Dual touchpad system

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling an electronic device using a dual touchpad system, the method comprising:

generating a first pointer detection signal in response to detecting contact and any movement or breaking thereof on a first touchpad in the dual touchpad system;

in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal corresponds to a gesture made on the first touchpad to change a mode of operation of a second touchpad,

changing the mode of operation of the second touchpad from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation with reference to the gesture corresponding to the first pointer detection signal, and

maintaining a mode of operation of the first touchpad

subsequent to changing the mode of operation of the second touchpad, generating a second pointer detection signal in response to detecting contact and any movement or breaking thereof on the second touchpad;

in response to determining that the second pointer detection signal corresponds to a gesture made on the second touchpad to control the electronic device, generating a control signal with reference to the gesture corresponding to the second pointer detection signal and with reference to the second mode of operation of the second touchpad; and

outputting the control signal to the electronic device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is output to the electronic device wirelessly via a wireless interface of the dual touchpad system.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal does not correspond to the gesture made on the first touchpad to change the mode of operation of the second touchpad or to a gesture to control the electronic device, outputting at least one of a visual signal to a light, an audible signal, or a tactile signal via an output unit of the dual touchpad system.

4. A dual touchpad system, comprising:

a first touchpad and a second touchpad, wherein the first touchpad is spaced apart from and is non-concentric with the second touchpad;

an input detection unit coupled to the first and second touchpads and configured to monitor the first and second touchpads for contact thereon and generate a first pointer detection signal in response to detecting contact and any movement or breaking thereof on either the first touchpad or the second touchpad;

a gesture recognition unit configured to control the dual touchpad system in response to receiving input from the input detection unit indicative of contact on the first touchpad to control the dual touchpad system, and in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal corresponds to a gesture made on the first touchpad to change a mode of operation of the second touchpad, change the mode of operation of the second touchpad from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation with reference to the gesture corresponding to the first pointer detection signal while maintaining a mode of operation of the first touchpad;

subsequent to changing the mode of operation of the second touchpad, generate a second pointer detection signal in response to detecting contact and any movement or breaking thereof on the second touchpad;

in response to determining that the second pointer detection signal corresponds to a gesture made on the second touchpad to control the dual touchpad system, generate a control signal with reference to the gesture corresponding to the second pointer detection signal and with reference to the second mode of operation of the second touchpad; and

output the control signal to the dual touchpad system.

5. The dual touchpad system of claim 4 , further comprising a wired interface coupled to the gesture recognition unit, wherein the gesture recognition unit is configured to output the control signal to the dual touchpad system via the wired interface and a cable.

6. The dual touchpad system of claim 5 , further comprising an output unit including at least one of a light, a speaker, and an actuator, and wherein the gesture recognition unit is further configured to, in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal does not correspond to the gesture made on the first touchpad to change the mode of operation of the second touchpad or to a gesture to control the dual touchpad system, output at least one of a visual signal, an audible signal, and a tactile signal via the output unit.

7. The method of claim 1 , where, in the first mode of operation, an on-screen cursor is controlled when contact with the second touchpad followed by a dragging movement is detected, and in the second mode of operation, the on-screen cursor is controlled when tapping is detected on the second touchpad.

8. The dual touchpad system of claim 4 , where, in the first mode of operation, an on-screen cursor is controlled when contact with the second touchpad followed by a dragging movement is detected, and in the second mode of operation, the on-screen cursor is controlled when tapping is detected on the second touchpad.

9. The dual touchpad system of claim 4 , wherein the gesture recognition unit is further configured to:

receive input from an accelerometer, the input from the accelerometer comprising accelerometer signals;

in response to receiving the input from the accelerometer, determining an orientation of the dual touchpad system; and

interpreting the first pointer detection signal and the second pointer detection signal based upon the orientation of the dual touchpad system.

10. The dual touchpad system of claim 4 , wherein the gesture recognition unit is further configured to:

in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal does not correspond to the gesture made on the first touchpad to change the mode of operation of the second touchpad,

control the movement of a mouse cursor in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal corresponds to the gesture made on the first touchpad, or

control scrolling in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal corresponds to the gesture made on the second touchpad.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal does not correspond to the gesture made on the first touchpad to change the mode of operation of the second touchpad,

control the movement of a mouse cursor in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal corresponds to the gesture made on the first touchpad, or

control scrolling in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal corresponds to the gesture made on the second touchpad.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising in response to determining that the first pointer detection signal does not correspond to a gesture for controlling the electronic device, outputting an error message to the electronic device.