TOUCH-SCREEN MONITORING

• US 20100079382A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: SUGGS, Bradley N.
• Application Number:
  US12/239,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079382A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04109 FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421

Abstract

A method comprises monitoring a touch-screen for touches. The method also comprises, if a single touch is detected and no further touch is detected within a predetermined time after detecting the single touch, then, as a result, providing confirmation of the single touch to software, where a graphical user interface (GUI) of the software is shown on the touch-screen. The method further comprises, if a single touch is detected and a second touch is detected within the predetermined time, then, as a result, providing confirmation of two touches to the software.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

monitoring a touch-screen for touches;

if a single touch is detected and no further touch is detected within a predetermined time after detecting the single touch, then, as a result, providing confirmation of the single touch to software, a graphical user interface (GUI) of said software shown on said touch-screen; and

if a single touch is detected and a second touch is detected within said predetermined time, then, as a result, providing confirmation of two touches to said software.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein confirmation of two touches is provided to the software only if the second touch is detected within a predetermined distance from the single touch.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of said predetermined time and said predetermined distance is adjustable by a user of the touch-screen.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if, after confirmation of two touches is provided to said software, one of said touches is removed from the touch screen and another one of said touches remains on the touch screen, then, as a result, continuing to provide confirmation of two touches to said software.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a position of the one of said touches that has been removed is determined using a vector having an end point at said position and whose origin corresponds to the another one of said touches that is still present on the touch screen.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the vector maintaining a same angle and length as a second vector that is derived from individual positions of the last two or more touch positions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring said touch-screen comprises using a device selected from the group consisting of a television, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a mobile communication device, a personal digital assistant and a portable music player.

8. A method, comprising:

monitoring a touch screen for touches in an awaiting input state;

if a single touch is detected on the touch screen, transitioning from the awaiting input state to an awaiting confirmation state as a result; and

if, while in the awaiting confirmation state, a second touch is detected on the touch screen within a predetermined time period and distance from the single touch, confirming two touches, or else, if said second touch is detected outside of said time period or beyond said distance, confirming a single touch;

wherein, after confirming said two touches, said two touches remain confirmed until both touches are removed from the touch screen;

wherein, after confirming said single touch, said single touch remains confirmed even if an additional touch is detected on the touch screen.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the touch screen couples to a system selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a touch-screen display, a television, a mobile communication device, a portable music player and a personal digital assistant.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said time period is user-adjustable.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said distance is user-adjustable.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein if, while in the awaiting input state, two touches are detected, confirming two touches as a result.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein if, after confirming two touches, one of said touches is removed and another one of said touches remains on the touch screen, then, as a result, approximating a position of the removed touch using a vector, an endpoint of said vector at said approximated position and a source of said vector at the remaining touch.

14. A system, comprising:

a touch screen; and

processing logic that detects when an object nears or touches the touch screen;

wherein, if the processing logic detects multiple touches at the same time, then, as a result, the processing logic provides a signal indicating multiple touches to a software application whose user interface (UI) was displayed on said screen at the time of said detection;

wherein, if the processing logic detects a single touch and detects another touch within a predetermined time from said single touch within a predetermined distance from the single touch, then, as a result, the processing logic provides a signal indicating a double touch to said software application.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein, if the processing logic detects a single touch and does not detect another touch within a predetermined time from said single touch and does not detect another touch outside a predetermined distance from the single touch, then, as a result, the processing logic provides a signal indicating a single touch to said software application.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the system comprises a system selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a touch-screen display, a television, a mobile communication device, a portable music player and a personal digital assistant.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the predetermined time and the predetermined distance are adjustable.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein, if the processing logic provides a signal indicating a double touch, then, as a result, the removal of a finger from the touch screen does not cause the processing logic to generate another signal indicating a single touch.