Interaction Sensing

• US 20150049056A1
• Filed: 08/12/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Post, Ernest Rehmi, Bau, Olivier, Tsekov, Iliya, Sadi, Sajid, Digman, Mike, Attarian, Vatche, Consul, Sergi
• Granted Patent: US 10,042,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• 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 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08

Abstract

In particular embodiments, a method includes receiving a signal from an electrode of a touch sensor that senses a charge displacement, based on the signal, in order to detect the contact or separation. The method further includes detecting a contact or separation input to the touch sensor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a signal from an electrode of a touch sensor; and

detecting a contact or separation input to the touch sensor;

wherein the touch sensor senses a charge displacement, based on the signal, in order to detect the contact or separation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing a noise component of the signal;

rejecting at least a portion of the noise component of the signal; and

based at least in part on a characteristic of the signal after the rejection of at least a portion of the noise component of the signal, classifying the contact or separation input as a contact event or a separation event.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the characteristic of the signal comprises a time-domain profile of the signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the time-domain profile of the signal comprises a signal waveform that comprises a peak and a trough.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a time and location of the contact or separation event.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a material of an implement that is a source of at least a portion of the signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an object made the contact or separation and wherein the object is comprised of any type of material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein an insulator is on the electrode, and another material is on the insulator.

9. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

receive a signal from an electrode of a touch sensor; and

detect a contact or separation input to the touch sensor;

wherein the touch sensor is operable to sense a charge displacement, based on the signal, in order to detect the contact or separation.

10. The medium of claim 9, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

analyze a noise component of the signal;

reject at least a portion of the noise component of the signal; and

based at least in part on a characteristic of the signal after the rejection of at least a portion of the noise component of the signal, classify the contact or separation input as a contact event or a separation event.

11. The medium of claim 10, wherein the characteristic of the signal comprises a time-domain profile of the signal.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the time-domain profile of the signal comprises a signal waveform that comprises a peak and a trough.

13. The medium of claim 10, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to determine a time and location of the contact or separation event.

14. The medium of claim 9, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to determine a material of an implement that is a source of at least a portion of the signal.

15. The medium of claim 9, wherein an object made the contact or separation and wherein the object is comprised of any type of material.

16. The medium of claim 9, wherein an insulator is on the electrode, and another material is on the insulator.

17. An apparatus comprising:

an electrode of a touch sensor; and

a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic that is operable when executed to;

receive a signal from the electrode; and

detect a contact or separation input to the touch sensor;

wherein the touch sensor is operable to sense a charge displacement, based on the signal, in order to detect the contact or separation.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

analyze a noise component of the signal;

reject at least a portion of the noise component of the signal; and

based at least in part on a characteristic of the signal after the rejection of at least a portion of the noise component of the signal, classify the contact or separation input as a contact event or a separation event.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the characteristic of the signal comprises a time-domain profile of the signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the time-domain profile of the signal comprises a signal waveform that comprises a peak and a trough.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to determine a time and location of the contact or separation event.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to determine a material of an implement that is a source of at least a portion of the signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein an object made the contact or separation and wherein the object is comprised of any type of material.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein an insulator is on the electrode, and another material is on the insulator.

25. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a signal from an electrode of a touch sensor; and

means for detecting a contact or separation input to the touch sensor;

wherein the touch sensor is operable to sense a charge displacement, based on the signal, in order to detect the contact or separation.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

means for analyzing a noise component of the signal;

means for rejecting at least a portion of the noise component of the signal; and

means for, based at least in part on a characteristic of the signal after the rejection of at least a portion of the noise component of the signal, classifying the contact or separation input as a contact event or a separation event.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the characteristic of the signal comprises a time-domain profile of the signal.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the time-domain profile of the signal comprises a signal waveform that comprises a peak and a trough.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for determining a time and location of the contact or separation event.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising means for determining a material of an implement that is a source of at least a portion of the signal.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein an object made the contact or separation and wherein the object is comprised of any type of material.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein an insulator is on the electrode, and another material is on the insulator.