Method for multiple gesture detection and verification on a touchpad
In a gesture detection method for a touchpad, various gestures such as tap, drag and double tap are determined by operating an object to touch on the touchpad, leave from the touchpad, and move on the touchpad.
1. A method for gesture detection on a touchpad, comprising the steps of:
a. verifying that an object touches on the touchpad, including:
monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad; monitoring a variation of the sensed value when the sensed value is greater than a threshold; and
determining that the object touches on the touchpad if the sensed value remains greater than the threshold within a first reference time interval and maintains a continuously increasing trend during the first reference time interval;
b. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of the object on the touchpad;
the direction that the object moves on the touch pad from a reference position if, during a third reference time interval, the sensed value maintains a continuously increasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a first direction and a continuously decreasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
c. verifying that the object leaves the touchpad if the object is determined not to move on the touchpad in step b;
d. counting a departure time after the object leaves the touchpad; and
e. producing a gesture signal after the departure time reaches a second reference time interval;
wherein the increasing and decreasing trends are characterized by the calculated difference between a present and a subsequent sensed value.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of verifying that the object leaves the touchpad comprises the steps of:
monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;
monitoring a variation of the sensed value when the sensed value is less than a threshold; and
determining that the object leaves the touchpad if the sensed value remains less than the threshold within a third reference time interval and maintains a continuously decreasing trend during the third reference time interval.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gesture signal comprises a combinational signal of a key-press and a key-release.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gesture signal comprises a voltage level signal.
5. A method for gesture detection on a touchpad, comprising the steps of:
a. verifying that an object touches on the touchpad, including:
monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;
monitoring a variation of the sensed value when the sensed value is greater than a threshold; and
determining that the object touches on the touchpad if the sensed value remains greater than the threshold within a first reference time interval and maintains a continuously increasing trend during the first reference time interval;
b. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of the object on the touchpad;
the direction that the object moves on the touch pad from a reference position if, during a third reference time interval, the sensed value maintains a continuously increasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a first direction and a continuously decreasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
c. verifying that the object leaves the touchpad if the object is determined not to move on the touchpad in step b;
d. counting a departure time after the object leaves the touchpad;
e. verifying that the object touches on the touchpad if the touchpad is detected to be touched again before the departure time reaches a second reference time interval;
f. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of whether the object on the touchpad;
g. calculating the position information of the object and initiating a gesture signal if the object moves on the touchpad; and
h. terminating the gesture signal when the object leaves the touchpad;
wherein the increasing and decreasing trends are characterized by the calculated difference between a present and a subsequent sensed value.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of verifying that the object leaves the touchpad comprises the steps of:
monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;
monitoring a variation of the sensed value during a time interval when the sensed value is less than a threshold; and
determining that the object leaves the touchpad if the sensed value remains less than the threshold within a third reference time interval and maintains a continuously decreasing trend during the third reference time interval.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the gesture signal comprises a combinational signal of a key-press with the position information.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the position information comprises an absolute coordinate or a relative coordinate.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the position information comprises a relative displacement of the object on the touchpad.
10. A method for gesture detection on a touchpad, comprising the steps of:
a. verifying that an object touches on the touchpad, including: monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;
monitoring a variation of the sensed value when the sensed value is greater than a threshold;
determining that the object touches on the touchpad if the sensed value remains greater than the threshold within a first reference time interval and maintains a continuously increasing trend during the first reference time interval;
b. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of the object on the touchpad;
the direction that the object moves on the touch pad from a reference position if, during a third reference time interval, the sensed value maintains a continuously increasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a first direction and a continuously decreasing trend at points on the touchpad offset from the reference position in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
c. verifying that the object leaves the touchpad if the object is determined not to move on the touchpad in step b;
d. counting a departure time after the object leaves the touchpad;
e. verifying that the object touches on the touchpad if the touchpad is detected to be touched again before the departure time reaches a second reference time interval;
f. determining the movement and direction responsive to a variation of the sensed value of the object on the touchpad;
g. verifying that the object leaves the touchpad again if the object is determined not to move on the touchpad in step f; and
h. producing a gesture signal;
wherein the increasing and decreasing trends are characterized by the calculated difference between a present and a subsequent sensed value.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of verifying that the object leaves the touchpad comprises the steps of:
monitoring a sensed value on the touchpad;
monitoring a variation of the sensed value during a time interval when the sensed value is less than a threshold; and
determining that the object leaves the touchpad if the sensed value remains less than the threshold within a third reference time interval and maintains a continuously decreasing trend during the third reference time interval.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the gesture signal comprises a combinational signal of a double key-press and a key-release.