CONTACT SENSITIVE DISPLAY

• US 20090273583A1
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: NORHAMMAR, Bjorn
• Application Number:
  US12/119,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20090273583A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0436 in which generating transducers and detecting transducers are attached to a single acoustic waves transmission substrate

Abstract

An assembly may include a touch screen. A first element may be provided to cause the touch screen to vibrate at a predetermined frequency. A first sensor proximate to a first portion of the touch screen may measure vibration in the first portion of the touch screen. A second sensor proximate to a second portion of the touch screen may measure vibration in the second portion of the touch screen. Position sensing logic may determine a position of a contact point on the touch screen based on the measured vibration in the first portion of the touch screen and the measured vibration in the second portion of the touch screen.

Claims

1. An assembly, comprising:

a touch screen;

a first element to cause the touch screen to vibrate at a predetermined frequency;

a first sensor proximate to a first portion of the touch screen for measuring vibration in the first portion of the touch screen;

a second sensor proximate to a second portion of the touch screen for measuring vibration in the second portion of the touch screen; and

position sensing logic for determining a position of a contact point on the touch screen based on the measured vibration in the first portion of the touch screen and the measured vibration in the second portion of the touch screen.

2. The assembly of claim 1, where the first element causes the touch screen to emit an acoustic signal in response to the vibrating at the predetermined frequency, and where the first sensor and the second sensor comprise microphones for monitoring the acoustic signal.

3. The assembly of claim 1, where the first element comprises a piezo-electric element configured to deform based on a control signal.

4. The assembly of claim 1, where the first sensor and the second sensor comprise piezo-electric elements configured to output signals based on deformation caused by the vibration of the touch screen.

5. The assembly of claim 1, where the touch screen further comprises:

a display screen;

an enclosure that contains a liquid and the first element; and

a touch sensitive cover,

where the first sensor and the second sensor are provided proximate to respective portions of the touch sensitive cover.

6. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising:

a third sensor; and

a fourth sensor,

where the touch screen is provided in a substantially rectangular configuration and where the first sensor, second sensor, third sensor, and fourth sensor are provided proximate to corners of the touch screen.

7. The assembly of claim 5, where the first element produces an ultrasonic wave through the liquid to vibrate the touch sensitive cover at the predetermined frequency.

8. The assembly of claim 5, where the position sensing logic is further configured to:

determine a position of a contact point on the touch sensitive cover.

9. The assembly of claim 8, where the position sensing logic is further configured to output a signal to processing logic based on the determined position of the contact point on the touch sensitive cover.

10. A method, comprising:

causing a touch screen to vibrate at a predetermined frequency;

monitoring changes in vibration at a first portion of the touch screen and a second portion of the touch screen; and

determining a location of a contact on the touch screen based on the monitored changes.

11. The method of claim 10, where causing a touch screen to vibrate at a predetermined frequency further comprises:

receiving a command to activate an ultrasonic element associated with the touch screen; and

activating the ultrasonic element in response to the command.

12. The method of claim 10, where the ultrasonic element comprises a piezo-electric element.

13. The method of claim 10, where the predetermined frequency causes the touch screen to emit an acoustic signal, and

where the monitoring changes in vibration at a first portion of the touch screen and a second portion of the touch screen further comprises:

monitoring changes in the acoustic signal at the first portion and the second portion.

14. The method of claim 10, where monitoring changes in vibration at a first portion of the touch screen and a second portion of the touch screen further comprises:

coupling a first sensor proximate to the first portion;

coupling a second sensor proximate to the second portion;

deflecting the first sensor and the second sensor based on the vibration of the touch screen; and

outputting signals based on the deflecting of the first sensor and the second sensor.

15. A device, comprising:

a display assembly comprising;

a display screen;

an enclosure that contains a liquid;

a top surface provided in contact with the enclosure;

an ultrasonic element provided within the enclosure; and

a plurality of ultrasonic sensors located proximate to portions of the top surface; and

logic configured to;

activate the ultrasonic element to produce a vibration in the top surface via the liquid;

monitor vibration of the portions of the top surface by the sensors;

determine a location of a contact on the top surface based on the monitored vibration; and

use the determined location to interact with the device.

16. The device of claim 15, where the vibration in the top surface causes the top surface to output an acoustic signal, and

where the plurality of ultrasonic sensors further comprise a plurality of microphones configured to monitor changes in the acoustic signal output by the top surface.

17. The device of claim 15, where the ultrasonic element comprises a piezo-electric element.

18. The device of claim 15, where the plurality of ultrasonic sensors comprise a plurality of piezo-electric sensors.

19. The device of claim 15, where the top surface includes a substantially rectangular configuration and where the plurality of ultrasonic sensors further comprise:

a first sensor provided proximate a first corner of the top surface;

a second sensor provided proximate a second corner of the top surface;

a third sensor provided proximate a third corner of the top surface; and

a fourth sensor provided proximate a fourth corner of the top surface.

20. The device of claim 19, where the logic is further configured to determine the location of one or more points of contact on the top surface based on the vibration monitored by the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor, and the fourth sensor.