Touch-sensitive button with two levels
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsLouis W. Bokma, Joseph R. Fisher, Jr., Saket Vora
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds is provided. When the button is depressed to a first depression threshold, the touch sensor can be switched from a low-power, non-sensing state to a sensing state. When the button is depressed to a second depression threshold, the touch sensor can sense the touch context and input can be generated based on the depression and the touch context. In this way, the touch-sensitive depressible button with multiple depression thresholds can facilitate timely switching of the touch sensor to a sensing state.
Claims22
A touch-sensitive depressible button comprising:
- a touch sensor for detecting touch events on a surface of the touch sensor;
- and
- an actuator coupled with the touch sensor and depressible from an initial position to both a first and a second depression threshold;
- wherein the touch sensor is configured to switch from a non-sensing state to a sensing state when the actuator is depressed to the first depression threshold;
- and
- wherein the touch sensor is configured to determine a touch context based on detected touch events when the actuator is depressed to the second depression threshold.
A method for generating input from a touch-sensitive depressible button, the method comprising:
- setting a touch sensor of the button to a non-sensing state;
- determining that the button has been depressed to a first depression threshold;
- switching the touch sensor to a sensing state based on the determination that the button has been depressed to the first depression threshold;
- determining that the button has been depressed to a second depression threshold;
- determining a touch context based on a touch event performed on the touch sensor;
- and
- generating input based on the touch context.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored therein, which, when executed by an apparatus including a touch-sensitive mechanical button, causes the apparatus to perform a method comprising:
- setting a touch sensor of the button to a non-sensing state;
- determining that the button has been depressed to a first depression threshold;
- switching the touch sensor to a sensing state based on the determination that the button has been depressed to the first depression threshold;
- determining that the button has been depressed to a second depression threshold;
- determining a touch context based on a touch event performed on the touch sensor;
- and
- generating input based on the touch context.
A computing system comprising;
- a processor;
- a memory;
- and
- a touch-sensitive depressible button;
- wherein the button comprises
- a touch sensor for detecting touch events on a surface of the touch sensor, and
- an actuator coupled with the touch sensor and depressible from an initial position to both a first and a second depression threshold;
- wherein the touch sensor is configured to switch from a non-sensing state to a sensing state when the actuator is depressed to the first depression threshold;
- and
- wherein the touch sensor is configured to determine a touch context based on detected touch events when the actuator is depressed to the second depression threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.