IP Library Granted Patent US 11,216,093
Granted Patent B2
US 11,216,093 · App. 17/004,924 · Granted Jan 4, 2022

Systems, apparatus, and methods for detecting computing device inputs by a pointing body

Inventors: Masaki Matsubara (Yokohama, JP); Norihito Ozeki (Yokohama, JP); Thi Xuan Mai Tran (Yokohama, JP); Markus Takashi Heberlein (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE. LTD.
G06F3/041G06F3/016G06F2203/04105
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,216,093
App. No.
17/004,924
Granted
Jan 4, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus that detect computing device inputs by a pointing body are disclosed. One method includes detecting user inputs based on a received set of physical touches of a pointing body pressing an operation surface of a computing device indicating a pressed state of the operation surface detected by a pressure sensor, detecting a make event comprising a first physical touch including a first pressure value that is greater than or equal to a make threshold pressure value based on the detected user inputs, and utilizing a first threshold as the make threshold for use in detecting a first round of the make event and a second threshold, which is less than the first threshold, as the make threshold for use in detecting subsequent rounds of the make event within a first predetermined multi-click detection period of time. Systems and apparatus for performing the method are also disclosed.

Claims (58)

1. A system, comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to detect a set of physical touches indicating a pressed state of a pointing body on an operation surface of a computing device; and

a controller configured to detect inputs of the pointing body based on the set of physical touches indicating the pressed state detected by the pressure sensor,

wherein:

the controller comprises a make event detector configured to detect a make event comprising a first physical touch including a first pressure value that is greater than or equal to a make threshold pressure value based on the detected user inputs, and

the make event detector is configured to:

utilize a first threshold within a first predetermined multi-click detection period of time for multi-click operations as the make threshold for use in detecting a first round of the make event, and

in response to detecting a break event, utilize a second threshold, which is less than the first threshold, as the make threshold for use in detecting subsequent rounds of the make event within the first predetermined multi-click detection period of time for multi-click operations to reduce user fatigue during multi-click operations.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a threshold change device that changes the first threshold to the second threshold at a predetermined timing in response to detecting the first round of the make event.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:

the controller comprises a break event detector configured to detect a break event including a second physical touch including a second pressure value that is less than or equal to a break threshold, which is a value less than or equal to the make threshold, after the make event is detected; and

the threshold change device is configured to change the first threshold to the second threshold at a predetermined timing in a period from detection of the make event to detection of the break event in response to one of detection of the break event and after a predetermined period has elapsed from detection of the break event.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the threshold change device is further configured to set the first threshold to the make threshold in response to a predetermined condition being satisfied after changing the first threshold to the second threshold.

5. The system claim 2 , wherein the threshold change device is configured to set the first threshold to the make threshold in response to setting the second threshold to the make threshold and elapse of a preset threshold change period from detection of the make event using the first threshold.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein:

the controller further includes a break event detector configured to detect a break event after detecting the make event, the break event including a second physical touch that includes a second pressure value that is less than or equal to a break threshold, which is a value less than or equal to the make threshold; and

the threshold change device sets the first threshold to the make threshold in response to elapse of a preset threshold change period from detection of the break event.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the threshold change device is configured to set the first threshold to the make threshold in response to elapse of a preset threshold change period from a point of time in which the first threshold is changed to the second threshold.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:

the threshold change period is modifiable; and

the threshold change period is set according to a multi-click detection period used to determine multi-click operations.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the threshold change device is configured to set the first threshold to the make threshold at an end time of a multi-click detection period used for determining multi-click operations.

10. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller further comprises:

a break event detector configured to detect a break event including a second physical touch including a second pressure value less than or equal to a break threshold, which is a value equal to or less than the make threshold, after the make event is detected; and

a timer,

wherein:

the controller is configured to reset the timer in response to detecting the break event before a threshold change period has elapsed; and

the controller sets the first threshold to the make threshold in response to a timer time exceeding the threshold change period.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the controller further comprises a break event detector configured to detect a break event including a second physical touch including a second pressure value that is less than or equal to a break threshold, which is a value less than or equal to the make threshold, after the make event is detected; and

the break event detector is configured to utilize a first break threshold as a break threshold for use in detecting a first round of the break event and uses a second break threshold, which is less than the first break threshold, as the break threshold for use in detecting subsequent rounds of the break event, in the case of detecting a plurality of break events within a second predetermined multi-click detection period of time.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a feedback device configured to provide feedback to the pointing body pressing the operation surface,

wherein the controller further comprises a feedback controller configured to activate the feedback device in response to detection of the make event.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor of an information handling device; and

a memory configured to store code executable by the processor to:

detect user inputs based on a received set of physical touches of a pointing body pressing an operation surface of a computing device indicating a pressed state of the operation surface detected by a pressure sensor,

detect a make event comprising a first physical touch including a first pressure value that is greater than or equal to a make threshold pressure value based on the detected user inputs,

utilize a first threshold within a first predetermined multi-click detection period of time for multi-click operations as the make threshold for use in detecting a first round of the make event, and

in response to detecting a break event, utilize a second threshold, which is less than the first threshold, as the make threshold for use in detecting subsequent rounds of the make event within the first predetermined multi-click detection period of time for multi-click operations to reduce user fatigue during multi-click operations.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the code executable further causes the processor to change the first threshold to the second threshold at a predetermined timing in response to detecting the first round of the make event.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the code executable further causes the processor to:

detect a break event including a second physical touch including a second pressure value that is less than or equal to a break threshold, which is a value less than or equal to the make threshold, after the make event is detected; and

utilize a first break threshold as a break threshold for use in detecting a first round of the break event and a second break threshold, which is less than the first break threshold, as the break threshold for use in detecting subsequent rounds of the break event, in the case of detecting a plurality of break events within a second predetermined multi-click detection period of time.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the code executable further causes the processor to provide feedback to the pointing body pressing the operation surface in response to detection of the make event.

17. A method, comprising:

detecting, by an information handling device, user inputs based on a received set of physical touches of a pointing body pressing an operation surface of a computing device indicating a pressed state of the operation surface detected by a pressure sensor;

detecting a make event comprising a first physical touch including a first pressure value that is greater than or equal to a make threshold pressure value based on the detected user inputs;

utilizing a first threshold within a first predetermined multi-click detection period of time for multi-click operations as the make threshold for use in detecting a first round of the make event; and

in response to detecting a break event, utilizing a second threshold, which is less than the first threshold, as the make threshold for use in detecting subsequent rounds of the make event within the first predetermined multi-click detection period of time for multi-click operations to reduce user fatigue during multi-click operations.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

changing the first threshold to the second threshold at a predetermined timing in response to detecting the first round of the make event.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

detecting a break event including a second physical touch including a second pressure value that is less than or equal to a break threshold, which is a value less than or equal to the make threshold, after the make event is detected; and

utilizing a first break threshold as a break threshold for use in detecting a first round of the break event and a second break threshold, which is less than the first break threshold, as the break threshold for use in detecting subsequent rounds of the break event, in the case of detecting a plurality of break events within a second predetermined multi-click detection period of time.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

providing feedback to the pointing body pressing the operation surface in response to detection of the make event.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 070269/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2025
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 070269/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2020
From: MATSUBARA, MASAKI; OZEKI, NORIHITO; TRAN, THI XUAN MAI; HEBERLEIN, MARKUS TAKASHI
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 053619/0564 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-155922 · Aug 28, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210064157A1 · Mar 4, 2021
Cited By (1)
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