Methods and Systems for Pointing Device Using Acoustic Impediography

• US 20120016604A1
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sonavation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonavation, Inc.
• Inventors: Irving, Richard, Jahromi, Omid S., Kropp, Ronald A., Schmitt, Rainer M.
• Application Number:
  US13/108,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20120016604A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/56
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0436 in which generating transducers and detecting transducers are attached to a single acoustic waves transmission substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing

Abstract

Invention includes a novel pointing device which uses acoustic impediography as a means to locate the position of finger and then uses the said location to control the position of a cursor on a computer screen. In addition, while the finger is touching the sensor the touch-pressure level can be estimated via statistical data evaluation, as average brightness decreases with increasing touch-pressure providing a means for gesturing. This new device has the advantage that it can double as a biometric identification device for verifying the identity of the computer'"'"'s user.

Claims

1. A gesturing device, comprising:

a touch pad for providing a command for a computer based upon movement of a biometric image; and

a sensor electrically coupled to the touch pad, the sensor configured for sensing acoustic impedance of the biometric image;

wherein the acoustic impedance is used to interpret a direction of the movement and identify a user.