Typing with a touch sensor
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsWayne Westerman, John G. Elias
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.
Claims20
A method of input of a computing system including a touch sensing surface, the method comprising:
- detecting a plurality of contacts, including a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact, touching down on or near the surface, the detecting including determining a touchdown time of each of the contacts;
- evaluating the touchdown times based on a predetermined temporal threshold, the evaluating including determining that the difference between the touchdown times of the first and second contacts is less than the predetermined temporal threshold and determining that the difference between the touchdown times of the first and third contacts is greater than the predetermined temporal threshold;
- determining, based on the evaluation of the touchdown times, a synchronized set of the contacts concurrently touching the touch sensing surface, wherein the synchronized set includes the first and second contacts and excludes the third contact;
- and
- generating a first input of the computing system based on the synchronized set.
A sensing apparatus comprising:
- a touch sensing surface;
- a contact identification unit that detects a plurality of contacts, including a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact, touching down on or near the surface, the detecting including determining a touchdown time of each of the contacts;
- a synchronous contact unit that evaluates the touchdown times based on a predetermined temporal threshold, the evaluating including determining that the difference between the touchdown times of the first and second contacts is less than the predetermined temporal threshold, determining that the difference between the touchdown times of the first and third contacts is greater than the predetermined temporal threshold, determining, based on the evaluation of the touchdown times, a synchronized set of the contacts concurrently touching the touch sensing surface, wherein the synchronized set includes the first and second contacts and excludes the third contact;
- and
- a result production unit that determines an input of a computing system based on the synchronized set.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions executable to perform a method of input of a computing system including a touch sensing surface, the method comprising:
- detecting a plurality of contacts, including a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact, touching down on or near the surface, the detecting including determining a touchdown time of each of the contacts;
- evaluating the touchdown times based on a predetermined temporal threshold, the evaluating including determining that the difference between the touchdown times of the first and second contacts is less than the predetermined temporal threshold and determining that the difference between the touchdown times of the first and third contacts is greater than the predetermined temporal threshold;
- determining, based on the evaluation of the touchdown times, a synchronized set of the contacts concurrently touching the touch sensing surface, wherein the synchronized set includes the first and second contacts and excludes the third contact;
- and
- generating a first input of the computing system based on the synchronized set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.