Virtual button characterization engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11079874-B2
Application number	US-202016867223-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2020
Priority date	Nov 19, 2019
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A method may include receiving an input signal from a force sensor configured to sense a force associated with a human interaction with a virtual button, comparing the input signal to at least one behavioral model, the at least one behavioral model comprising one or more parameters associated with a valid human interaction with the virtual button, and determining whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving an input signal from a force sensor configured to sense a force associated with a human interaction with a virtual button;
comparing the input signal to at least one behavioral model, the at least one behavioral model comprising one or more parameters associated with a valid human interaction with the virtual button and the one or more parameters comprising a defined validity window defining a range of input signal magnitude against time for determining the valid human interaction occurred; and
determining whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adaptively updating the at least one behavioral model over time based on historical human interaction with the virtual button.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a handedness of a user interacting with the virtual button; and
selecting the at least one behavioral model for comparison based on the handedness of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a finger of a user interacting with the virtual button; and
selecting the at least one behavioral model for comparison based on the finger.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving at least one other sensor input signal other than the input signal; and
determining whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing and the at least one other sensor input signal.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication of an application-specific event associated with a human interaction with the virtual button; and
comparing the input signal to at least one behavioral model based on at least the application-specific event.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor comprises one of a capacitive displacement sensor, an inductive force sensor, a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a strain gauge, a piezoelectric force sensor, force sensing resistor, piezoelectric force sensor, thin film force sensor, or a quantum tunneling composite-based force sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining at least one behavioral model unique to each of a plurality of users;
identifying a user interacting with the virtual button; and
determining whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing and an identify of the user.

9. A method comprising:
receiving an input signal from a force sensor configured to sense a force associated with a human interaction with a virtual button;
comparing the input signal to at least one behavioral model, the at least one behavioral model comprising one or more parameters associated with a valid human interaction with the virtual button;
calculating a function of the input signal, wherein the one or more parameters comprise a defined validity window defining a range of a magnitude of the function against time for determining the valid human interaction occurred; and
determining whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the function is a derivative with respect to time of the input signal.

11. A method comprising:
receiving an input signal from a force sensor configured to sense a force associated with a human interaction with a virtual button;
comparing the input signal to at least one behavioral model, the at least one behavioral model comprising one or more parameters associated with a valid human interaction with the virtual button;
calculating a measurement of a slope of the input signal over a time period; and
determining whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing and on a gradient of the slope over the time period.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining that the valid human interaction occurred if the gradient is non-uniform over the time period.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a presence of an environmental change of the force sensor if the gradient is uniform over the time period.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining that the valid human interaction occurred if the gradient is consistent with historical gradients related to valid human interaction with the virtual button.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising calculating a confidence score indicative of a likelihood of valid human interaction based on the comparing of the at least one behavioral model with the input signal and the gradient of the slope over the time period.

16. A system comprising:
an input for receiving an input signal from a force sensor configured to sense a force associated with a human interaction with a virtual button; and
a button characterization engine configured to:
compare the input signal to at least one behavioral model, the at least one behavioral model comprising one or more parameters associated with a valid human interaction with the virtual button and the one or more parameters comprising a defined validity window defining a range of input signal magnitude against time for determining the valid human interaction occurred; and

determine whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the button characterization engine is further configured to adaptively update the at least one behavioral model over time based on historical human interaction with the virtual button.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the button characterization engine is further configured to:
determine a handedness of a user interacting with the virtual button; and
select the at least one behavioral model for comparison based on the handedness of the user.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the button characterization engine is further configured to:
determine a finger of a user interacting with the virtual button; and
select the at least one behavioral model for comparison based on the finger.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the button characterization engine is further configured to:
receive at least one other sensor input signal other than the input signal; and
determine whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing and the at least one other sensor input signal.

21. The system of claim 16 , wherein the button characterization engine is further configured to:
receive an indication of an application-specific event associated with a human interaction with the virtual button; and
compare the input signal to at least one behavioral model based on at least the application-specific event.

22. The system of claim 16 , wherein the force sensor comprises one of a capacitive displacement sensor, an inductive force sensor, a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a strain gauge, a piezoelectric force sensor, force sensing resistor, piezoelectric force sensor, thin film force sensor, or a quantum tunneling composite-based force sensor.

23. The system of claim 16 , wherein the button characterization engine is further configured to:
maintain at least one behavioral model unique to each of a plurality of users;
identify a user interacting with the virtual button; and
determine whether a valid human interaction with the virtual button occurred based on the comparing and an ide

Assignees

• Cirrus Logic Int Semiconductor Ltd
• Cirrus Logic Inc

Inventors

• Lapointe Luke
• Das Tejasvi
• Maru Siddharth

Classifications

• H03K2217/9651

  the moving element acting on a force, e.g. pressure sensitive element · CPC title

• H03K2217/96072

  Phase comparison, i.e. where a phase comparator receives at one input the signal directly from the oscillator, at a second input the same signal but delayed, with a delay depending on a sensing capacitance · CPC title

• H03K2217/96062

  with tactile or haptic feedback · CPC title

• H03K17/97

  using a magnetic movable element · CPC title

• H03K17/964

  Piezoelectric touch switches · CPC title