US 11,888,472 B2
Limiting inadvertent actuations of a touchpad
Robbie Edgar, Redmond, WA (US); Carl Edward Picciotto, Clyde Hill, WA (US); and Aric Ahkeel Fitz-Coy, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed by Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC, Redmond, WA (US)
Filed on Feb. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/591,373.
Application 17/591,373 is a division of application No. 15/978,065, filed on May 11, 2018, granted, now 11,245,396.
Prior Publication US 2022/0158636 A1, May 19, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H03K 17/96 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/0354 (2013.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); H01L 41/04 (2006.01); G06F 3/038 (2013.01); G06F 3/0338 (2013.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); H10N 30/80 (2023.01)
CPC H03K 17/962 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1679 (2013.01); G06F 1/1681 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/0338 (2013.01); G06F 3/0383 (2013.01); G06F 3/03547 (2013.01); G06F 3/0418 (2013.01); H10N 30/80 (2023.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
19. A method of limiting inadvertent actuations of a touchpad that is included in a computing device, the method comprising:
receiving an input at a user interface of the computing device from a user;
generating, by the computing device, a device-generated electrical control signal based at least on the input; and
causing a locking assembly of the computing device to mechanically inhibit the touchpad from depressing a mechanically-activated switch that is disposed adjacent to a first end of the touchpad, which inhibits the touchpad from pivoting about a pivot point of a hinge that is coupled to a second end of the touchpad that is opposite the first end of the touchpad, by providing the electrical control signal to the locking assembly based at least in part on:
detection, at the touchpad, of a scrolling input having a depression force that is greater than or equal to a depression force threshold,
detection, at the touchpad, of a long-duration pressure input having a force that is greater than or equal to the depression force threshold,
detection of a long-duration pressure input over a surface area that is greater than a surface area threshold, or
detection of three or more simultaneous pressure points on a touch surface of the touch pad.