Distinguishing vibration signals from interference in vibration sensing touch input devices

• US 7,515,138 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Darius M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beck; Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US10/957,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 178 1801- 1804, 345/173, 345/177
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves

Abstract

The present invention discloses systems and methods for use with vibration sensing touch input devices that distinguish signals derived from vibrations on a touch plate due to a touch input from signals derives from electromagnetic interference. In the present invention, the phase response of the signals due to electromagnetic interference can be inverted relative to the phase response of the signals due to vibrations in at least one signal transmission channel so that pair wise cross-correlation of the various signal channels reveals the signals caused by electromagnetic interference. Once electromagnetic interference is identified, it can be ignored or otherwise appropriately taken into account by the system.

Claims

1. A touch input device comprising:

a plurality of vibration sensors mechanically coupled to a touch plate and configured to generate vibration signals in response to vibrations propagating in the touch plate due to a touch input, and to communicate the vibration signals to controller electronics through associated signal transmission channels, wherein there is a relative orientation between the vibration sensors and their associated transmission channels so that cross-correlating signals received on the transmission channels distinguishes vibration signals from signals caused by electromagnetic interference.

2. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the controller electronics are configured to determine touch input location from the vibration signals.

3. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the vibration sensors are piezoelectric transducers.

4. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein each vibration sensor has an orientation direction, and one or more of the vibration sensors are positioned with orientation directions inverted with respect to a feature of the touch plate and relative to the orientation directions of the other vibration sensors.

5. The touch input device of claim 4, wherein the signal transmission channels associated with the one or more vibration sensors positioned with inverted orientation directions include a signal inverter.

6. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the signal transmission lines are inverted with respect to a connection with their associated vibrations sensors and relative to the orientations of the other signal transmission lines.

7. The touch input device of claim 6, wherein the inverted signal transmission lines further include a signal inverter.

8. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the vibration sensors are four rectangular piezoelectric transducers having orientation directions pointing in a plane parallel to the touch plate, the touch plate being rectangular, each piezoelectric transducer located in a different corner of the touch plate, two of the piezoelectric transducers having orientation directions pointing toward the center of the touch plate and the other two piezoelectric transducers having orientation directions pointing away from the center of the touch plate.

9. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the vibration sensors are piezoelectric transducers having orientation directions pointing in a direction perpendicular to the touch plate, at least one of the piezoelectric transducers having an orientation direction pointing toward the touch plate and the other piezoelectric transducers having orientation directions pointing away from the touch plate.

10. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the vibration sensors are piezoelectric transducers positioned with the same orientation relative to a feature of the touch plate, at least one of the piezoelectric transducers coupled to one side of the touch plate and the other piezoelectric transducers coupled to the other side of the touch plate.

11. A method for determining information related to a touch input in a system that includes a plurality of vibration sensors coupled to a touch plate for detecting vibrations in the touch plate due to the touch input and generating corresponding vibration signals that are communicated to controller electronics via signal transmission channels associated with the vibration sensors, the method comprising:

inverting a phase response to vibration signals relative to signals caused by electromagnetic interference in a portion of the transmission channels; and

cross-correlating signals received on the transmission channels to distinguish vibration signals from electromagnetic interference.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of inverting a phase response comprises orienting a portion of the vibration sensors to have an inverted response to vibrations as compared to the other vibration sensors, and phase inverting the signals communicated to the controller electronics via the signal transmission channels associated with the vibration sensors oriented to have the inverted response.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of inverting a phase response comprises inverting a connection of a portion of the signal transmission channels at their associated vibration sensors relative to the other signal transmission channels, and inverting the signals communicated to the controller electronics via the inverted signal transmission channels.

14. A method of making a vibration sensing touch input device comprising:

coupling a plurality of vibration sensors to a touch plate;

orienting the vibration sensors so that a portion of the vibration sensors are inverted with respect to a feature of the touch plate relative to the other vibration sensors;

electrically connecting the vibration sensors to controller electronics through transmission channels associated with each vibration sensor, the controller electronics configured to cross-correlate signals received on each transmission channel; and

providing for inverting signals communicated to the controller through the transmission channels associated with the inverted vibration sensors.