Multi-dimension touch input

摘要

A computing device can use a combination of input technologies in order to provide for more accurate input determinations, as well as to reduce the number of false inputs determined. A capacitance-sensing approach, which can be self- or mutual-capacitance in nature, can be combined with a force- or pressure-sensing approach. The approaches can share at least some components, such as one or more electrodes, in order to conserve space on the device and reduce cost. An input at one or more locations in one or more modes then can be accepted only if the input is determined to be valid for both approaches, which can prevent false input resulting from keys or other metallic objects being detected by the capacitance components, as well as objects applying pressure to the device as detected by the force sensing components.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
determining a physical environment in which a computing device is situated; determining from the physical environment that a capacitance sensor of the computing device is more prone to false inputs than a force-sensitive resistor of the computing device; deactivating a display of the computing device and the capacitance sensor; detecting, using the force-sensitive resistor, that an amount of force applied to a location on the computing device satisfies a first input threshold; activating the capacitance sensor; detecting, using the capacitance sensor, that a change in capacitance, corresponding to an object brought within a detectable proximity of the location, satisfies a second input threshold; activating the display; and performing an action on the computing device corresponding to the amount of force and the change in capacitance, wherein the force-sensitive resistor and the capacitance sensor utilize at least one common electrode with power to the at least one common electrode being applied differently for detecting the amount of force than for detecting the change in capacitance.