Using multiple signals to detect touch input
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for detecting a location of a touch input, comprising:
- a plurality of transmitters coupled to a propagating medium and each configured to emit a signal that is distinguishable from other signals emitted from other transmitters, wherein the plurality of transmitters are configured to emit the distinguishable signals through the propagating medium such that at least a portion of each of the distinguishable signals emitted from the plurality of transmitters freely propagate directly through the propagating medium without being directly guided by a reflector and each of the distinguishable signals ultrasonically encodes different binary data from other of the distinguishable signals to distinguish each of the distinguishable signals from each other; and
a receiver coupled to the propagating medium and configured to receive the signals from the transmitters to detect the location of the touch input on a surface of the propagating medium as indicated by an effect of the touch input on each of the distinguishable signals, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the signals from the transmitters at least in part by being configured to receive a combined signal that includes at least a portion of each of the distinguishable signals disturbed by the same touch input at the location, each of the distinguishable signals that ultrasonically encodes different binary data from other of the distinguishable signals have been separately transmitted by a different transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, and the receiver is configured to separate and provide as output, each of the included portions of the distinguishable signals from the received combined signal and the each of the included portions of the distinguishable signals that has been separated and provided as the output corresponds to a same single contact of the touch input provided at the same location.
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Abstract
Detecting a location of a touch input is disclosed. Each of a plurality of transmitters coupled to a propagating medium emits a signal that is distinguishable from other signals emitted from other transmitters. The signals from the transmitters are received from at least one receiver coupled to the propagating medium to detect the location of the touch input on a surface of the propagating medium as indicated by an effect of the touch input on each of the distinguishable signals.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for detecting a location of a touch input, comprising:
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a plurality of transmitters coupled to a propagating medium and each configured to emit a signal that is distinguishable from other signals emitted from other transmitters, wherein the plurality of transmitters are configured to emit the distinguishable signals through the propagating medium such that at least a portion of each of the distinguishable signals emitted from the plurality of transmitters freely propagate directly through the propagating medium without being directly guided by a reflector and each of the distinguishable signals ultrasonically encodes different binary data from other of the distinguishable signals to distinguish each of the distinguishable signals from each other; and a receiver coupled to the propagating medium and configured to receive the signals from the transmitters to detect the location of the touch input on a surface of the propagating medium as indicated by an effect of the touch input on each of the distinguishable signals, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the signals from the transmitters at least in part by being configured to receive a combined signal that includes at least a portion of each of the distinguishable signals disturbed by the same touch input at the location, each of the distinguishable signals that ultrasonically encodes different binary data from other of the distinguishable signals have been separately transmitted by a different transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, and the receiver is configured to separate and provide as output, each of the included portions of the distinguishable signals from the received combined signal and the each of the included portions of the distinguishable signals that has been separated and provided as the output corresponds to a same single contact of the touch input provided at the same location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for detecting a location of a touch input, comprising:
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emitting from each of a plurality of transmitters coupled to a propagating medium a signal that is distinguishable from other signals emitted from other transmitters, wherein the distinguishable signals are emitted through the propagating medium such that at least a portion of each of the distinguishable signals emitted from the plurality of transmitters freely propagate directly through the propagating medium without being directly guided by a reflector and each of the distinguishable signals ultrasonically encodes different binary data from other of the distinguishable signals to distinguish each of the distinguishable signals from each other; and receiving from at least one receiver coupled to the propagating medium the signals from the transmitters to detect the location of the touch input on a surface of the propagating medium as indicated by an effect of the touch input on each of the distinguishable signals, wherein receiving the signals from the transmitters includes receiving a combined signal that includes at least a portion of each of the distinguishable signals disturbed by the same touch input at the location, each of the distinguishable signals that ultrasonically encodes different binary data from other of the distinguishable signals have been separately transmitted by a different transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, and separating and providing as output, each of the included portions of the distinguishable signals from the received combined signal, and the each of the included portions of the distinguishable signals that has been separated and provided as the output corresponds to a same single contact of the touch input provided at the same location.
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21. A computer program product for detecting a location of a touch input, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
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emitting from each of a plurality of transmitters coupled to a propagating medium a signal that is distinguishable from other signals emitted from other transmitters, wherein the distinguishable signals are emitted through the propagating medium such that at least a portion of each of the distinguishable signals emitted from the plurality of transmitters freely propagate directly through the propagating medium without being directly guided by a reflector and each of the distinguishable signals ultrasonically encodes different binary data from other of the distinguishable signals to distinguish each of the distinguishable signals from each other; and receiving from at least one receiver coupled to the propagating medium the signals from the transmitters to detect the location of the touch input on a surface of the propagating medium as indicated by an effect of the touch input on each of the distinguishable signals, wherein receiving the signals from the transmitters includes receiving a combined signal that includes at least a portion of each of the distinguishable signals disturbed by the same touch input at the location, each of the distinguishable signals that ultrasonically encodes different binary data from other of the distinguishable signals have been separately transmitted by a different transmitter of the plurality of transmitters, and separating and providing as output, each of the included portions of the distinguishable signals from the received combined signal, and the each of the included portions of the distinguishable signals that has been separated and provided as the output corresponds to a same single contact of the touch input provided at the same location.
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Specification