Abstract: A tactile touch sensor (TTS) system and method allowing physical augmentation of a high-resolution touch sensor array (TSA) is disclosed. Physical augmentation is accomplished using a TSA physical overlay (TPO) placed on top of the TSA. The TPO is constructed to transmit forces to the underlying TSA. Force transmission is accomplished by either using a flexible overlay or with a rigid mechanical overlay that transmits user forces exerted on the overlay to the underlying TSA. Incorporation of TPO identifiers (TPI) within the TPO permits identification of the TPO by a TPO detector (TPD) allowing operational characteristics of the TSA to be automatically reconfigured to conform to the currently applied TPO structure by a user computing device (UCD). The UCD may be configured to automatically load an appropriate application software driver (ASD) in response to a TPI read by the TPD from the currently applied TPO.

Abstract: One variation of a method for characterizing inputs on a touch sensor surface includes scanning an array of sense electrodes at a first resolution to generate a first force image; in response to detecting a subset of force values in the first force image exceeding a first force threshold, detecting a first force input in the first force image; in response to detecting a second force input within a threshold distance of the first force input in the first force image, entering a second mode comprising: characterizing the first force input and the second force input as a singular input defining a singular input area encompassing the first force input and the second force input and a singular input force magnitude defined by a combination of force values of the first force input and the second force input; and outputting a location and force values of the singular input.

Abstract: One variation of a system for interfacing a computer system and a user includes: a touch sensor defining a touch sensor surface and extending over an array of sense electrode and drive electrode pairs; a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor surface; and a controller configured to: detect application of an input onto the touch sensor surface and a force magnitude of the first input at a first time; execute a down-click cycle in response to the force magnitude exceeding a threshold magnitude by driving the vibrator to oscillate the touch sensor surface; map a location of the input on the touch sensor surface to a key of a keyboard represented by the touch sensor surface; and output a touch image representing the key and the force magnitude of the input on the touch sensor surface at approximately the first time.

Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.

Abstract: One variation of a method for characterizing inputs includes: scanning an array of sense electrodes at a first resolution to generate a first force image; detecting a first force input in the first force image; in response to a first geometry dimension of the first force input exceeding a first threshold, characterizing the first force input as a non-stylus input type; in response to the first geometry dimension of the first force input remaining below the first threshold: scanning the array of sense electrodes at a second resolution; detecting a second force input in a second force image; and, in response to a ratio of a force magnitude of the second force input to a geometry dimension of the second force input exceeding a second threshold, characterizing the first force input as a stylus input type; and outputting a location and a type of the first force input.

Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: determining a first position of a touch sensor within real space; based on the first position of the touch sensor within real space, bounding a virtual surface of a virtual object within the virtual environment tractable through inputs across the touch sensor; generating a first force vector comprising a magnitude related to a force magnitude of a first input on the touch sensor surface and a direction related to an orientation of the touch sensor within real space; locating an origin of the first force vector within the virtual environment based on a first location of the first input on the touch sensor surface and the first position of the touch sensor within real space; and manipulating the virtual surface of the virtual object within the virtual environment according to the first force vector.

Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: receiving a touch image from a handheld device, the touch image comprising representations of discrete inputs into a touch sensor integrated into the handheld device; extracting a first force magnitude of a first input at a first location on a first side of the handheld device from the touch image; extracting a second force magnitude of a second input at a second location on a second side of the handheld device from the touch image, the second side of the handheld device opposite the first side of the handheld device; transforming the first input and the second input into a gesture; assigning a magnitude to the gesture based on the first force magnitude; and manipulating a virtual object within a virtual environment based on a type and the magnitude of the gesture.

Abstract: One variation of a method includes: defining a first capacitance gradient of capacitance thresholds spanning a capacitive touch sensor; defining a first pressure gradient of pressure thresholds spanning a pressure sensor; reading a capacitance value from the capacitive touch sensor proximal a first location; detecting presence of a first input at the first location in response to the capacitance value exceeding a capacitance threshold assigned to the first location; reading a pressure value from the pressure sensor proximal the first location; detecting presence of a second input proximal the first location in response to the pressure value exceeding a pressure threshold; in response to detecting the first input and detecting the second input: merging the first input and the second input into a confirmed touch input; and generating a first touch image representing the first location and the pressure value of the confirmed touch input.

Abstract: A touch sensor detector system and method incorporating an interpolated sensor array is disclosed. The system and method utilize a touch sensor array (TSA) configured to detect proximity/contact/pressure (PCP) via a variable impedance array (VIA) electrically coupling interlinked impedance columns (IIC) coupled to an array column driver (ACD), and interlinked impedance rows (IIR) coupled to an array row sensor (ARS). The ACD is configured to select the IIC based on a column switching register (CSR) and electrically drive the IIC using a column driving source (CDS). The VIA conveys current from the driven IIC to the IIC sensed by the ARS. The ARS selects the IIR within the TSA and electrically senses the IIR state based on a row switching register (RSR). Interpolation of ARS sensed current/voltage allows accurate detection of TSA PCP and/or spatial location.

Abstract: One variation of a method for detecting and characterizing force inputs on a surface includes: during a resistance scan cycle of a sampling period, driving a shield electrode arranged over a resistive touch sensor to a reference potential and reading resistance values across sense electrode and drive electrode pairs in the resistive touch sensor; during a processing cycle of the sampling period, transforming the resistance values into a position and a magnitude of a force applied to a tactile surface over the shield electrode, releasing the shield electrode from the reference potential, reading a capacitance value of the shield electrode, and detecting proximity of an object to the tactile surface based on the capacitance value; and generating a touch image representing the position and the magnitude of the force on the tactile surface based on the proximity of the object to the tactile surface.

Abstract: User input is accepted by a force sensing resistor (“FSR”) assembly, a force sensing capacitor (“FSC”) assembly, or both. The FSR or FSC assemblies may be located within an input device, such as behind a device exterior, display, and so forth. A force applied to the device exterior proximate to the assembly may result in a signal indicative of the force to the assembly. The signal may be processed to determine a particular touch zone was activated. A particular action associated with the touch zone may be performed. The particular action may be based at least in part on which touch zone which was activated, a magnitude of the force, or both. For example, the particular action may include a haptic output to provide feedback to a user.

Abstract: One variation of a method for interfacing a computer to a human includes: detecting application of a first input onto a touch sensor surface and a first force magnitude of the first input; in response to the first force magnitude exceeding a first threshold magnitude, actuating a vibrator coupled to the touch sensor surface during a first click cycle and triggering an audio driver proximal the touch sensor surface to output a click sound during the first click cycle; detecting retraction of the first input from the touch sensor surface and a second force magnitude of the first input; and, in response to the second force magnitude falling below a second threshold magnitude less than the first threshold magnitude, actuating the vibrator during a second click cycle distinct from the first click cycle and triggering the audio driver to output the click sound during the second click cycle.

Abstract: Control of head-mounted display (HMD) systems is described. One method displays at least one image on a first display layer of a HMD system. While displaying the at least one image, the method adjust a transparency setting of a second display layer from a first value to a second value to cause the second display layer to be opaque to limit an amount of light that passes through the lens for viewing the at least one image on the first display layer.

Abstract: A touch sensor detector system and method incorporating a diamond patterned optionally-interpolated sensor array is disclosed. The system and method utilize a touch sensor array (TSA) configured to detect proximity/contact/pressure (PCP) via a variable impedance array (VIA) electrically coupling interlinked/independent impedance columns (IIC) coupled to an array column driver (ACD), and interlinked/independent impedance rows (IIR) coupled to an array row sensor (ARS). The ACD is configured to select the IIC based on a column switching register (CSR) and electrically drive the IIC using a column driving source (CDS). The VIA conveys current from the driven IIC to the IIC sensed by the ARS. The ARS selects the IIR within the TSA and electrically senses the IIR state based on a row switching register (RSR). Interpolation of ARS sensed current/voltage allows accurate detection of TSA PCP and/or spatial location.

Abstract: A touch sensor detector system and method incorporating a diamond patterned optionally-interpolated sensor array is disclosed. The system and method utilize a touch sensor array (TSA) configured to detect proximity/contact/pressure (PCP) via a variable impedance array (VIA) electrically coupling interlinked/independent impedance columns (IIC) coupled to an array column driver (ACD), and interlinked/independent impedance rows (IIR) coupled to an array row sensor (ARS). The ACD is configured to select the IIC based on a column switching register (CSR) and electrically drive the IIC using a column driving source (CDS). The VIA conveys current from the driven IIC to the IIC sensed by the ARS. The ARS selects the IIR within the TSA and electrically senses the IIR state based on a row switching register (RSR). Interpolation of ARS sensed current/voltage allows accurate detection of TSA PCP and/or spatial location.

Abstract: A touch sensor detector system and method incorporating an interpolated sensor array is disclosed. The system and method utilize a touch sensor array (TSA) configured to detect proximity/contact/pressure (PCP) via a variable impedance array (VIA) electrically coupling interlinked impedance columns (IIC) coupled to an array column driver (ACD), and interlinked impedance rows (IIR) coupled to an array row sensor (ARS). The ACD is configured to select the IIC based on a column switching register (CSR) and electrically drive the IIC using a column driving source (CDS). The VIA conveys current from the driven IIC to the IIC sensed by the ARS. The ARS selects the IIR within the TSA and electrically senses the IIR state based on a row switching register (RSR). Interpolation of ARS sensed current/voltage allows accurate detection of TSA PCP and/or spatial location.

Abstract: One variation of a method for manipulating virtual objects within a virtual environment includes: receiving a touch image from a handheld device, the touch image comprising representations of discrete inputs into a touch sensor integrated into the handheld device; extracting a first force magnitude of a first input at a first location on a first side of the handheld device from the touch image; extracting a second force magnitude of a second input at a second location on a second side of the handheld device from the touch image, the second side of the handheld device opposite the first side of the handheld device; transforming the first input and the second input into a gesture; assigning a magnitude to the gesture based on the first force magnitude; and manipulating a virtual object within a virtual environment based on a type and the magnitude of the gesture.