Google Inc.

Karissa A Sawyer

Thad Eugene Starner

Greg Ellis Priest-Dorman

Jonathan B Moeller

Yao Ding

Chi Kin Benjamin Leung

Jianyi Liu

Nidhi Rathi

Seth Taylor Raphael

Seungyon Lee

This document describes techniques and devices for detecting twist input with an interactive cord. An interactive cord may be constructed with one or more conductive yarns wrapped around a cable in a first direction (e.g., clockwise), and one or more conductive yarns wrapped around the cable in a second direction that is opposite the first direction (e.g., counter-clockwise). A controller measures one or more capacitance values associated with the conductive yarns. In response to detecting a change in the one or more capacitance values, the controller determines that the change in the capacitance values corresponds to twist input caused by the user twisting the interactive cord. Then, the controller initiates one or more functions based on the twist input, such as by controlling audio to a headset by increasing or decreasing the volume, scrolling through menu items, and so forth.

Detecting twist input with an interactive cord

This document describes authentication using an interactive cord. An interactive cord includes a cable, and a fabric cover that covers the cable. The fabric cover includes one or more conductive threads woven into the fabric cover to form one or more capacitive touchpoints which are configured to enable reception of touch input that causes a change in capacitance to the one or more conductive threads. The interactive cord can be used to authenticate a user. For example, rather than using a password entered into a computing device, a touch input pattern can be provided to interactive cord that is coupled to the computing device to authenticate the user.

Authentication using an interactive cord

This document describes techniques and devices for an interactive cord with resistance touchpoints. An interactive cord includes an audio wire, and a fabric cover that covers the audio wire. The fabric cover includes at least one conductive thread integrated into the fabric cover to form at least one touchpoint at which the conductive thread makes contact with the audio wire when the touchpoint is pressed. The contact of the conductive thread with the audio wire creates a resistance value that is mapped to a control. The resistance value is based on a resistance of the conductive thread and a length of the conductive thread from a base of the interactive cord to the touchpoint. The resistance value is detectable by a controller implemented at a computing device that is coupled to the interactive cord. In response to detection of the resistance value, the controller triggers the control.

Interactive cord with resistance touchpoints

This document describes techniques and devices for preventing false positives with an interactive cord. An interactive cord includes a cable, and fabric cover that covers the cable. The fabric cover includes one or more conductive threads woven into the fabric cover to form one or more capacitive touchpoints which are configured to enable reception of touch input that causes a change in capacitance to the one or more conductive threads. A controller, implemented at the interactive cord or a computing device coupled to the interactive cord, can detect the change in capacitance and trigger one or more functions associated with the one or more capacitive touchpoints. In one or more implementations, the interactive cord is designed to prevent 'false positives' which may occur from accidental contact with the touchpoints, such as when the interactive cord makes contact with the user's body or a conductive surface.

Preventing false positives with an interactive cord

This document describes an interactive cord with integrated light sources. An interactive cord includes a cable, a cover that covers the cable, and a plurality of light sources integrated into the cover. The cover includes capacitive touchpoints that enable reception of touch input that causes a change in capacitance to one or more conductive threads effective to trigger a function at a computing device. Different conductive threads can be used at different capacitive touchpoints to trigger different functions. The light sources are configured to indicate a position of a respective capacitive touchpoint on the cover.

Interactive cord with integrated light sources

This document describes interactive cords. An interactive cord includes a cable, and fabric cover that covers the cable. The fabric cover includes one or more conductive threads woven into the fabric cover to form one or more capacitive touchpoints which are configured to enable reception of touch input that causes a change in capacitance to the one or more conductive threads. A controller, implemented at the interactive cord or a computing device coupled to the interactive cord, can detect the change in capacitance and trigger one or more functions associated with the one or more capacitive touchpoints. For example, when implemented as a cord for a headset, the controller can control audio to the headset, such as by playing the audio, pausing the audio, adjusting the volume of the audio, skipping ahead in the audio, skipping backwards in the audio, skipping to additional audio, and so forth.

Interactive cord

This document describes an interactive cord with integrated light sources. An interactive cord includes a cable, and a fabric cover that covers the cable. The fabric cover includes one or more conductive threads woven into the fabric cover to form one or more capacitive touchpoints which are configured to enable reception of touch input. The fabric cover further includes one or more light sources. A controller, implemented at the interactive cord or a computing device coupled to the interactive cord, can detect touch input to a capacitive touchpoint and trigger one or more functions. In addition, the controller can control the light sources to output light to visually indicate a position of the capacitive touchpoint on the fabric cover and/or to provide feedback by outputting light responsive to detecting touch input to a respective capacitive touchpoint.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Karissa A Sawyer