Touch screen
First Claim
1. A touch screen comprising sensors for monitoring relative distribution of force thereon, said sensors being positioned relative to the touch screen such that bending strain on the touch screen, engendered by touch, is detected by the sensors, wherein said sensors transmit one or more input signals to a charge balancing and multiplying analog to digital converter configured to relate bending force to an identifiable unique position on the screen, the charge balancing and multiplying analog to digital converter comprising a sum and divide analog-to-digital converter using charge balancing and integration, wherein said sensors provide sensing and valuation of touch forces on said screen, from opposite sides of said screen, with conversion of the valuation of the touch forces from opposite sides of the screen to separate proportional charge signals, whereby a balance charge comes from the plus and minus sum of the sensing of touch forces on said screen from opposite sides thereof, and means for converting the balance charge to a position on the screen, wherein said screen is quadrilateral and wherein said sensors include at least four sensors positioned at the four corners of the quadrilateral screen, wherein an input signal is the difference between proportional charge signals from two opposite sides of the screen and wherein the input signal is divided by the sum signal and the sum of charge counts over a fixed interval, resulting in an output value used by the means for converting the balance charge to a position on the screen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch screen or touch panel wherein there is a monitoring of relative distribution of force via one or more, preferably symmetrically positioned, sensors such as strain gage sensors. The strain gage sensors are positioned such that bending strain on the touch screen, engendered by touch, is detected by the one or more strain gages and accurately measured by an electronic controller, connected to the strain gage(s). The electronic controller, or associated hardware, is programmed to relate relative bending force to a unique position on the screen and is a charge balancing and multiplying analog-to-digital converter which provides accurate position determination, even with very low forces and with very minor differentiation in position related forces. A sum and divide analog-to-digital converter uses charge balancing and integration, with the balance charge coming from the plus and minus sum of the corners (wherein four sensors are positioned at the corners of a square or rectangular display), and the input signal is the difference between two sides of the display panel. This, in effect, results in the input signal being divided by the sum signal and the sum of charge counts over a fixed interval, resulting in the output value and unique position determination. A unique mounting structure for flat panel displays includes using the flat panel as the bending beam and wherein a circuit board mounted behind the flat panel transmits forces to sensors mounted on the circuit board.
259 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. A touch screen comprising sensors for monitoring relative distribution of force thereon, said sensors being positioned relative to the touch screen such that bending strain on the touch screen, engendered by touch, is detected by the sensors, wherein said sensors transmit one or more input signals to a charge balancing and multiplying analog to digital converter configured to relate bending force to an identifiable unique position on the screen, the charge balancing and multiplying analog to digital converter comprising a sum and divide analog-to-digital converter using charge balancing and integration, wherein said sensors provide sensing and valuation of touch forces on said screen, from opposite sides of said screen, with conversion of the valuation of the touch forces from opposite sides of the screen to separate proportional charge signals, whereby a balance charge comes from the plus and minus sum of the sensing of touch forces on said screen from opposite sides thereof, and means for converting the balance charge to a position on the screen, wherein said screen is quadrilateral and wherein said sensors include at least four sensors positioned at the four corners of the quadrilateral screen, wherein an input signal is the difference between proportional charge signals from two opposite sides of the screen and wherein the input signal is divided by the sum signal and the sum of charge counts over a fixed interval, resulting in an output value used by the means for converting the balance charge to a position on the screen.
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14. A touch screen device comprising:
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a first sensor and a second sensor positioned relative to opposing sides of a touch screen, such that bending strain on the touch screen, engendered by touch, is detected by the first and second sensors, the first and second sensors outputting respective first and second sensor signals; and a charge balancing and analog to digital converter having a difference signal input, a positive charge sum input, and a negative charge sum input, said difference signal input coupled to a difference of the first and second sensor signals, the positive charge sum input coupled to a sum of the first and second sensor signals, the negative charge sum input coupled to a negative sum of the first and second sensor signals, the charge balancing analog to digital converter relating a bending force applied to the touch screen to an identifiable position on the display screen as a function of the first and second sensor signals. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification