Acoustic device using higher order harmonic piezoelectric element
AssigneeElo TouchSystems, Inc.
InventorJoel C. Kent
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An acoustic-based system, such as a touchscreen system, is provided. The system comprises an acoustic substrate and an acoustic transducer operably coupled to the substrate. The transducer exhibits a higher order odd resonant frequency that is equal to the operating frequency of the system. As a result of using the higher resonant frequency that is substantially equal to the operating frequency, the thickness of the transducer can be increased, and thus made more durable.
Claims69
A touch sensor having an operating frequency, comprising:
- a touch sensitive substrate;
- and
- a piezoelectric element operably coupled to the substrate, wherein the piezoelectric element is characterized by a higher order odd resonant frequency approximately equal to the operating frequency.
A method of sensing touches on a touch sensor, comprising:
- transmitting an acoustic wave across an acoustic substrate with a piezoelectric element, the acoustic wave having a frequency approximately equal to a higher order odd resonant frequency of the piezoelectric element;
- receiving the acoustic wave from the substrate;
- and
- processing the acoustic wave at the higher order odd resonant frequency to determine whether the substrate has been touched.
An acoustic-based system having an operating frequency, comprising:
- an acoustic substrate having a surface and being configured for propagating acoustic waves parallel to the substrate surface;
- and
- a piezoelectric element operably coupled to the substrate, wherein the piezoelectric element is characterized by a higher order odd resonant frequency approximately equal to the operating frequency.
A method of using an acoustic substrate, comprising:
- transmitting an acoustic wave parallel to a surface of the acoustic substrate with a piezoelectric element, the acoustic wave having a frequency approximately equal to a higher order odd resonant frequency of the piezoelectric element;
- receiving the acoustic wave from the substrate;
- and
- processing the acoustic wave at the higher order odd resonant frequency.
A touch sensor having an operating frequency, comprising:
- a touch sensitive substrate;
- and
- an acoustic transducer operably coupled to the substrate, wherein the acoustic transducer has a higher order resonant frequency approximately equal to the operating frequency.
A method of sensing touches on a touch sensor, comprising:
- transmitting an acoustic wave across an acoustic substrate with an acoustic transducer, the acoustic wave having a frequency approximately equal to a higher order odd resonant frequency of the acoustic transducer;
- receiving the acoustic wave from the substrate;
- and
- processing the acoustic wave at the higher order odd resonant frequency to determine whether the substrate has been touched.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.