Pressure sensitive scrollbar feature
AssigneeSynaptics Incorporated
InventorsDavid Gillespie, Timothy P. Allen, Aaron T. Ferrucci
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e, its position in the X and Y dimensions. Noise reduction and background level setting techniques inherently available in the architecture are employed.
Claims12
A method for modifying a scrollbar message generated by a computer system operating system in response to object position information sensed by a touch sensor pad and transmitted by a touchpad driver to said operating system, including the steps of:
- generating pressure information from object contact information from the touch pad sensor;
- intercepting the scrollbar message generated by the operating system;
- modifying the scrolling rate of the scrollbar message to be a function of the pressure information from the touch pad sensor;
- and
- transmitting said modified scrollbar message to an application.
A method of using pressure information to modify the scroll rate generated for a scroll bar displayed on a computer system display, the method comprising the steps of:
- polling for object position information and pressure information, said object position information including the position of a computer-generated display cursor on the display;
- sending a scroll message when said object position information indicates that said cursor is over a scroll arrow and a drag gesture has been made on the touch pad sensor, said scroll message defining a scroll rate for said cursor;
- modifying said scroll rate to become a function of said pressure information;
- and
- sending said scroll rate modified in said modifying step to an application.
A method of using pressure information to modify the scroll rate generated for a scroll bar displayed on a computer system display, said pressure information provide by a touch pad sensor;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- polling for object position information and pressure information supplied by the touch pad sensor, said object position information including the X-Y coordinates of a computer generated display cursor;
- sending a scroll message when said object position information indicates that said cursor is over a scroll arrow and a drag gesture has been made on the touch pad sensor, said scroll message defining a scroll rate for said cursor;
- modifying said scroll rate to become a function of said pressure information;
- and
- sending said scroll rate modified in said modifying step to an application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.