Signal processing device, touch panel unit, information processor, and signal processing method

• US 9,442,586 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hirata, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jr., Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US13/921,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A sampling unit acquires a sample data series of a signal indicating a touch state quantity detected in a touch panel. A discrete Fourier transformation unit transforms the sample data series into the frequency domain. The frequency spectral analysis unit determines a frequency spectral distribution in accordance with the sample data transformed into the frequency domain. A peak detection unit detects a peak in a frequency band of a pulse in the frequency spectral distribution and finds the frequency of the detected peak so as to determine the pulse.

Claims

1. A signal processing device comprising:

a sampling unit configured to acquire a sample data series of a signal indicating a touch state quantity detected in a touch panel, the touch state quantity including an electrostatic capacitance value at a touch point;

an analysis unit configured to determine a frequency spectral distribution by transforming the sample data series into a frequency domain; and

a peak detection unit configured to detect a peak in a frequency band of a pulse in the frequency spectral distribution, and to find a frequency of the detected peak so as to determine the pulse;

wherein

acquisition of the touch state quantity occurs during temporary suspension of gain control used to adjust touch sensitivity of the touch panel when detecting a position of the touch point.

2. A touch panel unit comprising:

a touch panel; and

a touch panel controller configured to detect a position of a touch point on the touch panel and a touch state quantity, the touch state quantity including an electrostatic capacitance value at the touch point, and to output the position and the quantity as a signal,

wherein the touch panel controller includes;

a sampling unit configured to acquire a sample data series of a signal indicating the touch state quantity;

an analysis unit configured to determine a frequency spectral distribution by transforming the sample data series into a frequency domain; and

a peak detection unit configured to detect a peak in a frequency band of a pulse in a frequency spectral distribution, and to find a frequency of the detected peak so as to determine the pulse;

wherein

acquisition of the touch state quantity occurs during temporary suspension of gain control used to adjust touch sensitivity of the touch panel when detecting a position of the touch point.

3. An information processing device comprising:

a touch panel unit including a touch panel and a touch panel controller configured to detect a position of a touch point on the touch panel and a touch state quantity, the touch state quantity including an electrostatic capacitance value at the touch point, and to output the position and the quantity as a signal;

a signal processing unit configured to subject an output signal from the touch panel controller to signal processing;

a main processor configured to run an application; and

a display controller configured to control data that should be displayed on a display device provided in the touch panel,

wherein the signal processing unit includes;

a sampling unit configured to acquire a sample data series of a signal indicating a touch state quantity detected in a touch panel;

an analysis unit configured to determine a frequency spectral distribution by transforming the sample data series into a frequency domain; and

a peak detection unit configured to detect a peak in a frequency band of a pulse in the frequency spectral distribution, and to find a frequency of the detected peak so as to determine the pulse;

wherein

acquisition of the touch state quantity occurs during temporary suspension of gain control used to adjust touch sensitivity of the touch panel when detecting a position of the touch point.

4. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the display controller displays, on a screen of the display device, a guide for guiding a user to a position on the touch panel that should be touched.

5. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the display controller displays a guide for guiding a user to continue to touch the touch panel until a necessary period of time elapses for measurement of the pulse.

6. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the signal processing unit determines the pulse of the user by subjecting the touch state quantity to frequency spectral analysis, the touch state quantity being detected while the user continues to touch the touch panel during a predetermined period of time in order to provide user input.

7. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the main processor adjusts a parameter of a game application in accordance with a value of the pulse measured.

8. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein, if the peak detection unit does not detect a peak in a frequency band of the pulse, the main processor determines that the touch panel is not touched by a human finger.

9. The information processing device according to claim 3,

wherein the touch panel unit is compatible with a multitouch operation and the sampling unit acquires a plurality of sample data series in response to a multitouch operation;

wherein, if the peak detection unit detects a plurality of peaks in the frequency band of the pulse and obtains a plurality of different pulse values, the main processor determines that the multitouch operation is by a plurality of users, and

wherein, if the peak detection unit detects substantially one peak in the frequency band of the pulse and obtains one pulse value, the main processor determines that the multitouch operation is by a single user.

10. A signal processing method comprising:

acquiring a sample data series of a signal indicating a touch state quantity detected in a touch panel, the touch state quantity including an electrostatic capacitance value at a touch point;

determining a frequency spectral distribution by transforming the sample data series into a frequency domain; and

detecting a peak in a frequency band of a pulse in the frequency spectral distribution, and finding a frequency of the detected peak so as to determine the pulse;

wherein

acquiring the touch state quantity occurs during temporary suspension of gain control used to adjust touch sensitivity of the touch panel when detecting a position of the touch point.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing a computer program, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out actions, comprising:

acquiring a sample data series of a signal indicating a touch state quantity detected in a touch panel, the touch state quantity including an electrostatic capacitance value at a touch point;

determining a frequency spectral distribution by transforming the sample data series into a frequency domain; and

detecting a peak in a frequency band of a pulse in the frequency spectral distribution and to find a frequency of the detected peak so as to determine the pulse;

wherein acquiring the touch state quantity occurs during temporary suspension of gain control used to adjust touch sensitivity of the touch panel when detecting a position of the touch point.

12. A computer comprising a microprocessor and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium encoded with a computer program, which when executed by the microprocessor, causes the computer to carry out actions, comprising:

acquiring a sample data series of a signal indicating a touch state quantity detected in a touch panel, the touch state quantity including an electrostatic capacitance value at a touch point;

determining a frequency spectral distribution by transforming the sample data series into a frequency domain; and

detecting a peak in a frequency band of a pulse in the frequency spectral distribution and to find a frequency of the detected peak so as to determine the pulse;

wherein acquiring the touch state quantity occurs during temporary suspension of gain control used to adjust touch sensitivity of the touch panel when detecting a position of the touch point.