Method and apparatus for providing a variable resolution touch pad

• US 20020060668A1
• Filed: 11/20/2001
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William James Mcdermid
• Original Assignee: William James Mcdermid
• Inventors: McDermid, William James
• Application Number:
  US09/989,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

An apparatus (100) having variable resolution that captures user touch points on a touch pad. Control circuitry in the apparatus (301) detects a touch point on the touch pad, (302) determines a location of the touch point, and (303) adjusts resolution of an area proximate the location of the touch point to detect subsequent touch points.

Claims

1. Apparatus 100 for capturing user touch points on a touch pad:

said apparatus comprising;

apparatus 210 for subdividing the touch pad into at least one area of defined size and location;

apparatus 401, 402 for detecting a touch point on said touch pad;

apparatus 302 for determining the location of said detected touch point on said touch pad;

apparatus 403 for selecting to the defined area containing the touch point;

apparatus 404, 405 for setting the resolution of the defined area; and

apparatus 408 for detecting subsequent touch points in said defined area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising apparatus 305 for storing an image created by said subsequent touch points.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus 401, 402 for detecting and determining detects a location of said touch point in a first axis of said touch pad and determines a location of said touch point in a second axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising apparatus 404, 405 for adjusting said resolution by controlling the resolution in a first axis and changing the said resolution in a second axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said apparatus for adjusting said resolution in said first axis and said second axis is adjusts the voltage potential at a first and a second terminal of said touch pad.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising apparatus 406 for monitoring a first axis for a first axis location of a subsequent user depression at a touch point.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising apparatus circuit 407 for monitoring a second axis for a second axis location of said subsequent touch point.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising apparatus 411 for storing said first axis location and said second axis location in a memory.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising apparatus 409 for detecting a location of a subsequent touch point that is distal from said area proximate said location of said touch point.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising apparatus 403 for adjusting resolution for a second area proximate said location of said subsequent touch point.

11. A method for operating a touch pad to detect user touch points, said method comprising the steps of:

subdividing the touch pad into at least one area of a defined size and location;

detecting a touch point;

determining the location of said touch point on said touch pad;

selecting the defined area containing the touch point;

setting the resolution of the defined area; and

detect subsequent touch points in said defined area.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

storing an image represented by said subsequent touch points.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said steps of detecting and determining said location of said touch points comprise the steps of:

detecting a user depression representing a location of said touch point in a first axis of said touch pad; and

detecting a location of said touch point in a second axis of said touch pad.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of adjusting said resolution comprises the steps of:

controlling the resolution in a first axis of said touch pad; and

controlling said resolution in a second axis of said touch pad.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said steps of controlling said resolution in said first axis and said second axis comprise the step of:

adjusting voltage potentials applied to first and a second terminals of said touch pad.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

monitoring said first axis location for each said subsequent touch point representing a user depression.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

monitoring a second axis location for each said subsequent touch point.

18. The method of claim 17 further wherein subsequent touch point comprises the step of:

storing said first axis location and said second axis location in a memory.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

detecting a subsequent touch point is in a touch pad area distal from said area proximate said location of said touch point.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of:

adjusting the resolution for a second area of said touch pad proximate said location of said subsequent touch point.

21. The method of claim 11 wherein the position of said defined area on said touch pad is controlled by the steps of:

choosing a signal S1 which is the largest the touch point resolution detection method can process;

further choosing a signal S2 to set the size of the area spanned by S1 on said touch pad;

further choosing a signal S3 to set the location of S1 on said touch pad; and

further applying S3 to one side of said touch pad and S3-S2 to the other side of said touch pad so that S1 spans said defined area on said touch pad.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said signals S1, S2 and S3 are voltage signals V1, V2 and V3.