Fast multi-touch sensor with user-identification techniques
AssigneeTactual Labs Co.
InventorDaniel Wigdor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low-latency touch sensor is disclosed for use in connection with a touch surface having first and second conductors sensitive to changes in coupling therebetween as a result of touch (and/or near-touch). A signal generator generates unique orthogonal signals, a transmitter transmits the orthogonal signals on each of the first conductors. Receivers connected to the second conductors receive signals during a measurement period. The signals measured during the measurement period are processed to determine, for each measurement period, and for each of the second conductors, a signal strength corresponding to each of the unique orthogonal signals. The signal strengths can be used as a basis to determine touch events.
Claims20
A low-latency touch surface, comprising:
- first plurality of conductors adapted to have simultaneously transmitted thereon each of a first set of signals from a plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals, each unique frequency orthogonal signal in the plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals being orthogonal to each of the other unique frequency orthogonal signals;
- second plurality of conductors adapted to have transmitted thereon, each of a second set of signals from the plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals on each of the second plurality of conductors simultaneously;
- signal processor adapted to:
- determine a measurement for each of the unique frequency orthogonal signals in the signals received from each of the first and second plurality of conductors, and
- determine a touch event location using the measurement for a unique frequency orthogonal signal received from the first plurality of conductors and the corresponding measurement for a unique frequency orthogonal signal received from the second plurality of conductors.
A low-latency touch sensor for use in connection with a touch surface having a first and second plurality of conductors being arranged such that a touch event proximate to the low-latency touch sensor causes a change in coupling between at least one of the first plurality of conductors and at least one of the second plurality of conductors, and wherein when the touch surface is not being touched a first amount of signal is coupled between them, and when the touch surface is being touched a different amount of signal is coupled between them, the low-latency touch sensor comprising:
- a signal processor adapted to determine a measurement for each unique frequency orthogonal signals of a plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals received during a measurement period (τ), such that for the measurement period (τ) at least one measurement is determined for each of the plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals for each of a first and second plurality of conductors, wherein the signal processor is further adapted to determine a touch event using the measurement for a unique frequency orthogonal signal received from the first plurality of conductors and a corresponding measurement for a unique frequency orthogonal signal received from the second plurality of conductors.
A low-latency touch sensor having a first and second plurality of conductors being arranged such that a touch event causes a change in coupling between at least one of the first plurality of conductors and at least one of the second plurality of conductors, the low-latency touch sensor comprising:
- signal generator adapted to generate a plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals, each unique frequency orthogonal signal being orthogonal to each of the other unique frequency orthogonal signals and each unique frequency orthogonal signal being spaced apart from one-another by a spacing;
- transmitter operatively connected to the first plurality of conductors, the transmitter adapted to simultaneously transmit each of a first set of signals from the plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals on each of the first plurality of conductors, respectively, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit each of a second set of signals from the plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals on each of the second plurality of conductors;
- receiver operatively connected to the first and second plurality of conductors, the receiver adapted to receive signals during a measurement period from the first plurality of conductors, the receiver adapted to receive signals during the measurement period from each of the second plurality of conductors;
- and
- signal processor adapted to determine a measurement for each of the plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals in the signals received by the receiver during the measurement period, such that for each measurement period one measurement is determined for each of the plurality of unique frequency orthogonal signals for each of the first and second plurality of conductors;
- wherein the signal processor is further adapted to determine an event location using the measurement for a unique frequency orthogonal signal received from the first plurality of conductors and the corresponding measurement for a unique frequency orthogonal signal received from the second plurality of conductors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.