FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for using gestures. In particular, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for using gestures in pressure sensitive applications.

BACKGROUND

A touch screen is often incorporated into electronic tablets and other devices to provide a mechanism for giving inputs to the device. The touch screens may operate using pressure sensing, which may directly manipulate objects depicted in the screen. Pressure sensors may detect pressure from on the touch screen intended by the user to be control inputs.

An example of a pressure sensor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,296,091 issued to Robert W. Heubel, et al. This reference discloses a method of generating haptic effects includes detecting an input of pressure applied to a device using a gesture and determining a level associated with the gesture based on the pressure input, as well as determining a selection of an item at the level based on the gesture and a context associated with the item at the level, along with generating a contextual haptic effect comprising haptic parameter based on the context of the item at the level.

Another example of a pressure sensor is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0368454 issued to Regis Croisonnier, et al. This reference discloses a control method for a function of a touchpad utilizing a capture device includes measuring an analog threshold pressure value, and differentials thereof, and delivering event signals based upon the threshold pressure values and differentials thereof to execute a selected function. The capture device for remote, virtual on screen data input by hand annotation includes at least three functional layers including a bottom rigid layer, a middle pressure sensor layer, a capacitive flexible sensor layer, and a top flexible panel layer. The bottom rigid layer has a surface that provides a mechanical support for writing. The middle pressure sensor layer is adapted to measuring a pressure array or map on the capture active area and to send data representing the measured pressure to a personal computer. The top flexible touch-sensitive passive LCD display layer includes an LCD surface by which whatever is written down on the LCD is impressed graphically due to its liquid crystal physical properties wherein applied pressure changes the crystal particles orientation and light properties, such that when a stylus presses against a writing surface thereof, it leaves a visible trace allowing the user to produce a drawing though no real ink has flown.

Another example of a pressure sensor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,156,921 issued to Michael S. Smith, et al. This reference discloses apparatuses and a computer-readable media are provided to display an object and at least a portion of an interface in a same virtual display layer; detect a single static gesture being applied to the touch screen on the object; in the event that a magnitude of the pressure of the single static gesture being applied to the touch screen on the object is less than a first magnitude threshold, perform an operation; in the event that the magnitude of the pressure of the single static gesture being applied to the touch screen on the object is greater than the first magnitude threshold and is less than a second magnitude threshold, blur, as a function of an increase in the magnitude of the pressure of the single static gesture being applied to the touch screen on the object, the at least portion of the interface, and display the at least portion of the interface and the object in different virtual display layers; and in the event that the magnitude of the pressure of the single static gesture being applied to the touch screen on the object is greater than the second magnitude threshold, vibrate the apparatus and perform another operation.

Another example of a pressure sensor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,619,044 issued to Matthew Dominic Tenuta, et al. This reference discloses a trackpad device includes a top surface, a capacitive sensor operably coupled to the top surface, a resistive sensor disposed below the capacitive sensor and at least one controller operably coupled to the capacitive sensor and to the resistive sensor. The at least one controller and the capacitive sensor are configured to detect one or more objects on the top surface. The at least one controller and the resistive sensor are configured to detect the one or more objects on the top surface independent of the detection by the at least one controller and the capacitive sensor. The at least one controller is configured to determine locations of the one or more objects on the top surface using information from the detection by the at least one controller and capacitive sensor and information from the detection by the at least one controller and the resistive sensor. Each of these references are herein incorporated by reference for all that they disclose.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a device may include a pressure sensor; a user interface including an input surface opposite to an underside of the user interface, where the underside is positioned near the pressure sensor; a controller; memory in communication with the controller and including programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to detect a lower pressure input, simultaneously detect a higher pressure input, calculate a pressure differential between the lower pressure input and the higher pressure input, and move an object depicted in a display in communication with the controller based on the pressure differential.

Moving the object depicted in the display may include moving a cursor depicted in the display.

Moving the object depicted in the display may include moving an indicator of a virtual control panel.

Moving the object depicted in the display may include moving a virtual three-dimensional object depicted in the display.

Moving the object depicted in the display may include moving the object from a first two-dimensional coordinate in the display to a second two-dimensional coordinate in the display.

Moving the object depicted in a display may include rotating the object from a first angular orientation in the display to a second angular orientation in the display.

The programmed instructions, when executed, further may cause the controller to detect a relative position on the input surface between the lower pressure input and the higher pressure input, calculate a direction based, at least in part, on the relative position, and cause the object depicted in the display to move in the calculated direction in the display.

Causing the object to move in the calculated direction may include rotating the object in the calculated direction.

Causing the object to move in the calculated direction may include moving the object from a first two-dimensional coordinate in the display to a second two-dimensional coordinate in the display.

Calculating the direction may include identifying a first position of the lower pressure input on the input surface; identifying a second position of the higher pressure input on input surface; calculating an angle between the first position and the second position on the input surface; and calculating the direction in the display based, at least in part, on the calculated angle from the input surface.

At least one of the lower pressure input and the higher pressure input may be relatively static on the input surface with respect to the pressure sensor.

Moving the object depicted in a display may include moving the object at a speed that correlates with the magnitude of the pressure differential.

The device may include a capacitance sensor positioned near the underside of the input surface where the pressure sensor is capable of detecting changes to pressure and the capacitance sensor may be capable of detecting changes to a proximity of an external object adjacent the input surface based, at least in part, on changes to capacitance.

In one embodiment, a method of using a pressure gesture may include detecting a lower pressure input on a pressure sensitive surface, simultaneously detecting a higher pressure input on the pressure sensitive surface, calculating a pressure differential between the lower pressure input and the higher pressure input, and moving an object depicted in a display in communication with the pressure sensitive surface based on the pressure differential.

Moving the object depicted in a display may include moving a cursor depicted in the display.

Moving the object depicted in a display may include moving an indicator of a virtual control panel.

Moving the object depicted in a display may include moving a virtual three-dimensional object depicted in the display.

Moving the object depicted in a display may include moving the object from a first two-dimensional coordinate in the display to a second two-dimensional coordinate in the display.

Moving the object depicted in a display may include rotating the object from a first angular orientation in the display to a second angular orientation in the display.

In one embodiment, a computer-program product may have a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to detect a lower pressure input on a pressure sensitive surface; simultaneously detect a higher pressure input on the pressure sensitive surface; calculate a pressure differential between the lower pressure input and the higher pressure input; detect a relative position on the input surface between the lower pressure input and the higher pressure input; calculate a direction based, at least in part, on the relative position; and move an object depicted in a display in communication with the pressure sensitive surface based on the pressure differential and the calculated direction.

In one embodiment, a device may include a pressure sensor; a user interface including an input surface opposite to an underside of the user interface, where the underside is positioned near the pressure sensor; a controller; memory in communication with the controller and including programmed instructions that, when executed, cause the controller to detect a higher pressure input from a first object; simultaneously detect a lower pressure input from a second object that is different from the first object when the higher pressure input is detected; calculate a pressure differential between the higher pressure input and the lower pressure input; and adjust a parameter of the device based, at least in part, on the pressure differential.

The parameter may be increased when the higher pressure is located nearer to a first side of the lower pressure input.

The parameter may be decreased when the higher pressure is located nearer to a second side of the lower pressure input, wherein the first side is different and opposite to the first side.

The parameter may be turned on when the higher pressure is located nearer to a first side of the lower pressure input.

The parameter may be turned off when the higher pressure is located nearer to a second side of the lower pressure input, wherein the first side is different and opposite to the first side.

The parameter may be a display brightness level.

The parameter may be an audio volume level.

The parameter may be a power mode.

The parameter may be a zoom level.

The parameter may be a camera setting.

The parameter may be a microphone setting.

The device may include a capacitance sensor positioned near the underside of the input surface where the pressure sensor is capable of detecting changes to pressure and the capacitance sensor is capable of detecting changes to a proximity of an external object adjacent the input surface based, at least in part, on changes to capacitance.

In one embodiment, a method of using a pressure gesture may include detecting a higher pressure input from a first object in a pressure sensitive surface; simultaneously detecting a lower pressure input from a second object in a pressure sensitive surface that is different from the first object when the higher pressure input is detected; calculating a pressure differential between the higher pressure input and the lower pressure input; and adjusting a parameter of the device based, at least in part, on the pressure differential.

The parameter may be increased when the higher pressure is located nearer to a first side of the lower pressure input.

The parameter may be decreased when the higher pressure is located nearer to a second side of the lower pressure input, wherein the first side is different and opposite to the first side.

The parameter may be turned on when the higher pressure is located nearer to a first side of the lower pressure input.

The parameter may be turned off when the higher pressure is located nearer to a second side of the lower pressure input, wherein the first side is different and opposite to the first side.

In one embodiment, a computer-program product may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to detect a higher pressure input from a first object in a pressure sensitive surface; simultaneously detect a lower pressure input from a second object in a pressure sensitive surface that is different from the first object when the higher pressure input is detected; calculate a pressure differential between the higher pressure input and the lower pressure input; and adjust a parameter of the device based, at least in part, on the pressure differential

The instructions, when executed may cause the processor to detect a relative position between the lower pressure input and the higher pressure input and adjust the parameter in a direction based at least in part on the pressure differential and the relative position.

The instructions, when executed may cause the processor to increase the parameter when the higher pressure is located nearer to a first side of the lower pressure input.

