User input device and method

Abstract

In accordance with one implementation, a method is illustrated that allows a computing device to determine a user input. The method includes detecting one or more user input objects in a 3-dimensional field relative to a 2-dimensional surface. The method also includes determining coordinates for the one or more user input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface. And, the method further includes determining a user input based on the coordinates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a device comprising one or more keys;   one or more capacitive sensors disposed in the one or more keys;   an object detector configured to detect one or more user input objects in a 3-dimensional field above the one or more keys.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the object detector is further configured to determine coordinates of one or more input objects relative to the one or more keys. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  and further comprising:
 a user input detector configured to determine a user input based on the coordinates. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  and further comprising:
 a processor. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the device comprising one or more keys, the one or more capacitive sensors, the object detector, and the processor are integrated as a single device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the object detector is configured to track the positions of one or more user input objects in the 3-dimensional field. 
     
     
         7 . A method of differentiating between a touch event and a type event, the method comprising:
 receiving sensor data indicative of a touch event on a key;   waiting for a predetermined period of time to determine if key press data is received;   signaling a touch event if no key press data is received during the predetermined period of time while alternatively signaling a key press event if key press data is received during the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  and further comprising:
 placing a device in type mode in response to signaling of the key press event. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  and further comprising:
 placing a device in touch mode in response to signaling of the touch event. 
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a device comprising one or more keys;   one or more of sensors disposed in the one or more keys;   a user input detector configured to receive sensor data indicative of a touch event on the keyed device;   wherein the user input detector is further configured to wait for a predetermined period of time to determine if key press data is received; and   wherein the user input detector is configured to signal a touch event if no key press data is received during the predetermined period of time while alternatively signaling a key press event if key press data is received during the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  and further comprising a user input detector configured to place a device in type mode in response to signaling of the key press event. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  and further comprising a user input detector configured to place a device in touch mode in response to signaling of the touch event. 
     
     
         13 . One or more computer-readable storage media encoding computer-executable instructions for executing on a computer system a computer process, the computer process comprising:
 receiving sensor data indicative of a touch event on a key;   waiting for a predetermined period of time to determine if key press data is received;   signaling a touch event if no key press data is received during the predetermined period of time while alternatively signaling a key press event if key press data is received during the predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 13  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 placing a device in type mode in response to signaling of the key press event. 
 
     
     
         15 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 13  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 placing a device in touch mode in response to signaling of the touch event.