# US 2017/0285809 A1 · Fast multi-touch sensor wtih user identification techniques > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0285809 A1 - Document ID: US20170285809A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/624,994 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15 - Assignees: Tactual Labs Co. - Applicants: Tactual Labs Co. - Inventors: Daniel Wigdor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285809A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/042: by opto-electronic means - G06F 3/03542: {Light pens for emitting or receiving light} - G06F 3/03545: {Pens or stylus} - 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)} - G06F 3/0418: {for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment} - G06F 3/0421: {by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen} - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 2203/0382: Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC - 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 - G06F 2203/04109: FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method and system for distinguishing between sources of simultaneous touch events on a touch sensitive device with row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Orthogonal signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of the rows. Each column is processed to determine strength of each of the orthogonal signals present thereon. Simultaneous touch locations are associated with a discrete source based on the presence of body-transmitted cross-talk therebetween, as reflected by the determined signal strength corresponding to the touch locations. Alternatively or additionally, a user-coupled signal generator generating another orthogonal signal provides a user-unique signal to the receivers. The signal strength of the user-unique signal is used to associate one or more touch locations with the user coupled to the user-coupled signal generator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for distinguishing between sources of simultaneous touch events on a touch sensitive device, the touch sensitive device comprising: plurality of row conductors and a plurality of column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors, signal transmitter operatively connected to each of the plurality of row conductors, the signal transmitter adapted to simultaneously transmit a plurality of signals on each of the plurality of row conductors, respectively; receiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of column conductors, the receiver adapted to receive signals from each column during a plurality of sequential measurement periods, wherein the touch sensitive device is adapted to identify a location of each of a plurality of simultaneous touch events, the method comprising: providing a plurality of frequency orthogonal signals to the signal transmitter, thereby causing each one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals to be simultaneously transmitted on respective ones of the plurality of row conductors; processing column signals received by the receiver during a plurality of measurement periods to determine a strength of each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals in the column signals received by the receiver during that measurement period, such that for each measurement period a signal strength is determined for each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals for each column conductor; and associating at least two of a plurality of simultaneous touch events with a discrete source based on the presence of body-transmitted cross-talk therebetween as reflected by the determined signal strength for the locations of each of the at least two of the plurality of simultaneous touch events. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the discrete source is the same hand of a user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the discrete source is the same user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a first touch event of the at least two of the plurality of simultaneous touch events occurs in proximity to a first row conductor and a first column conductor, the first row conductor being associated with a first one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals, and wherein a second touch event of the at least two of the plurality of simultaneous touch events occurs in proximity to a second row conductor and a second column conductor, the second row conductor being associated with a second one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals, and wherein the presence of body-transmitted cross-talk between the first touch event and the second touch event is reflected by the determined signal strengths of the first one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals on the second column conductor, and the determined signal strengths of the second one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals on the first column conductor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the first row conductor and the second row conductor are not adjacent row conductors, and the first column conductor and the second column conductor are not adjacent column conductors. ### Claim 6 A user-identifying touch sensitive system comprising: user-coupled signal generator operatively connected to a user's body, the user-coupled signal generator adapted to couple a unique signal to the user's body; and touch sensitive device comprising: touch surface comprising a plurality of row conductors and a plurality of column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors; first signal generator operatively connected to each of the plurality of row conductors, the first signal generator adapted to simultaneously transmit a plurality of frequency orthogonal signals on respective ones of the plurality of row conductors, each one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals being different than and orthogonal to each other one of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals; receiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of column conductors, the receiver adapted to receive signals from each of the columns during a plurality of sequential measurement periods; signal processor adapted to process the column signals received during each measurement period to determine a strength of each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals in the column signals; signal processor adapted to process the column signals received during each measurement period to determine a strength of each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals in the column signals and to determine the strength of the unique signal in the column signals received by the receiver during that measurement period, such that for each measurement period a signal strength is determined for each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals for each column conductor and for the unique signal for each column conductor; the signal processor being further adapted to use the determined strengths of each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals in the column signals to identify touch location on the touch sensitive device; and the signal processor being further adapted to use the determined strengths of the unique signal in the column signals to associate one or more touch locations with the user's body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the user-coupled signal generator is a handheld unit, and is operatively connected to a user's body by hand holding the unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the handheld unit is one selected from the group consisting of: stylus; pen; and another hand-held object. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the user-coupled signal generator is operatively connected to the user's body through a chair pad. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the touch sensitive device further comprises a body having an edge, the body supporting at least a portion of the touch surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the user-coupled signal generator is operatively connected to the edge, and is operatively connected to the user when the user is in proximity to the edge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the touch sensitive device is a handheld device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising: another user-coupled signal generator operatively connected to another user's body, the another user-coupled signal generator adapted to couple another unique signal to the another user's body, the another unique signal being different than and orthogonal to the unique signal and to each of the plurality of frequency orthogonal signals; the signal processor being further adapted to process the column signals received during each measurement period to determine a strength of the another unique signal in the column signals received by the receiver during that measurement period, such that for each measurement period a signal strength is determined for the another unique signal for each column conductor; the signal processor also being further adapted to use the determined strengths of the another unique signal in the column signals to associate one or more touch locations with the another user's body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, further comprising: row receiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of row conductors, the row receiver adapted to receive signals from each of the rows during a plurality of sequential measurement periods; and wherein the signal processor is further adapted to process the row signals received during each measurement period to determine a strength of the unique signal in the row signals received by the receiver during that measurement period, such that for each measurement period a signal strength is determined for the unique signal for each row conductor; and wherein the signal processor is also further adapted to use the determined strengths of the another unique signal in the row signals to associate one or more touch locations with the user's body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the second signal generator is in the form of a handheld unit, and is operatively connected to a user's body by hand holding the unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the handheld unit is one selected from the group consisting of: stylus; pen; and other hand-held object. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the second signal generator is in the form of a pad under a chair seat. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the touch sensitive device further comprises a body having an edge, the body supporting at least a portion of the touch surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the user-coupled signal generator is operatively connected to the edge, and is operatively connected to the user when the user is in proximity to the edge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the touch sensitive device is a handheld device.