Multiple region vibration-sensing touch sensor

• US 20050259378A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Geaghan, Bernard O., Hill, Anthony L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,982,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/271
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0433 in which the acoustic waves are either generated by a movable member and propagated within a surface layer or propagated within a surface layer and captured by a movable member

Abstract

The present invention provides a multiple region vibration-sensing touch sensor that incorporates at least two sets of vibration sensors on a single touch plate, each set of vibration sensors defining distinct touch regions. The vibration sensors detect vibrations indicative of a touch to the touch plate, and are configured to communicate signals representing the detected vibrations to controller electronics for determining information related to the touch input. Touches within each touch region can be distinguished.

Claims

1. A touch sensor, comprising:

a touch plate;

a first set of vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a first touch region; and

a second set of vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a second touch region different from the first touch region,

wherein the vibration sensors of the first set and the second set are capable of sensing vibrations propagating in the touch plate indicative of a touch input to the touch plate and are configured to communicate signals representing sensed vibrations to controller electronics for determining information related to the touch input.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising an acoustic damper disposed between the first region and the second region.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the first set of vibration sensors are oriented for enhanced sensitivity to vibrations indicative of touch inputs within the first region as compared to vibrations indicative of touch inputs within the second region.

4. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the first set of vibration sensors and the second set of vibrations sensors have at least one vibration sensor in common.

5. The touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising first controller electronics configured to receive signals from the first set of vibration sensors and second controller electronics configured to receive signals from the second set of vibration sensors.

6. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the touch plate comprises glass.

7. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the touch plate comprises acrylic.

8. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the touch plate comprises polycarbonate.

9. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the touch plate is transmissive of visible light.

10. The touch sensor of claim 1, configured for viewing a displayed imaged through the touch plate.

11. The touch sensor of claim 1, configured for viewing an image projected onto the touch plate.

12. The touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising a third set of vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a third touch region different from the first and second touch regions.

13. The touch sensor of claim 12, further comprising a fourth set of vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a fourth touch region different from the first, second and third touch regions.

14. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second touch regions are arranged to subdivide the touch plate in a manner that reduces the average propagation distance of vibrations from the touch input location to the nearest set of vibration sensors.

15. A multiple user system incorporating the touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second touch regions are designated as input areas for separate users.

16. The multiple user system of claim 15, wherein the system is a multi-player game.

17. A touch sensor system comprising one or more display devices viewable through the touch sensor of claim 1.

18. The touch sensor system of claim 17, wherein a first of the one or more display devices is viewable through the first touch region and a second of the one or more display devices is viewable through the second touch region.

19. A method for making a touch sensor comprising:

providing a touch plate capable of supporting vibrations indicative of a touch input to the touch plate;

mechanically coupling a first set of vibration sensors to the touch plate, the first set of vibration sensors defining a first touch region;

mechanically coupling a second set of vibration sensors to the touch plate, the second set of vibration sensors defining a second touch region distinct from the first touch region; and

electrically coupling the first and second sets of vibrations sensors to one or more controller electronics configured to determine information relating to the touch input from signals representing vibrations detected by the vibration sensors.