Patent ID: 11888472
Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  G | IPC G  H

Claim 18:
19. A method of limiting inadvertent actuations of a touchpad that is included in a computing device, the method comprising:
receiving an input at a user interface of the computing device from a user;
generating, by the computing device, a device-generated electrical control signal based at least on the input; and
causing a locking assembly of the computing device to mechanically inhibit the touchpad from depressing a mechanically-activated switch that is disposed adjacent to a first end of the touchpad, which inhibits the touchpad from pivoting about a pivot point of a hinge that is coupled to a second end of the touchpad that is opposite the first end of the touchpad, by providing the electrical control signal to the locking assembly based at least in part on:
detection, at the touchpad, of a scrolling input having a depression force that is greater than or equal to a depression force threshold,
detection, at the touchpad, of a long-duration pressure input having a force that is greater than or equal to the depression force threshold,
detection of a long-duration pressure input over a surface area that is greater than a surface area threshold, or

detection of three or more simultaneous pressure points on a touch surface of the touch pad.