Touch panel system and method for distinguishing multiple touch inputs
First Claim
1. A method for distinguishing between two or more temporally overlapping touch inputs in a touch screen system comprising:
- (a) measuring signals caused by the two or more touch inputs;
(b) measuring positional data for the touch inputs;
(c) determining whether any of the signals exceeds a minimum threshold for a single touch input;
(d) determining whether any of the signals exceeds a maximum threshold for a single touch input;
(e) Calculating and reporting to the touch screen system a touch location using positional data that corresponds to any of the signals that exceeds the minimum threshold but that does not exceed the maximum threshold; and
Wherein different minimum and maximum threshold values can be assigned to different users.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Touch panel systems and methods are disclosed that can distinguish temporally overlapping touch inputs from single touch inputs so that valid touch position coordinates can be determined. Touch panel systems and methods of the present invention can distinguish overlapping touches by comparing signal magnitudes to specified thresholds, by comparing the rates of change of signal magnitudes or measured positions to determined parameters, by locating the proximity a calculated location to icons or other such active areas, and the like. Because touch panel systems and methods of the present invention can discriminate single touches from double touches, they can be used in multiple user applications such as multiplayer games as well as in applications that may be subject to rapidly successive or overlapping touch inputs.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method for distinguishing between two or more temporally overlapping touch inputs in a touch screen system comprising:
-
(a) measuring signals caused by the two or more touch inputs; (b) measuring positional data for the touch inputs; (c) determining whether any of the signals exceeds a minimum threshold for a single touch input; (d) determining whether any of the signals exceeds a maximum threshold for a single touch input; (e) Calculating and reporting to the touch screen system a touch location using positional data that corresponds to any of the signals that exceeds the minimum threshold but that does not exceed the maximum threshold; and Wherein different minimum and maximum threshold values can be assigned to different users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification