Touchscreen including force sensors

Abstract

Computing devices and at least one machine readable medium for controlling the functioning of a touch screen are described herein. The computing device includes a touchscreen having one or more force sensors. The computing device also includes first logic to detect a force applied to the touchscreen via the one or more force sensors and second logic to control a functioning of the touchscreen in response to the applied force.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A mobile computing device, comprising:
 memory;   a power source;   communication circuitry to interact with a network;   a touchscreen having a capacitive touch sensor, the touch sensor associated with a first power state and a second power state, the first power state being a lower power state than the second power state;   a sensor to detect application of a force on the touchscreen when the touch sensor is in the first power state; and   at least one circuit to:
 determine satisfaction of a condition by the application of the force; 
 detect the application of the force at a location on the touchscreen based on output from the sensor; and 
 cause the touch sensor to switch to the second power state in response to (1) the satisfaction of the condition and (2) the location being in a particular position of the touchscreen. 
   
     
     
         23 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the touch sensor is to remain in the first power state when the location is outside of the particular position of the touchscreen. 
     
     
         24 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the at least one circuit is to not switch to the second power state when the condition is not satisfied. 
     
     
         25 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the condition is satisfied when the force exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 24 , wherein the condition is satisfied when the force is a continuous force applied for a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the continuous force is to include a sliding action along a particular region of the touchscreen. 
     
     
         28 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 22 , further including a plurality of sensors to detect the application of the force, the at least one circuit to determine the location of the application of the force based on differences between an amount of the force sensed by different ones of the plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the at least one circuit is a processor. 
     
     
         30 . One or more storage devices comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
 detect application of a force on a touchscreen when a capacitive touch sensor of the touchscreen is in a first power state, the first power state being lower than a second power state; and   determine satisfaction of a condition by the application of the force;   detect the application of the force at a location on the touchscreen based on an output from a sensor; and   cause the touch sensor to switch to the second power state in response to (1) the satisfaction of the condition and (2) the location being in a predefined position of the touchscreen.   
     
     
         31 . The one or more storage devices as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to cause the touch sensor to remain in the first power state when the location is outside of the predefined position of the touchscreen. 
     
     
         32 . The one or more storage devices as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to disregard the force when the condition is not satisfied. 
     
     
         33 . The one or more storage devices as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to determine the condition is satisfied when the force exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         34 . The one or more storage devices as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to determine the condition is satisfied when the force is applied in excess of a threshold amount for at least a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         35 . The one or more storage devices as defined in  claim 32 , wherein the instructions cause the machine to determine the condition is satisfied when the force includes a sliding action along a particular region of the touchscreen and is applied in excess of a threshold amount for at least a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         36 . The one or more storage devices as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to determine the location of the application of the force based on differences between an amount of the force sensed by different ones of a plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         37 . A mobile computing device, comprising:
 a power source;   means for connecting with a network;   a touchscreen having a capacitive touch sensor, the touch sensor associated with a first power state and a second power state, the first power state being a lower power state than the second power state;   means for sensing application of a force on the touchscreen when the capacitive touch sensor is in the first power state;   means for controlling the touchscreen by:
 determining satisfaction of a condition by the application of the force; and 
 detecting the application of the force at a location on the touchscreen based on an output from the means for sensing; and 
 causing the touch sensor to switch to the second power state in response to (1) the satisfaction of the condition and (2) the location being in a particular position of the touchscreen. 
   
     
     
         38 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 37 , wherein the touch sensor is to remain in the first power state when the location is outside of the particular position of the touchscreen. 
     
     
         39 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 37 , wherein the means for controlling is to disregard the force when the condition is not satisfied. 
     
     
         40 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 39 , wherein the condition is satisfied when the force exceeds a threshold. 
     
     
         41 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 39 , wherein the force is applied in excess of a threshold amount for at least a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         42 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 39 , wherein the force is to include a sliding action along a particular region of the touchscreen and is applied in excess of a threshold amount for at least a threshold period of time. 
     
     
         43 . The mobile computing device as defined in  claim 37 , wherein the means for controlling is to determine the location of the application of the force based on differences between an amount of the force sensed by different ones of a plurality of the means for sensing.