Abstract: A method and a device for detecting user input includes receiving a user input at an input arrangement of a user interface. The input arrangement has at least one piezoelectric sensor that generates an electric signal in response to the input. The electric signal is processed to determine the presence of the input. The processing may indicate the magnitude of the force of the input, in addition to the input's location. An output arrangement of the user interface generates an output in response to the processing. The output may be a haptic, audio or visual output.

Abstract: A computing system comprises a processor and internal peripheral devices, and a system bus connecting the internal peripheral devices to the processor. One of the internal peripheral devices is an ultrasonic digitizer that digitizes ultrasonic signals from at least two associated microphones into a digitized audio signal carrying a corresponding location and outputs the digitized audio as a signal on the system bus.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a position acquisition unit for obtaining a display position of an input area in a display area, and a display control unit for controlling, based on the display position of the input area, in the display area a display position of an input operation area in which a character to be displayed in the input area is input. The display control unit displays the input area near the display position of the input area, and makes the input operation area follow the movement of the input area when the display position of the input area is moved.

Abstract: A system and method for providing feedback to a user making a gesture for switching between at least two types of user interactions used to operate a digitizer system, the method comprising recognizing the gesture to switch between the types of user interactions, switching the type of user interaction used to operate the digitizer system, and providing feedback to the user indicating recognition of the gesture.

Abstract: A digital signature collection and authentication system includes an ink pen having an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits ultrasonic energy to a plurality of ultrasonic receivers. A computer triangulates the location of the pen versus time to generate the signature shape, and to generate velocity and acceleration data. The pen also includes a pressure sensitive tip to record pressure applied to the pen tip. The pen also includes a higher frequency burst transmitter useful to generate a time reference, and to transmit the pressure information. The computer packetizes the shape, velocity, acceleration, and pressure data with a time stamp and an IP address or phone number, encrypts the packet and sends it to a host computer for authentication.

Abstract: A capacitive touch panel has a plurality of traces including a boundary trace, and a virtual trace is defined outward of the boundary trace and assigned with a virtual coordinate and a virtual capacitance for interpolation to position a touch point around the boundary of the capacitive touch panel, thereby eliminating the non-addressable region of the capacitive touch panel.

Abstract: A touch panel assembly includes a touch-sensitive panel oriented along a plane. An actuator includes a frame having a first portion and a second portion at least partially oriented parallel to the plane. The first portion and the second portion are coupled together with a biasing element. A first magnetic device is coupled to the first portion. A second magnetic device is coupled to the second portion and positioned adjacent to the first magnetic device. The first magnetic device configured to move the first portion in a first direction parallel to the plane when energized by a current to cause a haptic effect to be felt on the touch sensitive panel. The biasing element applies a biasing force which causes the first portion to move in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A method for operating a digitizer with an autonomous asynchronous stylus includes sampling outputs from a digitizer, detecting from the outputs at least one pulsed signal transmitted from an autonomous asynchronous stylus at a defined rate, determining a location of the stylus interaction with respect to the digitizer, and tracking stylus interaction with the digitizer over subsequent pulsed signals transmitted from the stylus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a touch screen panel, a method of manufacturing the touch screen panel, and a display having the touch screen panel. Ultrasonic excitation and detection transducers are attached to the front surface of the image display unit of a display, thereby implementing the touch screen panel. The substrate of the display, that is, the upper surface of the image display unit is used as a surface acoustic wave propagation medium, so that it is not required to manufacture the touch screen panel in a separate substrate and to attach the substrate, in which the touch screen panel is manufactured, to the image display unit of the display, thereby not only preventing degradation of image quality but also not increasing the thickness and size thereof.

Abstract: A rangefinder, for locating an object moving parallel to a planar surface, is rigidly attached to a carrier that is pivotably movable between an obverse position and a reverse position relative to a planar surface. Preferably, an orienting mechanism is provided for determining which position, obverse or reverse, the carrier and rangefinder are in. Preferably, a pivot, for pivoting the carrier and the rangefinder between the two positions, is rigidly attached either to the plane surface or to an attachment mechanism for reversibly attaching the carrier to the planar surface.

Abstract: A touch sensing device capable of accurately detecting a touched position on a touch panel includes a touch panel, a conversion unit and a calculation unit. The touch panel having a plurality of horizontal sensing lines and vertical sensing lines generates a plurality of horizontal sensing signals and vertical sensing signals in response to a touch on the touch panel. The conversion unit generates a plurality of two-dimensional (2D) sensing signals according to the horizontal and vertical sensing signals. The calculation unit determines a touched position on the touch panel according to the 2D sensing signals.

Abstract: For locating a touch on a tactile surface belonging to an object, mechanical waves are made to propagate in the object and these mechanical waves are picked up. Certain characteristics of the signal picked up are compared to a library of reference characteristics, and the position of the touch is deduced from this comparison.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting temporally overlapping trace events on a touch sensitive device.

Abstract: A pen transcription system and method for locating a moveable signal source are disclosed. The transcription system includes a base having a planar base surface, first and second acoustical sensors that detect an acoustical signal emitted by a moveable signal source, the acoustical sensors being mounted on the base and separated from one another. The difference in time of detection between an EM signal and the acoustical signals is measured to determine the position of the moveable source. The acoustical sensors include a housing surrounding a detector. The housing has an aperture having a width that is less than the wavelength of said acoustical signal divided by 6.28 and a height that is substantially equal to an integer multiple of a wavelength of an interfering acoustical signal.

Abstract: A touch pad (101) includes transducers (201-204) for receiving acoustic signals resulting from touch events, such as the continuous movement of a fingertip across the surface (105) of the touch pad. The acoustic signals are acquired at different transducer locations in the surface. Signals from different transducers are combined, preferably in antiphase, to improve signal characteristics. The transducer signals are supplied to a stereo analogue to digital converter (407). Phase differences (706) are obtained and compared (703) with phase difference profiles (607) of known location, in order to identify the location of the touch event. An index (606) is used to identify candidate locations to reduce the amount of processing. Interpolation (705) is used to locate the touch event between profile locations.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a position-based attribute of a finger, stylus or other object with a touchpad or other sensor having a touch-sensitive region that includes a plurality of electrodes. Modulation signals for one or more electrodes are produced as a function of any number of distinct digital codes. The modulation signals are applied to an associated at least one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the object. The resultant signal is demodulated using the plurality of distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the object. The position-based attribute of the object is then determined with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects.

Abstract: A system for determining a user indication is disclosed. The system includes a communication interface configured to send a signal to be used to propagate a freely propagating signal through a propagating medium with a surface and receive the freely propagating signal that has been disturbed by a disturbance on the surface. The system also includes a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to process the received signal to determine a user indication associated with the disturbance.

Abstract: A touchpad assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The touchpad assembly may include a touchpad frame operative to be placed within an opening in an electronic device frame. The touchpad assembly may include a support plate for supporting a touchpad, and a bracket for receiving a pick button. The support plate and bracket may be manufactured into a same component to increase the rigidity of the touchpad assembly. The pick button may include a varying height to prevent the pick button from deflecting and to make the pick button travel for providing a selection instruction uniform. The pick button may be coupled to the frame using any suitable approach, including using springs connected the ends of the pick button to the frame. The frame may also include pads to muffle the sound of the pick button when it returns to its initial position after having been pressed.

Abstract: An input processing device comprises a display screen and a pointing device for inputting corresponding 2-dimensional coordinates on the display screen. A 3-dimensional space is displayed on the display screen and the 2-dimensional coordinates inputted from the pointing device are detected. Next, shift amounts, per unit of time, of the detected 2-dimensional coordinates are calculated based on a predetermined calculation start condition. And the calculated shift amounts are converted to 3-dimensional coordinate shift amounts in the 3-dimensional space.

Abstract: Disclosed is a 3-dimension non-bias electrets multi-touch device, comprising a first electrets thin film providing a first bias electric charge to form an electrostatic field, a first electrode, a second electrode and a controller. The first electrode is attached to the first electrets thin film and outputs a first signal when the electrostatic field is changed by a deformation of the first electrets thin film due to contact pressures of external forces. The second electrode outputs a second signal when the electrostatic field is changed. The first and second electrodes transmit the first and second signals to the controller. The controller is capable to detect and analyze positions where the contact pressures of the external forces are applied and normal vector shifts of the first electrets thin film at the positions.

Abstract: A touchscreen system comprises a touch area. At least one transmitter is positioned proximate to outer edges of the touch area for transmitting first beams in a first direction. At least one beam splitter is positioned proximate to the outer edges of the touch area for splitting the first beams into at least second and third beams that travel through the touch area in at least second and third directions, respectively. The at least one beam splitter comprises a plurality of deflecting elements. Receivers are positioned proximate to the outer edges of the touch area for receiving the at least second and third beams.

Abstract: A touch sensing device includes a plurality of sensors and an emitting transducer coupled to a touch panel. The transducer induces bending waves in the touch panel. The sensors sense bending waves in the touch panel and generate a bending wave signal responsive to the sensed bending waves. A controller identifies an untouched condition signal responsive to the induced bending waves. The controller compares the untouched condition signal to the bending wave signal, and detects a touch on the touch panel based on the comparison.

Abstract: There are included a protection panel main body configured by a transparent plate, a lower electrode sheet laminated onto an upper surface of the protection panel main body, an upper electrode sheet bonded to the lower electrode sheet at peripheral edges thereof with a gap being formed between electrodes, a decorative sheet laminated onto an upper surface of the upper electrode sheet, and an FPC that has an end inserted between the lower electrode sheet and the upper electrode sheet and is connected by thermal compression bonding to output ends of an upper circuit and a lower circuit. Further, the protection panel main body is provided with a thermal compression head inserting space at a portion corresponding to a portion bonded with the FPC by thermal compression so that a thermal compression heater is allowed to be brought closer to the lower electrode sheet.

Abstract: A touch panel may include a plurality of piezoelectric nanowires between a plurality of first transparent electrodes and plurality second transparent electrodes that cross each other; an ultrasonic wave generator configured to generate ultrasonic waves from the piezoelectric nanowires; and at least one ultrasonic wave echo sensor configured to detect ultrasonic waves that are generated from the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires and return to the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires after colliding with an object approaching the plurality of piezoelectric nanowires.

Abstract: A finger navigation device is disclosed herein. An embodiment of the navigation device comprises a substrate; a light emitter located on the substrate; a photosensor located on the substrate; and a first cover located above the light emitter and the photosensor. The first cover has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side faces the substrate. A first lens is located in the first cover proximate the light emitter. An aperture is located in the first cover proximate the photosensor. A second cover faces the second side of the first cover and has a first surface proximate a transparent portion.

Abstract: Touch sensor methods, devices and systems are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a method comprising monitoring a finger movement along a touch sensing surface based on position data of a finger touching the touch sensing surface, where the position data is obtained by locating a position of a force applied by the finger in a coordinate of the touch sensing surface. In addition, the method comprises generating direction data associated with the finger movement if the finger movement travels for more than a threshold distance. Furthermore, the method comprises determining a finger gesture which corresponds to the finger movement using a lookup table having multiple preconfigured finger gestures based on the direction data.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided. The electronic apparatus includes a contact detection section for detecting contact from a user, a vibration output section for outputting an acoustic vibration that can be sensed by the user as a sound and a haptic vibration for stimulating the haptic sense of the user, a pattern generation section for generating an output vibration pattern including the acoustic vibration and the haptic vibration in response to the contact detection section detecting the contact from the user, and a drive section for driving the vibration output section in accordance with the output vibration pattern to make the vibration output section output the acoustic vibration and the haptic vibration.

Abstract: A low-power triggered data acquisition system and method utilizes low-powered circuitry, comparators, and digital logic incorporated into a miniaturized device interfaced with self-generating transducer sensor inputs to detect, identify and assess impact and damage to surfaces and structures wherein, upon the occurrence of a triggering event that produces a signal greater than a set threshold changes the comparator output and causes the system to acquire and store digital data representative of the incoming waveform on at least one triggered channel. The sensors may be disposed in an array to provide triangulation and location of the impact.

Abstract: A method for using a touch display system comprises defining local distortion zones within regions of a touchscreen. Each of the local distortion zones has an associated calibration touch point and a target. Coordinates of a user touch point are distorted within a first local distortion zone based on a location of the user touch point within the first local distortion zone.

Abstract: A pen transcription system and method for using the same are disclosed. The pen transcription system includes a receiver having first and second acoustical sensors mounted on a planar base and separated from one another, an EM detector, and a controller. The first and second acoustical sensors detect an acoustical signal emitted by a moveable signal source. The EM detector detects an EM signal that is synchronized with the acoustical signal. The controller measures the difference in time of detection between the EM signal and the acoustical signals detected by the first and second acoustical sensors. The acoustical sensors include a detector and a housing surrounding the detector, the housing having an aperture defined by an axis. The acoustical sensor has a reception function that is symmetrical about the axis and the axis is substantially perpendicular to the base surface.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for determining location of an input on a surface of a device using an acoustic sensing element. An exemplary method begins by determining an anticipated acoustic response resulting from an output generated by a component of the device at the acoustic sensing element. The method continues by subtracting the anticipated acoustic response from a measured acoustic response at the acoustic sensing element to obtain a nominal acoustic response, and determining the location of the input based on the nominal acoustic response.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining the location of a pointing device in the vicinity of a set of receivers able to receive one or more locating signals transmitted through a medium. The method includes receiving at a receiver a signal that includes a locating signal and an interfering signal, determining an estimated interference signal indicative of the interfering signal included in the signal received, determining a signal indicative of the difference between the received signal and the estimated interference signal, and using the signal indicative of the difference to compute the location of the pointing device on a surface near the set of receivers. One version uses a separate receiver from which to determine the estimated interference signal, while another version uses the received signal at a time when there is expected to be no locating signal present in order to determine the estimated interference signal. An adaptive filter computes the estimated interference signal.

Abstract: The embodiments provide systems and methods for touchless sensing and gesture recognition using continuous wave sound signals. Continuous wave sound, such as ultrasound, emitted by a transmitter may reflect from an object, and be received by one or more sound receivers. Sound signals may be temporally encoded. Received sound signals may be processed to determine a channel impulse response or calculate time of flight. Determined channel impulse responses may be processed to extract recognizable features or angles. Extracted features may be compared to a database of features to identify a user input gesture associated with the matched feature. Angles of channel impulse response curves may be associated with an input gesture. Time of flight values from each receiver may be used to determine coordinates of the reflecting object. Embodiments may be implemented as part of a graphical user interface. Embodiments may be used to determine a location of an emitter.

Abstract: A mobile device has a housing having first and second display areas. A mic-array is integrated into the housing and has microphones operable to sense sound signals at multiple locations on the housing from a sound pen when handwriting an alphanumeric symbol on a surface separate from and in proximity to the housing. A handwriting-to-text converter is operable to graphically represent, for display on the first display area, simulated handwritten traces of the alphanumeric symbol and to convert the alphanumeric symbol into a computer-readable interchange code, representative of the alphanumeric symbol, for display in the second display area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting the sense of an image is disclosed. First, a digital image is acquired and then various sensing tags are assigned to various sections of the digital image. The digital image is displayed on a screen. It is determined when and where a user touches the screen which corresponds to a section of the digital image. If a sensing tag has been assigned to the touched section of the digital image, the tagged sense is provided to the user.

Abstract: A pen transcription system and method for using the same are disclosed. The pen transcription system includes a receiver having first and second acoustical sensors mounted on a planar base and separated from one another, an EM detector, and a controller. The first and second acoustical sensors detect an acoustical signal at a first wavelength emitted by a moveable signal source. The EM detector detects an EM signal that is synchronized with the acoustical signal. The controller measures the difference in time of detection between the EM signal and the acoustical signals detected by the first and second acoustical sensors. The acoustical sensors include a detector and a housing surrounding the detector, the housing having an aperture having a maximum dimension that is less than the first wavelength divided by 6.28.

Abstract: A touch sensitive apparatus includes a touch plate to which several pickup sensors and at least one excitation transducer are coupled. Each of the sensors is configured to sense bending waves in the touch plate, and the excitation transducer is configured to induce bending waves in the touch plate. The apparatus may further include active buffer circuits, wherein each of the active buffer circuits is coupled to one of the sensors. A controller is coupled to the sensors via the active buffer circuits and to the excitation transducer via a non-actively buffered connection. The controller is configured to compute a location of a contact on the touch plate responsive to sense signals received from the sensors. The apparatus may be used to perform a variety of calibrations, including touch plate and sensor calibrations. Changes in touch sensing apparatus calibration and performance may be detected and tracked over time.

Abstract: A touch panel includes: a first touch panel substrate having a first surface and having a flexibility; a second touch panel substrate arranged a fixed distance away from the first touch panel substrate via spacers, having a second surface that faces the first surface; a position detecting section formed on the first surface, and detecting a position where the first touch panel substrate is being pressed based on changes in surface acoustic waves generated on the first surface; and a resin film formed on the second surface.

Abstract: A touch detection device for detecting touches on a given surface. The inventive device includes a surface where a touch generates acoustic waves, transducers that detect these waves, a controller that calculate the location of the touch and a host device where the touch position is used to communicate with the application program. The screen is formed from any material that is capable of propagating acoustic waves. Plurality transducers are placed on the screen. These transducers detect acoustic waves generated on the screen. The screen is calibrated by touching it once and a map of arrival time ratios are generated and saved in the storage unit. During the real time operation, a touch on the screen generates acoustic waves that are detected by transducers. The output of each transducer is sent to a controller unit where the time differences and their ratios are calculated and compared to time ratios in the storage unit to detect the touch location.

Abstract: A pen includes a first speaker that outputs a first signal and a second speaker that outputs a second signal. The first and second speakers are located away from a tip of the pen at respectively different locations. The second signal is delayed with respect to the first signal by a time shorter than a cycle of the first signal. An interpolation time is set between the times of generation of the first and second signals. Interpolated positions of the first and second speakers at the interpolation time are estimated, and position of the tip of the pen is calculated from the interpolated positions of the first and second speakers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multiple region vibration-sensing touch sensor that incorporates at least two sets of vibration sensors on a single touch plate, each set of vibration sensors defining distinct touch regions. The vibration sensors detect vibrations indicative of a touch to the touch plate, and are configured to communicate signals representing the detected vibrations to controller electronics for determining information related to the touch input. Touches within each touch region can be distinguished.

Abstract: Surface impacts are located and characterized based on an acoustic signal produced by the impact despite the presence of signal dispersion. Acoustic signals from the surface may be compared to acoustic signals detected external to the surface in order to eliminate spurious impact sensing due to external sounds. Low-frequency acoustic signals may be sensed and identified as explicit hard “bangs” which are of limited utility for pointing and tracking applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus, as well as a computer recording medium for handwriting input. The invention is implemented by capturing images including raw strokes with a digital camera and receiving writing sounds with a microphone, when a user writes on a writing surface with a stylus having a special mark (such as special color point or light point), said images and sounds are time-stamped; extracting images of raw stroke by comparing the captured images with the special mark on the stylus; and retrieving “effective strokes” from the raw strokes by utilizing the received writing sounds. Moreover, the invention discloses a low cost, wireless method and apparatus for handwriting input which enables an user to write on a paper without a touch sensor provided for a computer system (such as Notebook and PDA etc.) equipped with an embedded digital camera.

Abstract: A touchsensing device for localizing mechanical impacts on a tactile plate, with at least one acoustic transducer mounted on the tactile plate by means of an acoustic isolator, such that the acoustic transducer and the tactile plate are in direct contact with each other and the acoustic transducer is acoustically shielded by the acoustic isolator. Thus, acoustic waves can be detected with little distortions and the reliability of the touch sensing device can be improved. Also, a touch sensing device having a tactile plate and a sensor module having at least one acoustic transducer and a fastener to fix the sensor module to the tactile plate, wherein the fastener is a sticky tape, in particular a double sided sticky tape.

Abstract: A touch sensor includes a contact sensor and a pressure sensor. The contact sensor includes a first electrode and a first switching element connected to the first electrode, and detects a change in an electric potential when an object contacts a surface. The pressure sensor includes a second electrode and a second switching element connected to the second electrode, and detects a change in a pressure when an object depresses the surface. The touch sensor includes a plurality of the contact sensors and a plurality of the pressure sensors disposed regularly in an array.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting information in the form of a tactile sense is provided. Particularly, a tactile-sense input/output motor and a tactile-sense input/output apparatus using the tactile-sense input/output motor are provided. A tactile-sense input/output housing having a plurality of tactile-sense input/output motors, each of which performs a linear motion according to an ultrasonic electrical signal to transmit a tactile sense to a contact surface and senses a pressure of the contact surface to output a tactile-sense input signal is used for portable apparatuses, wrist wearable devices, rings, or other various apparatuses so as to transmit information through a tactile sense.

Abstract: A circuit for an acoustic wave switch or sensor having a resonant acoustic wave cavity detects a touch or sensed event using a time domain approach. The circuit includes a controller that drives an acoustic wave transducer to generate a resonant acoustic wave in the acoustic wave cavity during a first portion of a sampling cycle. In a second portion of the sampling cycle, the controller monitors the time that it takes for the acoustic wave signal from the transducer to decay to a predetermined level. Based on the decay time, the controller detects a sensed event, such as a touch on the acoustic wave switch/sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric transducer that includes at least two poled piezoelectric regions disposed in a side-by-side arrangement and connected in series with the poling directions reversed through the series connection, meaning that the “north pole” of one region is connected to the “south pole” of an adjacent region. The at least two regions can be within the same piece of piezoelectric material, or can be separate pieces of piezoelectric material. Transducers of the present invention may be particularly suited to detecting vibrations such as bending waves in a plate. For example, transducers of the present invention may be affixed to a surface of a plate and used to detect vibrations caused by or affected by touches to the plate to determine information related to the touches, such a touch position.

Abstract: A system includes a touch panel, a touch panel controller and a voltage source. The touch sensitive touch panel is formed with one or more piezoelectric elements disposed in an interior of the touch panel. The touch panel controller identifies an occurrence of a touch upon the touch panel and generates one or more control signals based on the occurrence of the touch. The voltage source receives the one or more generated control signals, and applies voltages to at least one of the one or more piezoelectric elements based on the one or more control signals.

Abstract: An input processing device comprises a display screen and a pointing device for inputting corresponding 2-dimensional coordinates on the display screen. A 3-dimensional space is displayed on the display screen and the 2-dimensional coordinates inputted from the pointing device are detected. Next, shift amounts, per unit of time, of the detected 2-dimensional coordinates are calculated based on a predetermined calculation start condition. And the calculated shift amounts are converted to 3-dimensional coordinate shift amounts in the 3-dimensional space.