PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8416198-B2
Application Number: US-20575708-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Multi-dimensional scroll wheel

Abstract:
A multi-dimensional scroll wheel is disclosed. Scroll wheel circuitry is provided to detect input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input. The scroll wheel can include a first plurality of sensor elements arranged in a first closed loop and a second plurality of sensor elements arranged in a second closed loop, the first and second closed loops being concentrically arranged about the center of the scroll wheel.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An input device comprising:
 a touch sensitive surface surrounding a touch sensitive mechanical push button, wherein the touch sensitive mechanical push button is capable of being depressed relative to the touch sensitive surface surrounding the touch sensitive mechanical push button, enabling relative displacement between the touch sensitive mechanical push button and the touch sensitive surface surrounding the touch sensitive mechanical push button; and 
 a controller configured to detect a gesture traversing the touch sensitive surface and the touch sensitive mechanical push button. 
 
     
     
       2. The input device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the touch sensitive surface is enabled by a first plurality of circumferentially arranged sensor elements, the first plurality of sensor elements being concentrically arranged relative to the touch sensitive mechanical push button, and wherein the controller is configured to detect a gesture traversing the first plurality of sensor elements and the touch sensitive mechanical push button. 
 
     
     
       3. The input device of  claim 2 , wherein the touch sensitive surface is further enabled by a second plurality of circumferentially arranged sensor elements, the second plurality of sensor elements being concentrically arranged relative to the touch sensitive mechanical push button, and wherein the controller is configured to detect a gesture traversing the first plurality of sensor elements, the second plurality of sensor elements and the touch sensitive mechanical push button. 
     
     
       4. The input device of  claim 2 , wherein a user interface application is configured to be executed in response to the detection of the gesture. 
     
     
       5. The input device of  claim 2 , wherein the gesture comprises a linear motion. 
     
     
       6. The input device of  claim 2 , wherein the gesture comprises a linear motion and a user interface application is configured to change a display of content in response to the detection of the gesture. 
     
     
       7. The input device of  claim 6 , wherein the first plurality of sensor elements are concentrically arranged relative to one or more capacitive sensor elements. 
     
     
       8. The input device of  claim 6 , wherein the first plurality of sensor elements are concentrically arranged relative to a trackpad. 
     
     
       9. The input device of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of sensor elements comprise capacitive sensor elements. 
     
     
       10. The input device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to detect a simultaneous presence of two or more objects on the touch sensitive surface and the touch sensitive mechanical push button. 
     
     
       11. The input device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to execute a user interface application in response to the simultaneous detection of the objects. 
     
     
       12. The input device of  claim 11 , wherein the simultaneous detection comprises:
 the controller detecting a presence of a first of two objects on the touch sensitive mechanical push button, and 
 the controller detecting a rotation of a second of the two objects on the Touch sensitive surface. 
 
     
     
       13. The input device of  claim 12 , wherein the user interface application comprises a zoom-in or a zoom-out operation executed in response to the rotation of the second object on the touch sensitive surface while the first object touches the touch sensitive mechanical push button. 
     
     
       14. The input device of  claim 10 , wherein the simultaneous detection comprises:
 the controller sensing a first object on the touch sensitive surface, and 
 the controller sensing a second object the touch sensitive surface. 
 
     
     
       15. The input device of  claim 10 , wherein the simultaneous detection comprises:
 the controller sensing a first object on the touch sensitive mechanical push button, and 
 the controller sensing a second object on the touch sensitive surface. 
 
     
     
       16. The input device of  claim 10 , wherein the simultaneous detection comprises:
 the controller detecting a pinching gesture by two objects.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/992,056, filed Dec. 3, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/017,436, filed Dec. 28, 2007, the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This relates generally to touch sensitive input devices, and more particularly, to enhanced functionality scroll wheels. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many types of input devices exist for performing operations in consumer electronic devices. One type of input device that has enjoyed popularity in devices such as media players is the touch-based scroll wheel. Touch-based scroll wheels generally use capacitive sensor elements to detect the rotational motion of a user&#39;s finger and translate that motion into linear (e.g., horizontal or vertical) movement of a cursor or content on a display screen. 
     For example, if a user wishes to scroll down through a list of songs displayed on a media player, the user can touch the scroll wheel in a clockwise direction to see a cursor move from song to song down the list. Conversely, if the user wishes to scroll up through the list, the user can touch the scroll wheel in a counter-clockwise direction to see the cursor move from song to song up the list. 
     Accordingly, scroll wheels have proven useful and convenient for certain applications, such as navigation control using a single point of contact (“single touch” input). However, as consumer electronic devices evolve and provide more applications, it can become challenging to design such applications to operate based on the single touch rotational input detected by scroll wheels as described above. 
     SUMMARY 
     To improve the effectiveness of a touch-based scroll wheel, the present disclosure provides multi-touch scroll wheel circuitry capable of sensing input in multiple ways. For example, scroll wheel circuitry can sense a moving object, such as a finger, as it is moved not only in a rotational manner but also in a linear manner across the center of the scroll wheel. The scroll wheel circuitry can also sense more than one object at a time, such as multi-finger touch or motion. In this manner, the scroll wheel circuitry can enable a device to recognize a wider range of input. To be clear, a wheel can be circular, but can also have any shape that enables a closed loop type input. 
     Rather than having a single region of sensor elements for sensing single touch rotational input, the scroll wheel of the present disclosure can include multiple regions of sensor elements capable of independently or cooperatively, sequentially or simultaneously sensing the position of an object. The sensor elements can be arranged in any manner suitable for sensing varied input events. 
     For example, the scroll wheel can include an inner region and an outer region of capacitive sensor elements. The inner region can include one or more elements located at or near the center of the scroll wheel, for example, and the outer region can include a plurality of elements arranged around the inner region. The different regions of sensor elements can aid in sensing gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel. For example, the different regions of sensor elements can provide several data points for sensing linear motion as it traverses the sensor elements of each region including the center of the scroll wheel. 
     Applications can be enhanced by the improved range of input enabled by the scroll wheel circuitry. For example, linear motion, such as a swipe across the scroll wheel, can enable an image browsing application to cause images, such as album cover pictures for example, to be transitioned across a screen. Multi-touch input, such as one finger touching an inner region of the scroll and another finger rotating in the outer region, can enable a zooming application to cause a displayed image to be zoomed-in or out, depending on the direction of the rotation for example. A pinching or expanding of a user&#39;s fingers can also enable the zooming application to cause a zooming action. 
     The scroll wheel circuitry can also bias the sensor element configuration according to the type of input event expected. For example, if a particular application permits only linear motion input along a particular axis (e.g., a horizontal or vertical swipe), the scroll wheel circuitry can utilize only the sensor elements arranged along that path to sense for an input event. By using less than all available sensor elements in this manner, the scroll wheel circuitry can achieve power savings. 
     By sensing input from at least some of the inner region sensor elements and outer region sensor elements, an angular and/or radial position of one or more of a user&#39;s fingers can be determined with relatively high accuracy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of an electronic device. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a capacitive sensor element arrangement. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a capacitive sensor element arrangement. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a capacitive sensor element arrangement. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a capacitive sensor element arrangement. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a capacitive sensor element arrangement. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a capacitive sensor element arrangement. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a histogram indicating one finger being applied to a touch sensitive surface. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example of a histogram indicating one finger being applied to a touch sensitive surface. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a histogram indicating two fingers being applied to a touch sensitive surface. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an example of a histogram indicating two fingers being applied to a touch sensitive surface. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an example of a histogram indicating two fingers being applied to a touch sensitive surface. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an example of a histogram indicating two fingers being applied to a touch sensitive surface. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an example of a user application that may be performed on an electronic device in response to a linear input. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates an example of a user application that may be performed on an electronic device in response to a linear input. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates an example of a user application that may be performed on an electronic device in response to a multi-touch input. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates an example of a user application that may be performed on an electronic device in response to a multi-touch input. 
         FIGS. 18A-18C  illustrate an example of operations of an input device. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates an example of an input device. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates an example of a computing system. 
         FIGS. 21A-21D  illustrate examples of applications of input devices. 
         FIGS. 22A-22B  illustrate an example of an installation of an input device into a media player. 
         FIG. 23  illustrates an example of a remote control incorporating an input device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure describes scroll wheels that can sense and resolve positions of one or more objects (e.g., fingers) as they touch the scroll wheel in a rotational, linear or other manner. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a scroll wheel can be provided on an electronic device to facilitate user interaction therewith. 
     The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to a few embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of an electronic device. The electronic device may be any consumer electronic product. The electronic device may be a computing device and more particularly it may be a media player, PDA, phone, remote control, camera and the like. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the electronic device  100  may correspond to a media player. The term “media player” generally refers to computing devices dedicated to processing media such as audio, video or other images, including, for example, music players, game players, video players, video recorders and the like. These devices can be portable to allow a user to, for example, listen to music, play games or video, record video or take pictures wherever the user travels. In one embodiment, the electronic device can be a handheld device that is sized for placement into a pocket of the user. By being pocket sized, the device may be taken almost anywhere the user travels (e.g., the user is not limited by carrying a large, bulky and often heavy device, as in a portable computer). Furthermore, the device can be operated in the user&#39;s hands, thus no reference surface such as a desktop is required. 
     Electronic devices (e.g., media players) generally have connection capabilities that allow a user to upload and download data to and from a host device, such as a general purpose computer (e.g., desktop computer, portable computer, etc.). For example, in the case of a camera, photo images can be downloaded to the general purpose computer for further processing (e.g., printing). With regard to music players, for example, songs and play lists stored on the general purpose computer can be downloaded into the music player. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  100  can be a pocket-sized hand-held media player (e.g., MP3 player) that allows a user to store a collection of music, photos, album art, contacts, calendar entries, and other desirable media assets. It should be appreciated however, that media players are not a limitation as the electronic device may be embodied in other forms as mentioned above. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , electronic device  100  may include housing  102  that can enclose various electrical components, such as integrated circuit chips and other circuitry, for example. The integrated circuit chips and other circuitry may include, for example, a microprocessor, memory (e.g., ROM, RAM), a power supply (e.g., battery), a circuit board, a hard drive or Flash (e.g., Nand flash) for storing media for example, one or more orientation detection elements (e.g., accelerometer) and various input/output (I/O) support circuitry. In the case of music players, the electrical components can include components for outputting music such as an amplifier and a digital signal processor (DSP) for example. In the case of video recorders or cameras the electrical components can include components for capturing images such as image sensors (e.g., charge coupled device (CCD) or complimentary oxide semiconductor (CMOS)) or optics (e.g., lenses, splitters, filters) for example. In addition to the above, the housing can also define the shape or form of the electronic device. That is, the contour of housing  102  may embody the outward physical appearance of electronic device  100  in one embodiment. 
     Electronic device  100  may also include display screen  104 . Display screen  104  can be used to display a graphical user interface as well as other information to the user (e.g., text, objects, graphics). By way of example, display screen  104  may be a liquid crystal display (LCD). In one embodiment, the display screen can correspond to a X-by-Y pixel high-resolution display, with a white LED backlight to give clear visibility in daylight as well as low-light conditions. Display screen  104  can also exhibit a “wide screen” aspect ratio (e.g., similar to a 16:9 aspect ratio) such that it may be relatively easy to perceive portrait and landscape orientations. In other embodiments, electronic device  100  does not include display screen  104 . The lack of display screen  104  can allow electronic device  100  to be configured with smaller dimensions than it would otherwise have with display screen  104 . For example, in one embodiment, electronic device  100  without display screen  104  may be less than two inches wide and less than two inches tall. 
     Electronic device  100  may also include input device  110 . Input device  110  can be configured to provide one or more control functions for controlling various applications associated with electronic device  100 . For example, a control function can be used to move an object or perform an action on display screen  104  or to make selections or issue commands associated with operating electronic device  100 . Input device  110  may be widely varied. In one embodiment, input device  110  can include a rigid sensor mechanism for detecting input. The rigid sensor mechanism can include, for example, a touch sensitive surface that provides location information for an object, such as a finger for example, in contact with or in proximity to the touch sensitive surface. In another embodiment, input device  110  can include one or more movable sensor mechanisms for detecting input. The movable sensor mechanism can include, for example, one or more moving members that actuate a switch when a particular area of input device  110  is pressed. The movable sensor mechanism may operate as a mechanical push button and perform a clicking action when actuated. In a further embodiment, input device  110  may include a combination of a rigid sensor mechanism and one or more movable sensor mechanisms. 
     An example of an input device comprising a rigid sensor mechanism may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,046,230 entitled “Touch Pad Handheld Device,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. An example of an input device comprising a combination of a rigid sensor mechanism and a movable sensor mechanism may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/812,383 entitled “Gimballed Scroll Wheel,” filed Jun. 18, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIGS. 2-7  illustrate examples of some arrangements of capacitive sensor elements that can be configured to sense touch events caused by an object, such as a finger, in contact with or in proximity to a touch sensitive surface of input device  110 . Touch events detectable by the capacitive sensor elements of input device  110  may be widely varied, and may include, for example, rotational motion, linear motion, taps, holds, and other gestures and any combinations thereof provided by one (single touch input) or more than one (multi-touch input) of a user&#39;s fingers across the touch sensitive surface. The capacitive sensor elements can be configured to detect input based on self capacitance (as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-7 ) or mutual capacitance. In self capacitance, the “self” capacitance of a single electrode is measured as for example relative to ground. In mutual capacitance, the mutual capacitance between at least first and second electrodes is measured. In either case, each of the sensor elements can work independent of the other sensor elements to produce simultaneously occurring signals representative of different points of input on the touch sensitive surface at a particular time. Input device  110  can include a controller configured to detect input sensed by the sensor elements by measuring a change in capacitance of the sensor elements. 
     An example of an input device configured to detect multiple simultaneous touches or near touches may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862 entitled “Multipoint Touchscreen,” filed May 6, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. An example of a touch event model that can be associated with such an input device may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/042,318 entitled “Touch Event Model,” filed Mar. 4, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. An example of gestures that may be implemented on such an input device may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/818,342 entitled “Gestures for Controlling, Manipulating, and Editing of Media Files Using Touch Sensitive Devices,” filed Jun. 13, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the input device configurations illustrated herein. Rather, an input device of any suitable technology or configuration for enabling detection of input in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure can be utilized. 
     Rather than having a single region of sensor elements for sensing single touch rotational input, input device  110  can include multiple regions of sensor elements capable of independently or cooperatively, sequentially or simultaneously sensing an object. 
     The sensor elements of input device  110  can be arranged in any manner suitable for sensing varied types of input. For example, input device  110  can include an inner region and an outer region of capacitive sensor elements. The inner region can include one or more elements located at or near the center of the input device, for example, and the outer region can include a plurality of elements arranged around the inner region. The different regions of sensor elements can aid in sensing gestures that traverse the center of the input device. For example, the different regions of sensor elements can provide several data points for sensing linear motion as it traverses the sensor elements of each region including the center of the input device. 
     Input device  110  can enhance the detection of input that can be characterized as linear or non-linear. For example, a linear input can involve a substantially straight-line application of an object (e.g., finger) across the input device. Input device  110  can also be configured to permit detection of multi-touch events—the detection of two or more objects (e.g., fingers) on the input device simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously. It is understood that rotational touch events and touch events comprising any gestural pattern can also be detected with input device  110 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates capacitive sensor element arrangement  200  in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , input device  110  can include inner region  210 , shown as a circle, and outer region  220  which makes up the periphery of the input device. Inner region  210  includes capacitive sensor element  212 . Outer region  220  can include several capacitive sensor elements  222 . Including sensor element  212  in the center can provide an extra data point to assist in the detection of gestures that traverse the center of the input device, such as linear input. For example, if a user swipes left-to-right across arrangement  200 , each of elements  222 A,  212 , and  222 B can be utilized to detect the gesture. Processing circuitry (not shown) can process this data and determine that the user swiped from left-to-right. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates capacitive sensor element arrangement  300  in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , input device  110  can include inner region  310  and outer region  320 . Inner region  310  can be devoid of or optionally include a capacitive sensor element. Outer region  320  can include several multi-element capacitive sensing areas  322  that include more than one capacitive sensor element capable of independently or cooperatively sensing an object. Sensing areas  322  can provide additional data points to assist the processing circuitry in detecting touch events. For example, in a left-to-right linear input gesture, sensor elements  322 A,  322 B,  322 C, and  322 D can be utilized to detect the gesture. Although  FIG. 3  shows sensing areas  322  as having two sensor elements, it is understood that sensing areas  322  can have any number of sensor elements (e.g., 3, 4, 5, etc. elements). 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate capacitive sensor element arrangements that have multi-element capacitive sensing areas in their inner regions in accordance with some embodiments. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , inner region  410  of input device  110  can include multi-element capacitive sensing area  412 . Although sensing area  412  is shown to include 4 sensor elements each capable of sensing an object, any number of elements may be used. Similarly, outer region  420  can include any number of capacitive sensor elements  422 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , inner region  510  of input device  110  can include multi-element capacitive sensing area  512 , and outer region  520  can include a number of multi-element capacitive sensing areas  524 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates capacitive sensor element arrangement  600  having capacitive sensor elements and a trackpad in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , inner region  610  can include trackpad  612 . Trackpad  612  can be a resistance sense track pad or a capacitance sensing trackpad, for example, formed of rows and columns of sensor elements. Outer region  620  can include a combination of capacitive sensor elements  622  and multi-element capacitive sensing areas  624  arranged in a closed loop path, or only single sensor elements or only multi-element sensing areas may be used. Combining a trackpad in an input device with discrete capacitive sensor elements can increase cost and power consumption compared to an input device having only discrete capacitive sensor elements, since different or more complex processing circuitry may be required to compensate for the coordinate-based sensing of the trackpad element. In other embodiments, inner region  612  can include any other type of sensing device, such as a fingerprint sensor or light-based (e.g., laser or LED) sensing device for example. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates capacitive sensor element arrangement  700  in accordance with one embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , input device  110  can include 17 capacitive sensor elements arranged in an inner region near the center of input device  110  (represented by sensor element  1 ) and an outer region making up the periphery of input device  110  (represented by sensor elements  2 - 17 ). Since each sensor element is capable of independently or cooperatively sensing an object, the sensor elements can be configured to sense either single touch or multi-touch input events. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , sensor element  1  can occupy the center of the substantially circular sensing area. A first or inner concentric ring of four sensor elements  2 - 5  can be positioned about central sensor element  1 . Each of the sensor elements in the first concentric ring can define a shape of substantially equal area. A second or outer concentric ring including twelve sensor elements  6 - 17  can be positioned about the first concentric ring. Each of the sensor elements in the second concentric ring can similarly define a shape of substantially equal area. By designing sensor elements, such as sensor elements  2 - 17  for example, to define approximately the same surface area, the corresponding capacitive detection circuitry can be simplified since sensor elements with similar areas can produce similar capacitances in response to a touch of a user&#39;s finger. 
     Although the illustrated sensor element arrangements have a particular number of sensor elements arranged in a particular way, any suitable number and arrangement of sensor elements can be used. A suitable number and arrangement can be determined by weighing a combination of factors, such as sensor resolution, cost and power, for example. Higher sensor resolution can be achieved with a greater number of smaller sensor elements arranged closely together in a tight pitch. However, a greater number of sensor elements can increase cost, and require additional power to compensate for the time it takes to scan the additional elements to detect an input. 
     Higher sensor resolution can be advantageous in a variety of situations. For example, higher sensor resolution can enable better detection of motion and multi-touch input gestures because more sensor elements are likely to be touched during such gestures. This can be advantageous for applications in which user interface functionality relies heavily on the rate at which motion input is sensed, such as navigation control applications for example. This can also improve multi-touch input detection because more sensor elements can better capture the difference between a touch by one large finger in contrast to two small fingers positioned closely together, for example. 
     Device size, input device size and packaging can also influence the determination of a suitable number of elements to use. Packaging issues, for example, can include how certain materials may influence capacitive sensor detection, such as a glass cover placed over the sensor element arrangement for example. A thicker glass may require larger sensor elements to be utilized to ensure adequate capacitance detection through the thick glass. 
     As shown in the illustrated embodiments, the sensor elements can be circumferentially arranged, such as in a substantially circular closed loop pattern for example. In alternative embodiments the sensor elements can be arranged in a variety of other geometric patterns including, without limitation, ovals, ellipsoids, oblongs, etc. As shown in the illustrated embodiments, the sensor elements can be arranged on a substantially flat surface. However, alternative embodiments can include sensor elements arranged on non-flat surfaces, including without limitation, convex and concave surfaces. 
     The annular arrangement of the sensor elements can enable an angular position of an input, provided by a user&#39;s finger for example, to be determined relative to the input device. For example, utilizing the sensor element arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 7 , an angular position of a touch by a user&#39;s finger relative to input device  110  can be determined by first scanning sensor elements  2 - 17  in the following combinations to capture the following twelve readings (o)-(xi): 
     (o) scan sensor elements  2  and  6 ; 
     (i) scan sensor elements  2  and  7 ; 
     (ii) scan sensor elements  2  and  8 ; 
     (iii) scan sensor elements  3  and  9 ; 
     (iv) scan sensor elements  3  and  10 ; 
     (v) scan sensor elements  3  and  11 ; 
     (vi) scan sensor elements  4  and  12 ; 
     (vii) scan sensor elements  4  and  13 ; 
     (viii) scan sensor elements  4  and  14 ; 
     (ix) scan sensor elements  5  and  15 ; 
     (x) scan sensor elements  5  and  16 ; 
     (xi) scan sensor elements  5  and  17 . 
     In this example, each of the twelve readings (o)-(xi) are associated with an angular position of a sensor element in the outer ring, which comprises sensor elements  6 - 17 . The angular position determination can be made by scanning only the twelve outer ring elements, but including sensor elements  2 - 5  in the scanning process can increase the accuracy and resolution of the angular position determination. 
     Additionally, the sensor elements can be scanned at a speed substantially faster than that at which the user&#39;s finger moves relative to the sensor elements. For example, in this example all of the sensor element combinations comprising readings (o)-(xi) can be scanned within a few milliseconds. In effect, the relatively fast scanning speed provides a snapshot of the angular position of the user&#39;s finger relative to the sensing area. Since higher scanning speeds consume more power, it can be advantageous to scan only as fast and as often as necessary. 
     Using the twelve readings (o)-(xi) described above, the angular position of the user&#39;s finger can be calculated in a number of ways. In one embodiment, a centroid detection algorithm can be utilized according to the following formula: 
     
       
         
           
             C 
             = 
             
               
                 
                   ∑ 
                   
                     i 
                     = 
                     0 
                   
                   11 
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   iR 
                   i 
                 
               
               
                 
                   ∑ 
                   
                     i 
                     = 
                     0 
                   
                   11 
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   R 
                   i 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     where 
     i represents an index number uniquely associated with the angular position of each one of the sensor elements in the outer ring (i.e., the angular position of each of sensor elements  6 - 17  can be uniquely associated with a corresponding index number  0 - 11 ); 
     R i  represents the amplitude of the signal measured in the reading (o)-(xi) associated with each of sensor elements  6 - 17  in the outer ring; and 
     C represents a numerical value which varies as a function of detected signal amplitude and which can be used to identify the angular position of a user&#39;s finger relative to the sensor elements. 
     As shown in the histogram of measured reading values of  FIG. 8 , the result of the calculation, C, is the centroid, or average, of the angular positions P weighted by the captured readings through which the plotted line is interpolated. Each position P relates to an angular position of one of sensor elements  6 - 17  in the outer ring. A peak in this histogram corresponds to sensor element signals of relatively greater amplitude, indicating the angular position of the user&#39;s finger. The result of the centroid calculation corresponds to this peak. 
     For example, if the calculated centroid C indicates a histogram peak near the (o) reading (in which sensor elements  2  and  6  are scanned) then this can indicate that the user&#39;s finger is located near the 11 o&#39;clock position (associated with sensor element  6 ) shown in  FIG. 7 . Applying this example in the context of  FIG. 8 , Pj can represent the 9 o&#39;clock position (associated with sensor element  16 ) and Pj+k can represent the 1 o&#39;clock position (associated with sensor element  8 ). These positions show low readings, as evidence by the lowness of the graphed line, because sensor elements  16  and  8  are two sensor elements removed from the touched sensor element (sensor element  6 ) and therefore do not sense much capacitance. C can represent the 11 o&#39;clock position (associated with sensor element  6 ). 
     The processing circuitry can apply the centroid calculation over all angular positions or over only those in which the captured readings exceeds a certain threshold amount. For example, in the above example, the centroid calculation can be applied over only those angular positions associated with sensor elements  16 - 17 - 6 - 7 - 8 . The readings from the remaining sensor element positions can be presumed to be below a baseline that indicates no finger touch. 
     The processing circuitry can also define the range for each centroid calculation to be between angular positions located at or below the baseline. If the range is not defined in this manner, the circuitry can incorrectly conclude the presence of two fingers rather than one. For example, the histogram of  FIG. 9  shows a peak reading at sensor element angular position of Pj (e.g., corresponding to the i=0 position in the current example) and at sensor element angular position Pj+n (e.g., corresponding to the i=11 position in the current example). Although the sensor elements associated with positions Pj and Pj+n can be angularly adjacent to one another on an input device, the histogram shows two peaks rather than one. If the centroid calculation defines the range for the centroid calculation from i=Pj to Pj+n, it can identify two centroids—one between Pj and Pj+k, and another between Pj+n−k and Pj+n—incorrectly indicating a finger at two locations on the input device. In contrast, by defining the calculation range from one low point, such as Pj+n−k, to the next low point, such as Pj+k, the circuitry can correctly identify only one centroid indicating the presence of one finger on the input device. 
     In another embodiment, the angular position of the user&#39;s finger can be calculated using a line crossing method based on the twelve readings (o)-(xi) described above. In the line crossing method, the slope of the histogram of measured reading values can be used to determine the location of the histogram peak. For example, readings that increase from one detected angular position to the next provide a positively-sloped histogram. Conversely, readings that decrease from one detected angular position to the next provide a negatively-sloped histogram. The histogram peak, indicating the angular position of the user&#39;s finger, can be identified as the mid-point between the positively-sloped histogram values and the negatively-sloped histogram values. 
     The methods described above can also enable detection of more than one finger applied to the sensing surface. For example, when two fingers are placed on the sensing surface, a histogram of the measured sensor element readings can have two peaks, with each peak being associated with the respective angular location of an applied finger.  FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a histogram indicating two fingers being applied to the sensing surface. In the case of two fingers, the detected amplitude (also occasionally referred to as the detected “mass”) can be about twice the detected amplitude for one finger. When two fingers are spaced relatively far apart, the resulting histogram can display two relatively separate and distinct bell-shaped curves (as shown, for example, in  FIG. 10 ). When two fingers are spaced relatively close together, the separation between the bell-shaped curves can be less distinct (as shown, for example, in  FIG. 11 ). 
     Accordingly, to enable multi-touch detection in one embodiment the processing circuitry can first determine whether the aggregate of the sensor element readings exceed a certain threshold. The thresholds can be set at levels indicating whether one, two, three or more fingers are deemed to be touching the touch sensitive surface of the input device. If the aggregate readings indicate one finger on the touch sensitive surface, the angular position of the touch can be determined by the centroid calculation or the line crossing method described above for example. If the aggregate readings indicate more than one finger on the touch sensitive surface, the angular position of the touch can be determined in a number of ways. 
     For example, if the fingers are spaced relatively far apart, their angular position can be determined using the line crossing method described above since the peaks of a resulting histogram are likely to be well-defined. However, in a situation in which two fingers are spaced relatively close together, the line crossing method may not be effective due to the lack of separation between peaks as shown, for example, in  FIG. 11 . In this situation, the angular position of each finger can be determined to be an offset, by a standard deviation factor, from the midpoint position of the readings determined by the centroid calculation described above. For instance, the centroids of each of two fingers (represented as C 0  and C 1 ) can be calculated as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  and as follows: 
     
       
         
           
             σ 
             = 
             
               
                 
                   
                     1 
                     N 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     
                       ∑ 
                       
                         i 
                         = 
                         1 
                       
                       N 
                     
                     ⁢ 
                     
                       
                         ( 
                         
                           
                             x 
                             i 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             x 
                             _ 
                           
                         
                         ) 
                       
                       2 
                     
                   
                 
               
               . 
             
           
         
       
     
     C 0 =C 2 −Kσ 
     C 1 =C 2 +Kσ 
     Where 
     σ (sigma) represents the standard deviation of the entire “two finger” histogram; 
     N represents the number of angular positions 
     x represents the amplitude of the signal measured (same as R above) 
       x  represents the mean average of R 
     K represents a constant between 0.5 and 3.0; and 
     C 2  represents the centroid of the entire histogram. 
     The ability to detect the angular position of more than one finger applied to the sensing surface can provide several advantages. For example, if the sensing area is used in combination with a display, the ability to detect the location of two different fingers can enable the user to use at least two pieces of information to manipulate displayed data. This feature can enable detection, for example, of an increase in relative distance between two fingers on the sensing surface (a gesture sometimes referred to as “zooming”). Similarly, this feature can enable detection of a decrease in relative distance between two fingers on the sensing surface (a gesture sometimes referred to as “pinching”). In this manner, two pieces of information can be used to manipulate data on the user interface. The need for additional buttons or other input devices to manipulate data can thereby be reduced or eliminated. 
     In a somewhat similar manner, a radial position of the user&#39;s finger can also be determined. Again referring to input device  110  configured with the sensor element arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the relative radial position of a user&#39;s finger can be detected by scanning sensor elements  1 - 17  in the following combinations to capture the following three readings (xii)-(xiv): 
     (xii) scan sensor element  1 ; 
     (xiii) scan sensor elements  2 - 5 ; 
     (xiv) scan sensor elements  6 - 17 . 
     In this example the first reading (xii) is associated with central sensor element  1 , the second reading (xiii) is associated with inner ring of sensor elements  2 - 5  and the third reading (xiv) is associated with outer ring of sensor elements  6 - 17 . The scanning speed can also be preferably substantially faster than the speed at which a user&#39;s finger moves relative to the sensor elements. For example, in this embodiment all of the sensor element combinations comprising three readings (xii)-(xiv) may be scanned within a few milliseconds. In effect, the relatively fast scanning speed can provide a snapshot of the radial position of the user&#39;s finger relative to the sensing area. 
     Using the three readings (xii)-(xiv), the radial position of the user&#39;s finger can be calculated using a centroid detection algorithm according to the following formula: 
     
       
         
           
             C 
             = 
             
               
                 
                   ∑ 
                   i 
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   iR 
                   i 
                 
               
               
                 
                   ∑ 
                   i 
                 
                 ⁢ 
                 
                   iR 
                   i 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     Where 
     i represents an index number uniquely associated with a radial position of the center sensor element, the inner ring or the outer ring; 
     R i  represents the amplitude of the signal measured in the reading (xii)-(xiv) associated with the center sensor element, the inner ring or the outer ring; 
     C represents a numerical value which varies as a function of detected signal amplitude and which may be used to identify the radial position of a user&#39;s finger relative to the sensor elements. 
     As before, the results of the radial calculation can be represented in the form of a histogram. A peak in this histogram corresponds to the detection of sensor element signals of relatively greater amplitude, indicating the radial position of the user&#39;s finger. The result of the centroid calculation corresponds to this peak. For example, if the calculation indicates a histogram peak near the (xiv) reading (in which the outer ring sensor elements are collectively scanned) then this can indicate that the user&#39;s finger is located near the outer ring. 
     In some situations, the processing circuitry may only need to determine whether more than one finger is applied to the sensing area, rather than determine a specific location of the fingers. In this situation, if the magnitude of the measured signals is above a certain threshold amount that indicates the presence of more than one finger, the input device circuitry need not perform the above positional calculations. In other situations, the input device circuitry can adjust its sensing sensitivity in order to compensate for fingers of different sizes, such as those of adults and children. 
       FIGS. 14-17  illustrate examples of user applications that can be performed on a portable electronic device using an input device configured in accordance with the various embodiments described herein. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 14 , input device  1410  can detect a linear input gesture to enable portable media device  1400  to execute an image browsing application. An example of an image browsing application that causes images, such as album cover pictures (in a “coverflow” application) for example, to be transitioned across a screen may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/767,409 entitled “Media Player with Imaged Based Browsing,” filed Jun. 22, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 14 , media device  1400  can display picture # 1  in a landscape orientation. Device  1400  can determine its orientation based on one or more orientation detection elements, such as an accelerometer for example. When input device  1410  detects a swipe in a left-to-right direction, media device  1400  can transition the display of picture # 1  to picture # 2  by sliding picture # 2  in from the left of the display screen as illustrated. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 15 , input device  1510  can detect a linear input gesture to enable portable media device  1500  to provide list navigation. In a portrait orientation, media device  1500  can display a list of items on its display screen. When input device  1510  detects a vertical swipe in an up-to-down direction, media device  1500  can scroll the list in a downward direction in response to the applied input. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 16 , input device  1610  can detect a multi-touch input gesture to enable portable media device  1600  to execute a zoom-in feature in connection with a displayed image. In the illustrated embodiment, media device  1500  can display an image on its display screen. When input device  1610  detects one finger in inner region  1630  and another finger rotating in the clockwise direction in outer region  1620 , media device  1600  can zoom in on the displayed image in response to the applied input. Similarly, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 17 , when input device  1610  detects one finger in inner region  1630  and another finger rotating in the counterclockwise direction in outer region  1620 , media device  1600  can zoom out from the displayed image in response to the applied input. 
     An input device can also enable zooming by detecting a pinch gesture. In one embodiment, an input device can enable a distance between at least two fingers applied to its touch sensitive surface to be determined. In another embodiment, an input device can enable a distance between one or more fingers applied to its touch sensitive surface and some other reference point, such as the center of the input device for example, to be determined. If the determined distance increases during the input event, indicating a spreading apart motion, a zoom-in signal can be generated. If the compared distance decreases during the input event, indicating a closing together motion, a zoom-out signal can be generated. 
     The amount of zooming can vary according to the determined distance. Furthermore, the zooming can occur in relation to the motion of the fingers. For instance, as the fingers spread apart or close together, the object can be zoomed in or zoomed out at the same time. Although this methodology can be directed at zooming, it can also be used for other applications, such as enlarging or reducing for example. Zooming can be particularly useful in graphical programs such as publishing, photo, and drawing programs for example. 
     In another embodiment, input device processing circuitry can be configured to recognize principal directions of applied gestures and modify the scanning pattern accordingly. For example, the circuitry can optimize the scanning pattern so that input events applied at positions of 0, 90, 180, 270 degrees, for example, obtain better signal to noise ratios than input events applied at other positions. 
     In another embodiment, input device processing circuitry can switch between different sensing configurations in order to achieve power savings. In a particular sensing configuration, the circuitry can enable only sensor elements arranged according to a predefined input pattern to sense input. For example, in a “swipe mode”, only linearly arranged sensor elements can be enabled to sense input. Similarly, in a “legacy wheel mode”, only radially arranged sensor elements can be enabled to sense input. In a “gesture mode”, all sensor elements can be enabled so that any pattern of gestural input can be sensed by the input device. The particular sensing configuration to be utilized by the input device can be based on a context of an application running on the portable media device, for example. 
       FIGS. 18A-18C  illustrate operations of an input device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. By way of example, the input device may generally correspond to input device  110 . In the example shown in  FIG. 18A , input device  1830  can be configured to send information or data to an electronic device in order to perform an action on a display screen (e.g., via a graphical user interface). Examples of actions that may be performed include, moving an input pointer, making a selection, providing instructions, etc. The input device can interact with the electronic device through a wired connection (e.g., cable/connector) or a wireless connection (e.g., IR, Bluetooth, etc.). Input device  1830  may be a stand alone unit or it may be integrated into the electronic device. As a stand alone unit, the input device can have its own enclosure. When integrated into an electronic device, the input device can typically use the enclosure of the electronic device. In either case, the input device can be structurally coupled to the enclosure, as for example, through screws, snaps, retainers, adhesives and the like. In some cases, the input device may be removably coupled to the electronic device, as for example, through a docking station. The electronic device to which the input device may be coupled can correspond to any consumer related electronic product. By way of example, the electronic device can correspond to a computer such as a desktop computer, laptop computer or PDA, a media player such as a music player, a communication device such as a cellular phone, another input device such as a keyboard, and the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18A , in this embodiment input device  1830  may include frame  1832  (or support structure) and touch pad  1834 . Frame  1832  can provide a structure for supporting the components of the input device. Frame  1832  in the form of a housing can also enclose or contain the components of the input device. The components, which may include touch pad  1834 , can correspond to electrical, optical and/or mechanical components for operating input device  1830 . Frame  1832  may be a separate component or it may be an integral component of the housing of the electronic device. 
     Touch pad  1834  can provide location information for an object, such as a finger for example, in contact with or in proximity to the touch pad. This information can be used in combination with information provided by a movement indicator to generate a single command associated with the movement of the touch pad. The touch pad may be used as an input device by itself; for example, the touch pad may be used to scroll through a list of items on the device. 
     The shape, size and configuration of touch pad  1834  may be widely varied. In addition to the touchpad configurations disclosed above, a conventional touch pad based on the Cartesian coordinate system, or based on a Polar coordinate system can be configured to provide scrolling using rotational movements and can be configured to accept the multi-touch and gestures, for example those described herein. An example of a touch pad based on polar coordinates may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,046,230 which is incorporated by reference above. Furthermore, touch pad  1834  can be used in at least two different modes, which may be referred to as a relative mode and an absolute mode. In absolute mode, touch pad  1834  can, for example, report the absolute coordinates of the location at which it may be touched. For example, these would be “x” and “y” coordinates in the case of a standard Cartesian coordinate system or (r,θ) in the case of a Polar coordinate system. In relative mode, touch pad  1834  can report the direction and/or distance of change, for example, left/right, up/down, and the like. In most cases, the signals produced by touch pad  1834  can direct movement on the display screen in a direction similar to the direction of the finger as it may be moved across the surface of touch pad  1834 . 
     Further examples of touch pad configurations may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/949,060 entitled “Raw Data Track Pad Device and System,” filed Sep. 24, 2004, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/203,692 entitled “Method of Increasing the Spatial Resolution of Touch Sensitive Devices,” filed Aug. 15, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/818,395 entitled “Touch Screen Stack-Ups,” filed Jun. 13, 2007, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Further examples of touch pad sensing may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,964 entitled “Gestures for Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jul. 30, 2004, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/038,590 entitled “Mode-Based Graphical User Interfaces for Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 18, 2005, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,264 entitled “Gestures for Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 31, 2005, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/232,299 entitled “System and Method for Processing Raw Data of Track Pad Device,” filed Sep. 21, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/619,464 entitled “Multi-Touch Input Discrimination,” filed Jan. 3, 2007, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     The shape of touch pad  1834  may be widely varied. For example, it may be circular, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, and the like. In general, the outer perimeter can define the working boundary of touch pad  1834 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the touch pad may be circular. Circular touch pads can allow a user to continuously swirl a finger in a free manner, i.e., the finger may be rotated through  360  degrees of rotation without stopping. This form of motion can produce incremental or accelerated scrolling through a list of songs being displayed on a display screen, for example. Furthermore, the user may rotate his or her finger tangentially from all sides, thus providing more finger position range. Both of these features may help when performing a scrolling function. Furthermore, the size of touch pad  1834  can accommodate manipulation by a user (e.g., the size of a finger tip or larger). 
     Touch pad  1834 , which can generally take the form of a rigid platform. The rigid platform may be planar, convex or concave, and may include touchable outer surface  1836 , which may be textured, for receiving a finger or other object for manipulation of the touch pad. Although not shown in  FIG. 18A , beneath touchable outer surface  1836  can be a sensor arrangement that may be sensitive to such things as the pressure and movement of a finger thereon. The sensor arrangement may typically include a plurality of sensors that can be configured to activate as the finger sits on, taps on or passes over them. In the simplest case, an electrical signal can be produced each time the finger is positioned over a sensor. The number of signals in a given time frame may indicate location, direction, speed and acceleration of the finger on touch pad  1834 , i.e., the more signals, the more the user moved his or her finger. In most cases, the signals can be monitored by an electronic interface that converts the number, combination and frequency of the signals into location, direction, speed and acceleration information. This information can then be used by the electronic device to perform the desired control function on the display screen. The sensor arrangement may be widely varied. By way of example, the sensors can be based on resistive sensing, surface acoustic wave sensing, pressure sensing (e.g., strain gauge), optical sensing, capacitive sensing and the like. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 18 , touch pad  1834  may be based on capacitive sensing. In most cases, the capacitive touch pad may include a protective shield, one or more electrode layers, a circuit board and associated electronics including an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The protective shield can be placed over the electrodes, the electrodes can be mounted on the top surface of the circuit board, and the ASIC can be mounted on the bottom surface of the circuit board. The protective shield may serve to protect the underlayers and to provide a surface for allowing a finger to slide thereon. The surface may generally be smooth so that the finger does not stick to it when moved. The protective shield also may provide an insulating layer between the finger and the electrode layers. The electrode layer may include a plurality of spatially distinct electrodes. Any suitable number of electrodes can be used. As the number of electrodes increases, the resolution of the touch pad also increases. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, touch pad  1834  can be movable relative to the frame  1832 . This movement can be detected by a movement detector that generates another control signal. By way of example, touch pad  1834  in the form of the rigid planar platform can rotate, pivot, slide, translate, flex and/or the like relative to frame  1832 . Touch pad  1834  can be coupled to frame  1832  and/or it can be movably restrained by frame  1832 . By way of example, touch pad  1834  can be coupled to frame  1832  through axels, pin joints, slider joints, ball and socket joints, flexure joints, magnets, cushions and/or the like. Touch pad  1834  can also float within a space of the frame (e.g., gimbal). It should be noted that input device  1830  may additionally include a combination of joints such as a pivot/translating joint, pivot/flexure joint, pivot/ball and socket joint, translating/flexure joint, and the like to increase the range of movement (e.g., increase the degree of freedom). 
     When moved, touch pad  1834  can be configured to actuate a movement detector circuit that generates one or more signals. The circuit may generally include one or more movement detectors such as switches, sensors, encoders, and the like. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 18 , touch pad  1834  can be part of a depressible platform. The touch pad can operate as a button and perform one or more mechanical clicking actions. Multiple functions or the same function of the device may be accessed by depressing the touch pad  1834  in different locations. A movement detector signals that touch pad  1834  has been depressed, and touch pad  1834  signals a location on the platform that has been touched. By combining both the movement detector signals and touch pad signals, touch pad  1834  acts like multiple buttons such that depressing the touch pad at different locations corresponds to different buttons. As shown in  FIGS. 18B and 18C , according to one embodiment touch pad  1834  can be capable of moving between an upright position ( FIG. 18B ) and a depressed position ( FIG. 18C ) when a requisite amount of force from finger  1838 , palm, hand or other object is applied to touch pad  1834 . Touch pad  1834  can be spring biased in the upright position, as for example through a spring member. Touch pad  1834  moves to the depressed position when the spring bias is overcome by an object pressing on touch pad  1834 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 18B , touch pad  1834  generates tracking signals when an object such as a user&#39;s finger is moved over the top surface of the touch pad in the x, y plane. As shown in  FIG. 18C , in the depressed position (z direction), touch pad  1834  generates positional information and a movement indicator generates a signal indicating that touch pad  1834  has moved. The positional information and the movement indication can be combined to form a button command. Different button commands or the same button command can correspond to depressing touch pad  1834  in different locations. The different commands may be used for various functionalities including, but not limited to, making selections or issuing commands associated with operating an electronic device. By way of example, in the case of a music player, the button commands may be associated with opening a menu, playing a song, fast forwarding a song, seeking through a menu and the like. 
     To elaborate, touch pad  1834  can be configured to actuate a movement detector, which together with the touch pad positional information, can form a button command when touch pad  1834  is moved to the depressed position. The movement detector can be located within frame  1832  and coupled to touch pad  1834  and/or frame  1832 . The movement detector may be any combination of switches and sensors. Switches can be generally configured to provide pulsed or binary data such as activate (on) or deactivate (off). By way of example, an underside portion of touch pad  1834  can be configured to contact or engage (and thus activate) a switch when the user presses on touch pad  1834 . The sensors, on the other hand, can be generally configured to provide continuous or analog data. By way of example, the sensor can be configured to measure the position or the amount of tilt of touch pad  1834  relative to the frame when a user presses on the touch pad  1834 . Any suitable mechanical, electrical and/or optical switch or sensor may be used. For example, tact switches, force sensitive resistors, pressure sensors, proximity sensors, and the like may be used. In some case, the spring bias for placing touch pad  1834  in the upright position may be provided by a movement detector that includes a spring action. In other embodiments, input device  1830  can include one or more movement detectors in various locations positioned under and/or above touch pad  1834  to form button commands associated with the particular locations in which the movement detector is actuated. 
     Touch pad  1834  may can also be configured to provide a force feedback response. An example of touch pad configuration providing a haptic feedback response may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,678 entitled “Force Feedback Computer Input and Output Device with Coordinated Haptic Elements,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIG. 19  illustrates a simplified perspective diagram of input device  1870 . Like the input device shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 18A-18C , this input device  1870  incorporates the functionality of one or more buttons directly into touch pad  1872 , i.e., the touch pad acts like a button. In this embodiment, however, touch pad  1872  can be divided into a plurality of independent and spatially distinct button zones  1874 . Button zones  1874  may represent regions of the touch pad  1872  that can be moved by a user to implement distinct button functions or the same button function. The dotted lines may represent areas of touch pad  1872  that make up an individual button zone. Any number of button zones may be used, for example, two or more, four, eight, etc. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 19 , touch pad  1872  may include four button zones  1874  (i.e., zones A-D). 
     As should be appreciated, the button functions generated by pressing on each button zone may include selecting an item on the screen, opening a file or document, executing instructions, starting a program, viewing a menu, and/or the like. The button functions may also include functions that make it easier to navigate through the electronic system, as for example, zoom, scroll, open different menus, home the input pointer, perform keyboard related actions such as enter, delete, insert, page up/down, and the like. In the case of a music player, one of the button zones may be used to access a menu on the display screen, a second button zone may be used to seek forward through a list of songs or fast forward through a currently playing song, a third button zone may be used to seek backwards through a list of songs or fast rearward through a currently playing song, and a fourth button zone may be used to pause or stop a song that may be in the process of being played. 
     To elaborate, touch pad  1872  can be capable of moving relative to frame  1876  so as to create a clicking action. Frame  1876  can be formed from a single component or a combination of assembled components. The clicking action can actuate a movement detector contained inside frame  1876 . The movement detector can be configured to sense movements of the button zones during the clicking action and to send a signal corresponding to the movement to the electronic device. By way of example, the movement detectors may be switches, sensors and/or the like. 
     In addition, touch pad  1872  can be configured to send positional information on what button zone may be acted on when the clicking action occurs. The positional information can allow the device to determine which button zone to activate when the touch pad is moved relative to the frame. 
     The movements of each of button zones  1874  may be provided by various rotations, pivots, translations, flexes and the like. In one embodiment, touch pad  1872  can be configured to gimbal relative to frame  1876 . By gimbal, it is generally meant that the touch pad  1872  can float in space relative to frame  1876  while still being constrained thereto. The gimbal can allow the touch pad  1872  to move in single or multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) relative to the housing, for example, movements in the x, y and/or z directions and/or rotations about the x, y, and/or z axes (θxθyθz). 
       FIG. 20  illustrates an example of a simplified block diagram of a computing system  1839 . The computing system may generally include input device  1840  operatively connected to computing device  1842 . By way of example, input device  1840  can generally correspond to input device  1830  shown in  FIGS. 18A-18C , and the computing device  1842  can correspond to a computer, PDA, media player or the like. As shown, input device  1840  may include depressible touch pad  1844  and one or more movement detectors  1846 . Touch pad  1844  can be configured to generate tracking signals and movement detector  1846  can be configured to generate a movement signal when the touch pad is depressed. Although touch pad  1844  may be widely varied, in this embodiment, touch pad  1844  can include capacitance sensors  1848  and control system  1850  (which can generally correspond to the sensor controller described above) for acquiring position signals from sensors  1848  and supplying the signals to computing device  1842 . Control system  1850  can include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that can be configured to monitor the signals from sensors  1848 , to compute the absolute location, angular location, direction, speed and/or acceleration of the monitored signals and to report this information to a processor of computing device  1842 . Movement detector  1846  may also be widely varied. In this embodiment, however, movement detector  1846  can take the form of a switch that generates a movement signal when touch pad  1844  is depressed. Movement detector  1846  can correspond to a mechanical, electrical or optical style switch. In one particular implementation, movement detector  1846  can be a mechanical style switch that includes protruding actuator  1852  that may be pushed by touch pad  1844  to generate the movement signal. By way of example, the switch may be a tact or dome switch. 
     Both touch pad  1844  and movement detector  1846  can be operatively coupled to computing device  1842  through communication interface  1854 . The communication interface provides a connection point for direct or indirect connection between the input device and the electronic device. Communication interface  1854  may be wired (wires, cables, connectors) or wireless (e.g., transmitter/receiver). 
     Referring to computing device  1842 , it may include processor  1857  (e.g., CPU or microprocessor) configured to execute instructions and to carry out operations associated with computing device  1842 . For example, using instructions retrieved from memory, the processor can control the reception and manipulation of input and output data between components of computing device  1842 . Processor  1857  can be configured to receive input from both movement detector  1846  and touch pad  1844  and can form a signal/command that may be dependent upon both of these inputs. In most cases, processor  1857  can execute instruction under the control of an operating system or other software. Processor  1857  may be a single-chip processor or may be implemented with multiple components. 
     Computing device  1842  may also include input/output (I/O) controller  1856  that can be operatively coupled to processor  1857 . (I/O) controller  1856  can be integrated with processor  1857  or it may be a separate component as shown. I/O controller  1856  can generally be configured to control interactions with one or more I/O devices that may be coupled to the computing device  1842 , as for example input device  1840  and orientation detector  1855 , such as an acclerometer. I/O controller  1856  can generally operate by exchanging data between computing device  1842  and I/O devices that desire to communicate with computing device  1842 . 
     Computing device  1842  may also include display controller  1858  that can be operatively coupled to processor  1857 . Display controller  1858  can be integrated with processor  1857  or it may be a separate component as shown. Display controller  1858  can be configured to process display commands to produce text and graphics on display screen  1860 . By way of example, display screen  1860  may be a monochrome display, color graphics adapter (CGA) display, enhanced graphics adapter (EGA) display, variable-graphics-array (VGA) display, super VGA display, liquid crystal display (e.g., active matrix, passive matrix and the like), cathode ray tube (CRT), plasma displays and the like. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the display device corresponds to a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
     In some cases, processor  1857  together with an operating system operates to execute computer code and produce and use data. The computer code and data can reside within program storage area  1862  that may be operatively coupled to processor  1857 . Program storage area  1862  can generally provide a place to hold data that may be used by computing device  1842 . By way of example, the program storage area may include Read-Only Memory (ROM), Random-Access Memory (RAM), hard disk drive and/or the like. The computer code and data could also reside on a removable program medium and loaded or installed onto the computing device when needed. In one embodiment, program storage area  1862  can be configured to store information for controlling how the tracking and movement signals generated by the input device may be used, either alone or in combination for example, by computing device  1842  to generate an input event command, such as a single button press for example. 
       FIGS. 21A-21D  illustrate applications of an input device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As previously mentioned, the input devices described herein can be integrated into an electronic device or they can be separate stand alone devices.  FIGS. 21A-21D  show some implementations of input device  1820  integrated into an electronic device.  FIG. 21A  shows input device  1820  incorporated into media player  1812 .  FIG. 21B  shows input device  1820  incorporated into laptop computer  1814 .  FIGS. 21C and 21D , on the other hand, show some implementations of input device  1820  as a stand alone unit.  FIG. 21C  shows input device  1820  as a peripheral device that can be connected to desktop computer  1816 .  FIG. 21D  shows input device  1820  as a remote control that wirelessly connects to docking station  1818  with media player  1822  docked therein. It should be noted, however, that in some embodiments the remote control can also be configured to interact with the media player (or other electronic device) directly, thereby eliminating the need for a docking station. An example of a docking station for a media player may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/423,490, entitled “Media Player System,” filed Apr. 25, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It should be noted that these particular embodiments do not limit the present disclosure and that many other devices and configurations may be used. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 21A , media player  1812 , housing  1822  and display screen  1824  may generally correspond to those described above. As illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 21A , display screen  1824  can be visible to a user of media player  1812  through opening  1825  in housing  1822  and through transparent wall  1826  disposed in front of opening  1825 . Although transparent, transparent wall  1826  can be considered part of housing  1822  since it helps to define the shape or form of media player  1812 . 
     Media player  1812  may also include touch pad  1820  such as any of those previously described. Touch pad  1820  can generally consist of touchable outer surface  1831  for receiving a finger for manipulation on touch pad  1820 . Although not illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 21A , beneath touchable outer surface  1831  a sensor arrangement can be configured in a manner as previously described. Information provided by the sensor arrangement can be used by media player  1812  to perform the desired control function on display screen  1824 . For example, a user may easily scroll through a list of songs by swirling the finger around touch pad  1820 . 
     In addition to above, the touch pad may also include one or more movable buttons zones A-D as well as a center button E for example. The button zones can be configured to provide one or more dedicated control functions for making selections or issuing commands associated with operating media player  1812 . By way of example, in the case of an MP3 music player, the button functions can be associated with opening a menu, playing a song, fast forwarding a song, seeking through a menu, making selections and the like. In some embodiments, the button functions can be implemented via a mechanical clicking action. 
     The position of touch pad  1820  relative to housing  1822  may be widely varied. For example, touch pad  1820  can be placed at any external surface (e.g., top, side, front, or back) of housing  1822  accessible to a user during manipulation of media player  1812 . In some embodiments, touch sensitive surface  1831  of touch pad  1820  can be completely exposed to the user. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 21A , touch pad  1820  can be located in a lower front area of housing  1822 . Furthermore, touch pad  1820  can be recessed below, level with, or extend above the surface of housing  1822 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 21A , touch sensitive surface  1831  of touch pad  1820  can be substantially flush with the external surface of housing  1822 . 
     The shape of touch pad  1820  may also be widely varied. Although illustrated as circular in the embodiment of  FIG. 21A , the touch pad can also be square, rectangular, triangular, and the like for example. More particularly, the touch pad can be annular, i.e., shaped like or forming a ring. As such, the inner and outer perimeter of the touch pad can define the working boundary of the touch pad. 
     Media player  1812  may also include hold switch  1834 . Hold switch  1834  can be configured to activate or deactivate the touch pad and/or buttons associated therewith for example. This can be generally done to prevent unwanted commands by the touch pad and/or buttons, as for example, when the media player is stored inside a user&#39;s pocket. When deactivated, signals from the buttons and/or touch pad cannot be sent or can be disregarded by the media player. When activated, signals from the buttons and/or touch pad can be sent and therefore received and processed by the media player. 
     Moreover, media player  1812  may also include one or more headphone jacks  1836  and one or more data ports  1838 . Headphone jack  1836  can be capable of receiving a headphone connector associated with headphones configured for listening to sound being outputted by media player  1812 . Data port  1838 , on the other hand, can be capable of receiving a data connector/cable assembly configured for transmitting and receiving data to and from a host device such as a general purpose computer (e.g., desktop computer, portable computer). By way of example, data port  1838  can be used to upload or download audio, video and other images to and from media player  1812 . For example, the data port can be used to download songs and play lists, audio books, ebooks, photos, and the like into the storage mechanism of the media player. 
     Data port  1838  may be widely varied. For example, the data port can be a PS/2 port, a serial port, a parallel port, a USB port, a Firewire port and/or the like. In some embodiments, data port  1838  can be a radio frequency (RF) link or optical infrared (IR) link to eliminate the need for a cable. Although not illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 21A , media player  1812  can also include a power port that receives a power connector/cable assembly configured for delivering power to media player  1812 . In some cases, data port  1838  can serve as both a data and power port. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 21A , data port  1838  can be a USB port having both data and power capabilities. 
     Although only one data port may be shown, it should be noted that this does not limit the present disclosure and that multiple data ports may be incorporated into the media player. In a similar vein, the data port can include multiple data functionality, i.e., integrating the functionality of multiple data ports into a single data port. Furthermore, it should be noted that the position of the hold switch, headphone jack and data port on the housing may be widely varied, in that they are not limited to the positions shown in  FIG. 21A . They can be positioned almost anywhere on the housing (e.g., front, back, sides, top, bottom). For example, the data port can be positioned on the top surface of the housing rather than the bottom surface as shown. 
       FIGS. 22A and 22B  illustrate installation of an input device into a media player according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. By way of example, input device  1850  may correspond to any of those previously described and media player  1852  may correspond to the one shown in  FIG. 21A . As shown, input device  1850  may include housing  1854  and touch pad assembly  1856 . Media player  1852  may include shell or enclosure  1858 . Front wall  1860  of shell  1858  may include opening  1862  for allowing access to touch pad assembly  1856  when input device  1850  is introduced into media player  1852 . The inner side of front wall  1860  may include channel or track  1864  for receiving input device  1850  inside shell  1858  of media player  1852 . Channel  1864  can be configured to receive the edges of housing  1854  of input device  1850  so that input device  1850  can be slid into its desired place within shell  1858 . The shape of the channel can have a shape that generally coincides with the shape of housing  1854 . During assembly, circuit board  1866  of touch pad assembly  1856  can be aligned with opening  1862  and cosmetic disc  1868  and button cap  1870  can be mounted onto the top side of circuit board  1866  for example. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 22B , cosmetic disc  1868  can have a shape that may generally coincide with opening  1862 . The input device can be held within the channel via a retaining mechanism such as screws, snaps, adhesives, press fit mechanisms, crush ribs and the like for example. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a simplified block diagram of a remote control incorporating an input device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. By way of example, input device  1882  may generally correspond to any of the previously described input devices. In this particular embodiment, input device  1882  may correspond to the input device shown in  FIGS. 18A-18C , thus the input device may include touch pad  1884  and plurality of switches  1886 . Touch pad  1884  and switches  1886  can be operatively coupled to wireless transmitter  1888 . Wireless transmitter  1888  can be configured to transmit information over a wireless communication link so that an electronic device that has receiving capabilities can receive the information over the wireless communication link. Wireless transmitter  1888  may be widely varied. For example, it can be based on wireless technologies such as FM, RF, Bluetooth, 802.11 UWB (ultra wide band), IR, magnetic link (induction) and the like for example. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 23 , wireless transmitter  1888  can be based on IR. IR generally refers to wireless technologies that convey data through infrared radiation. As such, wireless transmitter  1888  may generally include IR controller  1890 . IR controller  1890  can take the information reported from touch pad  1884  and switches  1886  and convert this information into infrared radiation, as for example using light emitting diode  1892 . 
     It will be appreciated that the above description for clarity has described embodiments of the disclosure with reference to different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units or processors may be used without detracting from the disclosure. For example, functionality illustrated to be performed by separate processors or controllers may be performed by the same processors or controllers. Hence, references to specific functional units may be seen as references to suitable means for providing the described functionality rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization. 
     The disclosure may be implemented in any suitable form, including hardware, software, firmware, or any combination of these. The disclosure may optionally be implemented partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and/or digital signal processors. The elements and components of an embodiment of the disclosure may be physically, functionally, and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed, the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units, or as part of other functional units. As such, the disclosure may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units and processors. 
     One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many possible modifications and combinations of the disclosed embodiments can be used, while still employing the same basic underlying mechanisms and methodologies. The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, has been written with references to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations can be possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical applications, and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as suited to the particular use contemplated.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20080905
Publication Date: 20130409
Grant Date: 20130409
Priority Date: 20071203
Inventors: RATHNAM LAKSHMAN
BOKMA LOUIS
ROTHKOPF FLETCHER
MUCIGNAT ANDREA
KOCALAR ERTURK
LYON BENJAMIN
FISHER JOSEPH
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/017", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04883", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/038", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04808", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/03547", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/041", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/038", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0482", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04883", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0416", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04808", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0482", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04847", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0485", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/03547", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0416", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 40675246