METHOD OF IDENTIFYING PALM AREA FOR TOUCH PANEL AND METHOD FOR UPDATING THE IDENTIFIED PALM AREA

• US 20120293454A1
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Inventors: TSAI, YU-JEN, YANG, HSUEH-WEI
• Granted Patent: US 9,256,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04186 Touch location disambiguation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

A method of identifying a palm area for a touch panel has steps of: receiving sensing frame information having multiple touching sensing points from the touch panel; selecting one of the touching sensing points; outwardly extending a distance from an outline of the selected touching sensing point to define a searching range; checking whether other touching sensing points are within the searching range; marking the touching sensing points in the searching range and expanding the searching range based on the currently marked touching sensing points; sequentially selecting and checking each touching sensing point if it is within the present searching range; and finally merging all the outlines of the marked touching sensing points to form a final outline as a palm area. Other unmarked touching sensing points are defined as touching reference points.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a palm area for a touch panel, comprising the steps of:

receiving sensing frame information including multiple touching sensing points from the touch panel;

selecting one of the touching sensing points;

outwardly extending a distance from an outline of the presently selected touching sensing point to form a searching range;

checking whether an outline of any one of other touching sensing points is within the searching range;

marking the touching sensing point that is within the searching range and returning to the step of extending the distance to update the searching range;

selecting one of other touching sensing points unmarked and being out of the searching range, and returning to the step of extending the distance until all of the touching sensing points have been checked; and

merging all outlines of the marked touching sensing points together to form a final outline as a palm area, and defining other unmarked touching sensing points as touching reference points.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a palm feature.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a non-palm feature.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the palm feature is selected from a maximum sensing range, a maximum capacitance sensing value, an outline of the palm, a slope value, or a minimum ratio of moving speed to sensing range.

5. The method of identifying the palm area as claimed in claim 3, wherein the non-palm feature is selected from a sensing range except the maximum sensing range, a capacitance sensing value except the maximum capacitance sensing value, outlines of fingers or a stylus, a slope value, or a ratio of moving speed to sensing range except the minimum ratio.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

7. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

8. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

9. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

10. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

11. The method as claimed in claims 1, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

12. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

13. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

14. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

15. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

16. A method of identifying a palm area for a touch panel, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving sensing frame information containing multiple touching sensing points from the touch panel;

defining one of the touching sensing points as a palm touching area based on a palm feature;

selecting one of other touching sensing points and determining an outline of the selected touching sensing point;

outwardly extending a distance from the outline of the presently selected touching sensing point to form a searching range;

checking whether the palm touching area is within the searching range,

marking the presently selected touching sensing point if the palm touching area is within the searching range, and further incorporating the marked touching sensing point into the palm touching area to update the palm touching area;

returning to the step of selecting touching sensing point to select and check other sensing points until all the touching sensing points have been selected and checked; and

defining the final updated palm touching area as a palm area and defining other marked touching sensing points that are out of the palm touching area as touching reference points.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the palm feature is selected from a maximum sensing range, a maximum capacitance sensing value, an outline of the palm, a slope value or a minimum ratio of moving speed to sensing range.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

21. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

22. A method for updating a palm area for a touch panel, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving first sensing frame information at a first time, and identifying a reference palm area and touching reference points from the first sensing frame information by a palm area identifying procedure, wherein the palm area identifying procedure further comprises the steps of;

receiving multiple touching sensing points from the first sensing frame information;

selecting one of the touching sensing points;

outwardly extending a distance from an outline of the selected touching sensing point to form a searching range;

checking whether an outline of any one of other touching sensing points is within the searching range;

marking the touching sensing point that is within the searching range and returning to the step of extending the distance to update the searching range;

selecting one of other touching sensing points that is not marked and not within the searching range, and returning to the step of extending the distance until all of the touching sensing points have been checked; and

merging all outlines of the marked touching sensing points together to form a final outline as the reference palm area, and defining other unmarked touching sensing points as touching reference points;

receiving second sensing frame information at a second time;

predicting positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear by a dynamic position prediction procedure based on positions of the touching reference points of the first sensing frame information; and

updating the touching reference points with the present touching sensing points if the present touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information appear at the predicted positions.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, after the step of predicting positions, the method further comprising the steps of:

predicting a position where a palm area of the second sensing frame information will appear by the dynamic position prediction procedure based on a position of the reference palm area of the first sensing frame information; and

updating the reference palm area with the current touching sensing points if touching sensing points appear at the predicted positions.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of updating the touching reference points further comprises:

returning to the step of receiving the first sensing frame information, when no touching sensing points appear at the predicted positions and at least one new touching sensing point exists in the second sensing frame information.

25. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the step of updating the reference palm area further comprises:

returning to the step of receiving the first sensing frame information, when no touching sensing points appear at the predicted positions and at least one new touching sensing point appears in the second sensing frame information.

26. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a palm feature.

27. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a palm feature.

28. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a palm feature.

29. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a palm feature.

30. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a non-palm feature.

31. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a non-palm feature.

32. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a non-palm feature.

33. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a non-palm feature.

34. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the palm feature is selected from a maximum sensing range, a maximum capacitance sensing value, an outline of the palm, a slope value or a minimum ratio of moving speed to sensing range.

35. The method as claimed in claim 27, wherein the palm feature is selected from a maximum sensing range, a maximum capacitance sensing value, an outline of the palm, a slope value or a minimum ratio of moving speed to sensing range.

36. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the palm feature is selected from a maximum sensing range, a maximum capacitance sensing value, an outline of the palm, a slope value or a minimum ratio of moving speed to sensing range.

37. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the palm feature is selected from a maximum sensing range, a maximum capacitance sensing value, an outline of the palm, a slope value or a minimum ratio of moving speed to sensing range.

38. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the non-palm feature is selected from a sensing range except the maximum sensing range, a capacitance sensing value except the maximum capacitance sensing value, outlines of fingers or a stylus, a slope value, or a ratio of moving speed to sensing range except the minimum ratio.

39. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the non-palm feature is selected from a sensing range except the maximum sensing range, a capacitance sensing value except the maximum capacitance sensing value, outlines of fingers or a stylus, a slope value, or a ratio of moving speed to sensing range except the minimum ratio.

40. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the non-palm feature is selected from a sensing range except the maximum sensing range, a capacitance sensing value except the maximum capacitance sensing value, outlines of fingers or a stylus, a slope value, or a ratio of moving speed to sensing range except the minimum ratio.

41. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the non-palm feature is selected from a sensing range except the maximum sensing range, a capacitance sensing value except the maximum capacitance sensing value, outlines of fingers or a stylus, a slope value, or a ratio of moving speed to sensing range except the minimum ratio.

42. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes positions of the touching reference points as the predicted positions for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted positions.

43. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes positions of the touching reference points as the predicted positions for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted positions.

44. The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes positions of the touching reference points as the predicted positions for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted positions.

45. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes positions of the touching reference points as the predicted positions for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted positions.

46. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from each touching reference point to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and

defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the touching reference points as the predicted positions.

47. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from each touching reference point to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the touching reference points as the predicted positions.

48. The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from each touching reference point to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the touching reference points as the predicted positions.

49. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from each touching reference point to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the touching reference points as the predicted positions.

50. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching point positions from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking moving directions of the finger touching points; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving directions.

51. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching point positions from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking moving directions of the finger touching points; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving directions.

52. The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching point positions from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking moving directions of the finger touching points; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving directions.

53. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching point positions from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking moving directions of the finger touching points; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving directions.

54. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes positions of the touching reference points as the predicted positions for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted positions.

55. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes positions of the touching reference points as the predicted positions for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted positions.

56. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes positions of the touching reference points as the predicted positions for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted positions.

57. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes positions of the touching reference points as the predicted positions for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted positions.

58. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from each touching reference point to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the touching reference points as the predicted positions.

59. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from each touching reference point to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the touching reference points as the predicted positions.

60. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from each touching reference point to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the touching reference points as the predicted positions.

61. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from each touching reference point to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the touching reference points as the predicted positions.

62. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching point positions from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking moving directions of the finger touching points; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving directions.

63. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching point positions from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking moving directions of the finger touching points; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving directions.

64. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching point positions from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking moving directions of the finger touching points; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving directions.

65. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching point positions from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking moving directions of the finger touching points; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving directions.

66. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

67. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

68. The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

69. The method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

70. The method as claimed in claim 38, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

71. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

72. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

73. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

74. A method for updating a palm area for a touch panel, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving first sensing frame information at a first time, and identifying a reference palm area and touching reference points from the first sensing frame information by a palm area identifying procedure, wherein the palm area identifying procedure further comprises the steps of;

receiving multiple touching sensing points from the first sensing frame information;

selecting one of the touching sensing points;

outwardly extending a distance from an outline of the selected touching sensing point to form a searching range;

checking whether an outline of any one of other touching sensing points is within in the searching range;

marking the touching sensing point that is within the searching range and returning to the step of extending the distance to update the searching range;

selecting one of other touching sensing points that is not marked and not within the searching range, and returning to the step of extending the distance until all of the touching sensing points have been checked; and

merging all outlines of the marked touching sensing points together to form a final outline as the reference palm area, and defining other unmarked touching sensing points as touching reference points;

receiving second sensing frame information at a second time;

predicting a palm area of the second sensing frame information by a dynamic position prediction procedure based on the reference palm area of the first sensing frame information; and

determining whether touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information appear in the predicted palm area;

updating the reference palm area if the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information appear at the predicted palm area.

75. The method as claimed in claim 74, wherein the method further comprises steps of:

determining whether the second sensing frame information comprises new touching sensing points when there are no touching sensing points within the predicted palm area; and

returning to the step of receiving first sensing frame information when the second sensing frame information comprises new touching sensing points.

76. The method as claimed in claim 74, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a palm feature.

77. The method as claimed in claim 75, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a palm feature.

78. The method as claimed in claim 74, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a non-palm feature.

79. The method as claimed in claim 75, wherein the first selected touching sensing point is selected based on a non-palm feature.

80. The updating method of identifying the palm area as claimed in claim 76, wherein the palm feature is selected from a maximum sensing range, a maximum capacitance sensing value, an outline of the palm, a slope value, or a minimum ratio of moving speed to sensing range.

81. The updating method of identifying the palm area as claimed in claim 77, wherein the palm feature is selected from a maximum sensing range, a maximum capacitance sensing value, an outline of the palm, a slope value, or a minimum ratio of moving speed to sensing range.

82. The method as claimed in claim 78, wherein the non-palm feature is selected from a sensing range except the maximum sensing range, a capacitance sensing value except the maximum capacitance sensing value, outlines of fingers or a stylus, a slope value, or a ratio of moving speed to sensing range except the minimum ratio.

83. The method as claimed in claim 79, wherein the non-palm feature is selected from a sensing range except the maximum sensing range, a capacitance sensing value except the maximum capacitance sensing value, outlines of fingers or a stylus, a slope value, or a ratio of moving speed to sensing range except the minimum ratio.

84. The method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes the reference palm area as the predicted palm area for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted palm area.

85. The method as claimed in claim 81, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes the reference palm area as the predicted palm area for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted palm area.

86. The method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from the reference palm are to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the reference palm area as the predicted palm area.

87. The method as claimed in claim 81, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from the reference palm are to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the reference palm area as the predicted palm area.

88. The method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching points from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking a moving direction of the reference palm area; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving direction of the reference palm area.

89. The method as claimed in claim 81, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching points from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking a moving direction of the reference palm area; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving direction of the reference palm area.

90. The method as claimed in claim 82, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes a position of the reference palm area as the predicted palm area for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted palm area.

91. The method as claimed in claim 83, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure takes a position of the reference palm area as the predicted palm area for determining whether the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information overlap the predicted palm area.

92. The method as claimed in claim 82, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from the reference palm are to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the reference palm area as the predicted palm area.

93. The method as claimed in claim 83, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure calculates distances from the reference palm are to each touching sensing point in the second sensing frame information;

and defines positions of the touching sensing points having the shortest distances to the reference palm area as the predicted palm area.

94. The method as claimed in claim 82, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching points from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking a moving direction of the reference palm area; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving direction of the reference palm area.

95. The method as claimed in claim 83, wherein the dynamic position prediction procedure comprises the steps of:

continuously receiving finger touching points from a plurality of sensing frames during the first time and the second time;

tracking a moving direction of the reference palm area; and

predicting the positions where the touching sensing points of the second sensing frame information will appear based on the moving direction of the reference palm area.

96. The method as claimed in claim 80, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

97. The method as claimed in claim 81, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from complete outline of the touching sensing point.

98. The method as claimed in claim 82, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.

99. The method as claimed in claim 83, wherein the searching range is defined by outwardly extending the distance from partial outline of the touching sensing point.