Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080266266 | Touchscreen for detecting multiple touches - A touchscreen system comprises a touch area. At least one transmitter is positioned proximate to outer edges of the touch area for transmitting first beams in a first direction. At least one beam splitter is positioned proximate to the outer edges of the touch area for splitting the first beams into at least second and third beams that travel through the touch area in at least second and third directions, respectively. The at least one beam splitter comprises a plurality of deflecting elements. Receivers are positioned proximate to the outer edges of the touch area for receiving the at least second and third beams. | 10-30-2008 |
20090008160 | Method and system for detecting touch events based on magnitude ratios - A method for detecting a touch event on a touch panel comprises obtaining at least first and second signals from at least two sensors where the at least first and second signals are responsive to a touch event. A first amplitude magnitude associated with the first signal is calculated and a second amplitude magnitude associated with the second signal is calculated. A magnitude ratio is determined between the first and second amplitude magnitudes, and a touch location is identified based on the magnitude ratio. | 01-08-2009 |
20090009488 | Method and system for detecting touch events based on redundant validation - A method of detecting a touch event on an acoustic fingerprint based touch system comprises digitizing at least two signals to form first and second sets of digitized signals. The at least two signals are received from at least two sensors on a touch panel. A frequency transform is performed upon the first and second sets of digitized signals to form first and second frequency transform data sets of frequency components. At least first and second live fingerprints are constructed wherein at least one of the first and second live fingerprints is based on the first and second frequency transform data sets. A touch location is identified based on the at least first and second live fingerprints. | 01-08-2009 |
20090046073 | Touchscreen using both carbon nanoparticles and metal nanoparticles - A cover sheet assembly is provided for a touchscreen system. The cover sheet assembly includes an insulating layer having a surface configured to be disposed over an electrically conductive area of a substrate of the touchscreen system, and an electrically conductive material disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the insulating layer. The electrically conductive material includes a plurality of carbon nanoparticles and a plurality of metal nanoparticles. | 02-19-2009 |
20090046078 | Touchscreen using oriented microscopic linear conductive elements - A cover sheet assembly is provided for a touchscreen system. The cover sheet assembly includes an insulating layer having a surface configured to be disposed over an electrically conductive area of a substrate of the touchscreen system. An electrically conductive material is disposed on at least a portion of the insulating layer surface. The electrically conductive material includes a plurality of microscopic linear conductive elements arranged in a pattern that is oriented with respect to a first direction of a first polarization of light such that the electrically conductive material is more transparent to the first polarization of light than to a second polarization of light that is polarized in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. | 02-19-2009 |
20090109195 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LAPLACE CONSTRAINED TOUCHSCREEN CALIBRATION - A computer readable medium has instructions to calibrate a touch system by detecting touch points on a touchscreen that are each associated with touchscreen coordinates in a touchscreen coordinate system. The instructions associated each of the touch points with known calibration targets, and each of the calibration targets has display coordinates in a display coordinate system that is associated with at least one of a display screen and an operating system. The instructions fit the display coordinates and the touchscreen coordinates non-linearly with respect to each other based on a generalized Laplace-constrained fit that is used to identify correction parameters used to map a user generated run-time touch point on the touchscreen to a display coordinate location on a display screen. The correction parameters represent non-linear corrections. | 04-30-2009 |
20090322700 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING TWO SIMULTANEOUS TOUCHES AND GESTURES ON A RESISTIVE TOUCHSCREEN - Resistive touchscreen system has substrate and coversheet with first and second conductive coatings. The substrate and coversheet are positioned proximate each other such that the first conductive coating faces the second conductive coating. The substrate and coversheet are electrically disconnected with respect to each other in the absence of a touch. First set of electrodes is formed on the substrate for establishing voltage gradients in first direction. Second set of electrodes is formed on the coversheet for establishing voltage gradients in second direction wherein the first and second directions are different. Controller biases the first and second sets of electrodes in first and second cycles and senses a bias load resistance associated with at least one of the sets of electrodes. The bias load resistance has a reference value associated with no touch. A decrease in the bias load resistance relative to the reference value indicates two simultaneous touches. | 12-31-2009 |
20100214231 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TWO-FINGER TOUCH COORDINATE RECOGNITION AND ROTATION GESTURE RECOGNITION - A resistive touchscreen system comprises a substrate, a coversheet and a controller. The coversheet comprises a first conductive coating and the substrate comprises a second conductive coating. The substrate and coversheet are positioned proximate each other such that the first conductive coating faces the second conductive coating, and the substrate and coversheet are electrically disconnected with respect to each other in the absence of a touch. The controller is configured to (a) identify a multiple touch state when the substrate and coversheet are electrically connected with respect to each other at at least two touch locations, (b) to detect, over time, a plurality of apparent touch coordinates, (c) identify two possible X coordinates and two possible Y coordinates associated with at least one of the apparent touch coordinates, and (d) identify coordinate locations of two touches based on the apparent touch coordinates and the two possible X and Y coordinates. | 08-26-2010 |
20100295813 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PROJECTED CAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREEN HAVING GROUPED ELECTRODES - A projected capacitive touchscreen system has triangular-shaped electrodes coupled to a substrate. Adjacent ones of the electrodes alternate between first and second orientations to form an interleaved arrangement. The electrodes having the first orientation are electrically connected into greater than two groups that each have at least two semi-adjacent electrodes and the electrodes having the second orientation are electrically connected into at least one group that has at least two semi-adjacent electrodes. A controller detects signal levels associated with at least one touch on the substrate from the greater than two groups and the at least one group. The signal levels are used to determine both X and Y coordinate positions of the at least one touch. | 11-25-2010 |
20100295814 | ELECTRODE CONFIGURATIONS FOR PROJECTED CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN - A projected capacitive touch screen is provided that comprises a substrate and electrodes. The substrate defines an active touch zone surrounded by edges. The active touch zone includes a central active zone and an acceleration zone that is located proximate to, and extends along, at least one of the edges. The electrodes are provided on the substrate and are organized into first and second sets of electrodes that are contained within a common plane on the substrate. The first set of electrodes is interlaced with the second set of electrodes in a non-overlapping pattern on the substrate. At least a subset of the electrodes each has an apex and a base and a non-uniform triangular shape that extends along a longitudinal axis between the apex and the base. The subset of the electrodes is located such that at least a portion of the non-uniform triangular shape is located within the acceleration zone. The non-uniform triangular shape may be formed in part by varying an electrode width more rapidly near a perimeter of the active touch zone than the variation of the electrode width near a center of the active touch zone. The non-uniform triangular shape and non-overlapping pattern provide edge acceleration to compensate for signal loss when a portion of a finger contact area moves beyond the edge outside of the active touch zone. The non-uniform triangular shape may include a first pitch proximate to the base and a second pitch proximate to the apex. The pitch represents a rate of change in a width of the electrode per unit of distance along the longitudinal axis of the electrode. | 11-25-2010 |
20110025638 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PROJECTED CAPACITIVE TOUCHSCREEN HAVING WEIGHT BASED COORDINATE DETERMINATION - A touch location on a capacitive touchscreen system is identified by receiving signals in response to a touch from electronic channels connected to one electrode or to a group of semi-adjacent electrodes provided on a substrate. Adjacent ones of the electrodes have substantially triangular shapes that alternate between a first and second orientation to form an interleaved arrangement such that the touch generates a signal cluster comprising the signals generated from a series of adjacent electronic channels. Weights with at least two different numerical values are applied to the signals from the series of adjacent electronic channels. The at least two different numerical values are based on levels of the signals. A location of the touch on the substrate is determined based on the weighted signals. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025649 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING HOLD CONDITION ON AN ACOUSTIC TOUCH SURFACE - A bending wave touch system includes at least one sensor and a touchscreen controller. The at least one sensor is coupled to a substrate and is responsive to vibrations in the substrate. The at least one sensor outputs signals. The controller receives the signals from the at least one sensor and identifies touch coordinates based on high frequency components of the signals when a touch on the substrate includes at least one of a tap, a drag and a lift-off. The controller identifies a status of a hold condition of the touch based on at least two different time averages of low frequency components of the signals. | 02-03-2011 |
20110199315 | TOUCH PANEL THAT HAS AN IMAGE LAYER AND DETECTS BENDING WAVES - A touch panel includes a substrate that has top and bottom surfaces. A reflective image layer has top and bottom surfaces and displays an image. The bottom surface of the reflective image layer is bonded to the top surface of the substrate to form a stack having top and bottom sides. At least one sensor detects signals associated with bending waves propagating through the stack. The signals are used to identify coordinate locations of at least one touch event on the top or bottom sides of the stack, or to identify coordinate locations of touch events on both of the top and bottom sides of the stack. | 08-18-2011 |
20110234545 | Bezel-less Acoustic Touch Apparatus - An acoustic touch apparatus is provided that includes a substrate capable of propagating surface acoustic waves, such as Rayleigh-type or Love-type waves. The substrate has a front surface, a back surface, and a curved connecting surface formed between the front surface and the back surface. The apparatus also includes at least one acoustic wave transducer and at least one reflective array, the acoustic wave transducer and the reflective array behind the back surface of the substrate. The acoustic wave transducer is capable of transmitting or receiving surface acoustic waves to or from the reflective array. The reflective array is capable of acoustically coupling the surface acoustic waves to propagate from the back surface and across the front surface via the curved connecting surface. Various types of acoustic touch apparatus with edge sensitive touch functions can be provided, according to specific embodiments. | 09-29-2011 |
20110254812 | ACOUSTIC TOUCH SENSOR - A touch sensor comprises a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves. The substrate includes a first surface having a touch sensitive region. A transducer is formed on the substrate. The transducer comprises a piezoelectric element which is thermally cured after being formed on the substrate. The transducer is configured for at least one of generating acoustic waves and detecting acoustic waves. Alternatively, the transducer may include a strip comprising the piezoelectric element. | 10-20-2011 |
20110279409 | System and Method for Detecting Locations of Touches on a Touch Sensor - A projected capacitive touch sensor system includes a substrate that defines a plurality of non-overlapping areas. Each non-overlapping area includes a plurality of detection electrodes arranged in non-overlapping columns. The columns include a horizontal detection electrode that extends along substantially an entire height of a first column, and at least a second column of at least two vertical detection electrodes that are electrically isolated from one another. The system further includes a measuring circuit configured to measure a mutual capacitance between the horizontal detection electrode and each of the at least two vertical detection electrodes in a given area. A processing logic circuit of the system is configured to determine horizontal detection electrode and vertical detection electrode combinations that have a changed mutual capacitance. The processing logic is also configured to determine the touch location based on a location of the determined horizontal detection electrode and vertical electrode combinations. | 11-17-2011 |
20110291996 | MULTI-LAYER COVERSHEET FOR SAW TOUCH PANEL - A touch panel includes a surface acoustic wave propagating substrate having top and bottom surfaces and a multi-layer coversheet that is positioned over the substrate. The coversheet includes a load-spreading layer, a compliant layer and an anti-sticking layer. The load-spreading layer has top and bottom surfaces, and the top surface receives touch input from an object. The compliant layer has top and bottom surfaces and the top surface of the compliant layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the load-spreading layer. The anti-sticking layer has top and bottom surfaces and the top surface of the anti-sticking layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the compliant layer. The bottom surface of the anti-sticking layer is positioned proximate to the top surface of the substrate. | 12-01-2011 |
20120007837 | Acoustic Touch Sensor - A touch sensor comprises a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves and includes a first surface having a touch sensitive region. A first sidewall intersects the first surface along a first edge. The first edge is configured to propagate a first acoustic wave along the first edge. The first acoustic wave may be a one-dimensional edge wave. A wave converter converts the first acoustic wave to a second acoustic wave, and the first surface is configured to propagate the second acoustic wave across the touch sensitive region. | 01-12-2012 |
20120162094 | MECHANICAL DEFLECTION COMPENSATION FOR A CAPACITIVE TOUCH INPUT DEVICE - A location of contact with a touch sensitive device is determined. Output signals associated with a plurality of electrodes such as formed on a single layer of the touch sensitive device are measured to identify a first electrode positioned at an approximate location of contact with the touch sensor. An output signal associated with a different electrode that is separated from the first electrode is measured to determine an undesired signal amount, such as due to deflection. An undesired single amount associated with the first electrode may be estimated based on the undesired signal amount measured at the other electrode. The signal amount measured at the first electrode is then compensated by the estimated undesired signal amount. The location of contact with the touch sensor is then determined based on the compensated signal amount. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162123 | BACKGROUND CAPACITANCE COMPENSATION FOR A CAPACITIVE TOUCH INPUT DEVICE - A location of contact with a touch sensitive device is determined. Values associated with each electrode of a plurality of electrodes formed on a single layer of the touch sensitive device are sampled. A determination is made as to whether a contact with the touch sensitive device has occurred. Values sampled subsequent to the contact are adjusted based on selected stored sampled values. A location of contact is then determined based on the adjusted values. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166145 | Method and a Touch Sensing Device for Implementing the Method - The present invention relates to a method for reducing noise in a signal sensing a bending wave propagating in an object comprising the steps of: receiving a sensed signal representative of a plurality of locations of the object, and fitting a function satisfying bending wave propagation properties to the sensed signals, thereby reducing noise contributions to the sensed signals not satisfying the bending wave propagation properties. By doing so, noise contributions not satisfying the wave propagation properties can be suppressed from the sensed signal, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio. | 06-28-2012 |
20120182269 | Acoustic Touch Sensor - A touch sensor comprises a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves and includes a first surface having a touch sensitive region. A first sidewall intersects the first surface along a first edge. The first edge is configured to propagate a first acoustic wave along the first edge. The first acoustic wave may be a one-dimensional edge wave. A wave converter converts the first acoustic wave to a second acoustic wave, and the first surface is configured to propagate the second acoustic wave across the touch sensitive region. | 07-19-2012 |
20120280942 | TOUCHSCREEN FOR DETECTING MULTIPLE TOUCHSCREENS - A touchscreen system comprises a touch area. At least one transmitter is positioned proximate to outer edges of the touch area for transmitting first beams in a first direction. At least one beam splitter is positioned proximate to the outer edges of the touch area for splitting the first beams into at least second and third beams that travel through the touch area in at least second and third directions, respectively. The at least one beam splitter comprises a plurality of deflecting elements. Receivers are positioned proximate to the outer edges of the touch area for receiving the at least second and third beams. | 11-08-2012 |
20120329524 | TOUCH SENSOR AND ANTENNA INTEGRATION ALONG AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE HOUSING - An electronic device includes a housing defining first and second user interface areas, a touch-sensitive display disposed in the first user interface area, and a conductive structure disposed along the housing in the second user interface area. The electronic device further includes a capacitive touch controller disposed within the housing and coupled to the conductive structure, the capacitive touch controller being configured to capture user interaction with the conductive structure, and a transceiver disposed within the housing and coupled to the conductive structure, the transceiver being configured for radio frequency (RF) communications. The conductive structure is configured for operation as an antenna to support the RF communications. | 12-27-2012 |
20130093730 | Acoustic Touch Apparatus - An improved acoustic touch apparatus that has a logo or application icon applied on the back surface of a propagating substrate which can be viewed through the substrate and an acoustic element situated adjacent the logo or application icon that can compensate for phase velocity shifts of surface acoustic waves in propagating over the logo or application icon. | 04-18-2013 |
20130093731 | Acoustic Touch Apparatus - Acoustic touch apparatus comprising a substrate having first and second surfaces capable of propagating surface acoustic waves, the second surface comprising a touch region and the first and second surfaces coupled via a rounded connecting surface; at least one acoustic wave transducer on the first surface; and at least one reflective array on the first surface. The transducer is capable of transmitting or receiving waves to and from the reflective array. The substrate and reflective array can acoustically couple waves between the first and second surfaces. The substrate has a border region on the first surface adapted to hide the transducer and reflective array and preclude distortion of waves propagating over a window in the border region. The border region may have a borderlayer except at the window and a corrective lens is used proximate the window, or the border region comprises discolored glass except at the window. | 04-18-2013 |
20130093732 | METHOD FOR DETECTING A TOUCH-AND-HOLD TOUCH EVENT AND CORRESPONDING DEVICE - Methods for determining a touch-and-hold touch event on a touch sensitive interaction surface of a touch sensing device are provided and comprise the steps of: a) determining a touch location of the touch event based on vibrations, such as bending waves, propagating through the interaction surface and b) determining whether the touch event comprises a hold touch event based on a sensed airborne signal. A device configured to carry out such methods is also provided. | 04-18-2013 |
20130120322 | Radial Transducer for Acoustic Wave Touch Sensor - Radial transducers are provided for acoustic touch sensors. Different radial transducer arrangements may allow for locating multiple simultaneous touches without ambiguity, in some embodiments without a bezel. Instead of transmitting acoustic waves along a line to be reflected at multiple points, surface acoustic waves are transmitted in a radial wave pattern. Surface acoustic waves are transmitted along different angles spread out over at least part of the touch region. Various techniques may be used to generate the radial wave pattern, such as a convex wedge of a wedge transducer, interference patterns, a curved piezoelectric element, a curved reflector, a curved edge of the substrate, a curved grating, or one or more lenses. These devices for controlling the spread of the surface acoustic waves may alternatively be used for control of the surface acoustic rays for transmission along a single line or just along two lines (e.g., X and Y axes). | 05-16-2013 |
20130120323 | Radial Layout for Acoustic Wave Touch Sensor - Surface acoustic waves in a radial pattern are used to detect touch. Different radial transducer arrangements may allow for locating multiple simultaneous touches without ambiguity. Instead of transmitting along a line to be reflected at multiple points, the surface acoustic waves are transmitted radially. The surface acoustic waves are transmitted along different angles in an angular span spread out over at least part of the touch region. Using acoustic waves traveling along intersecting paths, a point location of a touch may be determined by detection, in part, of at least one angle. | 05-16-2013 |
20130147768 | Acoustic Touch Signal Dispersion Mitigation - A touch input system includes a substrate configured to support propagation of acoustic signals, a transducer in communication with the substrate and configured to transmit or receive the acoustic signals before or after the propagation, and an array of reflectors disposed on the substrate. Each reflector is oriented on an angle to redirect the acoustic signals along a path toward or away from the transducer. The transducer includes a stepped interface for the redirected acoustic signals. The stepped interface includes a set of interface elements distributed across a width of the acoustic signals and offset from one another along the path to compensate for the angle of the reflectors. | 06-13-2013 |
20130234994 | ACOUSTIC TOUCH APPARATUS WITH VARIABLE THICKNESS SUBSTRATE - An acoustic touch apparatus that has a variable thickness glass substrate that permits the transfer of surface acoustic waves between the back and front surfaces, thus enabling transducers to be placed on the substrate surface opposite the desired touch input surface. | 09-12-2013 |
20130234995 | ACOUSTIC TOUCH APPARATUS WITH MULTI-TOUCH CAPABILITY - An acoustic touch apparatus that utilizes the transfer of surface acoustic waves from one surface, through the touch substrate, to another surface to enable multi-touch capabilities. | 09-12-2013 |
20140104196 | CURVED PROFILE TOUCH SENSOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and related methods providing for touch sensors having at least one non-linear edge. A touch sensor may include a substrate configured to propagate surface acoustic waves. The substrate may include a front surface, a back surface including a reflective array, and a connecting surface joining the front surface and the back surface. The front surface may define a front bowed edge and the back surface may define a back bowed edge. The connecting surface may be between the front bowed edge and the back bowed edge. The reflective array may be configured to cause the surface acoustic waves to propagate from the back surface, is the connecting surface, to the front surface. The touch system may further include circuitry configured to determine a coordinate of a touch event on the front surface based on received attenuations in the surface acoustic waves. | 04-17-2014 |
20140139494 | SEGMENTED WAVEGUIDE CORE TOUCH SENSOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and related methods providing for touch sensors having a waveguide reflective array within a major reflective array are discussed herein. A touch sensor may include a substrate configured to propagate surface acoustic waves. The substrate may include a front surface, a back surface including the reflective arrays, and a connecting surface joining the front surface and the back surface. The reflective arrays may be configured to cause the surface acoustic waves to propagate from the back surface, via the connecting surface, to the front surface. The touch censor may further include circuitry configured to determine a coordinate of a touch event on the front surface based on received attenuations in the surface acoustic waves. | 05-22-2014 |
20140160084 | ACOUSTIC TOUCH APPARATUS - An improved acoustic touch apparatus that has a logo or application icon applied on the back surface of a propagating substrate which can be viewed through the substrate and an acoustic element situated adjacent the logo or application icon that can compensate for phase velocity shifts of surface acoustic waves in propagating over the logo or application icon. | 06-12-2014 |
20140176508 | Bezel-Less Acoustic Touch Apparatus - An acoustic touch apparatus is provided that includes a substrate capable of propagating surface acoustic waves, such as Rayleigh-type or Love-type waves. The substrate has a front surface, a back surface, and a curved connecting surface formed between the front surface and the back surface. The apparatus also includes at least one acoustic wave transducer and at least one reflective array, the acoustic wave transducer and the reflective array behind the back surface of the substrate. The acoustic wave transducer is capable of transmitting or receiving surface acoustic waves to or from the reflective array. The reflective array is capable of acoustically coupling the surface acoustic waves to propagate from the back surface and across the front surface via the curved connecting surface. Various types of acoustic touch apparatus with edge sensitive touch functions can be provided, according to specific embodiments. | 06-26-2014 |
20140192026 | MULTI-TRANSDUCER WAVEGUIDE ARRAYS - Systems and related methods providing for touch sensors having segmented reflective arrays including waveguide cores are discussed herein. A touch sensor may include a substrate configured to propagate surface acoustic waves. The substrate may include two or more segmented reflective arrays. A segmented reflective array may include a major reflective array configured to propagate surface acoustic waves and a waveguide core configured to concentrate acoustic energy of the surface acoustic waves. Two segmented reflective arrays may further include adjacent portions that define an overlap region of the substrate. In some embodiments, the segmented reflective array may further include a beam dump configured to decrease intensity of surface acoustic wave propagation past the end of the segmented reflective array. | 07-10-2014 |
20140253517 | ACOUSTIC TOUCH APPARATUS - An improved acoustic touch apparatus that has a logo or application icon applied on the back surface of a propagating substrate which can be viewed through the substrate and an acoustic element situated adjacent the logo or application icon that can compensate for phase velocity shifts of surface acoustic waves in propagating over the logo or application icon. | 09-11-2014 |
20140267175 | Acoustic Touch Apparatus And Methods Using Touch Sensitive Lamb Waves - Systems and related methods providing for touch sensors using high sensitivity Lamb waves are disclosed herein. A touch apparatus may include a substrate having a front surface and a back surface, where the touch region is on the front surface. The touch apparatus may be configured to propagate surface acoustic waves on at least a portion of the back surface and high sensitivity lamb waves, such as near-longitudinal-resonance Lamb waves, in at least a portion of the touch region of the substrate. The touch system may further include circuitry configured to determine a location of a touch on the front surface based on received attenuations in the high sensitivity Lamb waves. Some embodiments may provide for bezel-less touch sensor designs and anti-dispersion techniques that enhance touch sensor reliability. | 09-18-2014 |