FLEXIBLE CALIBRATION SURFACE

• US 20090273584A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lim, Richard Wei-Kwang, Staton, Kenneth Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 8,514,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

The efficient calibration of multi-touch sensor panels that have non-flat surfaces is disclosed. The calibration of the sensor panels can be accomplished using a calibration device with a flexible calibration surface. The flexible calibration surface is particularly well-suited for curved or other non-flat touch sensor panels, such as those that might be present on a mouse or other device designed to be grasped by a user'"'"'s hand. The flexible apparatus can conform to the non-flat touch sensor panel and apply the equivalent of a conductive touch over most or all of the pixels.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a touch sensor panel, comprising:

contacting the touch sensor panel with a flexible container containing a conductive and conformable material to apply simulated touch events to the touch sensor panel;

obtaining touch output values for sensors in the touch sensor panel; and

calibrating the touch sensor panel utilizing the touch output values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive and conformable material comprises sodium chloride or potassium chloride.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive and conformable material has a conductivity of equal to or greater than 5 S/m.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible container is located in a well configured to contain the conductive and conformable material if the flexible container ruptures.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor panel is a multi-touch sensor panel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the container comprises latex rubber.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor panel is connected to a suction device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor panel is curved.

9. A touch sensor panel calibration device, comprising:

a flexible container containing a conductive and conformable material and configured to simulate touch events upon the touch sensor panel;

a touch sensor panel holder configured to contact the touch sensor panel with the flexible container; and

a processing device configured to receive touch output values from the touch sensor panel.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the conductive and conformable material comprises sodium chloride or potassium chloride.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the conductive and conformable material has a conductivity of equal to or greater than 5 S/m.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising a well configured to contain the conductive and conformable material if the flexible container ruptures.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the touch sensor panel is a multi-touch sensor panel.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the container comprises latex rubber.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the touch sensor panel holder comprises a suction device.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the touch sensor panel is curved.

17. A method for calibrating a touch sensor panel, comprising:

contacting the touch sensor panel with a contoured surface formed from a pliable conductive material to simulate touch events upon the touch sensor panel;

providing a plurality of sensor readings for the touch sensor panel; and

calibrating the sensor panel utilizing the readings.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the touch sensor panel is a multi-touch sensor panel.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the pliable conductive material comprises conductive rubber.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the touch sensor panel is curved.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the pliable conductive material is formed in a spiral pattern.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the pliable conductive material comprises a plurality of protrusions.

26. The device of claim 17, wherein the touch sensor panel is curved.

27. The device of claim 17, wherein the pliable conductive material is formed in a spiral pattern.

28. The device of claim 17, wherein the pliable conductive material comprises a plurality of protrusions.

23. A touch sensor panel calibration device comprising:

a contoured surface comprising a pliable conductive material configured to simulate touch events upon a sensor panel;

a touch sensor panel holder configured to hold the touch sensor panel in contact with the contoured surface; and

a processing device configured to receive signals from the touch sensor panel.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the touch sensor panel is a multi-touch sensor panel.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the pliable conductive material comprises conductive rubber.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein the contoured surface is connected to a plurality of hydraulic devices.