ACOUSTIC MULTI-TOUCH SENSOR PANEL
First Claim
1. A method of sensing multiple touches on a surface of a material, the method comprising:
- forming, with a first plurality of transducers coupled to the surface, a first beamed acoustic wave that travels in a substantially linear first path along the surface of the material; and
detecting, with a first detector, one or more echoes of the first acoustic wave caused by a corresponding one or more touches on the first path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sensing of multiple touches on a surface of a material is provided. A beamed acoustic wave traveling in a substantially linear path along the surface of the material is formed by a plurality of transducers, e.g., a phased array, coupled to the surface. One or more echoes of the acoustic wave caused by a corresponding one or more touches on the path are detected with a detector. The detector may include, for example, one or more of the transducers in the plurality of transducers. The surface can be scanned with a plurality of beamed acoustic waves using a variety of configurations, such as parallel beams, radially emanating beams, etc.
120 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of sensing multiple touches on a surface of a material, the method comprising:
-
forming, with a first plurality of transducers coupled to the surface, a first beamed acoustic wave that travels in a substantially linear first path along the surface of the material; and detecting, with a first detector, one or more echoes of the first acoustic wave caused by a corresponding one or more touches on the first path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An apparatus for sensing multiple touches on a surface, the apparatus comprising:
-
a material having a surface for receiving touches; a transmitter configured for forming a plurality of beamed acoustic waves traveling in substantially linear directions along the surface; and one or more receivers configured for detecting echoes caused by multiple touches impinging on one or more of the beamed acoustic waves. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A mobile telephone including an apparatus for sensing multiple touches on a surface, the apparatus comprising:
-
a material having a surface for receiving touches; a transmitter configured for forming a plurality of beamed acoustic waves traveling in substantially linear directions along the surface; and one or more receivers configured for detecting echoes caused by multiple touches impinging on one or more of the beamed acoustic waves.
-
-
21. A digital media player including an apparatus for sensing multiple touches on a surface, the apparatus comprising:
-
a material having a surface for receiving touches; a transmitter configured for forming a plurality of beamed acoustic waves traveling in substantially linear directions along the surface; and one or more receivers configured for detecting echoes caused by multiple touches impinging on one or more of the beamed acoustic waves.
-
Specification