Multi-Touch Probe Actuator

A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a computer control the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

• controlling a multi-probe capacitive touch interface tester to detect a capacitive touch interface to be tested, where detecting the capacitive touch interface includes detecting, in a camera associated with the tester, light associated with the capacitive touch interface;
• calibrating the tester with respect to the capacitive touch interface, where calibrating the tester includes analyzing light associated with the capacitive touch interface to establish a spatial relationship between the tester and the interface, where the spatial relationship is sufficient to map the pixel co-ordinate system of the tester to the pixel co-ordinate system of the interface to a degree sufficient to allow the tester to operate in the pixel space of the interface;
• and
• controlling the tester to test the capacitive touch interface at a rate of over ten touches, multi-touches or gestures per second in an order controlled by the test plan and at locations controlled by the test plan.

An apparatus, comprising:

• two or more probes configured to extend and retract from the apparatus, the two or more probes being configured produce a capacitive touch response on a capacitive touch screen upon touching the capacitive touch screen, the two or more probes being arranged in a honeycomb pattern that minimizes the amount of two dimensional travel needed to position a probe with respect to a desired point on the capacitive touch screen, where the honeycomb pattern is configured so a probe is equidistant from all other adjacent probes;
• two or more printed circuit board layers, where members of the two or more layers include a plurality of holes configured to function as bearings for the two or more probes;
• a camera;
• a processor;
• a memory;
• a set of logics configured to control touch testing of the capacitive touch screen using the two or more probes;
• and
• an interface to connect the processor, the memory, the camera, and the set of logics;
• the set of logics comprising:
• a vision logic configured to provide a closed loop vision system for controlling the position of the capacitive touch screen relative to the apparatus;
• a calibration logic configured to calibrate a co-ordinate system associated with the apparatus and a co-ordinate system associated with the capacitive touch screen independent of the original position or orientation of the capacitive touch screen;
• and
• a test logic configured to control the two or more probes to test the capacitive touch screen by causing the two or more probes to produce a series of touches, multi-touches, or gestures on the capacitive touch interface,
• the vision logic being configured to provide the dosed loop vision system based, at least in part, on light detected by the camera;
• the calibration logic being configured to calibrate the apparatus according to a dual-color, split-screen, binary search approach configured to minimize the amount of time required to calibrate the apparatus,
• the test logic being configured:
• to control the two or more probes to touch the capacitive touch screen at least ten times per second with two pixel accuracy, to control extending the two or more probes using digital pulse width modulation, where the digital pulse width modulation individually controls both the speed at which a probe extends and the force applied by the probe to the capacitive touch screen,
• to control an extended probe to remain extended using a hold signal, where the hold signal is not a digital pulse width modulation signal,
• to control the force applied by the probe to the capacitive touch screen during the touch to within a tolerance of one percent full scale and an accuracy of five percent,
• to communicate an interface test between the apparatus and a device that receives signals from the capacitive touch screen, and
• to receive a touch report from the device that receives signals from the capacitive touch screen and to provide a test result based, at least in part, on the interface test and the touch report.