Mobile device operation using grip intensity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9541993-B2
Application number	US-201113997160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2011
Priority date	Dec 30, 2011
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

Mobile device operation using grip intensity. An embodiment of a mobile device includes a touch sensor to detect contact or proximity by a user of the mobile device; a memory to store indicators of grip intensity in relation to the touch sensor; and a processor to evaluate contact to the touch sensor. The processor is to compare a contact with the touch sensor to the indicators of grip shape and firmness to determine grip intensity, and the mobile device is to receive an input for a function of the mobile device based at least in part on determined grip intensity for the mobile device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile device comprising:
a touch sensor to detect contact or proximity by a user of the mobile device, the touch sensor being a capacitive touch screen for the mobile device;
a memory to store indicators of grip shape and firmness for contact that is detected by the capacitive touch screen, the indicators of grip shape and firmness including data regarding contact shapes for the capacitive touch screen for varying levels of grip intensity; and
a processor to evaluate contact to the capacitive touch screen;
wherein the processor is to:
compare a contact that is detected by the capacitive touch screen to the indicators of grip shape and firmness for the capacitive touch screen, and
determine a level of grip intensity on the mobile device, wherein the determination of the level of grip intensity is based on the comparison between the contact that is detected by the capacitive touch screen and the indicators of grip shape and firmness for the capacitive touch screen; and

wherein the mobile device is to receive an input for a function of the mobile device based at least in part on the determined level of grip intensity on the mobile device.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the data regarding contact shapes includes data describing a shape of a hand supporting the mobile device in a resting position.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the function is a scrolling function of the mobile device for scrolling displayed data.

4. The mobile device of claim 3 , wherein a speed of the scrolling of displayed data is to be modified based on the determined level of grip intensity on the mobile device.

5. The mobile device of claim 4 , wherein the speed of scrolling increases in proportion to the level of grip intensity.

6. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the input for the function of the mobile device is a request for the activation and deactivation of the function based on the determined level of grip intensity on the mobile device.

7. The mobile device of claim 6 , wherein the input includes a first squeeze of the mobile device to activate the function and a second squeeze of the mobile device to deactivate the function.

8. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the determined level of grip intensity is one of a first level of grip intensity for a loose grip on the mobile device and a second level of grip intensity for a firm grip on the mobile device, the first level of grip intensity being less than the second level of grip intensity.

9. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device does not include a sensor to directly detect grip intensity.

10. The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein determining a level of grip intensity further includes determining a change in grip intensity compared to an initial grip intensity.

11. A method comprising:
receiving data regarding contact that is detected by a touch sensor of a mobile device by a user of the mobile device, the touch sensor being a capacitive touch screen for the mobile device;
comparing the data regarding the touch sensor to indicators of grip shape and firmness for contact that is detected by the capacitive touch screen, the indicators of grip shape and firmness including data regarding contact shapes for the capacitive touch screen for varying levels of grip intensity;
determining a level of grip intensity on the mobile device, wherein the determination of the level of grip intensity is based on the comparison between the contact detected by the capacitive touch screen and the indicators of grip shape and firmness for the capacitive touch screen; and
receiving an input for a function of the mobile device based at least in part on the determined level of grip intensity on the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the data regarding contact shapes includes data describing a shape of a hand supporting the mobile device in a resting position.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the function is a scrolling function of the mobile device for scrolling displayed data.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising modifying a speed of the scrolling of displayed data based on the determined level of grip intensity on the mobile device.

15. A system comprising:
a transmitter to transmit data and a receiver to receive data;
an omnidirectional antenna for data transmission, data reception, or both;
a processor to process data for the system;
a capacitive touch screen including a touch sensor to detect contact or proximity by a user of the system; and
a memory to store data for the system, the data including indicators of grip shape and firmness for contact that is detected by the capacitive touch screen to determine a level of grip intensity in relation to the capacitive touch screen, the indicators of grip shape and firmness including data regarding contact shapes for the capacitive touch screen for varying levels of grip intensity;
wherein the processor is to:
compare a contact that is detected by the capacitive touch screen to the indicators of grip shape and firmness for the capacitive touch screen, and
determine a level of grip intensity on the system, wherein the determination of the level of grip intensity is based based on the comparison between the contact detected by the capacitive touch screen and the indicators of grip shape and firmness for the capacitive touch screen; and

wherein the system is to receive an input for a function of the system based at least in part on the determined level of grip intensity on the system.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the data regarding contact shape includes data describing a shape of a hand supporting the system in a resting position.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the function is a scrolling function of the system for controlling scrolling of displayed data on the capacitive touch screen.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein a speed of the scrolling of displayed data is to be modified based on the determined level of grip intensity on the system.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the input for the function of the system is a request for the activation and deactivation of the function based on the determined level of grip intensity on the system.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving data regarding contact that is detected by a touch sensor of a mobile device by a user of the mobile device, the touch sensor being a capacitive touch screen for the mobile device;
comparing the data regarding the capacitive touch screen to indicators regarding grip shape and firmness for contact that is detected by the capacitive touch screen, the indicators of grip shape and firmness including data regarding contact shapes for the capacitive touch screen for varying levels of grip intensity;
determining a level of grip intensity on the mobile device, wherein the determination of the level of grip intensity is based on the comparison between the contact detected by the capacitive touch screen and the indicators of grip shape and firmness for the capacitive touch screen; and
receiving an input for a function of the mobile device based at least in part on the determined level of grip intensity on the mobile device.

21. The medium of claim 20 , wherein the data regarding contact shapes includes data describing a shape of a hand supporting the mobile de

Assignees

• Balasundaram Sai Prasad
• Graumann David
• Raffa Giuseppe
• Sharma Sangita
• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Balasundaram Sai Prasad
• Graumann David
• Raffa Giuseppe
• Sharma Sangita

Classifications

• G06F3/0488 Primary

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F2203/0339

  Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys · CPC title

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title

• H04M2250/22

  including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector · CPC title

• G06F3/0485

  Scrolling or panning · CPC title