Method and apparatus for detecting lift off on a touchscreen

• US 9,335,869 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mattice, Harold E., Griswold, Chauncey W., Gadda, Christian E., Wilder, Richard L., Stockdale, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kumar
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, AFROZA Y
• Application Number:
  US12/372,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,639 Days
• Field of Search: 354/156, 354/173, 463/16, 463/20
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• 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 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A composite touchscreen incorporates acoustic pulse recognition sensing and capacitive sensing technology. The hybrid screen incorporates the advantages of each technology while minimizing the drawbacks. When such a screen is incorporated in a gaming device specialized gestures and functions can be implemented that enhance the interface, the range of games, and the gaming experience.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a memory device;

a microprocessor; and

a composite touchscreen comprising;

a display,

an acoustic pulse recognition touchscreen subsystem,

a capacitive touchscreen subsystem,

one or more touchscreen controllers, and

wherein the touchscreen is configured to detect an x-y coordinate location of a touch upon the touchscreen with the acoustic pulse recognition subsystem and to detect a lift-off of an object with the capacitive touchscreen subsystem.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming system is configured to:

access a database of touchscreen input data stored in the memory device of the system; and

map a plurality of detected inputs at the composite touchscreen to one or more gestures, a first of the plurality of inputs comprising a lift-off of an object detected with the capacitive touchscreen subsystem and a second of the plurality of inputs comprising a touch of the composite touchscreen detected with the acoustic pulse recognition touchscreen subsystem.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the gaming system is further configured to:

display a graphic of a hidden playing card with the composite touchscreen;

detect the touch at or near the hidden playing card and expose the hidden playing card upon detecting said touch;

detect the resting of an object adjacent to the hidden card; and

detect a lift-off of the object with the capacitive touchscreen subsystem.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the gaming system is further configured to hide the playing card upon detecting the lift-off of the object.

5. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the object is a hand, and wherein the gaming system is configured to detect the resting of the side of the hand upon the touchscreen at a location in front of the cards so as to hide the cards, and wherein the gaming system is configured to detect the lift off of the side of the hand from the touchscreen.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming system is further configured to detect a dragging of the touch with the capacitive touchscreen subsystem and expose the hidden playing card upon detection of the dragging.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor in coordination with the touchscreen controller is further configured to detect a dragging of the touch with the acoustic pulse recognition subsystem and expose the hidden playing card upon detection of the dragging.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic pulse recognition subsystem is configured to generate a unique sound based upon the x-y coordinate location of the touch upon the touchscreen.

9. A touchscreen comprising:

a transparent substrate;

a plurality of acoustic pulse sensors disposed upon a first surface of the transparent substrate and configured to detect an acoustic wave generated by an object making contact with the substrate or a layer in contact with the substrate;

a capacitive plate comprising a transparent conductive layer disposed upon a second surface of the transparent substrate;

an insulating layer disposed upon a surface of the capacitive plate; and

control circuitry configured to detect an x-y coordinate location of a touch by measuring an output of the plurality of acoustic pulse sensors and to detect a lift-off of an object in contact with the capacitive plate or a layer disposed upon the plate.

10. The touchscreen of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to compare the output of the plurality of acoustic pulse sensors to a list of prerecorded sounds for positions on the substrate or layer in contact with the substrate.

11. A gaming device, comprising:

a microprocessor;

a memory device; and

a touchscreen comprising;

a transparent substrate,

a plurality of acoustic pulse sensors disposed upon a first surface of the transparent substrate and configured to detect an acoustic wave generated by an object making contact with the substrate or a layer in contact with the substrate,

a capacitive plate comprising a transparent conductive layer disposed upon a second surface of the transparent substrate,

an insulating layer disposed upon a surface of the capacitive plate, and

control circuitry configured to detect an x-y coordinate location of a touch by measuring an output of the plurality of acoustic pulse sensors, and to detect a lift-off of an object in contact with the capacitive plate or a layer disposed upon the plate.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, further comprising a gesture and function database stored within the memory device.

13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the microprocessor is configured to:

receive an output from the touchscreen;

access the gesture and function database; and

map the output of the touchscreen to a gesture.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to map the gesture to a gaming function.

15. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to compare the output of the plurality of acoustic pulse sensors to a list of prerecorded sounds for positions on the substrate or layer in contact with the substrate.

16. A method of operating a gaming machine, comprising:

establishing a first logical region of a touchscreen display;

establishing a second logical region of the touchscreen display;

detecting a touch within the first logical region with an acoustic pulse recognition portion of the touchscreen display;

detecting a lift off of an object within the second logical region with a capacitive portion of the touchscreen display; and

changing displayed matter within the first logical region when the lift off is detected in the second logical region.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising changing displayed matter in the second logical region.

18. The method of claim 16, further including generating a unique sound based upon an x-y coordinate location of a touch within the first logical region.

19. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a memory device;

a microprocessor; and

a composite touchscreen display comprising;

a display,

an acoustic pulse recognition touchscreen subsystem,

a capacitive touchscreen subsystem, and

one or more touchscreen controllers,

wherein the composite touchscreen is configured to

detect a touch within a first logical region of the composite touchscreen display with the acoustic pulse recognition portion of the composite touchscreen display;

detect a lift off of an object within a second logical region of the composite touchscreen display with a capacitive portion of the composite touchscreen display, and

change displayed matter within the first logical region when the lift off is detected in the second logical region.

20. The gaming machine of claim 19, wherein the acoustic pulse recognition portion of the composite touchscreen display is configured to generate a unique sound based upon an x-y coordinate location of a touch within the first logical region.