for the touch by the user;
7. Computer program according to claim 6. the statistical analysis includes at least one of the contact point size, the contact point movement, the contact point shape, and the number of the contact points;
Computer program according to claim 7 . the movement of the contact point is expressed as the minimum movement of the contact point;
Computer program according to claim 8. the touch screen is the display of the computing device; and
the display can provide audio information by comprising an audio device;
7. Computer program according to claim 6. a device,
means for detecting a user's touch through a touch screen located on the top surface of a computing device and side touch sensors located on the sides of said computing device;
means for identifying one or more contact points along the length of the side touch sensor based on the touch of the user;
means for determining whether the touch of the user is intentional;
means for interpreting the touch on the side touch sensor as an input if the touch is determined to be intentional;
means for ignoring the touch on the side touch sensor if the touch is determined to be unintentional;
including
the determination is made based on the position of the contact point on the side touch sensor;
The side touch sensor has a constant length along the side, and
the computing device acting in response to the position of the contact point interpreted as the input if it determines that the touch was intentional;
the contact point located in the upper region of the side touch sensor is determined to be an intentional touch by the user; and
it is determined that the contact point located in the lower area of the side touch sensor is not an intentional touch by the user;
Device. the determination of whether the touch by the user is intentional is based on a statistical analysis of the contact points over a predetermined period of time for the touch by the user;
12. Apparatus according to claim 11. the statistical analysis includes at least one of the contact point size, the contact point movement, the contact point shape, and the number of the contact points;
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 . the movement of the contact point is expressed as the minimum movement of the contact point;
14. Apparatus according to claim 13. the touch screen is the display of the computing device; and
the display can provide audio information by comprising an audio device;
12. Apparatus according to claim 11.

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