Method and apparatus of position location

• US 6,933,931 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ceronix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ceronix, Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, Paul, Lubarsky, Andre Jr., Whitaker, Don
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US10/646,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20040113895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-184, 178 1801- 1807, 178/19.01, 178/19.06
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0444 using a single conductive element covering the whole sensing surface, e.g. by sensing the electrical current flowing at the corners

Abstract

An apparatus for sensing the location of user input is disclosed. The apparatus may include a display unit including a screen having a resistive coating disposed on its surface. The apparatus may utilize a sensing signal emanating from the screen through the resistive coating. A sensor array may be disposed about the screen, and sensing electronics are provided to determine the location of user input on the screen by sensing localized deviations in the amplitude of the sensing signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing the location of user input comprising:

a display unit comprising;

a screen having a resistive coating disposed on said surface;

pre-existing internal signal generation means for providing a pre-existing signal emanating from said screen through said resistive coating;

microprocessor sensor signal generating means for generating a sensor signal out of phase with respect to said pre-existing internal signal, said sensor signal generating means further configured to emanate said sensor signal from said resistive coating;

a sensor array disposed about said screen;

sensing electronics coupled to said sensor array; and

said sensing electronics being configured to determine the location of user input on said screen by sensing localized deviations in the amplitude of said sensor signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensing electronics are configured to sense deviations in a voltage drop across said resistive coating.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said deviations are a result of attenuation cause by a user'"'"'s body capacitance.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensing signal is generated having an amplitude independent of the video intensity of said display unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is further configured to perform a calibration routine when no user input is sensed for a predetermined period of time.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a sensing signal is generated for each of said sensors of said sensor arrays.

7. An apparatus for sensing the location of user input comprising:

a display unit comprising;

a screen having a resistive coating disposed on said surface;

pre-existing internal signal generation means for providing a pre-existing signal emanating from said screen through said resistive coating;

a sensor array disposed about said screen;

sensing electronics coupled to said sensor array; and

said sensing electronics being configured to determine the location of user input on said screen by sensing localized deviations in the amplitude of said pre-existing signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said sensing electronics are configured to sense deviations in a voltage drop across said resistive coating.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said deviations are a result of attenuation cause by a user'"'"'s body capacitance.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said sensing electronics are configured to sense deviations in a voltage drop across said resistive coating.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said deviations are a result of attenuation cause by a user'"'"'s body capacitance.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said display unit further comprises a horizontal synch signal, and signal generation means is further configured to generate said sensing signal approximately 180°

out of phase with said horizontal synch signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said sensing signal is generated having an amplitude independent of the video intensity of said display unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said apparatus is further configured to perform a calibration routine when no user input is sensed for a predetermined period of time.

10. An apparatus for sensing the location of user input comprising:

a display unit comprising;

a screen having a resistive coating disposed on said surface;

signal generation means for providing a sensing signal emanating from said screen through said resistive coating;

a sensor array disposed about said screen;

sensing electronics coupled to said sensor array; and

said sensing electronics being configured to determine the location of user input on said screen by sensing localized deviations in the amplitude of said sensing signal.