Timothy William Allen

US Patent:

6380931, Apr 30, 2002

Filed:

May 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/861070

Inventors:

David W. Gillespie - Palo Alto CA
Timothy P. Allen - Los Gatos CA
Ralph C. Wolf - Santa Clara CA
Shawn P. Day - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Synaptics Incorporated - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345173, 345157, 178 1801

Abstract:

Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad are disclosed. Tapping, pushing, hopping, and zigzag gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals for compensating for unintended motion of the conductive object on the touch-sensor pad during the gestures are also sent to the host.

US Patent:

6414671, Jul 2, 2002

Filed:

Mar 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/046716

Inventors:

David W. Gillespie - Palo Alto CA
Timothy P. Allen - Los Gatos CA
Ralph C. Wolf - Santa Clara CA
Shawn P. Day - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Synaptics Incorporated - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G09G 508

US Classification:

345157, 345173, 178 1801

Abstract:

Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad and for cursor motion are disclosed. Tapping, drags, pushes, extended drags and variable drags gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals indicating the position of a conductive object and distinguishing between the peripheral portion and an inner portion of the touch-sensor pad are also sent to the host.

US Patent:

6610936, Aug 26, 2003

Filed:

Aug 12, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/899317

Inventors:

David W. Gillespie - Palo Alto CA
Timothy P. Allen - Los Gatos CA
Ralph C. Wolf - Santa Clara CA
Shawn P. Day - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Synaptics, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

178 1801, 178 1802, 178 1803, 178 1806

Abstract:

Methods for recognizing gestures made by a conductive object on a touch-sensor pad and for cursor motion are disclosed. Tapping, drags, pushes, extended drags and variable drags gestures are recognized by analyzing the position, pressure, and movement of the conductive object on the sensor pad during the time of a suspected gesture, and signals are sent to a host indicating the occurrence of these gestures. Signals indicating the position of a conductive object and distinguishing between the peripheral portion and an inner portion of the touch-sensor pad are also sent to the host.

US Patent:

6750852, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Jan 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/351208

Inventors:

David W. Gillespie - Palo Alto CA
Timothy P. Allen - Los Gatos CA
Ralph C. Wolf - Santa Clara CA
Shawn P. Day - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Synaptics, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G08C 2100

US Classification:

345173, 345174, 345176, 345157, 345177, 178 1801, 178 1803, 178 1804

Abstract:

The disclosed device is directed towards a method for recognizing a gesture made on a touch-sensor pad in a touch-sensing system providing X and Y position information to a host comprising detecting a first presence of a conductive object on the touch-sensor pad. The method includes comparing the duration of the first presence with a first reference amount of time, and initiating a first gesture signal to the host if the duration of the first presence is less than the first reference amount of time. The method also includes detecting a second presence of the conductive object on the touch-sensor pad and comparing the duration between the first presence and the second presence with a second reference amount of time. The method includes comparing the duration of the second presence with a third reference amount of time as well as terminating the first gesture signal if the duration between the first presence and the second presence is greater than the second reference amount of time; and maintaining the first gesture signal and repeatedly sending X and Y position information to the host until the occurrence of a terminating event if the amount of time between the first presence and the second presence is less than the second reference amount of time and if the duration of the second presence is greater than the third reference amount of time.

US Patent:

7109978, Sep 19, 2006

Filed:

Mar 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/810879

Inventors:

David W. Gillespie - Palo Alto CA, US
Timothy P. Allen - Los Gatos CA, US
Ralph C. Wolf - Santa Clara CA, US
Shawn P. Day - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Synaptics, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G09G 5/00
G08C 21/00

US Classification:

345173, 345174, 178 1801, 178 1806, 178 1903

Abstract:

A method of generating a signal comprising providing a capacitive touch sensor pad including a matrix of X and Y conductors, developing capacitance profiles in one of an X direction and a Y direction from the matrix of X and Y conductors, determining an occurrence of a single gesture through an examination of the capacitance profiles, the single gesture including an application of at least two objects on the capacitive touch sensor pad, and generating a signal indicating the occurrence of the single gesture.

US Patent:

7450113, Nov 11, 2008

Filed:

Dec 15, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/303196

Inventors:

David W. Gillespie - Palo Alto CA, US
Timothy P. Allen - Los Gatos CA, US
Ralph C. Wolf - Santa Clara CA, US
Shawn P. Day - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Synaptics Incorporated - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041

US Classification:

345173, 345174, 345177, 178 1801, 178 1807

Abstract:

A method of indicating a gesture proximate a touch-sensor pad is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting a first presence of a conductive object proximate to the touch-sensor pad, and initiating a gesture signal if the first presence lasts a first duration of time that is less than a first reference amount of time. In this embodiment, the method further comprises detecting a second presence occurring a first elapsed time after an end of the first presence, and terminating the gesture signal if the first elapsed time is greater than a second reference amount of time, otherwise maintaining the gesture signal at least until an end of the first elapsed time and at least until an occurrence of a terminating event. This and other embodiments can be used to initiate virtual-button signals in response to specific gestures by the user.

US Patent:

7509388, Mar 24, 2009

Filed:

Feb 23, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/360896

Inventors:

Timothy Eddie Allen - San Francisco CA, US
Jeremy Gray Perry - Cary NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709207

Abstract:

A system and method for displaying instant messaging (IM) session history as time-based calendar events is presented. A messaging system logs chat sessions between users and stores them as “chat events. ” When a user wishes to view previous chat sessions as time-based calendar events, the user sends a chat history request to an electronic calendar system. In turn, the electronic calendar system retrieves the chat events and formats the chat events, which are displayed on the electronic calendar for the user to view as time-based calendar events. Once displayed, the user is able to select one of the time-based calendar events in order to view the formatted chat event's details.

US Patent:

7532205, May 12, 2009

Filed:

Mar 22, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/386354

Inventors:

David W. Gillespie - Palo Alto CA, US
Timothy P. Allen - Los Gatos CA, US
Ralph C. Wolf - Santa Clara CA, US
Shawn P. Day - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Synaptics, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/041

US Classification:

345173, 345157, 345174, 178 1801, 178 1806

Abstract:

A method of generating cursor motion signals for improved usability is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises detecting object motion in a sensing region and providing cursor motion signals in accordance with cursor motion values generated responsive to continuation of the object motion in the inner region. This embodiment further comprises providing cursor motion signals configured to generate cursor motion that combines incremental cursor motion with additional cursor motion responsive to the object moving from the inner region into the outer region, where the incremental cursor motion comprises motion toward an edge of the display correlating to an edge of the sensing region proximate the object, and where the additional cursor motion comprises cursor motion indicated by cursor motion values generated responsive to continuation of the object motion in the outer region of the sensing region.