Apparatus, method, and medium of sensing movement of multi-touch point and mobile apparatus using the same

• US 20080048990A1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Seong-ll, Chang, Wook, Park, Joon-ah, Soh, Byung-seok, Kang, Kyoung-ho
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,782 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 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

A user interface technique using a two-dimensional capacitive sensor is provided. An apparatus for sensing movement of multi-touch points includes a capacitance sensing unit sensing two or more touch points, and sensing capacitance and a change in capacitance on the basis of the sensed touch points, a movement analyzing unit sensing and analyzing a change of movement of the two or more touch points using information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance, and a command processing unit processing a command corresponding to the change in movement according to a result of the analysis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing movement of multi-touch points using a two-dimensional capacitive sensor, the apparatus comprising:

a capacitance sensing unit to sense two or more touch points, and to sense capacitance and a change in capacitance on the basis of the sensed touch points;

a movement analyzing unit to sense and analyze a change of movement of the two or more touch points using information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance; and

a command processing unit to process a command corresponding to the change in movement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the capacitance sensing unit senses the capacitance and the change in capacitance using electrical signals that are generated through an ‘

M’

number of sensing electrode channels arranged in a vertical direction at predetermined intervals and an ‘

N’

number of sensing electrode channels arranged in a horizontal direction at predetermined intervals.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the movement analyzing unit calculates position information on the two or more touch points using the information on the sensed capacitance from Equations,

$P_x=\frac{\sum _{}^{}}{}$

i = 1 M 

x i 

p x i ∑

i = 1 M 

x i 



and 



P y = ∑

j = 1 N 

y j 

p y j ∑

j = 1 N 

y j

where the P_x and P_y are an x-axis position value and a y-axis position value, respectively, which are calculated according to the weighted average method, the p_xⁱ is a position value that is arbitrarily defined in an i-th electrode channel along the X axis, the p_y^j is a position value that is arbitrarily defined in a j-th electrode channel along the Y axis, the x_i is the magnitude of capacitance generated in the p_xⁱ, and the y_j is the magnitude of capacitance generated in the p_y^j.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the movement analyzing unit comprises:

a capacitance magnitude detecting unit to sense the magnitude of the sensed capacitance;

a capacitance magnitude change detecting unit to detect a change of the detected magnitude of the capacitance over time; and

a movement pattern determining unit to determine a movement pattern of the two or more touch points using information on the magnitude of the capacitance and the change of the magnitude of the capacitance over time.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the movement analyzing unit further comprises a capacitance magnitude change speed detecting unit detecting change speed of the capacitance magnitude over time; and

the movement pattern determining unit determines the movement pattern additionally using information on the detected change speed of the capacitance magnitude over time.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the movement pattern determining unit determines a multi-touch point moving mode, in which all of the two or more touch points move, when the change of the capacitance magnitude over time is larger than a predetermined threshold value in a case of two or more parallel electrode channels among the “

M”

number of sensing electrode channels or the “

N”

number of sensing electrode channels.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein when two touch points at the left and right move in a horizontal direction, the multi-touch point moving mode comprises:

a mode that all of the two touch points move outward;

a mode that all of the two touch points move inward;

a mode that the left touch point moves inward and the right touch point moves outward; and

a mode that the left touch point moves outward and the right touch point moves inward.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the movement pattern determining unit determines a non-moving mode, in which all of the two or more touch points do not move, when the change of the capacitance magnitude over time is smaller than a predetermined threshold value in a case of two or more parallel electrode channels among the “

M”

number of sensing electrode channels or the “

N”

number of sensing electrode channels.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the movement pattern determining unit determines a one point-fixed one point-moving mode, in which the first touch point is fixed and the second touch point moves, when the two or more touch points are generated with a predetermined time, if the magnitude of the capacitance at the first touch point in contact with a first electrode channel keeps constant, and the change of the capacitance magnitude over time at the second touch point in contact with a second electrode channel in parallel with the first electrode channel is larger than the predetermined threshold value.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the movement pattern determining unit calculates position information on the first touch point and the second touch point, when the second touch point moves while the magnitude of the capacitance at the first touch point is stored, by calculating the magnitude of capacitance of the moved second touch point by subtracting the stored capacitance magnitude at the first touch point from the capacitance magnitude after the movement.

11. A method of sensing movement of multi-touch points using a two-dimensional capacitive sensor, the method comprising:

sensing two or more touch points, and sensing capacitance and a change in capacitance on the basis of the sensed touch points;

sensing and analyzing a change of movement of the two or more touch points using information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance; and

processing a command corresponding to the change of movement.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensing of two or more touch points and sensing capacitance and the change in capacitance on the basis of the sensed touch points comprises sensing the capacitance and the change in capacitance using electrical signals that are generated through an ‘

M’

number of sensing electrode channels arranged in a vertical direction at predetermined intervals and an ‘

N’

number of sensing electrode channels arranged in a horizontal direction at predetermined intervals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein in the sensing and analyzing of the change of movement of the two or more touch points using the information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance, position information on the two or more touch points is calculated using the information on the sensed capacitance from Equations,

$P_x=\frac{\sum _{}^{}}{}$

i = 1 M 

x i 

p x i ∑

i = 1 M 

x i 



and 



P y = ∑

j = 1 N 

y j 

p y j ∑

j = 1 N 

y j

where the P_x and P_y are an x-axis position value and a y-axis position value, respectively, which are calculated according to the weighted average method, the p_xⁱ is a position value that is arbitrarily defined in an i-th electrode channel along the X axis, p_y^j is a position value that is arbitrarily defined in a j-th electrode channel along the Y axis, the x_i is the magnitude of capacitance generated in the p_xⁱ, and the y_j is the magnitude of capacitance generated in the p_y^j.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensing and analyzing of the change of movement of the two or more touch points using the information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance further comprises:

sensing the magnitude of the sensed capacitance;

detecting a change of the detected magnitude of the capacitance over time; and

determining a movement pattern of the two or more touch points using the information on the magnitude of the capacitance and the change of the magnitude of the capacitance over time.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the sensing and analyzing of the change of movement of the two or more touch points using the information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance further comprises detecting change speed of the capacitance magnitude over time; and

the determining of the movement pattern of the two or more touch points using the information on the magnitude of the capacitance and the change of the magnitude of the capacitance over time comprises determining the movement pattern additionally using the information on the detected change speed of the capacitance magnitude over time.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining of the movement pattern of the two or more touch points using the information on the magnitude of the capacitance and the change of the magnitude of the capacitance over time comprises determining a multi-touch point moving mode, in which all of the two or more touch points move, when the change of the capacitance magnitude over time is larger than a predetermined threshold value in a case of two or more parallel electrode channels among the “

M”

number of sensing electrode channels or the “

N”

number of sensing electrode channels.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein when two touch points at the left and right move in a horizontal direction, the multi-touch point moving mode comprises:

a mode that all of the two touch points move outward;

a mode that all of the two touch points move inward;

a mode that the left touch point moves inward and the right touch point moves outward; and

a mode that the left touch point moves outward and the right touch point moves inward.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining of the movement pattern of the two or more touch points using the information on the magnitude of the capacitance and the change of the magnitude of the capacitance over time comprises determining a non-moving mode, in which all of the two or more touch points do not move, when the change of the capacitance magnitude over time is smaller than a predetermined threshold value in a case of two or more parallel electrode channels among the “

M”

number of sensing electrode channels or the “

N”

number of sensing electrode channels.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining of the movement pattern of the two or more touch points using the information on the magnitude of the capacitance and the change of the magnitude of the capacitance over time comprises determining a one point-fixed one point-moving mode, in which the first touch point is fixed and the second touch point moves, when the two or more touch points are generated with a predetermined time, if the magnitude of the capacitance at the first touch point in contact with a first electrode channel keeps constant, and the change of the capacitance magnitude over time at the second touch point in contact with a second electrode channel in parallel with the first electrode channel is larger than the predetermined threshold value.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the determining of the movement pattern of the two or more touch points using the information on the magnitude of the capacitance and the change of the magnitude of the capacitance over time comprises:

storing the magnitude of the capacitance at the first touch point;

moving the second touch point;

subtracting the stored capacitance magnitude at the first touch point from the capacitance magnitude after the movement so as to calculate the magnitude of capacitance at the moved second touch point; and

calculating position information on the first touch point and the second touch point on the basis of the calculated capacitance magnitude at the first touch point and capacitance magnitude at the second touch point.

31. At least one computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions that control at least one processor to implement the method of claim 11.

21. A mobile apparatus that has a touch screen and senses movement of multi-touch points, the apparatus comprising:

a capacitive sensor to sense two or more touch points, and to sense capacitance and a change in capacitance on the basis of the sensed touch points;

a movement analyzing unit to sense and analyzing a change of movement of the two or more touch points using information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance;

an output unit to output a command corresponding to the change of movement; and

a command processing control unit to perform control to process the output command.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the capacitive sensor senses the capacitance and the change in capacitance using electrical signals that are generated through an ‘

M’

number of sensing electrode channels arranged in a vertical direction at predetermined intervals and an ‘

N’

number of sensing electrode channels arranged in a horizontal direction at predetermined intervals.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the movement analyzing unit calculates position information on the two or more touch points using the information on the sensed capacitance from Equations,

$P_x=\frac{\sum _{}^{}}{}$

i = 1 M 

x i 

p x i ∑

i = 1 M 

x i 



and 



P y = ∑

j = 1 N 

y j 

p y j ∑

j = 1 N 

y j

where the P_x and P_y are an x-axis position value and a y-axis position value, respectively, which are calculated according to the weighted average method, the p_xⁱ is a position value that is arbitrarily defined in an i-th electrode channel along the X axis, p_y^j is a position value that is arbitrarily defined in a j-th electrode channel along the Y axis, the x_i is the magnitude of capacitance generated in the p_xⁱ, and the y_j is the magnitude of capacitance generated in the p_y^j.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the movement analyzing unit comprises:

a capacitance magnitude detecting unit to sense the magnitude of the sensed capacitance;

a capacitance magnitude change detecting unit to detect a change of the detected magnitude of the capacitance over time; and

a movement pattern determining unit to determine a movement pattern of the two or more touch points using information on the magnitude of the capacitance and the change of the magnitude of the capacitance over time.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein:

the movement analyzing unit further comprises a capacitance magnitude change speed detecting unit detecting change speed of the capacitance magnitude over time; and

the movement pattern determining unit determines the movement pattern additionally using information on the detected change speed of the capacitance magnitude over time.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the movement pattern determining unit determines a multi-touch point moving mode, in which all of two or more touch points move, when a change of the capacitance magnitude over time is larger than a predetermined threshold value in a case of two or more parallel electrode channels among the “

M”

number of sensing electrode channels or the “

N”

number of sensing electrode channels.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein when two touch points at the left and right move in a horizontal direction, the multi-touch point moving mode comprises:

a mode that all of the two touch points move outward;

a mode that all of the two touch points move inward;

a mode that the left touch point moves inward and the right touch point moves outward; and

a mode that the left touch point moves outward and the right touch point moves inward.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the movement pattern determining unit determines a non-moving mode, in which all of the two or more touch points do not move, when the change of the capacitance magnitude over time is smaller than a predetermined threshold value in a case of two or more parallel electrode channels among the “

M”

number of sensing electrode channels or the “

N”

number of sensing electrode channels.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the movement pattern determining unit determines a one point-fixed one point-moving mode, in which the first touch point is fixed and the second touch point moves, when the two or more touch points are generated with a predetermined time, if the magnitude of the capacitance at the first touch point in contact with a first electrode channel keeps constant, and the change of the capacitance magnitude over time at the second touch point in contact with a second electrode channel in parallel with the first electrode channel is larger than the predetermined threshold value.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the movement pattern determining unit calculates position information on the first touch point and the second touch point, when the second touch point moves while the magnitude of the capacitance at the first touch point is stored, by calculating the magnitude of capacitance of the moved second touch point by subtracting the stored capacitance magnitude at the first touch point from the capacitance magnitude after the movement.

32. An apparatus for sensing movement of multi-touch points using a two-dimensional capacitive sensor, the apparatus comprising:

a capacitance sensor to sense two or more touch points, and to sense capacitance and a change in capacitance on the basis of the sensed touch points; and

a movement analyzer to sense and analyze a change of movement of the two or more touch points using information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance to determine a movement pattern.

33. A method of sensing movement of multi-touch points using a two-dimensional capacitive sensor, the method comprising:

sensing capacitance and a change in capacitance based on two or more sensed touch points; and

sensing and analyzing a change of movement of the two or more touch points using information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance to determine a movement pattern.

34. A mobile apparatus that has a touch screen and senses movement of multi-touch points, the apparatus comprising:

a capacitive sensor to sense two or more touch points, and to sense capacitance and a change in capacitance on the basis of the sensed touch points; and

a movement analyzer to sense and analyze a change of movement of the two or more touch points using information on the sensed capacitance and change in capacitance to determine a movement pattern.