# US 2019/0377440 A1 · Detecting Twist Input with an Interactive Cord > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0377440 A1 - Document ID: US20190377440A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/549,358 - Filed: 2019-08-23 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-15 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Thad Eugene Starner; Karissa A. Sawyer; Greg Ellis Priest-Dorman; Jonathan Moeller; Nidhi Rathi; Jianyi Liu; Yao Ding; Chi Kin Benjamin Leung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190377440A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/0487: using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser - G06F 3/165: {Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path} - H04R 1/1033: {Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels (cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06)} - H04R 1/1041: {Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H)} - G06F 2203/04102: Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper - H04M 1/05: specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast - H04M 1/6058: {involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract This document describes techniques and devices for detecting twist input with an interactive cord. An interactive cord may be constructed with one or more conductive yarns wrapped around a cable in a first direction (e.g., clockwise), and one or more conductive yarns wrapped around the cable in a second direction that is opposite the first direction (e.g., counter-clockwise). A controller measures one or more capacitance values associated with the conductive yarns. In response to detecting a change in the one or more capacitance values, the controller determines that the change in the capacitance values corresponds to twist input caused by the user twisting the interactive cord. Then, the controller initiates one or more functions based on the twist input, such as by controlling audio to a headset by increasing or decreasing the volume, scrolling through menu items, and so forth. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: an interactive cord comprising a cable and a fabric cover that covers the cable, the fabric cover comprising: a first set of conductive yarns that are wrapped around the cable in a first direction; and a second set of conductive yarns that are wrapped around the cable in a second direction; and a controller coupled to the interactive cord, the controller configured to: determine that a change in capacitance values associated with the first set of conductive yarns and the second set of conductive yarns corresponds to a twist input received by the interactive cord through: collecting sensor pair values by transmitting a signal on each of the first set of conductive yarns and measuring the signal on each of the second set of conductive yarns; assigning each of the first set of conductive yarns an order number based on the sensor pair values; determining, for each of the first set of conductive yarns, a twist likelihood value based on the order number; and determining the twist input based on the determined twist likelihood value for each of the first set of conductive yarns; and initiate a function in response to the determination of the twist input. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein determining the twist likelihood value based on the order number includes performing a table lookup. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a direction of the twist input, and wherein the controller initiates the function based at least in part on the direction of the twist input. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the determined direction of the twist input corresponds to twisting the interactive cord clockwise or counter-clockwise. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an amount of the twist input or a speed of the twist input, and wherein the controller initiates the function based at least in part on the amount or the speed of the twist input. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine that another change in the capacitance values corresponds to a slide input to the interactive cord. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to initiate an additional function based on the slide input. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: an interactive cord, the interactive cord comprising: an inner layer comprising a cable and a first set of conductive yarns wrapped around the cable in a first direction and an outer layer comprising a second set of conductive yarns wrapped around the inner layer in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, wherein twisting the interactive cord in an opposite direction from the second direction causes a distance between the first set of conductive yarns and the second set of conductive yarns to increase thereby decreasing capacitance values; and a controller coupled to the interactive cord, the controller configured to: determine that a change in the capacitance values corresponds to a twist input received by the interactive cord; determine that a direction of the twist input is the opposite direction from the second direction based on a decrease in the one or more capacitance values; and initiate a function in response to the determination that the direction of the twist input is the opposite direction from the second direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the first set of conductive yarns is braided as part of a first cover that is included in the inner layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the second set of conductive yarns is braided as part of a second cover that is included in an outer layer. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: an interactive cord, the interactive cord comprising: an inner layer comprising a cable and a first set of conductive yarns wrapped around the cable in a first direction and an outer layer comprising a second set of conductive yarns wrapped around the inner layer in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, wherein twisting the interactive cord in a same direction as the second direction causes a distance between the first set of conductive yarns and the second set of conductive yarns to decrease thereby increasing capacitance values; and a controller coupled to the interactive cord, the controller configured to: determine that an increase in capacitance values corresponds to a twist input received by the interactive cord; determine that a direction of the twist input is the same direction as the second direction based on an increase in the capacitance values; and initiate a function in response to the determination that the direction of the twist input is the same direction as the second direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the first set of conductive yarns is braided as part of a first cover that is included in the inner layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the second set of conductive yarns is braided as part of a second cover that is included in the outer layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the function increases or decreases an amount of volume of a media player. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the function scrolls through a list of menu items. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an amount of the twist input or a speed of the twist input, and wherein the controller initiates the function based, at least in part, on the determined amount of the twist input or the determined speed of the twist input. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the system is a headset, a tablet, or a wearable device. ### Claim 18 A method implemented by a controller coupled to an interactive cord that includes a cable and a first set of conductive yarns configured as transmitting lines that are wrapped around the cable in a first direction and a second set of conductive yarns that are wrapped around the cable in a second direction, wherein twisting the interactive cord in a direction that is opposite the second direction causes a distance between the first set of conductive yarns and the second set of conductive yarns to increase thereby decreasing capacitance values, the method comprising: determining that a decrease in capacitance values corresponds to a twist input received by the interactive cord; determining that a direction of the twist input is the direction that is opposite the second direction based on the decrease in the capacitance values; and initiating a function in response to determining that the direction of the twist input is the direction that is opposite the second direction. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the determining that the decrease in capacitance values corresponds to the twist input is based on mutual capacitance sensing between the first set of conductive yarns and the second set of conductive yarns. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein initiating the function in response to the determining that the direction of the twist input is the direction that is opposite the second direction is based on an amount or speed of the twist input.