CAPACITIVE TOUCH SURFACE FOR POWERING-UP AN ELECTRONIC PERSONAL DISPLAY

1 . A method for utilizing a capacitive touch surface for powering-up an electronic personal display, said method comprising:

providing a capacitive touch sensing surface on a housing of the electronic personal display;

continuously monitoring the capacitive touch sensing surface; and

powering-up the electronic personal display when at least one touch is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic personal display is an electronic reader (eReader).

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a capacitive touch sensing surface on a screen of the electronic personal display.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing no hard buttons on the electronic personal display.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

powering-up the electronic personal display when contact is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface on at least two generally oppositely areas.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the capacitive touch surface is selected from the group consisting of: a grid of conductive lines, a coat of metal, and a flexible printed circuit grid.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing directional sensitivity in the capacitive touch sensing surface to provide touch-based gesture capability.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

powering-down the electronic personal display when a power-down gesture is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface.

9 . An electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up comprising:

a capacitive touch sensing screen of the electronic personal display;

a capacitive touch sensing housing of the electronic personal display;

a monitoring module to monitor both the capacitive touch sensing screen and housing and provide an output when a touch is recognized, the monitoring module operating even when the electronic personal display is powered-down; and

a power adjusting module to receive the output from the always on module and power up the electronic personal display.

10 . The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 wherein the electronic personal display is an electronic reader (eReader).

11 . The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 wherein the always on module provides the output when a single touch is recognized.

12 . The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 wherein the always on module provides the output when a touch from at least two distinct locations is recognized.

13 . The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 12 wherein the at least two distinct locations are generally oppositely disposed.

14 . The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 further comprising:

the always on module to provide a power-down signal when a power-down gesture is detected; and

a power-down module to reduce power to the electronic personal display when the power-down signal is received from the always on module.

15 . The electronic personal display with capacitive touch power-up of claim 9 wherein the capacitive touch sensing surface includes directional sensitivity.

16 . A method for utilizing a capacitive touch surface for powering-up an electronic reader (eReader), said method comprising:

providing a capacitive touch sensing surface on a housing and a screen of the eReader;

continuously monitoring the capacitive touch sensing surface when the eReader is at less than full power; and

returning the eReader to full power when at least one touch is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

providing no hard buttons on the eReader.

18 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when contact is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface on at least two generally oppositely areas.

19 . The method of claim 16 wherein the capacitive touch surface is selected from the group consisting of: a grid of conductive lines, a coat of metal, and a flexible printed circuit grid.

20 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

utilizing directional sensitivity in the capacitive touch sensing surface to provide touch-based gesture capability.

21 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-down the eReader when a power-down gesture is detected by the capacitive touch sensing surface.

22 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a predefined shape is drawn on the capacitive touch sensing surface.

23 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a contact is made for a predetermined period of time in a specific location.

24 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a touch motion occurs in a specific direction for a predefined length.

25 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a contact is made using a series of touches with a predetermined pattern.

26 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader by tapping the eReader onto a hand in a series of taps or pattern.

27 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader after a pattern of touches is recognized by anthropometric rules implemented in a software system.

28 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

powering-up the eReader when a multi-part gesture is performed.