# US 10,768,752 B2 · Method for interacting with an electronic and/or computer device implementing a capacitive control surface and a peripheral surface, interface and device implementing this method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,752 B2 - Document ID: US10768752B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/551,257 - Filed: 2016-02-25 - Published: 2018-03-08 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-27 - Assignees: Quickstep Technologies LLC - Applicants: Quickstep Technologies LLC - Inventors: Clément Bonnery; Gilles Lebastard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768752B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 21/36: by graphic or iconic representation - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 21/316: {by observing the pattern of computer usage, e.g. typical user behaviour} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a method for interacting with an electronic and/or computer device comprising a control surface, at least one peripheral surface and a plurality of capacitive electrodes positioned at least along the control surface and arranged to detect control objects in a vicinity of said control surface and said at least one peripheral surface, which method comprising steps for (i) detecting (40, 41, 42, 43) a sequence of actions comprising a plurality of elementary actions performed at least partially sequentially, by at least one control object, at least partially in contact with or opposite said at least one peripheral surface and (ii) triggering (44), based on said sequence of actions, of at least one function in said device. The invention also relates to an interface and device implementing this method. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for interacting with an electronic computer device a control surface, at least one peripheral surface arranged on a periphery of the control surface, and a plurality of capacitive electrodes positioned at least along the control surface and arranged to detect one or more control objects in a vicinity of the control surface and the at least one peripheral surface, the method comprising: detecting a sequence of inputs by the one or more control objects in contact with or proximate to the at least one peripheral surface, wherein the sequence of inputs includes a movement of a first control object of the one or more control objects; and in response to detecting the movement of the first control object: in accordance with a determination that a first predetermined gesture was received and completed before the movement of the first control object, triggering at least one function in the electronic computer device based on the movement of the first control object; and in accordance with a determination that the first predetermined gesture was not completed before the movement of the first control object, forgoing triggering the at least one function in the electronic computer device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting the one or more control objects in contact with or across from the at least one peripheral surface using an edge effect of at least one capacitive electrode of the control surface located near the at least one peripheral surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined gesture is received at a first zone of the peripheral surface and the movement of the first control object is received at a second zone of the peripheral surface, different from the first zone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes unlocking the electronic computer device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one function includes adjusting the audio volume of the electronic computer device in accordance with the movement of the first control object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined gesture includes a double tap gesture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined gesture includes a contact of five fingers on the at least one peripheral surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the first control object is received at a location where the first predetermined gesture was received. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: in response to detecting the first predetermined gesture, activating a plurality of the plurality of capacitive electrodes, wherein the plurality of the plurality of capacitive electrodes were not activated at the time the first predetermined gesture was received. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined gesture comprises at least one tap by at least one of the one or more control objects. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one tap comprises an end of contact of the at least one control object within a predetermined duration from initiating contact with the peripheral surface. ### Claim 12 An interface device for interacting with an electronic computer device comprising: a control surface; at least one peripheral surface arranged on a periphery of the control surface; and a plurality of capacitive electrodes positioned at least along the control surface and arranged to detect one or more control objects in a vicinity of the control surface and the at least one peripheral surface; and a processor configured to: detect a sequence of inputs by the one or more control objects in contact with or proximate to the at least one peripheral surface, wherein the sequence of inputs includes a movement of a first control object of the one or more control objects; and in response to detecting the movement of the first control object: in accordance with a determination that a first predetermined gesture was received and completed before the movement of the first control object, trigger at least one function in the electronic computer device based on the movement of the first control object; and in accordance with a determination that the first predetermined gesture was not completed before the movement of the first control object, forgo triggering the at least one function in the electronic computer device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The interface device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one peripheral surface includes no capacitive electrodes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The interface device according to claim 12, further comprising an electrode guard layer polarized at a guard potential substantially or exactly equal to an excitation potential of the capacitive electrodes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The interface device according to claim 12, wherein: a plurality of the plurality of capacitive electrodes are arranged in a matrix structure, and each capacitive electrode of the plurality of capacitive electrodes are capable of measuring a capacitance between the respective capacitive electrode and the one or more control objects. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) An electronic computer device comprising the interface device according to claim 12. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electronic computer device according to claim 16, further comprising a display screen, the control surface being transparent and positioned over the display screen. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The interface device according to claim 12, wherein the first predetermined gesture includes a double tap gesture. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The interface device according to claim 12, wherein the first predetermined gesture includes a contact of five fingers on the at least one peripheral surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The interface device according to claim 12, wherein the movement of the first control object is received at a location where the first predetermined gesture was received. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The interface device according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to: in response to detecting the first predetermined gesture, activate a plurality of the plurality of capacitive electrodes, wherein the plurality of the plurality of capacitive electrodes were not activated at the time the first predetermined gesture was received. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The interface device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one function includes unlocking the electronic computer device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The interface device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one function includes adjusting the audio volume of the electronic computer device in accordance with the movement of the first control object. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The interface device of claim 12, wherein the first predetermined gesture comprises at least one tap by at least one of the one or more control objects. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The interface device of claim 24, wherein the at least one tap comprises an end of contact of the at least one control object within a predetermined duration from initiating contact with the peripheral surface.