WO2008048623A2

WO2008048623A2 - Touchpad configuration software tool that enables customized layout and design of a touchpad

Info

Publication number: WO2008048623A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/022114
Authority: WO
Inventors: J. Douglas Moore; Trevor C. Clifton
Original assignee: Cirque Corporation
Priority date: 2006-10-17
Filing date: 2007-10-17
Publication date: 2008-04-24
Also published as: WO2008048623A3

Abstract

A software design and simulation tool for touchpads that enables a customer to create a touchpad layout having desired dimensions of length and width, wherein the touchpad can also include multiple features, these features including buttons, circular scroll wheels, circular touchpad overlays and linear scrolling regions, and wherein the touchpad design can be tested using simulation software.

Description

TOUCHPAD CONFIGURATION SOFTWARE TOOL THAT ENABLES CUSTOMIZED LAYOUT AND DESIGN OF A TOUCHPAD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cross reference to Related Applications; This document claims priority to and incorporates by reference all of the subject matter included in the provisional patent application docket number 3787.CIRQ. PR, having serial number 60/829,801 and filed on 10/17/2006.

Field Of the Invention: This invention relates generally to touchpads . More specifically, the invention is a unique design tool that enables a user to design the functional operation and layout of a touchpad of specific dimensions, and then add predefined function elements such as buttons, a circular scrolling wheel, and a linear scrolling region.

Description of Related Art; The state of the art in touchpad design is to deliver specifications or requirements of a desired touchpad device to a touchpad design and/or manufacturer, including shape, dimensions, and special features such as buttons or scrolling regions. It is then up to the engineers to create proto-types or drawings of what is desired so that the customer can evaluate the design and determine if changes need to be made. This process may go back and forth between engineers and the customer through several iterations until a desired design is obtained. This process can be time consuming. The alternative would be to take an existing product and simply design the customer's device around an already existing design, even if it does not provide all of the desired features.

It would be an advantage over existing touchpad design and manufacturing paradigms to be able to put in the hands of a customer the ability to create a custom designed touchpad using a customized design tool. It would be a further advantage to enable the user to then simulate operation of the newly designed touchpad in order to confirm that the new design will meet the requirements of the customer.

The present invention utilizes touchpad technology from CIRQUE® Corporation. Accordingly, it is useful to understand operation of the touchpad technology to a small degree. The touchpad technology from CIRQUE® Corporation is a mutual capacitance- sensing device and an example is illustrated in figure 1. In this touchpad, a grid of row and column electrodes is used to define the touch-sensitive area of the touchpad. Typically, the touchpad is a rectangular grid of approximately 16 by 12 electrodes, or 8 by 6 electrodes when there are space constraints. However, these electrode configurations should not be considered limiting, and could be modified. The 16 by 12 and 8 by 6 electrode configurations are for example only. Interlaced with these row and column electrodes is a single sense electrode. All position measurements are made through the sense electrode. In more detail, Figure 1 shows a capacitance sensitive touchpad 10 as taught by Cirque® Corporation includes a grid of row 12 and column 14 (or X and Y) electrodes in a touchpad electrode grid. All measurements of touchpad parameters are taken from a single sense electrode 16 also disposed on the touchpad electrode grid, and not from the X or Y electrodes 12, 14. No fixed reference point is used for measurements. A touchpad sensor circuit 20 generates signals from P, N generators 22, 24 that are sent directly to the X and Y electrodes 12, 14 in various patterns. Accordingly, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the number of electrodes on the touchpad electrode grid, and the number of drive pins on the touch sensor circuitry 20.

The touchpad 10 does not depend upon an absolute capacitive measurement to determine the location of a finger (or other capacitive object) on the touchpad surface. The touchpad 10 measures an imbalance in electrical charge to the sense line 16. When no pointing object is on the touchpad 10, the touch sensor circuitry 20 is in a balanced state, and there is no signal on the sense line 16. There may or may not be a capacitive charge on the electrodes 12, 14. In the methodology of CIRQUE® Corporation, that is irrelevant. When a pointing device creates imbalance because of capacitive coupling, a change in capacitance occurs on the plurality of electrodes 12, 14 that comprise the touchpad electrode grid. What is measured is the change in capacitance, and not the absolute capacitance value on the electrodes 12, 14. The touchpad 10 determines the change in capacitance by measuring the amount of charge that must be injected onto the sense line 16 to reestablish or regain balance on the sense line.

The touchpad 10 must make two complete measurement cycles for the X electrodes 12 and for the Y electrodes 14 (four complete measurements) in order to determine the position of a pointing object such as a finger. The steps are as follows for both the X 12 and the Y 14 electrodes: First, a group of electrodes (say a select group of the X electrodes 12) are driven with a first signal from P, N generator 22 and a first measurement using mutual capacitance measurement device 26 is taken to determine the location of the largest signal.

However, it is not possible from this one measurement to know whether the finger is on one side or the other of the closest electrode to the largest signal.

Next, shifting by one electrode to one side of the closest electrode, the group of electrodes is again driven with a signal. In other words, the electrode immediately to the one side of the group is added, while the electrode on the opposite side of the original group is no longer driven. Third, the new group of electrodes is driven and a second measurement is taken.

Finally, using an equation that compares the magnitude of the two signals measured, the location of the finger is determined. Accordingly, the touchpad 10 measures a change in capacitance in order to determine the location of a finger. All of this hardware and the methodology described above assume that the touch sensor circuit 20 is directly driving the electrodes 12, 14 of the touchpad 10. Thus, for a typical 12 x 16 electrode grid touchpad, there are a total of 28 pins (12+16=28) available from the touch sensor circuitry 20 that are used to drive the electrodes 12, 14 of the electrode grid. The sensitivity or resolution of the CIRQUE®

Corporation touchpad is much higher than the 16 by 12 grid of row and column electrodes implies. The resolution is typically on the order of 960 counts per inch, or greater. The exact resolution is determined by the sensitivity of the components, the spacing between the electrodes on the same rows and columns, and other factors that are not material to the present invention. Although the CIRQUE® touchpad described above uses a grid of X and Y electrodes and a separate and single sense electrode, the sense electrode can also be the X or Y electrodes by using multiplexing. Either design will enable the present invention to function.

It should also be understood that the CIRQUE® Corporation touchpad technology is only one type of technology for which the present invention is able to produce a design. Accordingly, the present invention may be implemented for electromagnetic, inductive, pressure sensing, electrostatic, ultrasonic, optical, resistive membrane, semi-conductive membrane or other finger or stylus-responsive technology.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a software design tool for touchpads .

It is another object to provide a simulation tool for touchpads that are designed using the design tool. In a first embodiment, the present invention is a software design and simulation tool for touchpads that enables a customer to create a touchpad layout having desired dimensions of length and width, wherein the touchpad can also include multiple features, these features including buttons, circular scroll wheels and linear scrolling regions, and wherein the touchpad design cεin be tested using simulation software.

These and other objects, features, advantages and alternative aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in combination with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a prior art touch sensor circuit and an electrode grid of a capacitance sensitive touchpad.

Figure 2 is a screenshot of the splashscreen of the touchpad design and simulation software.

Figure 3 is a screenshot of the program with the touchpad layout displayed.

Figure 4 illustrates a circular scroll wheel, a linear scrolling region, and a button on top of the touchpad overlay.

Figure 5 shows that a linear scrolling region will always be displayed underneath an overlapping circular scroll wheel or a button.

Figure 6 shows that a circular scroll wheel will always be displayed underneath an overlapping button.

Figure 7 shows circular scroll wheels of various diameters .

Figure 8 shows a touchpad overlay that does not cover the entire touchpad grid that is available for use in this design.

Figure 9 shows linear scrolling regions of various lengths and widths.

Figure 10 shows buttons of various lengths and widths . Figure 11 shows a combination of circular scrolling wheels and linear scroll regions covering almost the entire surface of the touchpad overlay. Figure 12 shows a circular touchpad overlay with XY touchpad grid in the center, and scrolling zones on the perimeter.

Figure 13 is a dialog box for selecting and assigning features to the scrolling zones.

Figure 14 is a dialog box for selecting and assigning features to the scrolling zones.

Figure 15 is a dialog box for selecting and assigning features to the scrolling zones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made to the drawings in which the various elements of the present invention will be given numerical designations and in which the invention will be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that the following description is only exemplary of the principles of the present invention, and should not be viewed as narrowing the claims which follow.

The first embodiment of the present invention is a touchpad design and simulation program as envisioned by CIRQUE® Corporation. The program is presently configured with the splash screen 30 as shown in figure 2. The user is presented with the options of opening an existing touchpad design using the OPEN 32 button, or selecting one of several pre-defined touchpad layouts listed in scroll window 36 by using SELECT 34 button. In the present embodiment, the pre- defined touchpad layouts are for the dimensions of existing touchpad product lines. It should be understood that the pre-defined touchpad layouts describe the maximum area of a touchpad, but not necessarily the area that will be used in the design. Thus during the design process, as will be explained, the user does not have to use all of the touchpad area that is available.

For this example, the pre-defined touchpad layout titled TSM9978 has been selected. The touchpad layout 40 is shown having design dimensions of 96.87 units by 78.23 units, where the units are defined in this example to be millimeters.

Figure 3 is a screenshot of the touchpad design and simulation program of the present invention with the selected touchpad layout 38 displayed. This screen of the touchpad design and simulation program includes the options of opening, saving or printing a touchpad design using the OPEN 40, SAVE 42 and PRINT 44 buttons. It should also be noted that the user can add or delete layers from the touchpad using the scroll window 46. The user is able to select a layer already designed, or add a new layer.

The touchpad layout 38 is displayed in the center of the touchpad design and simulation program display screen. As a cursor is moved over the touchpad layout 38, the TOP 52 and LEFT 54 boxes indicate the position of the cursor from the top left corner of the touchpad layout 38. The HEIGHT 56 and WIDTH 58 boxes display dimension of features that are added to the touchpad layout 38. The user also has the option of snapping features to a grid by activating box 60, and showing or hiding the grid by activating box 62. An EXIT box 64 enables the user to quit the program when desired. The program includes four tools in this depiction of the touchpad design and simulation program display screen. Figure 12 shows five features. Thus, it should be remembered that the list of tools or features can be increased when new features become desirable for inclusion in a touchpad design. Thus it is an aspect of the present invention to provide the ability to include new tools. In figure 3, the four tools available to a touchpad designer are a circular scrolling wheel drawing tool selected with button 70, a linear scrolling region drawing tool selected with button 72, a button drawing tool selected with button 74, and a touchpad overlay drawing tool selected with button 76. In the present embodiment, certain features are always shown on top of other features as shown in figure 4. For example, figure 4 illustrates that a circular scroll wheel 80, linear scrolling region 82 and a button 84 will always be displayed as being on top of the touchpad overlay 86.

Figure 5 shows that a linear scrolling region 82 will always be displayed underneath an overlapping circular scroll wheel 80 or a button 84.

Finally, figure 6 shows that a circular scroll wheel 80 will always be displayed underneath an overlapping button 84. Thus, a button 84 will always be displayed on top of any underlying feature. It should be understood that this hierarchical scheme of which feature will be displayed over or under another feature is for convenience only, and can be changed by the inventors as desired.

It is also noted that the fact that touchpad features are being shown as overlapping is only for convenience when designing a touchpad. It is assumed that while the features can all be used on the touchpad, only one feature will be active at any given moment when a user has a finger on an area of the touchpad where two or more features overlap each other. For example, using figure 6, assume that the circular scroll wheel 80 is overlapping the linear scrolling region 82. It is assumed that there are scenarios in which a user will prefer or need to use the circular scroll wheel 80, and different scenarios in which the user will prefer or be required to use the linear scrolling region 82. It will be up to the touchpad designer to provide a means for activating the two features 80, 82 at different times so that there is no interference with operation of either feature. Thus, when a user is using the circular scroll wheel 80, the touchpad will continue to operate using the circular scroll wheel 80 even when the finger passes over the overlapping linear scrolling region 82. The means for selecting which touchpad feature is being used can be contextual, such as from the type of activity being performed, or can be more explicit, such as a signal from software, or by means of a button that is on or off of the touchpad. Another feature of the presently preferred embodiment is the ability to make any of the features so that they have any desired dimensions. In other words, the diameter of a circular scroll wheel 80 can be modified as shown in figure 7, as can the length and width of a touchpad overlay 86 as shown in figure 8, a linear scrolling region 82 in figure 9 and a button 84 in figure 10. Note that in these figures, when there are multiple instances of the same feature, the features are always numbered to make distinguishing between them obvious to the touchpad designer.

Another ability of the presently preferred embodiment is to allow the inclusion of as many features as can fit on the touchpad layout 38. Thus, if a designer wants to include 12 circular scroll wheels, a vertical scrolling region and a horizontal scrolling region, these features can all be included. It should be noted that these features can overlap partially or completely. Thus, a designer is not limited to the area on a touchpad layout if overlapping of features is allowed. When no overlapping is allowed, then the touchpad designer is only limited by the available space, as shown for example in the layout of circular scroll wheels 80, the vertical scrolling region 82 and the horizontal scrolling region 82 in figure 11.

One feature that is different between circular scroll wheels 80 and linear scrolling regions 82 is the use of arrows. Linear scrolling regions 82 include arrows that indicate the directions that a pointing object can move in order to cause the desired scrolling action to be performed.

Another feature of the present invention is the ability of the linear scrolling region 82 to provide either horizontal or vertical scrolling operation. A user will first create a shape for the touchpad overlay 86 using the design tool button 76. To dispose a linear scrolling region 82 on the touchpad overlay 86, the user first selects the linear scrolling region design tool using button 72. The user then moves the cursor over the touchpad overlay 86. The user clicks and holds the left mouse button and then drags the cursor over the touchpad overlay 86 to create the desired shape of the linear scrolling region 82. If the user creates a shape that is longer in the horizontal dimension, then arrows will appear that indicate that scrolling is actuated by moving a pointing object in a horizontal manner on the linear scrolling region 82. Likewise, if the user creates a shape that is longer in the vertical dimension, then arrows will appear that indicate that scrolling is actuated by moving a pointing object in a vertical manner on the linear scrolling region 82. Once the user releases the left mouse button, the linear scrolling region 82 is complete. However, the dimensions and the final location of the linear scrolling region 82 can still be modified by simply clicking and dragging on the linear scrolling region to move it around the touchpad overlay 86, or by clicking and dragging on any edge to change the dimensions of the linear scrolling region. In this preferred embodiment, once the linear scrolling region 82 has been created, it keeps its horizontal or vertical orientation for scrolling, even if the dimensions are changed such that the longer dimension is no longer the same as the initial orientation. Thus a vertical linear scrolling region 82 that was initially long in its vertical dimension can be made shorter in its vertical dimension. Likewise, if the original design was a linear scrolling region 82 that was longer in its horizontal dimensions, the arrows would indicate that horizontal motion would cause a corresponding scrolling action. If the edge dimensions are changed such that the linear scrolling region is now longer in a vertical dimension than in a ^• horizontal dimension, the linear scrolling region 82 maintains its original scrolling orientation. Thus, movement in the shorter horizontal dimension will still enable the scrolling action, while movement in the longer vertical dimension will still not enable any scrolling action to occur.

As with the linear scrolling region 82 described above, the dimensions and the final locations of all the features on the touchpad overlay 86 can be modified after they have been first created. This enables a designer to tweak the design until it is exactly what is desired. Once the design is complete, the user saves the design. The touchpad design and simulation program will now generate a graphical file for use in the design of the touchpad and its overlay. In addition, the program will produce a data file which will alter the function of software drivers for the touchpad to allow a Standard personal computer to perform the desired functions. Finally, the program will create data files that enable the resulting touchpad to interface with embedded microprocessors in the touchpad to thereby perform the desired functions.

Figure 12 is provided as a display screen of the touchpad design and simulation program wherein a new tool has been added. This new tool is activated using button 90 to create a circular touchpad 92. In this embodiment, the circular touchpad 92 includes an outer scrolling region 94. In this particular embodiment, the outer scrolling region 94 is divided into four separate scrolling zones which are named the bottom zone 100, right zone 102, top zone 104 and the left zone 106. The position and number of scrolling zones can be modified by the designer. A corner tap region 98 is also provided when corner tapping is desired. This feature is not mandatory.

The center region 96 of the circular touchpad 92 is designed to operate as a typical XY touchpad.

Accordingly, any touchpad features can be disposed therein.

To assign functions to the scrolling zones 100, 102, 104, 106, the user double taps anywhere on the circular touchpad 92. A dialog box then appears as shown in figure 13. The functions that can be assigned to the scrolling regions are show in figure 14 as Cirque Scroll Horizontal and Vertical, Wheel Scroll Horizontal and Vertical, Message Scroll

Horizontal and Vertical, Volume, Surf and Zoom. It is observed that this list is not exhaustive, and more functions can be added.

Figure 16 shows that Corner Tap functions that can be assigned to the corner tap region 98 include, but should not be considered limited to, left click select, right click menu, middle click, double click, help, context help, cut, copy, paste, undo, close application, maximize window, minimize window, restore window, minimize all windows, restore all windows, run, activate windows explorer, activate default web browser, activate default email program, activate default media program, etc.

It should be understood that the touchpad design and simulation program can also simulate operation of the touchpad and its features.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method for enabling a user to design the layout of a touchpad, said method comprising the steps of:

1) providing a design tool on a computer-readable media;

2) executing the design tool using a processing device; 3) displaying a touchpad layout on a display, wherein the touchpad layout is a maximum area of touchpad operation;

4) selecting a touchpad feature from a variety of touchpad features; and 5) disposing the selected touchpad feature on the touchpad layout .

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the step of selecting the touchpad feature from the group of touchpad features comprised of a shape of a touchpad overlay, a circular scrolling wheel, a linear scrolling region, a circular touchpad overlay, and a button.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

(1) selecting at least one more touchpad feature from the group of touchpad features; and

(2) disposing the at least one more touchpad feature on the touchpad overlay.

4. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

1) selecting the touchpad feature; and 2) moving the touchpad feature from a first position on the touchpad overlay to a second position by clicking on and then dragging the touchpad feature.

5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

1) selecting the touchpad feature; and

2) dragging on a boundary of the touchpad feature to thereby increase or decrease a size of the touchpad feature on the touchpad overlay.

6. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the touchpad feature so that it at least partially overlaps another touchpad feature on the touchpad overlay.