System and Method for Gesture Control

Abstract

A system with a processing system, an input device integrated within the processing system and coupled with the processing system, and a sensor arrangement integrated with the processing system and configured to monitor an area above the input device, and a controller coupled with the sensor arrangement to detect predefined input actions, wherein the controller is coupled with the processing system and wherein the predefined input actions are combined with inputs from the input device.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of sensors on an input area;   an electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged such that the electrodes surround the input area; and   a sensor processor, configured to:
 monitor an area above the plurality of sensors; 
 detect predefined input actions in the area above the plurality of sensors; 
 detect touch on the plurality of sensors; 
 detect a simultaneous touch of a surface of the input area and proximity to portions of the electrodes surrounding the input area; and 
 based upon the detection of the simultaneous touch of a surface of the input area and proximity or touch to portions of the electrodes surrounding the input area, identify a gesture for scrolling. 
   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the electrode arrangement further includes:
 a transmission electrode for generating a quasi-static electric field; and 
 a plurality of reception electrodes; and 
   the sensor processor is further configured to detect a gesture performed in a three-dimensional space in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the plurality of sensors on on the input area include touch sensors formed in a a matrix of capacitive sensor elements;   in a first operating mode, the matrix of capacitive sensor elements operate as a touch sensor; and   in a second operating mode:
 predefined sets of the plurality of sensors are combined to form individual elongated sensor elements; and 
 the individual elongated sensor elements form a sensor arrangement to monitor the area above the plurality of sensors. 
   
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein:
 the electrode configuration includes a plurality of reception electrodes;   in a first operating mode, the reception electrodes are configured to operate as non-touching gesture detection sensors; and   in a second operating mode, the reception electrodes are configured to operate as touch sensors.   
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the sensor processor if further configured to:
 identify a plurality of gestures in in the area above the plurality of sensors; and   using a predefined sequence of gestures, distinguish a non-touching input action from an unintentional movement in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         52 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of sensors on an input area; and   a sensor processor, configured to:
 monitor an area above the plurality of sensors; 
 detect predefined input actions in the area above the plurality of sensors; 
 detect a sequence of multiple non-touching input gestures performed in in the area above the plurality of sensors; 
 detect, as part of the sequence of multiple non-touching input gestures performed in the area above the plurality of sensors, two consecutive movements towards the input area; and 
 based on the detection of two consecutive movements towards the input area, identify a gesture to paste data copied from an application executing on the system. 
   
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein:
 the electrode arrangement further includes:
 a transmission electrode for generating a quasi-static electric field; and 
 a plurality of reception electrodes; and 
   the sensor processor is further configured to detect a gesture performed in a three-dimensional space in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein:
 the plurality of sensors on on the input area include touch sensors formed in a a matrix of capacitive sensor elements;   in a first operating mode, the matrix of capacitive sensor elements operate as a touch sensor; and   in a second operating mode:
 predefined sets of the plurality of sensors are combined to form individual elongated sensor elements; and 
 the individual elongated sensor elements of the input area form a sensor arrangement to monitor the area above the plurality of sensors. 
   
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein:
 the electrode configuration includes a plurality of reception electrodes;   in a first operating mode, the reception electrodes are configured to operate as non-touching gesture detection sensors; and   in a second operating mode, the reception electrodes are configured to operate as touch sensors.   
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the sensor processor if further configured to:
 identify a plurality of gestures in in the area above the plurality of sensors; and   using a predefined sequence of gestures, distinguish a non-touching input action from an unintentional movement in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         57 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of sensors on an input area; and   a sensor processor, configured to:
 monitor an area above the plurality of sensors; 
 detect predefined input actions in the area above the plurality of sensors; 
 detect a sequence of multiple non-touching input gestures performed in in the area above the plurality of sensors; 
 detect, as part of the sequence of multiple non-touching input gestures performed in the area above the plurality of sensors, two consecutive movements away from the input area; and 
 based on the detection of two consecutive movements towards the input area, identify a gesture to copy from an application executing on the system. 
   
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein:
 the electrode arrangement further includes:
 a transmission electrode for generating a quasi-static electric field; and 
 a plurality of reception electrodes; and 
   the sensor processor is further configured to detect a gesture performed in a three-dimensional space in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein:
 the plurality of sensors on on the input area include touch sensors formed in a a matrix of capacitive sensor elements;   in a first operating mode, the matrix of capacitive sensor elements operate as a touch sensor; and   in a second operating mode:
 predefined sets of the plurality of sensors are combined to form individual elongated sensor elements; and 
 the individual elongated sensor elements of the input area form a sensor arrangement to monitor the area above the plurality of sensors. 
   
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein:
 the electrode configuration includes a plurality of reception electrodes;   in a first operating mode, the reception electrodes are configured to operate as non-touching gesture detection sensors; and   in a second operating mode, the reception electrodes are configured to operate as touch sensors.   
     
     
         61 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the sensor processor if further configured to:
 identify a plurality of gestures in in the area above the plurality of sensors; and   using a predefined sequence of gestures, distinguish a non-touching input action from an unintentional movement in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         62 . A method for operating an input device, comprising:
 monitoring a plurality of sensors on an input area;   monitoring an electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged such that the electrodes surround the input area;   monitoring an area above the plurality of sensors;   detecting predefined input actions in the area above the plurality of sensors;   detecting touch on the plurality of sensors;   detecting a simultaneous touch of a surface of the input area and proximity to portions of the electrodes surrounding the input area; and   based upon the detection of the simultaneous touch of a surface of the input area and proximity or touch to portions of the electrodes surrounding the input area, identifying a gesture for scrolling.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 generating, by a transmission electrode, a quasi-static electric field; and   receiving a reflected signal from the transmission electrode at a plurality of reception electrodes; and   detecting a gesture performed in a three-dimensional space in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 forming a matrix of capacitive sensor elements from touch sensors on the input area;   in a first operating mode, operating the matrix of capacitive sensor elements as a touch sensor; and   in a second operating mode:
 combining predefined sets of the plurality of sensors to form individual elongated sensor elements; and 
 forming a sensor arrangement from the individual elongated sensor elements to monitor the area above the plurality of sensors. 
   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the electrode configuration includes a plurality of reception electrodes, and the method further comprises:
 in a first operating mode, configuring the reception electrodes to operate as non-touching gesture detection sensors; and   in a second operating mode, configuring the reception electrodes to operate as touch sensors.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of gestures in in the area above the plurality of sensors; and   using a predefined sequence of gestures, distinguishing a non-touching input action from an unintentional movement in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         67 . A method for operating an input device, comprising:
 monitoring a plurality of sensors on an input area;   monitoring an electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged such that the electrodes surround the input area;   monitoring an area above the plurality of sensors;   detecting predefined input actions in the area above the plurality of sensors;   detecting a sequence of multiple non-touching input gestures performed in in the area above the plurality of sensors;   detecting, as part of the sequence of multiple non-touching input gestures performed in the area above the plurality of sensors, two consecutive movements towards the input area; and   based on the detection of two consecutive movements towards the input area, identifying a gesture to paste data copied from an application executing on the system.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 generating, by a transmission electrode, a quasi-static electric field; and   receiving a reflected signal from the transmission electrode at a plurality of reception electrodes; and   detecting a gesture performed in a three-dimensional space in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 forming a matrix of capacitive sensor elements from touch sensors on the input area;   in a first operating mode, operating the matrix of capacitive sensor elements as a touch sensor; and   in a second operating mode:
 combining predefined sets of the plurality of sensors to form individual elongated sensor elements; and 
 forming a sensor arrangement from the individual elongated sensor elements to monitor the area above the plurality of sensors. 
   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the electrode configuration includes a plurality of reception electrodes, and the method further comprises:
 in a first operating mode, configuring the reception electrodes to operate as non-touching gesture detection sensors; and   in a second operating mode, configuring the reception electrodes to operate as touch sensors.   
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of gestures in in the area above the plurality of sensors; and   using a predefined sequence of gestures, distinguishing a non-touching input action from an unintentional movement in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         72 . A method for operating an input device, comprising:
 monitoring a plurality of sensors on an input area;   monitoring an electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged such that the electrodes surround the input area;   monitoring an area above the plurality of sensors;   detecting predefined input actions in the area above the plurality of sensors;   detecting a sequence of multiple non-touching input gestures performed in in the area above the plurality of sensors;   detecting, as part of the sequence of multiple non-touching input gestures performed in the area above the plurality of sensors, two consecutive movements away from the input area; and   based on the detection of two consecutive movements towards the input area, identifying a gesture to copy from an application executing on the system.   
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , further comprising:
 generating, by a transmission electrode, a quasi-static electric field; and   receiving a reflected signal from the transmission electrode at a plurality of reception electrodes; and   detecting a gesture performed in a three-dimensional space in the area above the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 72 , further comprising:
 forming a matrix of capacitive sensor elements from touch sensors on the input area;   in a first operating mode, operating the matrix of capacitive sensor elements as a touch sensor; and   in a second operating mode:
 combining predefined sets of the plurality of sensors to form individual elongated sensor elements; and 
 forming a sensor arrangement from the individual elongated sensor elements to monitor the area above the plurality of sensors. 
   
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the electrode configuration includes a plurality of reception electrodes, and the method further comprises:
 in a first operating mode, configuring the reception electrodes to operate as non-touching gesture detection sensors; and   in a second operating mode, configuring the reception electrodes to operate as touch sensors.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 72 , further comprising:
 identifying a plurality of gestures in in the area above the plurality of sensors; and   using a predefined sequence of gestures, distinguishing a non-touching input action from an unintentional movement in the area above the plurality of sensors.