Remote touch simulation systems and methods

• US 7,236,161 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Geaghan, Bernard O., Taylor, Gordon F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Osorio; Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US10/394,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 345/178, 345/174, 345/175, 345/177
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Systems and methods provide for simulating an effective human touch on a touch screen sensor of a touch screen system. Touch simulation involves interaction with, or cooperation between, a subject touch screen system and a remote system via a communication or network link. Remote touch simulation typically involves establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote location, simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor, and communicating data associated with simulating the touch between the touch screen system and the remote location via the communication link. Remote touch simulation can be employed to perform various types of diagnostics, calibration, and repair procedures.

Claims

1. A method for use with a touch screen system which comprises a touch screen sensor, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote location;

simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor from the remote location; and

communicating simulation data acquired during touch simulation from the touch screen system to the remote location via the communication link,

wherein simulating the touch further comprises simulating the touch during performance of a touch screen system diagnostic function, and data associated with perfomance of the touch screen system diagnostic function is communicated to the remote location via the communication link.

2. A method for use with a touch screen system which comprises a touch screen sensor, the method comprsing:

establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote location;

simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor;

communcating simulation data acquired during touch simulation from the touch screen system to the remote location via the communication link;

performing a touch screen system diagnostic function in response to a remotely orginating control signal; and

performing a touch screen system calibration function in response to a result from the touch screen diagnostic function.

3. A method for use wtth a touch screen system which comprises a touch screeen sensor, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote location;

simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor;

communicating simulatin data acquired during touch simulation from the touch screen system to the remote location via the communcation link, and;

changing, from the remote location, a touch detection or location calculation used by the touch screen system to simulate the touch.

4. A method for use with a touch screen system which comprises a touch screen sensor, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote location;

simulating a touch to the ouch screen sensor;

communicating simulation data acquired during touch simulation from the touch screen system to the remote location via the communciation link; and

wherein the touch screen system is communicatively coupled to a local host computing system, and establishing the communication link comprises establishing the communication link between the touch screen system and the remote location via the local host computing system.

5. A method for use with a touch screen system which comprises a capacitive touch screen sensor, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote location;

initiating a touch simulation procedure that comprises measuring changes in current flow at corners of the touch screen sensor in response to capacitive coupling that simulates a touch to the sense surface by an object;

simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor in accordance with the touch simulation procedure; and

communicating, via the communication link, data associated with simulating the touch between the touch screen system and a remote location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the touch screen sensor is configured as a capacitive touch screen sensor comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, the touch simulation procedure comprsing:

developing a potential difference between the first surface and the second surface of the touch screen sensor; and

detecting a response to the potential difference as the simulated touch.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second surface comprises a conductive structure proximate the first surface, and developing the potential difference comprises:

applying first and second voltage signals of substantially equal amplitude respectively to the first and second surfaces during an operational mode of the touch screen system; and

changing one or both of the first and second voltage signal amplitudes to develop the potential difibrence between the first surface and conductive structure.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein developing the potential difference comprises applying a first AC voltage signal and a second AC voltage signal respectively to the first and second surfaces, and varying a characteristic of one of the first and second AC voltage signals relative to the other of the first and second AC voltage signals.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein detecting the response to the potential difference comprises detecting a current at each of a pluralty of corners of the first surface, and converting each of the currents to corresponding values.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising associating the detected response to the potential difference with a posttion of the simulated touch on the touch screen sensor.

11. The method of claim 5, the touch screen sensor comprising a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, and an electrically conductive structure coupled to, or positioned proximate, the substrate and situated proximate the second surface, the touch simulation procedure comprising:

applying a first signal to the first surface of the touch screen sensor;

applying a second signal to the conductive structure of the touch screen sensor; and

simulating the touch on the touch screen sensor by changing one of the first and second signals relative to the other of the first and second signals.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising using the conductive structure as a shield against etectrical noise.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein simulating the touch comprises changing an amplitude of the first signal relative to an amplitude of the second signal.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein simulating the touch comprises changing a phase or the first signal relative to a phase of the second signal.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein simulating the touch comprises changing a frequency of the first signal relative to a frequency of the second signal.

16. The method of claim 5, the touch screen sensor comprising a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, and a pluarlity of electrodes disposed on or proximate to the second surface, the touch simulation procedure comprising:

applying a first signal to the first surface of the touch screen sensor;

applying one of a plurality of second signals to each of the plurality of electrodes disposed on or proximate to the second surface of the touch screen sensor; and

simulating the touch on the touch screen sensor by changing a characteristic of at least one of the plurality of second signals relative to the first signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the characteristic comprises amplitude, and the pluarlity of second signals have substantially equal amplitudes.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the characteristic comprises amplitude, and the at least one of the plurality of second signals has an amplitude differing from an ampilitude of others of the plurality of second signals.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the characteristic comprises frequency, and the plurality of second signals have substantially equal frequencies.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the characteristic comprtses frequency, and the at least one of the plurality of second signals has a frequency differing from a frequency of others of the plurality of second signals.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the characteristic comprises phase, and the plurality of second signals have a substantially equal phase.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the characteristic comprises phase, and the at least one of the plurality of second signals has a phase differing from a phase of others of the plurality of second signals.

23. The method of claim 5, the touch screen sensor comprising a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, the touch simulation procedure comprising:

a plurality of voltage drive signals at a plurality of regions of the touch screen sensor; and

detecting a current flow application of the plurality of voltage drive signals as the simulated touch.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the voltage drive sinnais have substantially equal amplitudes.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of the voltage drive signals has an amplitude differing from others of the plurality of voltage drive signals.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein detecting the current flow comprises detecting a change in a current at each of a plurality of corner regions of the first surrace.

27. The. method of claim 23, further comprising detecting an impedance change between one corner region of the first surface relative to other corner regions of the first surface.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the applying and detecting processes are repeated over a duration of time, the method further comprising detecting variations in the current flow over the duration of time.

29. The method of claim 5, wherein the touch screen sensor

comprises a substrate having a plurality of electrical conductors and a plurality of simulation electrodes provided proximate to the electrical conductors, the touch simulation procedure comprising:

applying a first signal to at least one of the plurality of electrical conductors of the touch sensitive surface;

driving at least one of the simulation electrodes with a simulation signal having a characteristic differing from that of the first signal; and

detecting a change in a parameter of a signal associated with at least one of the plurality of electrical conductors as the simulated touch.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the simulation signal has an amplitude differing from that of the first signal.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the simulation signal has a phase differing from that of the first signal.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of the simulation electrodes is grounded during touch simulation.

33. The method of claim 5, wherein the touch screen system comprises a grid capacitive touch screen sensor, the touch screen sensor comprising a substrate having a touch sensitive grid of touch electrodes and a plurality of simulation electrodes provided proximate to the touch electrodes, the touch simulation procedure comprising:

applying a first signal to at least one of the touch electrodes;

driving at least one of the simulation electrodes with a simulation signal having a characteristic differing from that of the first signal; and

detecting a change in current flowin through the at least one of the touch electrodes as the simulated touch.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the simulation signal has an amplitude differing from that of the first signal.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the simulation signal has a phase differing from that of the first signal.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein at least one of the simulation electrodes is grounded during touch simulation.

41. The method of claim 5, wherein the touch simulation procedure is initiated at the remote location.

42. The method of claim 5, wherein the touch simulation procedure is initiated local to the touch screen system.

47. The method of claim 5, wherein a result of the touch simulaton is used to compensate for inaccuracies of the touch screen system or a system incorporating the touch screen system.

48. The method of claim 5, wherein the touch screen system is communicatively coupled to a local host computing system, and establishing the communication link comprises establishing the communication link between the touch screen system and the remote location via the local host computing system.

37. A method for use with a touch screen system which comprises an infrared touch screen sensor, the touch screen sensor comprising a frame that supports a matrix of inwardly directed IR transmitters and IR detectors, an arrangement of the IR transmitters situated opposite a corresponding arrangement of the IR detectors, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote location;

intiating a touch simulation procedure comprising;

activating the IR transmitters and IR detectors to create a grid of sense beams within the frame; and

deactivating one or more of the sense beams to simulate the touch at a location corresponding to the one or more deactivated sense beams;

simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor in accordance with the touch simulation procedure; and

communicating, via the communication link, data associated with simulating the touch between the touch screen system and a remote location.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein activatinti the IR transmitters cormprises sequentially pulsing the IR transmitters.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein deactivating the one or more sense beams comprises deactivating one or more IR transmitters associated with the one or more deactivated sense beams.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein deactivating the one or more sense beams comprises deactivating one or more IR detectors associated with the one or more deactivated sense beams.

43. A method for use with a touch screen system which comprises a touch screen sensor, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote location;

initiating a touch simulation procedure;

simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor in accordance with the touch simulation procedure; and

communicating, via the communication link, data associated with simulating the touch between the touch screen system and a remote location,

wherein the touch simulation to the touch screen sensor is repeated over a duration of time, the method fhrther comprising detecting a change in a position of the simulated touch over the duration oil time.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising generating a message signal associated with the detected change in simulated touch position, and communicating the message signal to the remote location via the comniumeaton link.

45. A method for use with a touch screen system which comprises a touch screen sensor, the method comprising:

establishing a communicaton link between the touch screen system and a remote location;

initiating a touch simulation procedure;

simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor in accordance with the touch simulation procedure; and

communicating, via the communication link, data associated with simulating the touch between the touch screen system and a remote location,

wherein a result of the touch simulation is compared to one or more predetermined limits, and the result exceeding the one or more predetermined limits is used to assess operation fitness of the touch screen system.

46. A method for use with a touch screen system which comprises a touch screen sensor, the method comprising:

establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote location;

initiating a touch simulation procedure;

simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor in accordance with the touch simulation procedure; and

communicating, via the communication link, data associated with simulating the touch between the touch screen system and a remote location,

wherein a current result of the touch simulation is compared to one or more previously measured results of the touch simulation, and the current result deviating from the previously measured results by a predetermined amount is used to assess operational fitness of the touch screen system.

49. A touch screen sensor, comprising:

a touch screen sensor;

a communications interface for establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote processing system;

a touch screen controller, the touch screen controller simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor in response to an initiation signal, and communicating data associated with simulating the touch to the remote processing system via the communication link; and

a host processing system communicatively coupled to the touch screen controller.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the touch screen controller is communicatively coupled to the remote processing system via the host processing system.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the host processing system comprises all or part of a processing system of an electronic kiosk system.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the host processing system comprises one or more network servers.

53. The system of claim 49, wherein the host processing system comprises one or more network servers, each of the network servers communicatively coupled to the communications interface of a plurality of the touch screen sensors.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein each of network servers is communicatively coupled to the remote processing system via a communications network link.

55. The system of claim 49, wherein the initiation signal is communicated from the host processing system to the touch screen controller.

56. The system of claim 50, wherein the initiation signal is communicated from the remote processing system to the host processing system or the touch screen controller.

57. The system of claim 49, wherein the host processing system maintains a touch screen system activity log, the activity log storing one or more of configuration, performance, touch quality, diagnostics, calibration, and troubleshooting data concerning the touch screen system, the data stored in the activity log accessible and transferable to the remote processing system via the communications link.

58. The system of claim 49, wherein the host processing system stores de-bug firmware and transfer the de-bug firmware to the touch screen controller for evaluating a fault condition of the touch screen sensor.

59. The system of claim 49, wherein the host processing system stores diagnostics software and transfers the diagnostics software to the touch screen controller, the touch screen controller implementing the diagnostic software to perform a diagnostic function.

60. The system of claim 49, wherein the host processing system stores calibration software and transfers the calibration software to the touch screen controller, the touch screen controller implementing the calibration software to perform a calibration function.

64. The system of claim 49, wherein the remote processing system, via the communication link, changes a touch detection or location calculation used by the touch screen controller to simulate the touch.

65. The system of claim 49, wherein the remote processing system, via the communication link and touch screen controller, transfers a software patch or program upgrade to the touch screen controller.

66. The system of claim 49, wherein the touch screen system comprises a capacitive touch screen system.

68. The system of claim 49, wherein the touch screen system comprises a near field imaging capacitive touch screen system.

69. The system of claim 49, wherein the touch screen system comprises an infrared touch screen system.

61. A touch screen sensor, comprising:

a touch screen sensor;

a communication interface for establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote processing system;

a touch screen controller, the touch screen controller simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor in response to an initiation signal, and communicating data associated with simulating the touch to the remote processing system via the communication link, wherein the touch screen controller, in response to a diagnostics control signal, implements a diagnostic function involving the simulated touch wherein the touch screen controller coordinates communication of diagnostics data between the touch screen controller and the remote processing system via the communication link.

62. A touch screen sensor, comprising:

a touch screen sensor;

a communications interface for establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote processing system;

a touch screen controller, the touch screen controller simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor in response to an initiation signal, and communicating data associated with simulating the touch to the remote processing system via the communication link, wherein the touch screen controller, in response to a calibration control signal, implements a calibration function involving the simulated touch, and wherein the touch screen controller coordinates communication of calibration data between the touch screen controller and the remote processing system via the communication link.

63. A touch screen sensor, comprising:

a touch screen sensor;

a communications interface for establishing a communication link between the touch screen system and a remote processing system;

a touch screen controller, the touch screen controller simulating a touch to the touch screen sensor in response to an initiation signal, and communicating data associated with simulating the touch to the remote processing system via the communication link, wherein the touch screen controller, in response to a diagnostics control signal, implements a diagnostic function and, in response to a result from the diagnostic function, implements a calibration function.

67. The system of 49, wherein the touch screen system comprises a grid capacitive touch screen system.