Dual function input device and method

• US 20030098858A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: N-Trig Ltd (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Perski, Haim, Morag, Meir
• Granted Patent: US 6,762,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Apparatus for user input to a digital system, comprising a first sensing system for sensing a user interaction of a first type, co-located with a second sensing system for sensing a user interaction of a second type. The first system may detect styluses and like objects using EM radiation and the second system may detect touch pressure.

Claims

1. Apparatus for user input to a digital system, comprising a first sensing system having first sensors for sensing a user interaction using a sensing method of a first type, and a second sensing system having second sensors for sensing a user interaction using a sensing method of a second type, said first and second sensors being co-located on a sensing surface.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second sensing systems respectively are operable to sense simultaneously.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing surface is superimposed on a display screen.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said sensing surface is superimposed on a part of said display screen.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a first of said sensing systems is superimposed on a part of said display screen, and a second of said sensing systems is superimposed substantially over an entirety of said display screen.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each one of said sensing systems is superimposed on a respectively independently defined part of said display screen.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first sensing system is a touch pressure-sensing system.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second sensing system is an electromagnetic based sensing system.

9. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said display screen is a flat panel screen.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said sensing systems comprises sensor reading operability for reading multiple simultaneous interactions with respective sensors.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connectivity interface for allowing fitting as an accessory to a computing system.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said accessory comprises an electronic pad-type surface.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said co-located sensing systems are constructed as a foil-based sensing arrangement.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said foil-based sensing arrangement comprises at least one transparent foil.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least some of said sensors comprise organic conductive material.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said transparent foil is a patterned transparent foil.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said pattern is etched onto said foil, thereby to form said sensors.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said pattern is printed on said foil, thereby to form said sensors.

19. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said pattern is introduced by passivation.

20. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said foil-based sensing arrangement comprises at least two superimposed transparent foils.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein sensors of said first sensing system are embedded in each of said at least two superimposed transparent foils.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein sensors of said second sensing system are embedded in each of said at least two superimposed transparent foils.

23. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein sensors of said second sensing system are embedded in each of said at least two superimposed transparent foils.

24. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein sensors of said first and said second sensing systems respectively are interleaved in said foil-based sensing arrangement.

25. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein sensors of said first and said second sensing systems are interleaved in said first of said at least two superimposed transparent foils.

26. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second sensing systems have respectively different report rates for scanning respective sensors.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said respectively different report rates are selected for compatibility with a respective one of said first and second user interaction type.

28. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second sensing systems have respectively different sensing resolution levels.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said respectively different sensing resolution levels are selected for compatibility with a respective one of said first and second user interaction type.

30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said first sensing system is an electromagnetic based sensing system, said respective user interaction is stylus operation and said respective resolution level is selected for compatibility with a respective application.

31. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said second sensing system is a pressure based sensing system, said respective user interaction is touch and said respective resolution level is selected for fingertip size.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said foil-based sensing arrangement comprises two superimposed transparent foils, and wherein a first parallel arrangement of pressure-sensitive sensors is located on a first of said foils and a second parallel arrangement of pressure-sensitive sensors, orthogonal to said first parallel arrangement, is correspondingly located on a second of said foils.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said superimposed foils are spaced apart by a flexible spacer to be pressed together upon application of pressure.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said flexible spacer comprises a matrix of substantially non-conducting material with gaps, wherein said gaps are located to correspond to junctions between said first and second parallel arrangements of pressure-sensitive sensors, such that upon application of pressure at any given junction, corresponding sensors are brought into contact.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said substantially non-conducting material is located to separate between sensors of said first sensing system.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said flexible spacer comprises spacer dots, said spacer dots being concentrated about sensors of said first sensing system.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said flexible spacer is printed onto at least one of said foils.

38. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each sensing system has a set of sensors located within said foil-based sensing arrangement, and wherein each set of sensors is arranged substantially as a grid.

39. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each sensing system has an arrangement of sensors set out to define detection co-ordinates and at least one of said sensing systems comprises scanning control functionality for scanning said detection co-ordinates in a multi-stage scanning operation, thereby to home in on multiple locations.

40. Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said arrangement is a grid and said co-ordinates are Cartesian co-ordinates.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein said multi-stage scanning operation comprises a first stage of scanning groups of sensors along each axis of said grid, and a second stage of homing in on co-ordinates indicated in said first stage.

42. Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said first stage comprises applying a sensing signal to all sensors of each group in a first axis, and reading each sensor in said second axis, and then applying a sensing signal to all sensors of each group in said second axis and reading each sensor in said first axis.

43. Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said scanning control functionality is operable to determine whether an ambiguity is present, and, if an ambiguity is present to define suspect sensors as any sensor giving rise to a signal.

44. Apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said scanning control functionality is further operable to select each suspect sensor one at a time in a first of said axes, to apply a sensing signal thereto, and to read each suspect sensor in a second of said axes.

45. Pressure sensing apparatus for detection of at least two pressure locations, the apparatus comprising:

an arrangement of pressure sensors set out to define detection co-ordinates, and

scanning control functionality for scanning said detection co-ordinates in a multi-stage scanning operation, thereby to home in on said at least two pressure locations.

46. A sensor arrangement for superimposing over a visual display screen, comprising:

a first transparent foil having sensors of a first detection system for detecting a user interaction of a first type, and sensors of a second detection system for detecting a user interaction of a second type, embedded therein, and

a second transparent foil superimposed over said first transparent foil and flexibly spaced therefrom, having further sensors of said first detection system and of said second detection system embedded therein.

47. A pressure sensing arrangement for superimposing over a visual display screen, comprising:

a first transparent foil having a first set of parallel pressure sensors,

a second transparent foil, superimposed over said first transparent foil having a second set of parallel pressure sensors, said transparent foils being orientated such that said first and second sets of transparent foils are respectively orthogonal,

a substantially non-conductive spacer located between said first transparent foil and said second transparent foil to separate between said foils, said spacer being flexible to allow contact between pressure sensors on respective foils about a point of application of pressure, thereby to transfer a signal between contacted pressure sensors, and

a scanning controller for controlling a scanning operation to apply signals to said sensors and to read outputs in such a way as to provide unambiguous pressure information concerning every junction on a grid defined by said pressure sensors.

48. The arrangement of claim 47, wherein said scanning operation comprises two stages, a first stage of scanning groups of sensors on each foil, and a second stage of homing in on junctions indicated in said first stage, thereby to detect simultaneous applications of pressure at multiple points.

49. The arrangement of claim 47, wherein each scanning operation is an exhaustive scanning operation comprising individual testing of each junction.

50. The arrangement of claim 48, wherein said first stage comprises outputting a signal to each sensor on one of said foils and detecting at each sensor on the other of said foils, then outputting a signal to each sensor on said other foil and detecting at each sensor on said one of said foils.

51. The arrangement of claim 50, wherein said second stage comprises outputting a signal to each sensor, on one of said foils, that has been indicated in said first stage, and detecting at each sensor that has been indicated in said first stage on the other of said foils.

52. The arrangement of claim 47, wherein said scanning controller is operable to carry out each of said two stages at substantially twice the frequency of fastest likely changes in a pressure application pattern.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein said testing comprises:

outputting a signal to each of a plurality of sensors on one axis of said grid,

detecting at each of a plurality of sensors on a second axis of said grid,

outputting a signal to each of said plurality of sensors on said second axis of said grid,

detecting at each of said plurality of sensors on said first axis of said grid,

from said detecting deducing sensors that are possible sources of ambiguity, and

conducting further outputting and detecting to resolve said ambiguity.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said conducting further outputting comprises selecting one of said axes and outputting a signal to each of said possible sources of ambiguity thereon, and said detection comprises detecting at each of said possible sources on the other of said axes for each said outputting.

53. A method of sensing of a plurality of pressure sensitive points arranged in a grid for detection of simultaneous applications of pressure at a plurality of said points, the method comprising testing said grid such as to obtain an unambiguous pressure detection result for each of said pressure points in said grid.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein said testing comprises an exhaustive test of each of said pressure points individually.