# US 10,768,718 B2 · Touch sensor

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- Number: US 10,768,718 B2
- Document ID: US10768718B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/467,588
- Filed: 2018-11-01
- Published: 2020-02-13
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-05
- Assignees: Anthony Richard Hardie-Bick
- Applicants: Anthony Richard Hardie-Bick
- Inventors: Anthony Richard Hardie-Bick; Clive Kenneth Griffiths
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768718B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/0346: with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- G06F 3/04815: Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
- G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
- G06F 2203/0384: Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A spherical input device 105 for navigating a virtual environment 102 is activated for touch sensitivity at any point on its surface 801 by a capacitive touch sensor 709 that includes first and second capacitance-sensing elements 710 and 711. A first variable capacitance 806 is formed between a first capacitance-sensing element and a first area of the user's hands through a first hemisphere 802. A second variable capacitance 807 is formed between a second capacitance-sensing element and a second area of the user's hands through the second hemisphere 803. A touch-responsive capacitance 805 includes the first variable capacitance in series with the second variable capacitance. Gestural data is derived from the touch-responsive capacitance and device rotations, and transmitted in gestural radio signals 108 to a receiver 109. One or both of the capacitance-sensing elements is configured to minimize attenuation of the gestural radio signals passing through the surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for data input, comprising:
a substantially spherical touch-sensitive outer surface arranged to be supported within the hands of a user;
a capacitive touch sensor, including a plurality of capacitance-sensing elements configured to generate surface touch signals in response to a touch-responsive capacitance including a first variable capacitance in series with a second variable capacitance;
a first said capacitance-sensing element arranged to establish said first variable capacitance with a first area of said user's hands through a first hemisphere of said outer surface;
a second said capacitance-sensing element arranged to establish said second variable capacitance with a second area of said user's hands through a respective second hemisphere of said outer surface;
an inertial measurement unit arranged to generate rotation signals in response to rotational manipulations of said outer surface by said user;
a device processor for generating gestural data in response to said surface touch signals with said rotation signals; and
a radio transmitter for generating gestural radio signals from said gestural data and transmitting said gestural radio signals through said outer surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first capacitance-sensing element is substantially transparent to said gestural radio signals.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first capacitance-sensing element has a surface area equal to less than half the surface area of said first hemisphere.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2)

The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first capacitance-sensing element is a spiral-shaped conductor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said spiral-shaped conductor substantially encloses the volume of said first hemisphere.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said second capacitance-sensing element is a spiral-shaped conductor that substantially encloses the volume of said second hemisphere.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second capacitance-sensing element includes at least one conductive plane of a circuit board.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second capacitance-sensing element includes an antenna of said radio transmitter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
said second capacitance-sensing element includes at least one conductive plane of a circuit board, and
said second capacitance-sensing element includes an antenna of said radio transmitter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said second capacitance-sensing element is substantially transparent to said gestural radio signals.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said first capacitance-sensing element includes an inductive portion for minimizing attenuation of said gestural radio signals.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second capacitance-sensing element includes an inductive portion for minimizing attenuation of said gestural radio signals.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said inductive portions form part of a tuned circuit having a resonant frequency close to a carrier frequency of said gestural radio signals.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said device processor is configured to generate rotation indications in said gestural data by a process of sensor fusion.

### Claim 15

A method of inputting data using a substantially spherical outer surface supported within the hands of a user, said outer surface enclosing a touch sensor, an inertial measurement unit, a device processor and a radio transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a first variable capacitance between a first capacitance-sensing element of said touch sensor and a first area of said user's hands through a first hemisphere of said outer surface;
forming a second variable capacitance between a second capacitance-sensing element of said touch sensor and a second area of said user's hands through a respective second hemisphere of said outer surface;
measuring a touch-responsive capacitance that includes said first variable capacitance in series with said second variable capacitance, to generate surface touch signals;
generating rotation signals in response to a rotational manipulation of said outer surface detected by said inertial measurement unit;
processing said surface touch signals with said rotation signals to generate gestural data;
supplying said gestural data to said radio transmitter to generate gestural radio signals; and
transmitting said gestural radio signals through said outer surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said gestural radio signals through said first capacitance-sensing element.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said gestural radio signals through said second capacitance-sensing element.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said gestural radio signals through a spiral-shaped conductor substantially enclosing said first hemisphere, and said first capacitance-sensing element is said spiral-shaped conductor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said gestural radio signals from a said capacitance-sensing element.

### Claim 20

A method of updating a virtual environment using a substantially spherical input device having an outer surface supported within the hands of a user, comprising the steps of:
forming a first variable capacitance between a first capacitance-sensing element and a first area of said user's hands through a first hemisphere of said outer surface;
forming a second variable capacitance between a second capacitance-sensing element and a second area of said user's hands through a respective second hemisphere of said outer surface;
measuring a touch-responsive capacitance indicative of the area of said user's hands contacting said outer surface that includes said first variable capacitance in series with said second variable capacitance;
comparing an indication of said area of said user's hands contacting said outer surface with a threshold to provide a comparison;
analyzing a rotational manipulation of said outer surface to generate a rotation indication; and
processing said comparison with said rotation indication to update a virtual environment.