Acoustic pulse coding for imaging of input surfaces
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- an outer cover defining a user input surface for receiving a touch input from a user;
an array of acoustic transducers in communication with the user input surface positioned relative to a periphery of the user input surface;
a controller in communication with each acoustic transducer of the array of acoustic transducers and configured to;
apply a coded impulse signal to at least one acoustic transducer of the array of acoustic transducers, in response to the touch input, to cause the at least one acoustic transducer to propagate a coded acoustic output into the outer cover and toward the user input surface; and
receive reflection information obtained using the at least one acoustic transducer, the reflection information corresponding to one or more acoustic reflections associated with the touch input; and
an image resolver in communication with the controller and configured to receive the reflection information and, in response, generate an image corresponding to the touch input.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An acoustic imaging system includes multiple acoustic transducers disposed to circumscribe a portion of imaging surface. An acoustic imaging system also includes a controller and an image resolver. The acoustic transducers convert electrical signals into mechanical energy and/or mechanical energy into electrical signals. The controller is adapted to apply an electrical signal to the acoustic transducers which, in response, induce a mechanical wave, such as a surface wave, into the circumscribed portion. The controller is also adapted to receive electrical signals from the acoustic transducers. The image resolver uses the electrical signals received by the controller in order to construct an image of an object in physical contact with the imaging surface.
105 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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an outer cover defining a user input surface for receiving a touch input from a user; an array of acoustic transducers in communication with the user input surface positioned relative to a periphery of the user input surface; a controller in communication with each acoustic transducer of the array of acoustic transducers and configured to; apply a coded impulse signal to at least one acoustic transducer of the array of acoustic transducers, in response to the touch input, to cause the at least one acoustic transducer to propagate a coded acoustic output into the outer cover and toward the user input surface; and receive reflection information obtained using the at least one acoustic transducer, the reflection information corresponding to one or more acoustic reflections associated with the touch input; and an image resolver in communication with the controller and configured to receive the reflection information and, in response, generate an image corresponding to the touch input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An acoustic imaging system comprising:
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an outer cover defining a user input surface for receiving touch input from a user; an acoustic transducer disposed on a surface of the outer cover beyond a perimeter of the user input surface, the acoustic transducer tuned to resonate at a predefined frequency; and a controller in communication with the acoustic transducer and configured to apply an impulse voltage signal to the acoustic transducer to induce a resonant mode in the acoustic transducer, thereby causing the acoustic transducer to resonate at the predefined frequency and generate an acoustic output that propagates through the outer cover at the predefined frequency, parallel to the surface, at least partially toward the user input surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an acoustic imaging system comprising:
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determining a contact area of a user input surface corresponding to a location of a user touch; applying a coded impulse signal to an acoustic transducer coupled to the user input surface to propagate a coded acoustic output into the user input surface toward the contact area; receiving reflection information corresponding to the coded acoustic output; and generating an image of the contact area based on the reflection information. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification