U.S. patent application number 16/408248 was filed with the patent office on 2020-11-12 for configuring the layout of a keyboard using gestures.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dell Products, L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is Dell Products, L.P.. Invention is credited to Deeder M. Aurongzeb, Srinivas Kamepalli.
Application Number | 20200356183 16/408248 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004081698 |
Filed Date | 2020-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200356183 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kamepalli; Srinivas ; et
al. |
November 12, 2020 |
CONFIGURING THE LAYOUT OF A KEYBOARD USING GESTURES
Abstract
Systems and methods for configuring the layout of a hovering
keyboard using gestures are described. In some embodiments, an
Information Handling System (IHS) may include a processor and a
memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program
instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor,
cause the IHS to: detect a hand gesture using proximity sensors
disposed on a hovering keyboard coupled to the IHS, and configure a
layout of the hovering keyboard based on the detection.
Inventors: |
Kamepalli; Srinivas;
(Austin, TX) ; Aurongzeb; Deeder M.; (Austin,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dell Products, L.P. |
Round Rock |
TX |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dell Products, L.P.
Round Rock
TX
|
Family ID: |
1000004081698 |
Appl. No.: |
16/408248 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0219 20130101;
G06F 3/017 20130101; G06F 3/021 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/02 20060101
G06F003/02; G06F 3/01 20060101 G06F003/01 |
Claims
1. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising: a processor;
and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having program
instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the processor,
cause the IHS to: detect a hand gesture using proximity sensors
disposed on a keyboard coupled to the IHS, at least in part, by
fitting proximity data obtained by the proximity sensors to a
partial virtual skeleton of the hand having one or more parameters
selected from the group consisting of: a length, a width, a joint
position, an angle of joint rotation, and a finger segment; and
configure a layout of the keyboard based on the detection.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. The IHS of claim 1, wherein the hand gesture comprises a
swipe.
5. The IHS of claim 1, wherein to configure the layout, the program
instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to map a key
selected by a user to a corresponding command.
6. The IHS of claim 1, wherein to configure the layout, the program
instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to detect
hovering keystrokes to the exclusion of physical keystrokes.
7. The IHS of claim 1, wherein to configure the layout, the program
instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to detect
physical keystrokes to the exclusion of hovering keystrokes.
8. The IHS of claim 1, wherein to configure the layout, the program
instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to detect
physical keystrokes and hovering keystrokes concurrently.
9. The IHS of claim 1, wherein to configure the layout, the program
instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to map a first
hovering keystroke over a first keycap to a first application
executed by the IHS, and to map a second hovering keystroke over a
second keycap to a second application executed by the IHS.
10. The IHS of claim 9, wherein the first application is rendered
on a display integrated into the IHS, and wherein the second
application is rendered on an external display.
11. The IHS of claim 1, wherein to configure the layout, the
program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to map
a hovering keystroke over a given keycap to a first application
executed by the IHS, and to map a physical keystroke of the given
keycap to a second application executed by the IHS.
12. The IHS of claim 1, wherein to configure the layout, the
program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to
enable hovering keystrokes over a first subset of keycaps and
disable hovering keystrokes over a second subset of keycaps.
13. The IHS of claim 1, wherein to configure the layout, the
program instructions, upon execution, further cause the IHS to
enable or disable a lighting effect provided via a backlight
illumination layer of the keyboard.
14. A method, comprising: detecting a hand gesture using proximity
sensors disposed on a keyboard coupled to an Information Handling
System (IHS), at least in part, by fitting proximity data obtained
by the proximity sensors to a partial virtual skeleton of the hand
having one or more parameters selected from the group consisting
of: a length, a width, a joint position, an angle of joint
rotation, and a finger segment; and configuring a layout of the
keyboard based on the detection.
15. (canceled)
16. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring the layout further
comprises configuring the keyboard to detect one of: (i) hovering
keystrokes only, (ii) physical keystrokes only, or (iii) physical
keystrokes and hovering keystrokes concurrently.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring the layout further
comprises mapping a hovering keystroke over a given keycap to a
first application executed by the IHS and mapping a physical
keystroke of the given keycap to a second application executed by
the IHS.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring the layout
comprises enabling hovering keystrokes over a first a subset of
keycaps and disabling hovering keystrokes over a second subset of
keycaps.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring the layout
comprises selecting a color or an intensity of a light provided by
a backlight illumination layer of the keyboard.
20. A hardware memory device having program instructions stored
thereon that, upon execution by a processor of an Information
Handling System (IHS), cause the IHS to: detect a hand gesture
using proximity sensors disposed on a keyboard coupled to the IHS,
at least in part, by fitting proximity data obtained by the
proximity sensors to a partial virtual skeleton of the hand having
one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of: a
length, a width, a joint position, an angle of joint rotation, and
a finger segment; and configure a layout of the keyboard based on
the detection.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to Information Handling
Systems (IHSs), and more specifically, to systems and methods for
configuring the layout of a hovering keyboard using gestures.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As the value and use of information continues to increase,
individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and
store information. One option available to users is Information
Handling Systems (IHSs). An IHS generally processes, compiles,
stores, and/or communicates information or data for business,
personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take
advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and
information handling needs and requirements vary between different
users or applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what
information is handled, how the information is handled, how much
information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly
and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or
communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general
or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial
transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data
storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a
variety of hardware and software components that may be configured
to process, store, and communicate information and may include one
or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking
systems.
[0003] In various implementations, IHSs process information
received via a keyboard. A conventional keyboard includes
components such as scissor switch keys, dome switch keys, levers,
membranes, bucking springs, etc. These components are configured to
receive physical keystrokes when a user actually touches and/or
presses the keyboard's keys.
[0004] In addition, certain types of keyboards now also come
equipped with proximity sensors. These proximity sensors are
configured to measure distances between the user's hand or fingers
to the keyboard. In operation, such a keyboard can detect signals
representative of proximity and, when appropriate, it can interpret
them as "hovering keystrokes"--even in the absence of physical
contact between the keyboard and the user's fingers.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments of systems and methods for configuring the
layout of a hovering keyboard using gestures are described. In an
illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an Information Handling
System (IHS) may include a processor and a memory coupled to the
processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon
that, upon execution by the processor, cause the IHS to: detect a
hand gesture using proximity sensors disposed on a hovering
keyboard coupled to the IHS, and configure a layout of the hovering
keyboard based on the detection.
[0006] To detect the hand gesture, the program instructions, upon
execution, may the IHS to fit proximity data obtained by the
proximity sensors to a geometric model of a hand. In some cases,
the geometric model may include a partial virtual skeleton of the
hand having one or more parameters selected from the group
consisting of: a length, a width, a joint position, an angle of
joint rotation, and a finger segment.
[0007] For example, the hand gesture may include a swipe. To
configure the layout, the program instructions, upon execution,
further cause the IHS to map a key selected by a user to a
corresponding command.
[0008] To configure the layout, the program instructions, upon
execution, may cause the IHS to detect hovering keystrokes to the
exclusion of physical keystrokes. Additionally, or alternatively,
to configure the layout, the program instructions, upon execution,
further cause the IHS to detect physical keystrokes to the
exclusion of hovering keystrokes. Additionally, or alternatively,
to configure the layout, the program instructions, upon execution,
further cause the IHS to detect physical keystrokes and hovering
keystrokes concurrently. Additionally, or alternatively, to
configure the layout, the program instructions, upon execution,
further cause the IHS to map a first hovering keystroke over a
first keycap to a first application executed by the IHS, and to map
a second hovering keystroke over a second keycap to a second
application executed by the IHS.
[0009] In some cases, the first application may be rendered on a
display integrated into the IHS, and wherein the second application
may be rendered on an external display.
[0010] To configure the layout, the program instructions, upon
execution, may cause the IHS to map a hovering keystroke over a
given keycap to a first application executed by the IHS, and to map
a physical keystroke of the given keycap to a second application
executed by the IHS. Additionally, or alternatively, to configure
the layout, the program instructions, upon execution, cause the IHS
to enable hovering keystrokes over a first a subset of keycaps and
disable hovering keystrokes over a second subset of keycaps.
Additionally, or alternatively, to configure the layout, the
program instructions, upon execution, may cause the IHS to enable
or disable a lighting effect provided via a backlight illumination
layer of the hovering keyboard.
[0011] In another illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a method
may include detecting a hand gesture using proximity sensors
disposed on a hovering keyboard coupled to an IHS, and configuring
a layout of the hovering keyboard based on the detection. For
example, detecting the hand gesture may include fitting proximity
data obtained by the proximity sensors to a partial virtual
skeleton of the hand having one or more parameters selected from
the group consisting of: a length, a width, a joint position, an
angle of joint rotation, and a finger segment.
[0012] In some cases, configuring the layout may include
configuring the hovering keyboard to detect one of: (i) hovering
keystrokes only, (ii) physical keystrokes only, or (iii) physical
keystrokes and hovering keystrokes concurrently. Additionally, or
alternatively, configuring the layout may include mapping a
hovering keystroke over a given keycap to a first application
executed by the IHS and mapping a physical keystroke of the given
keycap to a second application executed by the IHS. Additionally,
or alternatively, configuring the layout may include enabling
hovering keystrokes over a first a subset of keycaps and disabling
hovering keystrokes over a second subset of keycaps. Additionally,
or alternatively, configuring the layout may include selecting a
color or an intensity of a light provided by a backlight
illumination layer of the hovering keyboard.
[0013] In yet another illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, a
hardware memory device may have program instructions stored thereon
that, upon execution by a processor of an IHS, cause the IHS to:
detect a hand gesture using proximity sensors disposed on a
hovering keyboard coupled to the IHS; and configure a layout of the
hovering keyboard based on the detection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention(s) is/are illustrated by way of
example and is/are not limited by the accompanying figures, in
which like references indicate similar elements. Elements in the
figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not
necessarily been drawn to scale.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an Information Handling
System (IHS) with a hovering keyboard, according to some
embodiments.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of electronic components of an
IHS, according to some embodiments.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of electronic components of a
hovering keyboard, according to some embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 4 is sectional view of a hovering keyboard in
operation, according to some embodiments.
[0019] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of a hovering keyboard being
used to detect hand gestures, according to some embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for configuring the layout
of a hovering keyboard using gestures, according to some
embodiments.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a diagram of different zones of a hovering
keyboard, according to some embodiments.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a configuration example, according to
some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] For purposes of this disclosure, an IHS may include any
instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to
compute, calculate, determine, classify, process, transmit,
receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, communicate,
manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of
information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific,
control, or other purposes. For example, an IHS may be a personal
computer (e.g., desktop or laptop), tablet computer, mobile device
(e.g., Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or smart phone), server
(e.g., blade server or rack server), a network storage device, or
any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance,
functionality, and price. An IHS may include Random Access Memory
(RAM), one or more processing resources such as a Central
Processing Unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic,
Read-Only Memory (ROM), and/or other types of nonvolatile memory.
Additional components of an IHS may include one or more disk
drives, one or more network ports for communicating with external
devices as well as various I/O devices, such as a keyboard, a
mouse, touchscreen, and/or a video display. An IHS may also include
one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the
various hardware components.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of Information Handling System
(IHS) 100 with hovering keyboard 103. In this illustrative,
non-limiting embodiment, IHS 100 includes display 101 and base or
chassis 102, coupled to each other via hinge 104. Chassis 102
includes trackpad 105 or the like, and it holds keyboard 103. In
this implementation, IHS 100 has a laptop or notebook form factor,
such that keyboard 103 is directly integrated thereto. In other
implementations, however, IHS 100 may be a desktop computer, video
game console, appliance, etc., and keyboard 103 may be a peripheral
keyboard separate from IHS 100. In those cases, keyboard 103 may be
coupled to IHS 100 via a cable or wire (e.g., over a PS/2
connector, USB bus, etc.) or wirelessly (e.g., Bluetooth). Inputs
made at keyboard 103 are communicated to keyboard controller 300
(shown in FIG. 3) for use by IHS 100.
[0025] In this example, hovering keyboard 103 is depicted with
three layers or membranes: an electromechanical layer 103A,
backlight illumination layer 103B, and proximity sensing layer
103C. When hovering keyboard 103 is assembled, layers 103A-C are
stacked on top of each other to operate as follows:
Electromechanical layer 103A is where keycap assemblies reside, and
it is configured to detect physical keypresses against key caps;
backlight illumination layer 103B comprises a plurality of LEDs
configured to illuminate key caps from the bottom up; and proximity
sensing layer is configured to detect hovering keypresses, such
that in some cases, a finger's proximity to a key cap, without
actually touching it, can also be detected as a keypress.
[0026] In other hovering keyboard implementations, the order in
which layers 103B and 103C are stacked may be different than what
is shown in FIG. 1. In some cases, layers 103A-C may be combined:
for example, layers 103B and 103C may be provided as a single
membrane.
[0027] With respect to electromechanical layer 103A, key caps
extend out of an upper surface of keyboard 103 to provide a user
with selectable inputs based upon the characters associated with
the keys, such as a QWERTY keyboard that provides ASCI binary code
inputs to the keyboard controller. A membrane disposed beneath keys
may detect key inputs and generate a signal unique to each key. The
membrane may be, for example, a flexible printed circuit board with
wirelines that feed to a cable so that key inputs may be uniquely
identified. Lever structures may be disposed below the keycaps to
bias the keys in an upwards direction. End users provide inputs by
pressing on keys to overcome the bias of these lever structures, to
thereby impact the membrane.
[0028] As a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize,
hovering keyboard 103 may have a variety suitable of structures for
placement of keys as individual caps (or assembled as one part) and
for biasing keys (such as springs, magnets, and/or other types of
devices).
[0029] Electromechanical layer 103A provides a grid of circuits
underneath the keys of keyboard 103 that forms an N.times.M matrix.
These circuits are configured to generate signals in response to
the user pressing the keys. For example, the circuits may be broken
underneath the keys such that, when a user depresses a given key,
the electric circuit underneath that key is completed. Keyboard
controller 300 receives a signal output by that circuit and
compares the location of the circuit to a character map stored in
its memory to determine which key was physically pressed.
[0030] Backlight illumination layer 103B may include an Organic
Light Emitting Diode (OLED) material, such as an OLED film that is
selectively powered with an electrical current under the control of
keyboard controller 300. The OLED film be disposed at various
locations of keyboard's structure in order to obtain desired
illumination at selected keys. For example, the OLED film may be
deposited directly on electrical contacts of membrane 103B so that
a controller may selectively illuminate OLED film under any keycap,
by applying an electrical current to it. In some cases, backlight
illumination layer 103B may further include a lightguide structure
or the like, configured to route light from its LED source to a
particular keycap through keyboard 103.
[0031] Proximity sensing layer 103C provides keyboard 103 with the
ability to detect keypresses without the end user making physical
contact with key caps. The proximity sensors of sensing layer 103C
may comprise any of a number of different types of known sensors
configured to measure a distance or proximity of an object, and to
produce corresponding signals in response. In some implementations,
proximity sensors may overlay or lie underneath the keys of
hovering keyboard 103. In other implementations, sensors may be
integrated within each respective key.
[0032] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the proximity sensors may
include a grid of sensors underneath the keys of keyboard 103
disposed on layer 103C. The proximity sensors may be capacitive
sensors configured such that their electric fields (sensing fields)
are directed through the key caps and upward from the top surface
keyboard 103. The proximity sensors are configured to detect an
object such as a user's fingers, and to produce signals
representative of the proximity of the object. Keyboard controller
300 may process these signals to determine the position and/or
movement of the detected object relative to the proximity sensors,
and to capture inputs having certain characteristics as
corresponding hovering keystrokes.
[0033] In some implementations, the detection of hovering
keystrokes via proximity sensing layer 103C may take place in
addition, or as an alternative to, the concurrent detection of
physical keystrokes by electromechanical layer 103A.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of IHS 100.
Particularly, IHS 100 may include one or more processors 201. In
various embodiments, IHS 100 may be a single-processor system
including one processor 201, or a multi-processor system including
two or more processors 201. Processor(s) 201 may include any
processor capable of executing program instructions, such as an
INTEL PENTIUM series processor or any general-purpose or embedded
processors implementing any of a variety of Instruction Set
Architectures (ISAs), such as an x86 ISA or a Reduced Instruction
Set Computer (RISC) ISA (e.g., POWERPC, ARM, SPARC, MIPS,
etc.).
[0035] IHS 100 includes chipset 202 that may have one or more
integrated circuits coupled to processor(s) 201. In certain
embodiments, the chipset 202 may utilize a DMI (Direct Media
Interface) or QPI (QuickPath Interconnect) bus 203 for
communicating with processor(s) 201.
[0036] Chipset 202 provides processor(s) 201 with access to a
variety of resources. For instance, chipset 202 provides access to
system memory 205 over memory bus 204. System memory 205 may be
configured to store program instructions and/or data accessible by
processors(s) 201. In various embodiments, system memory 205 may be
implemented using any suitable memory technology, such as static
RAM (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), nonvolatile/Flash-type
memory, or any other type of memory.
[0037] Chipset 202 may also provide access to graphics processor
207. In certain embodiments, graphics processor 207 may be part of
one or more video or graphics cards that have been installed as
components of IHS 100. Graphics processor 207 may be coupled to
chipset 202 via graphics bus 206 such as provided by an Accelerated
Graphics Port (AGP) bus, or a Peripheral Component Interconnect
Express (PCIe) bus. In certain embodiments, graphics processor 207
generates display signals and provides them to display device 208.
In certain embodiments, display device 208 may be a touch-sensitive
display.
[0038] In some implementations, chipset 202 may also provide access
to one or more user input devices 211. For instance, chipset 202
may be coupled to super I/O controller (SIO) 210 or an embedded
controller (EC) via eSPI (Enhanced Serial Peripheral Interface) or
Low-Pin Count (LPC) bus 213, and SIO 210 may provide interfaces for
a variety of user input devices 211 (e.g., lower bandwidth and low
data rate devices). Particularly, SIO 210 may provide access to
keyboard 103 and a mouse, or other peripheral input devices such as
keypads, biometric scanning devices, and voice or optical
recognition devices.
[0039] SIO 210 may also provide an interface for communications
with one or more sensor devices 212, which may include environment
sensors, such as a temperature sensor or other cooling system
sensors. These I/O devices, such as user input devices 211 and
sensor devices 212, may interface with SIO 210 through wired or
wireless connections.
[0040] Other resources may also be coupled to processor(s) 201 of
IHS 100 through chipset 202. For example, chipset 202 may be
coupled to network interface 209, such as a Network Interface
Controller (NIC). In certain embodiments, network interface 209 may
be coupled to chipset 202 via a PCIe bus. Network interface 209 may
support communication via various wired and/or wireless
networks.
[0041] Chipset 202 may also provide access to one or more hard disk
and/or solid state drives 215. In certain embodiments, chipset 202
may also provide access to one or more optical drives 214 or other
removable-media drives. Any or all of drive devices 214 and 215 may
be integral to IHS 100, or they may be located remotely. Chipset
202 may also provide access to one or more Universal Serial Bus
(USB) ports 216.
[0042] In certain implementations, chipset IHS 202 may support an
I.sup.2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) bus that may be used to
communicate with various types of microcontrollers, microprocessor
and integrated circuits that are typically integrated components of
the motherboard of the IHS 100 and perform specialized operations.
For example, such an I.sup.2C bus may be utilized to transmit and
receive keystroke and hovering keystroke information from an
attached keyboard device, and to provide that information to an
operating system (OS) executed by IHS 100.
[0043] Another resource that may be accessed by processor(s) 201
via chipset 202 is Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) 217. Upon
booting of IHS 100, processor(s) 201 may utilize BIOS 217
instructions to initialize and test hardware components coupled to
IHS 100 and to load an OS for use by IHS 100. BIOS 217 provides an
abstraction layer that allows the OS to interface with certain
hardware components that are utilized by IHS 100. The Unified
Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) was designed as a successor to
BIOS; many modern IHSs utilize UEFI in addition to or instead of a
BIOS. As used herein, BIOS is also intended to encompass UEFI.
[0044] Chipset 202 may also provide an interface for communications
with one or more sensors 212. Sensors 212 may be disposed within
display 101, chassis 102, keyboard 103, hinge 104, and/or trackpad
105, and may include, but are not limited to: electric, magnetic,
radio, optical, infrared, thermal, force, pressure, acoustic,
ultrasonic, proximity, position, deformation, bending, direction,
movement, velocity, gyroscope, rotation, and/or acceleration
sensor(s).
[0045] In various embodiments, keyboard controller 300 (shown in
FIG. 3) may utilize different interfaces for communicating with the
OS of IHS 100. For instance, keyboard controller 300 may interface
with the chipset 202 via super I/O controller 210.
[0046] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of electronic components of
hovering keyboard 103. As depicted, components of keyboard 103
include keyboard controller or processor 300 coupled to
electromechanical module 301, lighting module 302, and proximity
module 303. Each of modules 301-303 may include electronic circuits
and/or program instructions that enable that module to communicate
with keyboard controller 300.
[0047] Electromechanical module 301 may be used to control the
operation of and/or to detect events originated by
electromechanical layer 103A, lighting module 302 may be used to
control the operation of backlight illumination layer 103B, and
proximity module 303 may be used to control the operation of and/or
to detect events originated by proximity sensing layer 103C. In
other implementations, an additional wireless communication module
(not shown) may be coupled to keyboard controller 300 to enable
communications between keyboard 103 and IHS 100 using a suitable
wireless protocol.
[0048] Keyboard controller 300 may be configured to detect and
identify individual physical keypresses or keystrokes made by the
end user via electromechanical layer 103A. Keyboard controller or
processor 300 may also be configured to control the operation of
each individual LED of backlight illumination layer 103B using
parameters such as, for example, a selected location (e.g., in an
N.times.M matrix, as an identified key or set of keys, etc.), a
selected color (e.g., when the backlight includes RGB LEDs), and a
selected intensity (e.g., brighter or dimmer). In addition,
keyboard controller 300 may be configured to detect and identify
individual hovering keypresses made by the end user via proximity
sensing layer 103C.
[0049] In various embodiments, IHS 100 and/or hovering keyboard 103
may not include all of components shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
respectively. Additionally, or alternatively, IHS 100 and/or
hovering keyboard 103 may include components in addition to those
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. Additionally, or
alternatively, components represented as discrete in FIGS. 2 and 3
may instead be integrated with other components. For example, all
or a portion of the functionality provided by these various
components may be provided as a System-On-Chip (SOC), or the
like.
[0050] FIG. 4 is sectional view of hovering keyboard 103 in
operation, according to some embodiments. As depicted, hovering
keyboard 103 includes electromechanical layer 103A, backlight
illumination layer 103B, and proximity sensing layer 103C.
Electromechanical layer 103A hosts a key assembly, which includes
keycap 401 as well as a dome, switches, and/or levers configured to
receive and capture physical keystrokes.
[0051] Backlight illumination layer 103B includes lighting element
402 under key assembly 401. Illumination element 402 may include
one or more LEDs (or one or more transparent areas from where light
can exist a light guide, for example) that are configured to shine
light 405, using one or more selected parameters (e.g., color,
intensity, etc.), under keycap 401. In some cases, element 402 may
be disposed in a matrix of like elements as part of backlight
illumination layer 103B, each element located under a corresponding
key of electromechanical layer 103A.
[0052] Proximity sensing layer 103C includes proximity sensor 403
under key assembly 401, such as a capacitive sensor, an infrared
sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor that is configured to provide
sensing field 406. Examples of suitable proximity sensors include
GESTIC sensors from Microchip Technology Inc. In some cases,
proximity sensor 403 may be disposed in a matrix of similar
elements on proximity sensing layer 103C, and each proximity sensor
may be located under a respective key of electromechanical layer
103A.
[0053] In this example, assume that the user's finger or fingertip
404 is resting at position 407 relative to proximity sensing layer
103C. When finger 404 travels by a selected or configurable
distance 409 (in the vertical axis "z") to position 408 from
proximity sensing layer 103C, the disturbance caused by the user's
finger 404 upon sense field 406 triggers detection of a hovering
keypress corresponding to keycap 401--without finger 404 having to
touch keycap 401.
[0054] In some cases, height 407 may be configured to become
aligned with the height of keycap 401, shown here as height 410. In
that case, a hovering keypress can be detected when key cap 401
travels by distance 409 (e.g., 1 mm or 2 mm) from its initial
position--a shorter travel distance (and less force) than a
physical keypress would require.
[0055] In some implementations, the flickering or snapping action
of a fingertip by travel distance 409 may be interpreted as a
hovering keystroke. An initial value (e.g., 2 mm) for travel
distance 409 may be set during a calibration or training phase.
Thereafter, in order to detect hovering keystrokes with reduced
latency, processor 201 and/or 300 may be configured to predict
hovering keypresses based upon the user's behavior.
[0056] FIGS. 5A and 5B show hovering keyboard 103 being used to
detect hand gestures according to some embodiments. Particularly,
in configuration 500A, a user's hand 500 hovers over keyboard 103
and performs a single-handed gesture (e.g., a swiping gesture) in
the position indicated by light pattern 501. Different colors
and/or brightness settings may be applied to light pattern 501
under selected keycaps, for example, to guide a user's hand to a
proper position.
[0057] For instance, selected key caps may light up with an
intensity proportional to the distance between the hand and those
keys, such that the amount of light increases (or the color
changes) as the user moves hand 500 toward those keys. Then, the
same lights (or all lights) may blink a number of times when the
user reaches the proper position for detection, or when a gesture
sequence is recognized. As a person of ordinary skill in the art
will recognize, however, other suitable lighting patterns or
instructions may be used.
[0058] Configuration 500B of FIG. 5B shows left hand 501L and right
hand 501R resting over hovering keyboard 103 above light patterns
503L and 503R, respectively. In this case, areas 503L and 503R
indicate expected or identified two-handed gestures (e.g., two
concurrent swipes). Moreover, the IHS may light up selected keys
503L and 503R corresponding to the position of hands 501L and 501R
over hovering keyboard 103, such that each of the selected keys is
lit with a color and/or a brightness corresponding to a current
distance between a portion of the hand above the selected keys and
the hovering keyboard 103.
[0059] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of method 600 for configuring the
layout of a hovering keyboard using gestures, according to some
embodiments. In various implementations, program instructions for
executing method 600 may be stored in memory 205 and are executable
by processor(s) 201. In some cases, method 600 may be performed by
one or more standalone software applications, drivers, libraries,
or toolkits, accessible via an Application Programming Interface
(API) or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, method 600 may
be performed by the IHS's OS.
[0060] Method 600 begins at block 601. At block 602, method 600
begins detecting the user's hand(s) using proximity sensors 403
while the user performs single handed or two-handed gestures,
physical keystrokes, or hovering keystrokes. Generally, detection
begins when proximity sensor data is received at IHS 100 from
proximity sensing layer 103C of hovering keyboard 103. In some
implementations, proximity sensor data may be processed, to some
degree, by keyboard controller 300. Then, the proximity sensor data
may be further processed by processor(s) 201.
[0061] For example, proximity signals that exhibit above-threshold
distances and/or motion over a suitable time interval are
collected, and then processor(s) 201 attempts to match the captured
proximity sensor data to a geometric model of a user's hand. If a
suitable match is found, then the hand may be recognized as that of
the corresponding user.
[0062] In some embodiments, processor(s) 201 be configured to
analyze proximity signals from each distinct sensor in order to
determine what part of the user's hand each signal represents. A
number of different hand-part assignment techniques may be used.
For instance, each signal may be assigned a hand-part index. The
hand-part index may include a discrete identifier, confidence
value, and/or hand-part probability distribution indicating the
hand part or parts to which that signal is likely to
correspond.
[0063] Machine learning may be used to assign each signal a
hand-part index and/or hand-part probability distribution. A
machine-learning module may analyze a user's hand with reference to
information learned from a previously trained collection of known
hands and/or hand features.
[0064] During a training phase, a variety of hand positions may be
observed, and trainers may label various classifiers in the
observed data. The observed data and annotations may then be used
to generate one or more machine-learned algorithms that map inputs
(e.g., observation data from proximity sensors) to desired outputs
(e.g., hand-part indices for relevant signals).
[0065] Thereafter, a partial virtual skeleton may be fit to at
least one hand part identified. In some embodiments, a hand-part
designation may be assigned to each skeletal segment and/or each
joint. Such virtual skeleton may include any type and number of
skeletal segments and joints, including each individual finger.
[0066] In some embodiments, each joint may be assigned a number of
parameters, such as, for example, Cartesian coordinates specifying
its position, angles specifying its rotation, and other parameters
(e.g., open hand, closed hand, length, width, joint position, angle
of joint rotation, and a description of any finger segment). Then,
a virtual skeleton may be fit to each of a sequence of hand parts
identified from the proximity sensor data.
[0067] At block 603, method 600 determines whether a gesture is
being or has been performed. For example, a "gesture" may have a
Start phase (S) with a standalone gesture, a motion phase (M) with
a sequence of gestures following each other, and an end phase (E)
with another standalone gesture. In some embodiments, a look-up
table may be used to store key attributes and/or reference images
of start, motion, and end phases for each gesture sequence to be
recognized, for two-handed and one-handed cases. As used herein,
the term "look-up table" or "LUT" refers to an array or matrix of
data that contains items that are searched. In many cases, an LUT
may be arranged as key-value pairs, where the keys are the data
items being searched (looked up) and the values are either the
actual data or pointers to where the data are located.
[0068] The training phase may store user-specific finger/hand
attributes (e.g., asking user 101 to splay fingers), such as motion
velocity or asynchrony. For example, a start or end phase LUT may
be created to include reference images or attributes, whereas a
motion phase LUT may be created to include relative 6-axes data.
The amount of time a user has to hold their hands and/or fingers in
position for each phase of gesture sequence (S, M, and E) may be
configurable.
[0069] In block 604, if a hand gesture is recognized, method 600
configures one or more layout aspects of hovering keyboard 103, and
method ends at block 605. Otherwise, if the gesture is not
recognized in block 603, control returns to block 602.
[0070] Examples of keyboard layout configuration operations
include, but are not limited to: enabling or disabling physical
keypresses over selected keycaps or zones, enabling or disabling
hovering keypresses over selected keycaps or zones, enabling or
disabling gesture detection over selected keycaps or zones,
enabling or disabling keyboard illumination or lighting event under
selected keycaps or zones, mapping keys to selected commands (e.g.,
according to the user's preferences, an application being executed,
etc.).
[0071] FIG. 7 is a diagram of different zones of hovering keyboard
103. In some embodiments, hovering keyboard 103 includes number pad
zone 701, "f-key" zone 702, right side 703, and left side 704. In
other embodiments, however, any number of zones may be configured
with any subset of key caps as part of a layout configuration
operation.
[0072] In various implementations, a user may configure any of
zones 701-704 to perform gesture detection, physical keystroke
detection, hovering keystroke detection, or any combination
thereof. Additionally, or alternatively, each zone may be enabled
or disabled to process selected gestures, to the exclusion of other
gestures. For example, zone 703 may be configured to detect right
swiping or waving gestures only, and zone 704 may be configured to
detect left swiping or waving gestures only.
[0073] For sake of illustration, consider an implementation example
where right side 703 of keyboard 103 is configured to map swiping
gestures into a first command (e.g. a right shift or arrow), and
left side 704 is configured to map swiping gestures into a second
command (e.g. a left shift or arrow). In that manner, a user can
control different aspects of a slideshow application, for example,
using hovering gestures, at the same time as physical keystrokes
(and/or hovering keystrokes) are received. The physical keystrokes
may be mapped to the same application, or to any other
application.
[0074] In some implementations, each of zones 701-704 may be
selectively illuminated using backlight illumination layer 103B
under respective keycaps to help a user visualize the different
zones. For example, each of zones 701-704 may light up with a
different color in response to a user's command, or during
execution of a zone configuration tool.
[0075] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a configuration example. In this
example, physical keystrokes detected by hovering keyboard 103 may
be mapped to first application 801. For example, first application
801 may be a document processor or web browser.
[0076] Hovering keyboard 103 may also be split into two zones, left
zone 803 and right zone 804. In some cases, a swiping gesture
detected on right zone 804 may be translated into a next page or
forward command in first application 801, whereas a swiping gesture
detected on left zone 803 may be translated into a previous page or
backward command in first application 801.
[0077] In other cases, however, a swiping gesture detected on right
zone 804 may be translated into a next page or forward command 806
in second application 802, and a swiping gesture detected on left
zone 803 may be translated into a previous page or backward command
805 in application 802. For example, second application 802 may be
a slideshow, and commands 805 and 806 let the user navigate
different media items 807. Meanwhile, hovering keyboard 103 may
continue to map physical and/or hovering keystrokes to first
application 801.
[0078] In some cases, a hovering keyboard 103 may have physical
keystrokes mapped to a first application, hovering keystrokes
mapped to a second application, and hand gestures mapped to a third
application. In some cases, one or more of these applications may
be rendered in an external display coupled to IHS 100.
[0079] In other cases, hand gestures may themselves be used to
configure layout aspects of hovering keyboard 103. For instance,
gestures may be used to enable or disable hovering keystroke
detection in or more zones, to reconfigure or remap f-keys to
custom commands, to enable or disable keys, to change the keyboard
layout, to set a keypress latency adjustment, to set a hovering
parameter or distance (407-410), to change a light pattern or to
customize colors or light intensity, to toggle between different
operating modes of a foldable or 2-in-1 IHS (e.g., to toggle
between keyboard and "surface" to write notes back and forth in a
dual display device), etc.
[0080] It should be understood that various operations described
herein may be implemented in software executed by logic or
processing circuitry, hardware, or a combination thereof. The order
in which each operation of a given method is performed may be
changed, and various operations may be added, reordered, combined,
omitted, modified, etc. It is intended that the invention(s)
described herein embrace all such modifications and changes and,
accordingly, the above description should be regarded in an
illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
[0081] Although the invention(s) is/are described herein with
reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and
changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention(s), as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the
specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative
rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are
intended to be included within the scope of the present
invention(s). Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems
that are described herein with regard to specific embodiments are
not intended to be construed as a critical, required, or essential
feature or element of any or all the claims.
[0082] Unless stated otherwise, terms such as "first" and "second"
are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms
describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to
indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements. The
terms "coupled" or "operably coupled" are defined as connected,
although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily
mechanically. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more
unless stated otherwise. The terms "comprise" (and any form of
comprise, such as "comprises" and "comprising"), "have" (and any
form of have, such as "has" and "having"), "include" (and any form
of include, such as "includes" and "including") and "contain" (and
any form of contain, such as "contains" and "containing") are
open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a system, device, or
apparatus that "comprises," "has," "includes" or "contains" one or
more elements possesses those one or more elements but is not
limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Similarly, a
method or process that "comprises," "has," "includes" or "contains"
one or more operations possesses those one or more operations but
is not limited to possessing only those one or more operations.
* * * * *