Method and apparatus for tracking input positions via electric field communication

• US 9,921,706 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sae Rome, Lee, Jong Rim, Heo, Chang Ryong, Park, Kyung Mo, Kim, Chul Jin, Song, Seong Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Faragalla, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/783,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,862 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A method and apparatus for tracking input positions via Electric Field Communication (EFC) are provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of receiving electrodes for EFC and a receiver unit. The receiving electrodes detect strengths of input electric fields. The receiver unit compares the strengths of the input electric fields with each other and generates position information regarding the input electric fields.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting an input position using Electric Field Communication (EFC), comprising:

a plurality of electrodes configured to measure a strength of input electric fields radiated from an object; and

a controller configured to compare the strength of the input electric fields measured at each of the electrode to detect the input position,

wherein the input electric fields are generated by a voltage supplied by an EFC transmitter which is connected to the object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to form information regarding the input position, detected during a preset time period, into one piece of image data, and to determine a movement direction and a movement distance of the input positions, using the preset time period and the image data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are arrayed at each edge of a touch screen.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are arrayed, in a grid, in a touch screen excluding edges of the touch screen.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor panel for measuring a degree of proximity of a system and transmitting the degree of proximity to the controller,

wherein the controller compensates a magnitude of the input electric fields according to the degree of proximity output from the sensor panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a receiver Integrated Circuit (IC).

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are attached to a touch screen and measure the input electric fields in a non-contact manner.

7. A method for detecting an input position using Electric Field Communication (EFC), comprising the steps of:

measuring a strength of electric fields radiated from an object; and

comparing the strength of input electric fields measured at each of the electrode to detect the input position,

wherein the input electric fields are generated by a voltage supplied by an EFC transmitter which is attached to the object.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

forming information regarding the input position, generated during a preset time period, into one piece of image data; and

determining a movement direction and a movement distance of the input position, using the preset time period and the image data.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

measuring a degree of proximity regarding a system that tracks the input positions using EFC; and

compensating a magnitude of the electric fields according to the degree of proximity.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the electrodes are attached to a touch screen and detect the input electric fields in a non-contact manner.