Methods and systems for detecting a position-based attribute of an object using digital codes
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of detecting a position of a pointer with respect to a touch-sensitive region comprising a plurality of electrodes, the method comprising the steps of:
- simultaneously applying a first one of a plurality of distinct modulation signals to an associated first one of the plurality of electrodes and a second one of the plurality of distinct modulation signals to an associated second one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the pointer, wherein each of the plurality of distinct modulation signals is based on a different one of a plurality of distinct digital codes;
demodulating the resultant signal using the plurality of distinct digital codes to thereby discriminate electrical effects produced by the pointer; and
determining the position of the pointer with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects.
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Litigations
3 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a position-based attribute of a finger, stylus or other object with a touchpad or other sensor having a touch-sensitive region that includes a plurality of electrodes. Modulation signals for one or more electrodes are produced as a function of any number of distinct digital codes. The modulation signals are applied to an associated at least one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the object. The resultant signal is demodulated using the plurality of distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the object. The position-based attribute of the object is then determined with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method of detecting a position of a pointer with respect to a touch-sensitive region comprising a plurality of electrodes, the method comprising the steps of:
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simultaneously applying a first one of a plurality of distinct modulation signals to an associated first one of the plurality of electrodes and a second one of the plurality of distinct modulation signals to an associated second one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the pointer, wherein each of the plurality of distinct modulation signals is based on a different one of a plurality of distinct digital codes; demodulating the resultant signal using the plurality of distinct digital codes to thereby discriminate electrical effects produced by the pointer; and determining the position of the pointer with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 58, 59, 60, 61, 66)
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39. A touch-sensitive device for detecting a position of a pointer, the device comprising:
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a touch-sensitive region comprising a plurality of electrodes having electrical characteristics configured to be affected by the proximity of the pointer; circuitry associated with each of the electrodes; a demodulator coupled to the touch-sensitive region; and a processor coupled to the circuitry and to the demodulator, wherein the processor is configured to initiate production of a plurality of distinct modulation signals, wherein each of the plurality of distinct modulation signals is produced as a function of a different one of a plurality of distinct digital codes, to initiate simultaneous application of a first one of the plurality of distinct modulation signals to a first one of the plurality of electrodes and a second one of the plurality of distinct modulation signals to a second one of the plurality of electrodes via the circuitry, to demodulate a sensed signal received from the touch-sensitive region using the distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the pointer upon at least one electrode, and to determine the position of the pointer with respect to the plurality of electrodes using the electrical effects. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67)
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51. A device for detecting a position of a pointer with respect to a touch-sensitive region comprising a plurality of electrodes, the device comprising:
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means for simultaneously applying a first one of a plurality of distinct modulation signals to an associated first one of the plurality of electrodes and a second one of the plurality of distinct modulation signals to an associated second one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the pointer, wherein each of the plurality of distinct modulation signals is based on a different one of a plurality of distinct digital codes; means for demodulating the resultant signal using the plurality of distinct digital codes to thereby discriminate electrical effects produced by the pointer; and means for determining the position of the pointer with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 68)
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Specification