Abstract: A system and method for enabling an entire touchpad surface to mechanically move if sufficient force is used to press on the touchpad to perform a mouse click function, such as a right click or a left click, when the touchpad is mechanically buttonless, such as a forcepad, in order to provide haptic feedback on a touchpad that otherwise has none.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a touch sensor include a dynamic suspension system to enable the touch sensor to emulate the tactile sensation that a user feels when using pushbutton switches, wherein a touch sensor is combined with at least one snap dome and a post inside the snap dome to keep the touch sensor rigid until the touch sensor is allowed to be displaced when a force is applied, and then the post is retracted or released to enable movement of the touch sensor and the snap dome are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and methods for a clickable touchpad that enables the clickable function to be selectively locked or unlocked in accordance with detected or sensed conditions are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling an entire touchpad surface to mechanically move if sufficient force is used to press on the touchpad to perform a mouse click function, such as a right click or a left click, when the touchpad is mechanically buttonless, such as a forcepad, in order to provide haptic feedback on a touchpad that otherwise has none.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling an entire touchpad surface to mechanically move if sufficient force is used to press on the touchpad to perform a mouse click function, such as a right click or a left click, when the touchpad is mechanically buttonless, such as a forcepad, in order to provide haptic feedback on a touchpad that otherwise has none.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a touch sensor include a dynamic suspension system to enable the touch sensor to emulate the tactile sensation that a user feels when using pushbutton switches, wherein a touch sensor is combined with at least one snap dome and a post inside the snap dome to keep the touch sensor rigid until the touch sensor is allowed to be displaced when a force is applied, and then the post is retracted or released to enable movement of the touch sensor and the snap dome are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and methods for a clickable touchpad that enables the clickable function to be selectively locked or unlocked in accordance with detected or sensed conditions are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining what input should be accepted by a touch sensor after intentional and accidental lift-offs and slide-offs occur when gesturing or performing a function on the touch sensor by a finger or multiple fingers.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive and far-field or proximity sensitive touchpad combined with a display, wherein the touchpad is formed as a touchstrip that is concealed inside the display, wherein a first function or interface such as a menu is enabled when an actuating device reaches a threshold distance from the touchpad, wherein a second function or interface is enabled when the actuating device makes contact with the touchpad, and wherein the first function may or may not continue after contact is made with the touchpad.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling an entire touchpad surface to mechanically move if sufficient force is used to press on the touchpad to perform a mouse click function, such as a right click or a left click, when the touchpad is mechanically buttonless, such as a forcepad, in order to provide haptic feedback on a touchpad that otherwise has none.

Abstract: A method for detecting and tracking a single finger or multi-finger gesture referred to as an edge swipe gesture that originates from an edge of a touch sensor and which is distinguished from normal touch sensor operations such as cursoring, wherein the edge swipe gesture generates detection and tracking data having an immediate change, whereas touchdown or movement towards and then away from an edge of the touch sensor will generate data that is different from the edge swipe gesture.

Abstract: A method for determining what input should be accepted by a touch sensor after intentional and accidental lift-offs and slide-offs occur when gesturing or performing a function on the touch sensor by a finger or multiple fingers.

Abstract: A system and method for activating and deactivating a device that is capable of performing monitoring functions such as the recording of physical parameters such as heart rate, time exercised, or capable of recording using a video camera, and may be referred to as a Tracker, wherein the system and method enables a user to quickly activate or deactivate a function by simple movement of a signaling device near the Tracker, wherein the Tracker may be toggled on and off whenever the signaling device is moved adjacent to the Tracker, and wherein toggling may be indicated by an audible, visual and/or haptic indicator.

Abstract: A system and method wherein touchpad input including movement of a cursor and mouse clicks are inhibited until two events have occurred, namely, a timeout interval has elapsed and detection of movement of a pointing object a predetermined distance on the touchpad, wherein the system and method may also be implemented in touchpad firmware or hardware so that touchpad functionality beyond functions offered by an Operating System will travel with the touchpad and be available even when a software driver offering extended touchpad functionality is not installed or available for use.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive and far-field or proximity sensitive touchpad combined with a display, wherein the touchpad is formed as a touchstrip that is concealed inside the display, wherein a first function or interface such as a menu is enabled when an actuating device reaches a threshold distance from the touchpad, wherein a second function or interface is enabled when the actuating device makes contact with the touchpad, and wherein the first function may or may not continue after contact is made with the touchpad.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive and far-field or proximity sensitive touchpad combined with a display, wherein the touchpad is formed as a touchstrip that is concealed inside the display, wherein a first function or interface such as a menu is enabled when an actuating device reaches a threshold distance from the touchpad, wherein a second function or interface is enabled when the actuating device makes contact with the touchpad, and wherein the first function may or may not continue after contact is made with the touchpad.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that creates a touch recognition gradient beginning from all outer edges of a touch sensor, and extending inwards towards a designated center area, wherein contact that is nearer an outer edge of the touch sensor is only recognized if it is a relatively small object, and then allowing recognition of progressively larger objects when approaching the center area, thereby rejecting input from a palm or larger area of a finger when contact is made near the outer edge, while accepting larger objects near the center area.

Abstract: A system and method for defining a gesture to be any combination of touch and hover actions, the touch and hover actions being combined in any order and any number of discrete touch and hover actions that define a single gesture or a series of gestures.

Abstract: A method for determining what input should be accepted by a touch sensor after intentional and accidental lift-offs and slide-offs occur when gesturing or performing a function on the touch sensor by a finger or multiple fingers.

Abstract: A method for using existing touchpad hardware to detect and track multiple objects such as fingers that are in contact with a touchpad, wherein the method extracts information from data that is already being collected, wherein analysis of the data is simplified by identifying objects by only looking for a positive slopes and negative slopes to identify multiple objects in data from the touchpad.

Abstract: A method for using existing touchpad hardware to detect and track multiple objects such as fingers that are in contact with a touchpad, wherein the method extracts information from data that is already being collected, wherein analysis of the data is simplified by identifying objects by only looking for a positive slopes and negative slopes to identify multiple objects in data from the touchpad.

Abstract: A method for detecting and tracking a single finger or multi-finger gesture referred to as an edge swipe gesture that originates from an edge of a touch sensor and which is distinguished from normal touch sensor operations such as cursoring, wherein the edge swipe gesture generates detection and tracking data having an immediate change, whereas touchdown or movement towards and then away from an edge of the touch sensor will generate data that is different from the edge swipe gesture.