Method and apparatus for tracking input positions via electric field communication

• US 10,430,011 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2018
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sae Rome, Lee, Jong Rim, Heo, Chang Ryong, Park, Kyung Mo, Kim, Chul Jin, Song, Seong Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Faragalla, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US15/925,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20180210582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking input positions via Electric Field Communication (EFC) are provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of receiving electrodes for EFC and a receiver unit. The receiving electrodes detect strengths of input electric fields. The receiver unit compares the strengths of the input electric fields with each other and generates position information regarding the input electric fields.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display;

an electrode configured to measure a strength of an input electric field radiated from an object; and

a controller configured to detect an input position of the object on the display based on the strength of the input electric field,

wherein the input electric field is generated by a voltage supplied by an electric field communication (EFC) transmitter which is connected to the object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

form information regarding input positions, detected during a preset time period, into an image data, and

determine a movement direction and a movement distance of the input positions, using the preset time period and the image data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of electrodes are arrayed at an edge of the display.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of electrodes are arrayed, in a grid, in the display.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor configured to measure a degree of proximity of the object and transmit the degree of proximity to the controller,

wherein the controller is further configured to compensate a magnitude of the input electric field based on the degree of proximity.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a receiver Integrated Circuit (IC).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the strength of the input electric field to detect the input position of the object.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode is attached to the display and the electrode is further configured to measure the input electric field in a non-contact manner.

9. A method performed by an apparatus, the method comprising:

measuring a strength of an input electric field radiated from an object; and

detecting an input position of the object on a display based on the strength of the input electric field,

wherein the input electric field is generated by a voltage supplied by an EFC transmitter which is connected to the object.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

forming information regarding input positions, detected during a preset time period, into an image data; and

determining a movement direction and a movement distance of the input positions, using the preset time period and the image data.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of electrodes are arrayed at an edge of the display.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein a plurality of electrodes are arrayed, in a grid, in the display.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

measuring a degree of proximity of the object; and

compensating a magnitude of the input electric field based on the degree of proximity.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing the strength of the input electric field to detect the input position of the object.

15. The method of claim 9, measuring the input electric field in a non-contact manner by an electrode attached to the display.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the strength of the input electric field is measured by an electrode of the apparatus, and

wherein the input position is detected by a controller of the apparatus.