Human-machine interface
First Claim
1. A human-machine interface, comprising:
- a panel formed of energy transmissive material, and having a substantially non-deformable major contact surface and a second major surface substantially parallel with the major contact surface;
an energy source to direct energy to the panel;
wherein the panel is configured to transmit energy received from the energy source to the major contact surface; and
wherein, at one or more contact regions of the major contact surface where an object contacts the major contact surface, the contact of the object with the major contact surface causes one or more alterations of at least one parameter of energy transmitted by the panel, the altered energy being representative of the object;
an image acquisition device to acquire, through the panel and through the second major surface, an image of a region including the one or more contact regions and generally being over the area of the major contact surface and including at least the alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy; and
a processor configured to communicate with the image acquisition device and process the image to determine a location of each contact region at which the object contacts the major contact surface, wherein the determination of the location of each contact region is based on at least the alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A human-machine interface includes a panel formed of energy transmissive material having a contact surface on which one or more contacts may simultaneously be made. An energy source directs energy to the panel. The panel transmits energy received from the energy source to the contact surface. At least one parameter of the energy transmitted by the panel is altered at regions where contacts are made with the contact surface. A detector is coupled to the panel and detects the at least one parameter of the energy generally over the area of the contact surface and outputs values corresponding thereto. A processor is in communication with the detector. The processor processes the output values to determine the locations of the contact regions on the contact surface and at least one other attributed associated with each of the contacts.
17 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A human-machine interface, comprising:
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a panel formed of energy transmissive material, and having a substantially non-deformable major contact surface and a second major surface substantially parallel with the major contact surface; an energy source to direct energy to the panel; wherein the panel is configured to transmit energy received from the energy source to the major contact surface; and wherein, at one or more contact regions of the major contact surface where an object contacts the major contact surface, the contact of the object with the major contact surface causes one or more alterations of at least one parameter of energy transmitted by the panel, the altered energy being representative of the object; an image acquisition device to acquire, through the panel and through the second major surface, an image of a region including the one or more contact regions and generally being over the area of the major contact surface and including at least the alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy; and a processor configured to communicate with the image acquisition device and process the image to determine a location of each contact region at which the object contacts the major contact surface, wherein the determination of the location of each contact region is based on at least the alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A human-machine interface comprising:
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a panel formed of energy transmissive material and having a substantially non-deformable major contact surface on which one or more object contacts are to be made by an object and a second major surface generally parallel with said major contact surface; an energy source to direct energy to said panel, said panel being configured to direct energy received from said energy source to said major contact surface, wherein at least one parameter of energy transmitted by said panel is altered at one or more contact regions where the one or more object contacts are made with said major contact surface, the altered energy being representative of the object; an image acquisition device to acquire, through the panel and through the second major surface, an image of a region including the one or more contact regions and generally being over the area of the major contact surface and including at least alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy; and a processor in communication with said image acquisition device, said processor configured to process said image to determine a location of each contact region on said major contact surface, wherein the determination of the location of each contact region on said major contact surface is based on at least the alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy.
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9. A human-machine interface, comprising:
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a panel formed of energy transmissive material, and having a substantially non-deformable major contact surface and a second major surface substantially parallel with the major contact surface; an energy source to direct energy to the panel, wherein the panel is configured to transmit energy received from the energy source to the major contact surface, and wherein, at one or more contact regions of the major contact surface where an object contacts the major contact surface, the contact of the object with the major contact surface causes one or more alterations of at least one parameter of energy transmitted by the panel, the altered energy being representative of the object; an image acquisition device to acquire, through the panel and through the second major surface, an image of a region including the one or more contact regions and generally being over the area of the major contact surface and including at least the alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy; a processor configured to communicate with the image acquisition device and process the image to determine a location of each contact region at which the object contacts the major contact surface, wherein the determination of the location of each contact region is based on at least the alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy; and a second energy source to direct energy to a region above the major contact surface to irradiate at least one non-contact portion of the object above the major contact surface but not in contact with the major contact surface, at which irradiated non-contact portion at least one parameter of the irradiating energy is altered. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification