TOUCH SENSING WITH MOBILE SENSORS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A touch-sensitive apparatus comprising:
- a. a deformable touch layer having a top surface accessible to a user and a bottom surface;
b. a compliant dielectric layer mounted below the deformable touch layer adjacent to the bottom surface;
c. a sense object layer mounted below the compliant dielectric layer; and
d. a plurality of sensors spaced apart from each other and affixed between the bottom surface of the deformable touch layer and the compliant dielectric layer, each sensor capable of providing any indication of proximity to the sense object layer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.
226 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A touch-sensitive apparatus comprising:
-
a. a deformable touch layer having a top surface accessible to a user and a bottom surface;
b. a compliant dielectric layer mounted below the deformable touch layer adjacent to the bottom surface;
c. a sense object layer mounted below the compliant dielectric layer; and
d. a plurality of sensors spaced apart from each other and affixed between the bottom surface of the deformable touch layer and the compliant dielectric layer, each sensor capable of providing any indication of proximity to the sense object layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of sensing the position of an object comprising the steps of:
-
e. providing a deformable touch layer having a top surface accessible to a user and a bottom surface, the top surface having a length and width;
f. providing a compliant dielectric layer mounted below the deformable touch layer and forming a border with the deformable touch layer;
g. providing a sense object layer mounted below the compliant dielectric layer;
h. sensing the presence of an object positioned above the deformable touch layer; and
i. providing a signal indicating the three dimensional position of the object. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17)
-
-
13. The method of clam 8 wherein the deformable touch layer is a dielectric.
-
15. The method of clam 14 wherein the subgroup is a single sensor.
-
18. A method of sensing the position of an object comprising the steps of:
-
j. providing a deformable touch layer having a top surface accessible to a user and a bottom surface, the top surface having a length and width;
k. providing a compliant dielectric layer mounted below the deformable touch layer and forming a border with the deformable touch layer;
l. providing a plurality of sensors spaced apart and affixed in the region of the border, the combination of the deformable touch layer, sensors and compliant dielectric layer forming a three dimensional assembly having x and y axes correlating with the length and width, and a z axis generally perpendicular to the x and y axes;
m. providing a sense object layer mounted below the compliant dielectric layer;
n. sensing the presence of an object generally in the x and y axes by evaluating one or more sensors to determine which one or more sensors are closest to the object; and
o. sensing the presence of an object in the z axis by evaluating one or more sensors to determine the relative position of a sensor with respect to the sense object layer. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
-
19. The method of clam 18 wherein the sensors are capacitive in nature and the sense object layer is electrically conductive.
Specification