Method and apparatus for electronic touch mapping
First Claim
1. In a method for mapping a touch to an unpatterned and selectively electrically conductive layer having a known conductivity property, wherein the mapping is relative to at least a first coordinate axis, the improvement comprising the steps ofA. measuring an electrical charge which said layer draws over a selected time duration from an electrical signal source in response to the touch,B. applying at least one of a means for effecting said measurement and said source to said conductive layer at a first position relative to said coordinate, andC. determining said mapping of the touch relative to said first position in response to said charge measurement.
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Abstract
Touch mapping method and apparatus locate a touch to an unpatterned and continuous layer of selected electrical conductivity in response to the incremental electrical charge which the conductive layer draws at one or more known positions, in response to electrical excitation, and relative to the charge which layer draws in the absence of the touch condition. The measurement of electrical charge provides touch location for a variety of touch impedances and other impedences coupled with the selectively conductive layer.
94 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a method for mapping a touch to an unpatterned and selectively electrically conductive layer having a known conductivity property, wherein the mapping is relative to at least a first coordinate axis, the improvement comprising the steps of
A. measuring an electrical charge which said layer draws over a selected time duration from an electrical signal source in response to the touch, B. applying at least one of a means for effecting said measurement and said source to said conductive layer at a first position relative to said coordinate, and C. determining said mapping of the touch relative to said first position in response to said charge measurement.
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8. In a method for mapping a touch to an unpatterned and selectively electrically conductive layer having a known conductivity per dimension, wherein the mapping is relative to at least a first coordinate axis, and including applying an electrical measuring signal to said layer, the improvement comprising the steps of
A. measuring an incremental electrical charge which said layer draws over a selected time duration from said measuring signal in the presence of said touch, relative to a charge drawn over said time duration in the absence of said touch, B. applying at least one of said measuring signal and a means for effecting said charge measurement to said layer at a first position relative to said first coordinate, and C. determining said mapping of the touch relative to said first position in response to said charge measurement.
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13. A method for locating a touch to an unpatterned and selectively electrically conductive layer having a known conductivity per dimension wherein the location is along a first axis, said method comprising the steps of
A. applying to said conductive layer at a first location along said first axis a first measuring signal having a selected voltage, B. applying a second measuring signal having a selected voltage to said conductive layer at a second location spaced along said first axis from said first location so that the touch is between said first and second locations, C. measuring at each of said first and second locations an incremental electrical charge which the layer draws over a selected time duration from said first and second measuring signals in the presence of said touch, relative to the charge drawn over said time duration in the absence of said touch, and D. determining the relative location of the touch in response to a ratio function of said measures of incremental charge at said first and second locations.
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16. In apparatus for locating a touch to a touch panel having an unpatterned and selectively electrically conductive layer thereon with a known conductivity per dimension property and wherein the location is with reference to at least a first coordinate axis, said apparatus having the improvement comprising
A. electrical source means for applying a known electrical source signal to said conductive layer, B. means for measuring an incremental charge which said layer draws over a selected time duration from said source means in the presence of the touch at at least a first position known with reference to said first coordinate and relative to which the touch is to be located, relative to a charge which the layer draws over a selected time duration from said source means at said first location in the absence of said touch, and C. means for determining the relative location of the touch in response to the measurement of incremental charge at at least said first position.
Specification