Method for using touch signals and a touch unit

• US 7,633,300 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frequentis GmbH
• Original Assignee: Frequentis GmbH
• Inventors: Taeubl, Gerhard, Keroe, Nikolaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Natalini; Jeff
• Application Number:
  US11/512,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20070085553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 324/658, 345/173
• US Class Current: 324/658
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A method for evaluating touch signals on a touch unit which has two resistance foils (1, 2). The current (IX, IY) resulting from applying a given measurement voltage (UX, UY) to at least one of the resistance foils (1, 2) is measured and stored as a desired current value (IXS, IYS). Especially after the presence of at least one touch has been confirmed, the actual current (IX<IY) flowing in the other resistance foil (1, 2) is measured when the test voltage is again applied to at least one of the resistance foils (1, 2), and it is compared with the previously established desired current value (IXS, IYS) for this resistance foil (1, 2). In the event that the actual current (IX, IY) measured in the at least one resistance foil (1, 2) exceeds the desired current value (IXS, IYS), it is judged that a double touch occurred (FIG. 8).

Claims

1. A method for evaluating touch signals applied to an analog resistive touch unit with first and second, spaced-apart resistance foils which have contacts (A, B and C, D respectively) at their respective opposing end zones arranged in perpendicular directions (X-direction, Y-direction) comprising the steps of:

(a) applying a test voltage (UX, UY) to one resistance foil at a time,

(b) measuring a current (IX, IY) through one resistance foil at a time, said current caused by said test voltage (UX, UY) being applied to the resistance foil, said measuring occurring if no touch has occurred,

(c) storing the measured current per each foil as a desired current value (IXS, IYS),

(d) after a determination that at least one touch occurred and after updating the desired current value (IXS, IYS), applying the test voltage to one resistance foil at a time,

(e) measuring the actual current (IX, IY) in the resistance foil having the test voltage applied to it,

(f) comparing said actual current (IX, IY) with the desired current value (IXS, IYS) for this resistance foil, and

(g) in the event that the actual current (IX, IY) measured in at least one of the resistance foils is greater than the corresponding desired current value (IXS, IYS) for that foil, judging that a double touch occurred.

2. A method according to claim 1 including determining, especially prior to comparing the measured values for the actual current (IX, IY) with the stored desired current value (IXS, IYS), if a touch occurred at all by checking, after applying the measurement voltage (UX, UY) to one of the resistance foils, if the current (IX, IY) measured in the other resistance foils is smaller by a given value (LimPress) than the received desired current value (IXS, IYS), and, upon the occurrence thereof, judging that at least one touch occurred.

3. A method according to claim 1 including performing the current measurements and comparisons 100 to 2,000 times per second.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the current measurements and comparisons are performed 200 to 1,000 times per second.

5. A method according to claim 1, including digitizing the measured current values (IX, IY, IXS, IYS) and comparing the digitized current values.

6. A touch unit according to claim 1, wherein the actual current (IX, IY) measured in at least one of the resistance foils is greater than a given value (LimDT), judging that a double touch occurred.

7. A touch unit including a device for determining double touches comprising an analog resistive touch unit with first and second spaced-apart resistance foils which include contacts at respective end zones of the foils that are arranged perpendicular to each other (X-direction, Y-direction), comprising,

at least one control and evaluation unit which includes a voltage-current measurement unit for the current flowing in one of the resistance foils at a time,

the voltage-current measurement unit being adapted to measure the current (IX, IY) in one resistance foil at a time caused by applying a given test voltage (UX, UY) in one of the resistance foils,

a storage device for receiving desired current values (IXS, IYS) measured per each resistance foil, and

a comparator for comparing the actual current (IX, IY) with the desired current value (IXS, IYS) when the test voltage (UX, UY) is applied to the respective resistance foils one at a time,

wherein it is judged that a double touch occurred when the resulting actual current (IX, IY) for a given resistance foil exceeds the desired current value (IXS, IYS) for that foil by a given value (LimDT).

8. A touch unit according to claim 7 including a further comparator for determining if at least one of the stored current values (IXS, IYS) exceeds one of the measured current values (IX, IY) by a given value (LimPress) and, if so, judging that a touch occurred.

9. A touch unit according to claim 7, wherein the at least one contact (B, D) of the resistance foils is attached to ground or a zero voltage via a resistor (RS).

10. A method for evaluating touch signals applied to an analog resistive touch unit with first and second resistance foils that are spaced-apart, comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a current (IX, IY) through one resistance foil at a time caused by a test voltage (UX, UY) being applied to the resistance foils one at a time,

(b) storing the measured current as a desired current value (IXS, IYS),

(c) after a determination that at least one touch occurred, applying the test voltage to one of the resistance foils, and measuring the actual current (IX, IY) in the other resistance foil (1, 2), and

(d) comparing said actual current (IX, IY) with the desired current value (IXS, IYS) for the resistance foil to which the test voltage was applied to determine whether a double touch occurred and to calculate the location of touch.