FAST MULTI-TOUCH SENSOR WITH USER IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES

• US 20180074618A1
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.
• Original Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.
• Inventors: Wigdor, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,261,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• 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 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 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• 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 method and system for distinguishing between sources of simultaneous touch events on a touch sensitive device with row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Orthogonal signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of the rows. Each column is processed to determine strength of each of the orthogonal signals present thereon. Simultaneous touch locations are associated with a discrete source based on the presence of body-transmitted cross-talk therebetween, as reflected by the determined signal strength corresponding to the touch locations. Alternatively or additionally, a user-coupled signal generator generating another orthogonal signal provides a user-unique signal to the receivers. The signal strength of the user-unique signal is used to associate one or more touch locations with the user coupled to the user-coupled signal generator.

Claims

1. A user-identifying touch sensitive system comprising:

user-coupled signal generator operatively connected to a user'"'"'s body, the user-coupled signal generator adapted to couple a unique signal to the user'"'"'s body; and

touch sensitive device comprising;

touch surface comprising a plurality of row conductors and a plurality of column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors;

first signal generator operatively connected to each of the plurality of row conductors, the first signal generator adapted to simultaneously transmit a plurality of frequency orthogonal signals on respective ones of the plurality of row conductors, each one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals being different than and orthogonal to each other one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals;

receiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of column conductors, the receiver adapted to receive signals from each of the columns during a plurality of sequential measurement periods;

signal processor adapted to process the column signals received during each measurement period to determine a strength of each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals in the column signals;

signal processor adapted to process the column signals received during each measurement period to determine a strength of each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals in the column signals and to determine the strength of the unique signal in the column signals received by the receiver during that measurement period, such that for each measurement period a signal strength is determined for each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals for each column conductor and for the unique signal for each column conductor;

the signal processor being further adapted to use the determined strengths of each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals in the column signals to identify touch location on the touch sensitive device; and

the signal processor being further adapted to use the determined strengths of the unique signal in the column signals to associate one or more touch locations with the user'"'"'s body.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-coupled signal generator is a handheld unit, and is operatively connected to a user'"'"'s body by hand holding the unit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the handheld unit is one selected from the group consisting of:

stylus;

pen; and

another hand-held object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-coupled signal generator is operatively connected to the user'"'"'s body through a chair pad.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive device further comprises a body having an edge, the body supporting at least a portion of the touch surface.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the user-coupled signal generator is operatively connected to the edge, and is operatively connected to the user when the user is in proximity to the edge.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the touch sensitive device is a handheld device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

another user-coupled signal generator operatively connected to another user'"'"'s body, the another user-coupled signal generator adapted to couple another unique signal to the another user'"'"'s body, the another unique signal being different than and orthogonal to the unique signal and to each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals;

the signal processor being further adapted to process the column signals received during each measurement period to determine a strength of the another unique signal in the column signals received by the receiver during that measurement period, such that for each measurement period a signal strength is determined for the another unique signal for each column conductor;

the signal processor also being further adapted to use the determined strengths of the another unique signal in the column signals to associate one or more touch locations with the another user'"'"'s body.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

row receiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of row conductors, the row receiver adapted to receive signals from each of the rows during a plurality of sequential measurement periods; and

wherein the signal processor is further adapted to process the row signals received during each measurement period to determine a strength of the unique signal in the row signals received by the receiver during that measurement period, such that for each measurement period a signal strength is determined for the unique signal for each row conductor; and

wherein the signal processor is also further adapted to use the determined strengths of the another unique signal in the row signals to associate one or more touch locations with the user'"'"'s body.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second signal generator is in the form of a handheld unit, and is operatively connected to a user'"'"'s body by hand holding the unit.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the handheld unit is one selected from the group consisting of:

stylus;

pen; and

other hand-held object.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second signal generator is in the form of a pad under a chair seat.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the touch sensitive device further comprises a body having an edge, the body supporting at least a portion of the touch surface.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the user-coupled signal generator is operatively connected to the edge, and is operatively connected to the user when the user is in proximity to the edge.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the touch sensitive device is a handheld device.