MULTI-TOUCH SENSOR APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. A method executed by a multi-touch input device for detecting actual touch points, the method comprising:
- determining a first conductor on a first axis at which a touch is indicated;
determining a first conductor and a second conductor on a second axis at which a touch is indicated;
multiplexing the first conductor on the first axis and the first conductor on the second axis to perform a first combined measurement;
multiplexing the first conductor on the first axis and the second conductor on the second axis to perform a second combined measurement; and
comparing the first combined measurement and the second combined measurement to determine a first touch point and a second touch point.
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Abstract
A device and method for detecting actual touch points in a multi-touch input device. Embodiments include a measurement sharing device configured to combine a measurement of an electrical characteristic on a first axis with a measurement of an electrical characteristic on a second axis. The combined measurement is compared with electrical characteristics measured separately on each axis to determine which intersections correspond to actual touch points.
25 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method executed by a multi-touch input device for detecting actual touch points, the method comprising:
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determining a first conductor on a first axis at which a touch is indicated; determining a first conductor and a second conductor on a second axis at which a touch is indicated; multiplexing the first conductor on the first axis and the first conductor on the second axis to perform a first combined measurement; multiplexing the first conductor on the first axis and the second conductor on the second axis to perform a second combined measurement; and comparing the first combined measurement and the second combined measurement to determine a first touch point and a second touch point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method in a multi-touch sensor of detecting touch points, the method comprising:
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obtaining a first combined capacitance value by measuring a combined capacitance of a first X conductor at a first X location and a first Y conductor at a first Y location; obtaining a second combined capacitance value by measuring a combined capacitance of the first X conductor and a second Y conductor at a second Y location; comparing the combined capacitance values to a separate capacitance value of the first X conductor, the first Y conductor, and the second Y conductor to determine which intersections of the first X location, a second X location, the first Y location, and the second Y location correspond to objects in contact with the sensor; and providing the intersections which are determined to correspond to objects in contact with the sensor for further processing by a host device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A multi-touch sensor, comprising:
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a first plurality of conductors arranged in a first direction; a second plurality of conductors arranged in a second direction and intersecting the first plurality of conductors; a signal measurement device configured to receive measurement signals from the conductors; a measurement sharing device coupled to the signal measurement device; a conductor selecting device configured to couple a conductor of the first plurality of conductors to the measurement sharing device, and to separately couple a conductor of the second plurality of conductors to the measurement sharing device; and a position identification device configured to instruct the measurement sharing device and the conductor selecting device to couple a conductor from the first plurality of conductors and a conductor from the second plurality of conductors to the signal measurement device, and further configured to receive representations of signal measurements from the signal measurement device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A multi-touch sensor, comprising:
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a first signal measurement device configured to apply a signal to and receive measurement signals from a first plurality of conductors; a second signal measurement device configured to apply a signal to a second plurality of conductors overlapping the first plurality of conductors; a conductor selecting device configured to selectively couple a conductor of the first plurality of conductors to the first signal measurement device, and to selectively couple a conductor of the second plurality of conductors to the second signal measurement device; and a position identification device configured to; instruct the conductor selecting device to couple a conductor from the first plurality of conductors to the first signal measurement device; instruct the conductor selecting device to couple a first conductor from the second plurality of conductors to the second signal measurement device; instruct the first signal measurement device and second signal measurement device to each apply a signal to the coupled conductors at the same time; and receive a first measurement of an electrical characteristic from the first signal measurement device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification