Touch screen with selective touch sources

• US 20060022959A1
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Geaghan, Bernard O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,453,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0444 using a single conductive element covering the whole sensing surface, e.g. by sensing the electrical current flowing at the corners

Abstract

The present invention provides a touch sensor system that distinguishes from among distinct users. As a vehicle touch sensor system, the present invention provides a touch sensor accessible from a driver position and a passenger position, a first contact point driven with a first signal and associated with the driver position, a second contact point driven with a second signal and associated with the passenger position, and a processor configured to discern users in the driver position touching the touch sensor from users in the passenger position touching the touch sensor based on detection of the first or second signals on the touch sensor. For example, the vehicle touch sensor system can be a navigation system. Distinguishing the driver from the passenger can allow touch inputs from the driver to be disabled when the vehicle is in motion, for example.

Claims

1. A vehicle touch screen system comprising:

a touch sensor accessible from a driver position and a passenger position;

a first contact point associated with the driver position, the first contact point driven with a first signal;

a second contact point associated with the passenger position, the second contact point driven with a second signal; and

a processor configured to discern users in the driver position touching the touch sensor from users in the passenger position touching the touch sensor based on detection of the first or second signals on the touch sensor.

2. The vehicle touch screen system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is disposed over a display.

3. The vehicle touch screen system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is a capacitive touch sensor.

4. The vehicle touch screen system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is a resistive touch sensor.

5. The vehicle touch screen system of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact points are activated by user proximity.

6. The vehicle touch screen system of claim 1, wherein the first and second contact points are embedded in vehicle seats.

7. The vehicle touch screen system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to disable touch inputs from users in the driver position when the vehicle is in motion.

8. The vehicle touch screen system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine touch input location on the touch sensor.

9. The vehicle touch screen system of claim 1, wherein the system is a navigation system.

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)