Scanning of a touch screen

• US 8,471,830 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neonode, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neonode, Inc.
• Inventors: Goertz, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): MERCEDES, DISMERY E
• Application Number:
  US12/667,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20110043485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

A user interface for receiving input commands in a mobile terminal includes a display device for presenting visual information. Arrays of light sources and arrays of light detectors are arranged along respective first and second sides of the display device. Each array of light sources is configured to transmit light pulses over the display device, and each array of light detectors is configured to receive a part of the energy in the transmitted light pulses. A processing unit controls the light sources such that a light pulse is repeatedly transmitted from each source according to a predefined sequence. Based on an ambience light intensity and a measurement value registered by at least one light detector during transmission of light from the light source, the processing unit determines whether or not a light-obstructive object is present on the display device between a given light source and at least one light detector.

Claims

1. An interface arrangement for receiving input commands in a mobile terminal, comprising:

a display device adapted to present visual information to a user,

at least one array of light sources arranged along at least one first side of the display device, each array of light sources being configured to transmit light pulses over the display device,

at least one array of light detectors arranged along at least one second side of the display device, each array of light detectors being configured to receive a part of the energy in the transmitted light pulses,

a processing unit adapted to control the at least one array of light sources such that a respective light pulse is repeatedly transmitted from each light source according to a predefined sequence, and to receive information pertaining to light energy registered by the at least one array of light detectors, characterized in that the processing unit is adapted to;

record an initial measurement value registered by at least one light detector prior to transmitting the light pulse of a designated light source, the initial measurement value representing an ambience light intensity, and

determine whether or not a light-obstructive object is present on the display device between the designated light source and at least one light detector based on the initial measurement value and a secondary measurement value registered by at least one light detector during transmission of light from the designated light source, and

a digitizing unit configured to receive measurement values from the at least one array of light detectors and in response thereto deliver digital data to the processing unit,

wherein the processing unit is configured to control the at least one array of light sources such that each light pulse has a duration exceeding a time of the digitizing unit for producing digital data based on the received measurement values.

2. The interface arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a rectangular outline with four separate sides, and the at least one second side represents a respective side opposite to the at least one first side.

3. The interface arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a selection means adapted to control the at least one array of light sources to transmit light from the designated light source during a specified time interval.

4. The interface arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit is adapted to cause pre-charging of at least one light detector in coordination with the light transmitted from the designated light source such that the pre-charging is initiated at least a threshold time prior to a start of the specified time interval.

5. The interface arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit is configured to cause pre-charging of at least one light detector in coordination with the light transmitted from the designated light source such that the pre-charging is terminated no earlier than a delay time after expiry of the specified time interval, the delay time representing a time of the digitizing unit for producing digital data based on the received measurement values.

6. The interface arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to initiate the transmission of light from the designated light source no earlier than after digital data representing the initial measurement value has been received by the processing unit.

7. A mobile terminal for processing digital data, characterized in that the terminal comprises the interface arrangement according to claim 1.

8. A method of generating input commands to a mobile terminal having:

a display device adapted to present visual information to a user, an array of light sources arranged along a first side of the display device and configured to transmit light pulses over the display device, and an array of light detectors arranged along a second side of the display device, the array of light detectors being configured to receive a part of the energy in the transmitted light pulses, the method comprising;

controlling the array of light sources such that a respective light pulse is repeatedly transmitted from each light source according to a predefined sequence,

receiving information pertaining to light energy registered by the array of light detectors, and based thereon recording an initial measurement value registered by at least one light detector prior to transmitting the light pulse of a designated light source, the initial measurement value representing an ambience light intensity

determining whether or not a light-obstructive object is present on the display device between the designated light source and at least one light detector based on the initial measurement value and a secondary measurement value registered by at least one light detector during transmission of light from the light source,

digitizing measurement values received from the array of light detectors, and controlling the array of light sources such that each light pulse has a duration exceeding a time for digitizing the measurement values.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising controlling the array of light sources to transmit light from the designated light source during a specified time interval.

10. The method according to claim 9, comprising pre-charging the at least one light detector in coordination with the transmission of light from the designated light source in such a manner that the pre-charging is initiated at least a threshold time prior to start of the specified time interval.

11. The method according to claim 8, comprising initiating the transmission of light from the designated light source no earlier than after digital data representing the initial measurement value has been received by the processing unit.

12. The method according to claim 8, comprising pre-charging the at least one light detector in coordination with the transmission of light from the given light source such that the pre-charging is terminated no earlier than a delay time after expiry of the specified time interval during which light is transmitted from the designated light source, the delay time representing a time for digitizing the measurement values.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program instructs a computer to perform the steps of:

controlling an array of light sources such that a respective light pulse is repeatedly transmitted from each light source according to a predefined sequence,

receiving information pertaining to light energy registered by an array of light detectors, and based thereon recording an initial measurement value registered by at least one light detector prior to transmitting the light pulse of a designated light source, the initial measurement value representing an ambience light intensity,

determining whether or not a light-obstructive object is present on the display device between the designated light source and at least one light detector based on the initial measurement value and a secondary measurement value registered by at least one light detector during transmission of light from the light source,

digitizing measurement values received from the array of light detectors, and

controlling the array of light sources such that each light pulse has a duration exceeding a time for digitizing the measurement values.

14. An interface arrangement for receiving input commands in a mobile terminal, comprising:

a display device adapted to present visual information to a user;

at least one array of light sources arranged along at least one first side of the display device, each array of light sources being configured to transmit light pulses over the display device;

at least one array of light detectors arranged along at least one second side of the display device, each array of light detectors being configured to receive a part of the energy in the transmitted light pulses,

a processing unit adapted to control the at least one array of light sources such that a respective light pulse is repeatedly transmitted from each light source according to a predefined sequence, and to receive information pertaining to light energy registered by the light detectors, characterized in that the processing unit is adapted to;

record an initial measurement value registered by at least one light detector prior to transmitting the light pulse of a designated light source, the initial measurement value representing an ambience light intensity; and

determine whether or not a light-obstructive object is present on the display device between the designated light source and at least one light detector based on the initial measurement value and a secondary measurement value registered by at least one light detector during transmission of light from the designated light source,

a selection means adapted to control the at least one array of light sources to transmit light from the designated light source during a specified time interval; and

a digitizing unit configured to receive measurement values from the at least one array of light detectors and in response thereto deliver digital data to the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is adapted to cause pre-charging of at least one light detector in coordination with the light transmitted from the designated light source such that the pre-charging is initiated at least a threshold time prior to start of the specified time interval, and is terminated no earlier than a delay time after expiry of the specified time interval, the delay time representing a time of the digitizing unit for producing digital data based on the received measurement values.

15. The interface arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the display device has a rectangular outline with four separate sides, and the at least one second side represents a respective side opposite to the at least one first side.

16. The interface arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the processing unit is configured to initiate the transmission of light from the designated light source no earlier than after digital data representing the initial measurement value has been received by the processing unit.

17. The interface arrangement according claim 14, wherein the processing unit is configured to control the at least one array of light sources such that each light pulse has a duration exceeding a time of the digitizing unit for producing the digital data based on the received measurement values.

18. A mobile terminal for processing digital data, characterized in that the terminal comprises the interface arrangement according to claim 14.

19. A method of generating input commands to a mobile terminal having:

a display device adapted to present visual information to a user, an array of light sources arranged along a first side of the display device and configured to transmit light pulses over the display device, and an array of light detectors arranged along a second side of the display device, the array of light detectors being configured to receive a part of the energy in the transmitted light pulses, the method comprising;

controlling the array of light sources such that a respective light pulse is repeatedly transmitted from each light source according to a predefined sequence;

receiving information pertaining to light energy registered by the array of light detectors, and based thereon;

recording an initial measurement value registered by at least one light detector prior to transmitting the light pulse of a designated light source, the initial measurement value representing an ambience light intensity; and

determining whether or not a light-obstructive object is present on the display device between the designated light source and at least one light detector based on the initial measurement value and a secondary measurement value registered by at least one light detector during transmission of light from the light source;

digitizing measurement values received from the array of light detectors;

controlling the array of light sources to transmit light from the designated light source during a specified time interval; and

pre-charging at least one light detector in coordination with the transmission of light from the designated light source in such a manner that the pre-charging is initiated at least a threshold time prior to a start of the specified time interval, and is terminated no earlier than a delay time after expiry of the specified time interval, the delay time representing a time for digitizing the measurement values.

20. The method according to claim 19, comprising initiating the transmission of light from the designated light source no earlier than after digital data representing the initial measurement value has been received by the processing unit.

21. The method according to claim 19 comprising controlling the array of light sources such that each light pulse has a duration exceeding a time for digitizing the measurement values.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having a program recorded thereon, where the program instructs a computer to perform the steps of:

controlling an array of light sources such that a respective light pulse is repeatedly transmitted from each light source according to a predefined sequence;

receiving information pertaining to light energy registered by an array of light detectors, and based thereon;

recording an initial measurement value registered by at least one light detector prior to transmitting the light pulse of a designated light source, the initial measurement value representing an ambience light intensity; and

determining whether or not a light-obstructive object is present on the display device between the designated light source and at least one light detector based on the initial measurement value and a secondary measurement value registered by at least one light detector during transmission of light from the light source;

digitizing measurement values received from the array of light detectors;

controlling the array of light sources to transmit light from the designated light source during a specified time interval; and

pre-charging at least one light detector in coordination with the transmission of light from the designated light source in such a manner that the pre-charging is initiated at least a threshold time prior to a start of the specified time interval, and is terminated no earlier than a delay time after expiry of the specified time interval, the delay time representing a time for digitizing the measurement values.