Abstract: The disclosed device is directed towards a method for recognizing a gesture made on a touch-sensor pad in a touch-sensing system providing X and Y position information to a host comprising detecting a first presence of a conductive object on the touch-sensor pad. The method includes comparing the duration of the first presence with a first reference amount of time, and initiating a first gesture signal to the host if the duration of the first presence is less than the first reference amount of time. The method also includes detecting a second presence of the conductive object on the touch-sensor pad and comparing the duration between the first presence and the second presence with a second reference amount of time.

Abstract: Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad and for cursor motion are disclosed. Tapping, drags, pushes, extended drags and variable drags gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals indicating the position of a conductive object and distinguishing between the peripheral portion and an inner portion of the touch-sensor pad are also sent to the host.

Abstract: Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad and for cursor motion are disclosed. Tapping, drags, pushes, extended drags and variable drags gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals indicating the position of a conductive object and distinguishing between the peripheral portion and an inner portion of the touch-sensor pad are also sent to the host.

Abstract: Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad are disclosed. Tapping, pushing, hopping, and zigzag gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals for compensating for unintended motion of the conductive object on the touch-sensor pad during the gestures are also sent to the host.

Abstract: A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by digital circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e, its position in the X and Y dimensions. Noise reduction and background level setting techniques inherently available in the architecture are employed.

Abstract: Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad and for cursor motion are disclosed. Tapping, drags, pushes, extended drags and variable drags gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals indicating the position of a conductive object and distinguishing between the peripheral portion and an inner portion of the touch-sensor pad are also sent to the host.

Abstract: An analog storage array according to the present invention is disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The array is arranged as a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns and includes a plurality of N-channel MOS transistors disposed in the rows and columns in a p-well in the semiconductor substrate. Each of the MOS transistors includes a source, a drain, and a floating gate forming a tunneling junction with a tunneling electrode. An input line is associated with each of the rows in the array. Each input line is connected to the source of each of the N-channel MOS transistors disposed in the row with which the input line is associated. A bias line is associated with each of the rows in the array. Each bias line is capacitively coupled to the floating gate of each of the N-channel MOS transistors disposed in the row with which the bias line is associated. A tunnel line is associated with each of the columns in the array.

Abstract: A computer peripheral system including a mobile vehicle, a two-way wireless link to a host computer and software residing on the host computer for providing control and guidance is disclosed. The system is installed on an existing host computer as an add-on peripheral device whose function is to perform some automatic task (e.g. floor cleaning) in a working environment (e.g. a home or business). The mobile vehicle is equipped with a plurality of sensors, data from which is conveyed to the host system over the wireless link. Software on the host computer communicates control and movement commands to the mobile system. A method and apparatus for sensing the position of the mobile vehicle in a working environment is also disclosed. Software installed on the host computer can use data from the sensing apparatus to automatically construct and maintain a map of the operating environment and to guide the mobile vehicle through the environment in order to carry out its task.

Abstract: A capacitive touch pad comprises a substrate material, such as a PC board type laminate material, having a plurality of first parallel conductive traces running in a first (X) direction disposed on a first face thereof, and a plurality of second parallel conductive traces running in a second (Y) direction, usually orthogonal to the first direction, disposed on an opposed second face thereof. A layer of pressure-conductive material is disposed over one of the faces of the substrate. A protective layer with a conductive coating on its back surface is disposed over the top surface of the pressure-conductive material to protect it. In an alternate embodiment, a capacitive touch sensor comprises a rigid substrate material having a conducting material disposed on one face thereof. A layer of pressure-conductive material is disposed over the conductive material on the substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided making use of a touch pad module to implement user input functions. The electronic device includes a case having a region of thinner cross section than the remaining case side wall for receiving the touch pad module. The case is further provided with a through hole in the area of its thinner cross section for receiving control electronics of the touch pad module enabling the region of thinner cross section to physically support the touch pad module so that the module can be thinner than what is conventionally believed to be necessary to maintain its physical integrity while in use as an input device.

Abstract: A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by digital circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e, its position in the X and Y dimensions. Noise reduction and background level setting techniques inherently available in the architecture are employed.

Abstract: A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e, its position in the X and Y dimensions. Noise reduction and background level setting techniques inherently available in the architecture are employed.

Abstract: Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad and for cursor motion are disclosed. Tapping, drags, pushes, extended drags and variable drags gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals indicating the position of a conductive object and distinguishing between the peripheral portion and an inner portion of the touch-sensor pad are also sent to the host.

Abstract: An analog storage array according to the present invention is disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The array is arranged as a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns and includes a plurality of N-channel MOS transistors disposed in the rows and columns in a p-well in the semiconductor substrate. Each of the MOS transistors includes a source, a drain, and a floating gate forming a tunneling junction with a tunneling electrode. An input line is associated with each of the rows in the array. Each input line is connected to the source of each of the N-channel MOS transistors disposed in the row with which the input line is associated. A bias line is associated with each of the rows in the array. Each bias line is capacitively coupled to the floating gate of each of the N-channel MOS transistors disposed in the row with which the bias line is associated. A tunnel line is associated with each of the columns in the array.

Abstract: An object proximity sensor includes a capacitive touch-sensitive transducer including row conductive lines insulated from column conductive lines to from a matrix. An insulating layer is disposed over the matrix and has a thickness selected to achieve significant capacitive coupling between an object placed on its surface and the matrix. Circuitry first drives each of the row conductive lines to a fixed voltage and then simultaneously injects a known amount of charge onto each of the row conductive lines, and then senses for each row conductive line a row-sense voltage created by the known amount of charge injected onto each of the row conductive lines, and, simultaneous with injected the known amount of charge, changes the voltage on all of the column conductive lines in the same direction as the row-sense voltage by an amount no greater than about twice the difference between the fixed voltage and an average of all row-sense voltage in the transducer.

Abstract: A force sensing touchpad comprises a substantially rigid touch surface; a substantially rigid frame; a plurality of spring structures formed integrally with the touch surface and mechanically connected to the reference frame; and a circuit for deriving force information from capacitances proportional to the distances between predetermined portions of the touch surface and portions of the frame in response to a force applied to the touch surfaces.

Abstract: A circuit for generating N analog voltage signals for reference or bias use employs N analog floating gate storage devices. Circuitry is provided so that all floating gate storage devices can be programmed to their target voltages individually or in parallel. Electron injection circuitry is provided for injecting electrons on to and a tunneling structure is provided for removing electrons from the floating gate of each floating gate storage device. A transistor structure with a lightly doped drain is provided for control of the tunneling structure. A capacitor is connected to each floating gate node to provide control of the injection structure. A dynamic analog storage element is provided to store the target voltage for the floating gate storage device. A comparator is provided to monitor the floating gate voltage and target voltage and control tunneling and injection. A digital storage device is provided to statically store the output of the comparator.

Abstract: A handheld computing device comprises a thin enclosure having two opposing major faces. A display screen is disposed on a first one of the major opposing faces of the enclosure and a touch-sensitive object position detector input device is disposed on a second one of the major opposing faces of the enclosure. Computing device circuitry, circuitry for interfacing the touch-sensitive object position detector to the computing device circuitry, and circuitry for driving the display screen are all disposed within the enclosure.

Abstract: Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad are disclosed. Tapping, pushing, hopping, and zigzag gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals for compensating for unintended motion of the conductive object on the touch-sensor pad during the gestures are also sent to the host.

Abstract: A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e, its position in the X and Y dimensions. Noise reduction and background level setting techniques inherently available in the architecture are employed.