# US 2014/0152581 A1 · Force as a device action modifier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152581 A1 - Document ID: US20140152581A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,262 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Applicants: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. - Inventors: Michaela Rose Case; Aaron Michael Stewart; Thomas John Sluchak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152581A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An aspect provides a method, including: receiving force input in a z direction with respect to a planar surface of an input device of an information handling device; measuring the force input at the input device; and modifying one or more actions of the information handling device commensurate with the measured force input; wherein the one or more actions are associated with input along the planar surface. Other aspects are described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: receiving force input in a z direction with respect to a planar surface of an input device of an information handling device; measuring the force input at the input device; and modifying one or more actions of the information handling device commensurate with the measured force input; wherein the one or more actions are associated with input along the planar surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein modifying one or more actions of the information handling device commensurate with the measured force input further comprises: determining a level of force input exceeding a threshold; and modifying an action according to a response curve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein one or more of the threshold and the response curve is user adjustable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the one or more actions comprises one or more of: modifying cursor movement, modifying scrolling, modifying one or more settings, and modifying feedback provided to a user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein modifying cursor movement comprises modifying cursor movement gain commensurate with the measured force input. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein modifying scrolling comprises modifying scrolling gain commensurate with the measured force input. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein modifying scrolling gain commensurate with the measured force input further comprises: ascertaining a force input exceeding a first threshold; modifying scrolling gain; and continuing a scrolling action using modified scrolling gain until ascertaining removal of the force input exceeding the first threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein modifying feedback provided to a user comprises modifying a level of feedback provided to the user commensurate with the measured force input. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the input device is one or more of a mechanical input device and a resistive input device. ### Claim 10 An information handling device, comprising: a input device having a planar surface; a force sensor coupled to the planar input device; one or more processors; and a memory operatively coupled to the one or more processors that stores instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform acts comprising: detecting, at the force sensor, a force input in a z direction with respect to the planar surface of the input device; measuring the force input at the input device based on the force input; and modifying one or more actions of the information handling device commensurate with the measured force input; wherein the one or more actions are associated with input along the planar surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The information handling device of claim 10, wherein modifying one or more actions of the information handling device commensurate with the measured force input further comprises: determining a level of force input exceeding a threshold; and modifying a default action according to a response curve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The information handling device of claim 10, wherein one or more of the threshold and the response curve is user adjustable. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The information handling device of claim 10, wherein modifying the one or more actions comprises one or more of: modifying cursor movement, modifying scrolling, modifying one or more settings, and modifying feedback provided to a user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The information handling device of claim 13, wherein modifying cursor movement comprises modifying cursor movement gain commensurate with the measured force input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The information handling device of claim 13, wherein modifying scrolling comprises modifying scrolling gain commensurate with the measured force input. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The information handling device of claim 15, wherein modifying scrolling gain commensurate with the measured force input further comprises: ascertaining a force input exceeding a first threshold; modifying scrolling gain; and continuing a scrolling action using modified scrolling gain until ascertaining removal of the force input exceeding the first threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The information handling device of claim 13, wherein modifying feedback provided to a user comprises modifying a level of feedback provided to the user commensurate with the measured force input. ### Claim 18 A program product, comprising: a storage medium having computer program code embodied therewith, the computer program code comprising: computer program code configured to receive force input in a z direction with respect to a planar surface of an input device of an information handling device; computer program code configured to measure the force input at the input device; and computer program code configured to modify one or more actions of the information handling device commensurate with the measured force input; wherein the one or more actions are associated with input along the planar surface.