Synaptics Corporation

Torbjorn Hovden

Mark A Huie

Phillip Frank Acker, Jr

Thuy Thanh Bich Le

Joseph Kurth Reynolds

Mihai M Bulea

Joel C Jordan

Kipling Inscore

John Morgan Feland, Iii

Jerry Shao

Andrew Chen Chou Hsu

A system and method for providing an on-demand user interface for an input device. The system includes a first device and a second device. The first device is configured to receive a first user input and select a first notification from a plurality of notifications stored on the first device based at least in part on the first user input. The first device then outputs the first notification using one or more hardware resources. The second device detects the first notification output by the first device and matches the first notification to a first content item stored on the second device. The first content item includes instructions for providing a second user input on the first device. The second device then renders the first content item on a display. The first device further receives the second user input subsequent to the first user input.

User interface system for display-less input devices

An example processing system for a capacitive input device includes a first interface coupled to at least one first electrode of at least one lighting element and a second interface coupled to at least one second electrode of the at least one lighting element spaced apart from the at least one first electrode. A controller is configured to: forward-bias the at least one lighting element during first time periods to provide illumination; drive the at least one first and the at least one second electrodes with substantially the same voltage during second time periods; and drive the at least one first electrode with a modulated voltage relative to a reference voltage while guarding the at least one second electrode during third time periods to measure capacitance. A determination module is configured to determine presence of at least one input object in a sensing region based on changes in the capacitance.

Capacitive sensing using discrete lighting elements

In a keyboard of the type including a key cap and a capacitive sensor disposed underneath the key cap, a method including operating the capacitive sensor in a first mode configured for near field detection and generating a first variable capacitance, and operating the capacitive sensor in a second mode configured for far field detection and generating a second variable capacitance. The method further includes determining key motion based on the first variable capacitance and determining finger presence based on the second variable capacitance.

Dynamically reconfigurable capacitive sensor array

A touch sensor device and method is provided that facilitates improved device usability. Specifically, the touch screen device and method provide user interface functionality while reducing the possibility of inadvertent activation of certain functions. The touch screen device comprises a proximity sensor adapted to detect object presence in a sensing region, a display screen overlapping the sensing region, and a processor. The touch screen device is adapted to provide user interface functionality by facilitating the display of user interface elements and the selection and activation of corresponding functions. For certain functions, the touch screen device and method uses the presence of a second object to confirm selection of a function before that function will be performed. So configured, the touch device screen is able to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent activation for certain functions on the device.

Proximity sensor device and method with activation confirmation

A proximity sensor device and method is provided that facilitates orientation changes in displays. The proximity sensor device and method provide a user with the ability to indicate an orientation change in a display using the sensing region of a proximity sensor device as a user interface. In one specific embodiment, proximity sensor device is implemented to indicate an orientation change in a first way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a first direction, and is further implemented to indicate an orientation change in a second way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a second direction. Thus, a user can cause orientation changes of different ways through the use of object motions in different directions along the sensing region.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Torbjorn Hovden