Irregular input identification
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method to process a proximity image, comprising:
- receiving a proximity image;
smoothing the proximity image to generate a filtered proximity image;
generating a dispersion image by subtracting the filtered proximity image from the proximity image;
determining an irregularity measure value for the dispersion image, the irregularity measure value indicating a degree of irregularity in the shape of the dispersion image; and
controlling an operation of a touch-surface device if the irregularity measure value is above a specified threshold.
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Abstract
Techniques for identifying irregular objects in contact with, or in close proximity to, a touch-surface are described. An irregularity measure is determined based on the regions intrinsic characteristics (e.g., energy content) rather than on the shape (or pattern) of the pixels within the region.
225 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method to process a proximity image, comprising:
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receiving a proximity image; smoothing the proximity image to generate a filtered proximity image; generating a dispersion image by subtracting the filtered proximity image from the proximity image; determining an irregularity measure value for the dispersion image, the irregularity measure value indicating a degree of irregularity in the shape of the dispersion image; and controlling an operation of a touch-surface device if the irregularity measure value is above a specified threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 35)
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15. A method to identify an irregular input source to a touch-surface device, comprising:
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obtaining a proximity image; generating a dispersion image from the proximity image; segmenting the proximity image to identify a plurality of patches; determining an irregularity measure value for each of the plurality of patches based on the dispersion image, the irregularity measure value indicating a degree of irregularity in the space of each of the plurality of patches; identifying one of the plurality of patches as being associated with an irregular object when the irregularity measure value of the one patch is above a specified threshold; controlling an operation of the touch-surface device based on the identification of the irregular object; smoothing the proximity image to generate a filtered proximity image; wherein the act of generating the dispersion image comprises subtracting the filtered proximity image from the proximity image; and wherein the act of determining an irregularity measure value for each of the plurality of patches comprises at least determining a total energy value for each of the plurality of patches. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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36. A device having a touch screen, the device operative to process a proximity image, comprising:
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means for receiving a proximity image; means for smoothing the proximity image to generate a filtered proximity image; means for generating dispersion image from a difference between the proximity image and the filtered proximity image; means for determining an irregularity measure value for the dispersion image, the irregularity measure value indicating a degree of irregularity in the shape of the dispersion image; and means for controlling an operation of a touch-surface device if the irregularity measure value is above a specified threshold.
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37. A method to process a proximity image to discriminate between ear and earlobe contacts as distinguished from other contacts in a mutual capacitance touch surface mobile telephone device, comprising:
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obtaining a proximity image based on a disturbance in an electric field of a two dimensional array of sensing elements of the mutual capacitance touch surface mobile telephone device; smoothing the proximity image to generate a filtered proximity image; generating a dispersion image defined by the difference between the proximity image and the filtered proximity image; segmenting the proximity image to identify a plurality of patches; determining an irregularity measure value for each of the plurality of patches based on the identified patches and the dispersion image, wherein the irregularity measure value indicates a degree of irregularity in the shape of the dispersion image associated with the ear or earlobe positioned near or in contact with the mutual capacitance touch surface mobile telephone device; identifying one of the plurality of patches as being associated with the ear or earlobe contact or near contact if the irregularity measure value of the one patch is above a specified threshold; and controlling the operation of the mutual capacitance touch surface mobile telephone device based on the identification of the ear or earlobe contact.
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Specification