Sensor configurations of an input device that are switchable based on mode

Abstract

An input device with switchable sensor configurations. In one embodiment, the input device can switch between a sensor configuration in which each of its sensor elements is enabled to sense input and a sensor configuration in which only a subset of its sensor elements are enabled to sense input. In another embodiment, the input device can switch between a sensor configuration in which each of its sensor elements is enabled to sense input and a sensor configuration in which one or more groupings of its sensor elements are enabled to collectively sense input. In a further embodiment, the input device can operate in a detection mode that switches between sensor configurations to determine a position of an input.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a portable electronic device including a plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements arranged relative to a surface of the portable electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal to switch between a first detection mode and a second detection mode;   in the first detection mode, enabling each of the plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements to individually sense touch inputs; and   in the second detection mode,
 electrically connecting together the capacitive touch sensor elements in each of one or more groupings of the plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements, and 
 enabling each of one or more of the groupings of the plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements to collectively sense touch inputs. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the second detection mode, the method further comprises arranging the capacitive touch sensor elements of one or more groupings radially from a central point of a touch sensitive area of the device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the second detection mode, the method further comprises arranging the capacitive touch sensor elements of one or more groupings into one or more angular sectors about a central point of a touch sensitive area of the device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the first detection mode, the method further comprises determining an absolute position based on the touch input individually sensed by one or more of the plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein in the second detection mode, the method further comprises determining a radial position based on the touch input collectively sensed by the one or more radially arranged groupings of capacitive touch sensor elements. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein in the second detection mode, the method further comprises determining an angular position based on the touch input collectively sensed by the one or more groupings of capacitive touch sensor elements arranged into the one or more angular sectors. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a touch input in the second detection mode; and   after detecting the touch input in the second detection mode, switching to the first detection mode.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the second detection mode, the method further comprises switching between a radial detection mode in which the capacitive touch sensor elements of one or more groupings are arranged radially from a central point of a touch sensitive area of the device, and an angular detection mode in which the capacitive touch sensor elements of one or more groupings are arranged into one or more angular sectors about a central point of a touch sensitive area of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 switching between the radial detection mode and the angular detection mode upon commencement of a new scanning period; and   outputting both a radial and angular position of a touch input.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining whether to switch from the first detection mode to the second detection mode based on a context of an application being executed. 
     
     
         11 . A capacitive touch input device, comprising:
 a plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements arranged relative to a surface of the portable electronic device; and   a controller capable of
 receiving a signal to switch between a first detection mode and a second detection mode, 
 in the first detection mode, enabling each of the plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements to individually sense touch inputs, and 
 in the second detection mode,
 electrically connecting together the capacitive touch sensor elements in each of one or more groupings of the plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements, and 
 enabling each of one or more of the groupings of the plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements to collectively sense touch inputs. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , the controller further capable of:
 in the second detection mode, selecting the capacitive touch sensor elements of one or more groupings to form a radial arrangement from a central point of a touch sensitive area of the device.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , the controller further capable of:
 in the second detection mode, selecting the capacitive touch sensor elements of one or more groupings to form one or more angular sectors about a central point of a touch sensitive area of the device.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , the controller further capable of:
 in the first position detection mode, determining an absolute position based on the touch input individually sensed by one or more of the plurality of capacitive touch sensor elements.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , the controller capable of:
 in the second detection mode, determining a radial position based on the touch input collectively sensed by the one or more radially arranged groupings of capacitive touch sensor elements.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , the controller further capable of:
 in the second detection mode, determining an angular position based on the touch input collectively sensed by the one or more groupings of capacitive touch sensor elements arranged into the one or more angular sectors.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , the controller further capable of:
 detecting a touch input in the second detection mode; and   after detecting the touch input in the second detection mode, switching to the first detection mode.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 11 , the controller further capable of:
 in the second detection mode, switching between a radial detection mode in which the capacitive touch sensor elements of one or more groupings are arranged radially from a central point of a touch sensitive area of the device, and an angular detection mode in which the capacitive touch sensor elements of one or more groupings are arranged into one or more angular sectors about a central point of a touch sensitive area of the device.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , the controller further capable of:
 switching between the radial detection mode and the angular detection mode upon commencement of a new scanning period; and   outputting both a radial and angular position of a touch input.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 11 , the controller further capable of:
 determining whether to switch from the first detection mode to the second detection mode based on a context of an application being executed.