DETERMINING WHAT INPUT TO ACCEPT BY A TOUCH SENSOR AFTER INTENTIONAL AND ACCIDENTAL LIFT-OFF and SLIDE-OFF WHEN GESTURING OR PERFORMING A FUNCTION

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining what input to accept by a touch sensor following a finger lift-off, said method comprising:
 1) providing a touch sensor having an edge around a perimeter thereof, a first zone defining an active sensing area, and a second zone within the first zone;   2) performing a function or gesture and then detecting finger lift-off from the touch sensor;   3) determining a location of the finger when the lift-off occurred causing termination of the function or gesture;   4) starting a countdown timer if the lift-off occurred within the first zone and outside the second zone; and   5) allowing a new function or gesture to begin if lift-off occurred within the second zone, or allowing the terminated function or gesture to continue if the lift-off occurred within the first zone and outside the second zone and the countdown timer has not expired, or allowing a new function or gesture to begin if the lift-off occurred within the first zone and outside the second zone but the countdown timer has expired.   
     
     
         2 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises centering the second zone within the first zone and leaving a border around the second zone outside of which lift-offs are considered to be accidental. 
     
     
         3 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises allowing adjustment to the length of time used by the countdown timer in order to affect sensitivity of the method. 
     
     
         4 . A method for determining what input to accept by a touch sensor following a finger slide-off, said method comprising:
 1) providing a touch sensor having an edge around a perimeter thereof;   2) performing a function or gesture and then detecting finger slide-off from the touch sensor;   3) starting a countdown timer;   4) determining a location of the finger when the slide-off occurred causing termination of the function or gesture; and   5) allowing the terminated function or gesture to continue if the finger slides back onto the touch sensor within a predetermined distance of the location of the slide-off and the countdown timer has not expired, or allowing a new function or gesture to begin if the finger slides back onto the touch sensor if the countdown timer has expired, or allowing a new function or gesture to begin if the finger slides back onto the touch sensor a distance that is greater than an predetermined allowable distance, or allowing the terminated function or gesture to continue if the finger makes touchdown back onto the touch sensor and the countdown timer has not expired.   
     
     
         5 . The method as defined in  claim 4  wherein the method further comprises allowing adjustment to the length of time used by the countdown timer in order to affect sensitivity of the method. 
     
     
         6 . The method as defined in  claim 4  wherein the method further comprises allowing adjustment to the predetermined allowable distance in order to affect sensitivity of the method. 
     
     
         7 . A method for determining what input to accept by a touch sensor following a finger lift-off, said method comprising:
 1) providing a touch sensor having an edge around a perimeter thereof, a first zone defining an active sensing area, and a second zone within the first zone;   2) performing a function or gesture and then detecting finger lift-off from the touch sensor;   3) determining a location of the finger when the lift-off occurred causing termination of the function or gesture;   4) starting a countdown timer if the lift-off occurred within the first zone and outside the second zone; and   5) allowing a new function or gesture to begin if lift-off occurred within the second zone.   
     
     
         8 . The method as defined in  claim 7  wherein the method further comprises allowing the terminated function or gesture to continue if the lift-off occurred within the first zone and outside the second zone and the countdown timer has not expired. 
     
     
         9 . The method as defined in  claim 7  wherein the method further comprises or allowing a new function or gesture to begin if the lift-off occurred within the first zone and outside the second zone but the countdown timer has expired. 
     
     
         10 . The method as defined in  claim 7  wherein the method further comprises centering the second zone within the first zone and leaving a border around the second zone outside of which lift-offs are considered to be accidental. 
     
     
         11 . The method as defined in  claim 7  wherein the method further comprises allowing adjustment to the length of time used by the countdown timer in order to affect sensitivity of the method. 
     
     
         12 . A method for determining what input to accept by a touch sensor following a finger slide-off, said method comprising:
 1) providing a touch sensor having an edge around a perimeter thereof;   2) performing a function or gesture and then detecting finger slide-off from the touch sensor;   3) starting a countdown timer;   4) determining a location of the finger when the slide-off occurred causing termination of the function or gesture; and   5) allowing the terminated function or gesture to continue if the finger slides back onto the touch sensor within a predetermined distance of the location of the slide-off and the countdown timer has not expired.   
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the method further comprises allowing a new function or gesture to begin if the finger slides back onto the touch sensor if the countdown timer has expired. 
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the method further comprises allowing a new function or gesture to begin if the finger slides back onto the touch sensor a distance that is greater than an predetermined allowable distance. 
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the method further comprises allowing the terminated function or gesture to continue if the finger makes touchdown back onto the touch sensor and the countdown timer has not expired. 
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the method further comprises allowing adjustment to the length of time used by the countdown timer in order to affect sensitivity of the method. 
     
     
         17 . The method as defined in  claim 12  wherein the method further comprises allowing adjustment to the predetermined allowable distance in order to affect sensitivity of the method. 
     
     
         18 . A method for determining what input to accept by a touch sensor following a finger lift-off, said method comprising:
 1) providing a touch sensor having an edge around a perimeter thereof, a first zone defining an active sensing area, and a second zone within the first zone;   2) performing a function or gesture and then detecting finger lift-off from the touch sensor;   3) determining a location of the finger when the lift-off that occurred and a direction of movement, if any, causing termination of the function or gesture;   4) starting a countdown timer if the lift-off occurred within the first zone and outside the second zone, and the finger was moving towards a nearest edge of the touch sensor; and   5) allowing a new function or gesture to begin if the countdown timer is started and touchdown occurs more than a predetermined distance from lift-off.   
     
     
         19 . The method as defined in  claim 18  wherein the method further comprises allowing a new function or gesture to begin if the countdown timer is expired. 
     
     
         20 . A method for determining what input to accept by a touch sensor following a finger slide-off, said method comprising:
 1) providing a touch sensor having an edge around a perimeter thereof;   2) performing a function or gesture and then detecting finger slide-off from the touch sensor;   3) starting a countdown timer;   4) determining a location of the finger when the slide-off occurred causing termination of the function or gesture; and   5) allowing a new function or gesture to begin if the finger slides back onto the touch sensor outside of a predetermined distance of the location of the slide-off and the countdown timer has not expired.   
     
     
         21 . The method as defined in  claim 20  wherein the method further comprises preventing a new function or gesture to begin if the finger slides back onto the touch sensor if the countdown timer has not expired and the finger is within a predetermined distance of the location of the slide-off.