Human-machine interface
First Claim
1. A human-machine interface comprising:
- a panel formed of energy transmissive material and having a contact surface on which one or more contacts may simultaneously be made;
an energy source directing energy to said panel, said panel transmitting energy received from said energy source to said contact surface, at least one parameter of energy transmitted by said panel being altered at regions where contacts are made with said contact surface;
a detector detecting the altered at least one parameter of said energy corresponding to contact regions on said contact surface and outputting values corresponding thereto; and
a processor in communication with said detector, said processor processing said output values to determine the locations of said contact regions on said contact surface and at least one other attribute associated with each of said contacts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A human-machine interface includes a panel formed of energy transmissive material having a contact surface on which one or more contacts may simultaneously be made. An energy source directs energy to the panel. The panel transmits energy received from the energy source to the contact surface. At least one parameter of the energy transmitted by the panel is altered at regions where contacts are made with the contact surface. A detector is coupled to the panel and detects the at least one parameter of the energy generally over the area of the contact surface and outputs values corresponding thereto. A processor is in communication with the detector. The processor processes the output values to determine the locations of the contact regions on the contact surface and at least one other attributed associated with each of the contacts.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. A human-machine interface comprising:
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a panel formed of energy transmissive material and having a contact surface on which one or more contacts may simultaneously be made;
an energy source directing energy to said panel, said panel transmitting energy received from said energy source to said contact surface, at least one parameter of energy transmitted by said panel being altered at regions where contacts are made with said contact surface;
a detector detecting the altered at least one parameter of said energy corresponding to contact regions on said contact surface and outputting values corresponding thereto; and
a processor in communication with said detector, said processor processing said output values to determine the locations of said contact regions on said contact surface and at least one other attribute associated with each of said contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method for detecting contacts on a panel having a contact surface and being formed of energy transmissive material comprising steps of:
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directing energy to the panel that is transmitted by the panel, at least one parameter of energy transmitted by the panel being altered at regions where contacts are made with the contact surface;
detecting the altered at least one parameter of said energy corresponding to contact regions on said contact surface and outputting values corresponding thereto; and
processing the output values to determine the locations of the contact regions on the contact surface and at least one other attribute associated with each of the contacts. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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58. An interface for use with a panel formed of energy transmissive material and having a contact surface on which one or more contacts may simultaneously be made, the panel transmitting energy received from an energy source to the contact surface wherein at least one parameter of the energy transmitted by the panel is altered at regions where contacts are made with the contact surface, said interface comprising:
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a detector detecting the altered at least one parameter of said energy corresponding to contact regions on said contact surface and outputting values corresponding thereto; and
a processor in communication with said detector, said processor processing said output values to determine the locations of said contact regions on said contact surface and at least one other attribute associated with each of said contacts. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A display device to project an image comprising:
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a panel formed of energy transmissive material and having a display surface on which said image is visible; and
a scanner to direct a beam of light into said panel and scanning said beam across said display surface in a raster pattern to project said image, said scanner including a light source to generate said beam of light and a movable compound optical element disposed in the path of said beam, said compound optical element scanning said beam across said display surface in said raster pattern as said compound optical element moves. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69)
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Specification