Abstract: A touch panel device includes: a touch panel; an elastic member that supports the touch panel; a plurality of depressing force sensors arranged at installation positions where depression or upward warps of the touch panel occur due to the application of depressing force; and processing circuitry to obtain touch coordinates; to obtain a plurality of detection values corresponding to the sensor signals; and to load a plurality of predetermined depressing force calculation modes from a storage storing a plurality of regions on the operation surface and the plurality of predetermined depressing force calculation modes corresponding to the plurality of regions, to select a depressing force calculation mode for a region corresponding to the touch coordinates from the plurality of depressing force calculation modes, and to calculate the depressing force by using the selected depressing force calculation mode and the plurality of detection values.

Abstract: A touchpad assembly, including an actuator device that provides motion in a first direction; a first structural element coupled to the actuator device; a second structural element coupled to the first structural element; wherein the first structural element, in response to the motion in the first direction provided by the actuator device, exerts a first rotational force in a first rotational direction, wherein the second structural element, in response to the first rotational force by the first structural element, exerts a second rotational force in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, wherein the first rotational force and the second rotational force provide a rotational vibration of the touchpad assembly.

Abstract: An input device includes: an input member that includes a first surface on which an operation is performed by an operation body and a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface; a first electrode that is disposed on the second surface; a second electrode that faces the first electrode and is disposed spaced apart from the first electrode; and a controller that detects a pressing force applied to the input member by an operation performed by the operation body, based on the electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and calculates a pressure-sensitivity value that is a value indicating the pressing force detected. Here, the first electrode is electrically connected to the ground.

Abstract: A haptic keyboard of an information handling system may comprise a coversheet to identify a key location, a support layer, a contact foil placed between the coversheet and support layer, and a controller operatively coupled to the contact foil. The controller may receive a haptic actuation indicator signal via a processor or via the contact foil, send a first haptic feedback control signal to a first piezoelectric element to cause the first piezoelectric element to generate haptic tactile movement feedback at the key location, and send a second haptic feedback control signal to the first or a second piezoelectric element to cause the second piezoelectric element to generate haptic sound feedback in response to the haptic actuation indicator signal.

Abstract: A low-latency touch sensitive device provides a method for determining a location of a touch event thereon. The touch sensitive device row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Each of a set of orthogonal row signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of at least some of the row conductors and an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on each of the plurality of column conductors is detected. A set of orthogonal column signals are simultaneously transmitted on a respective one of at least some of the column conductors. An amount of each of the orthogonal column signals present on each of the plurality of row conductors is detected. The detected amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals and the detected amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals is used to determine the location of a touch event on the device.

Abstract: A touch pad is configured to receive input operations using objects including a finger and a stylus. The touch pad includes a touch screen including a touch detection surface that serves as a button and as a position detection region for detecting positions of the objects. The touch pad includes an integrated circuit having an object detection function of detecting the positions of the objects on the touch detection surface and a button function of detecting a press state of the button based on a force applied to the touch detection surface. The touch pad includes a button function stop unit configured to cause, according to an operation state of the stylus or according to a setting related to an input operation of the stylus, the integrated circuit to stop outputting a button press state value indicative of the press state detected by the button function.

Abstract: In an embodiment a system includes a sensor including a base having a base electrode and a first membrane suspended above the base, wherein the first membrane has a first membrane electrode, wherein the first membrane is configured to deflect with respect to the base electrode in response to an environmental condition, and wherein the sensor is configured to measure a capacitance between the base electrode and the first membrane electrode. The system further includes a first device of the system configured to generate electrical interference signals, a first electrically conductive shield layer positioned between the sensor and the first device of the system, wherein the first electrically conductive shield layer defines a plurality of first apertures extending through the first electrically conductive shield layer and a dielectric material disposed in the plurality of first apertures.

Abstract: A method for avoiding noise in a display involves scanning a display at a sampling rate that is less than the Nyquist level sampling. After scanning the signals received at less than the Nyquist level, the measured signals are processed in order to determine where noise may be present. Subsequently, future scans are performed at a Fast Fourier Transform is performed on the results. This is used to determine at which frequencies there is noise. Subsequent scans can be taken to determine touch events that avoid locations where noise is present.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate, generally, to techniques for parallel acquisition and measurements and related circuits, systems and devices that implement those techniques. A technique for parallel acquisition and measurement generally includes simultaneously acquiring sensed signals from multiple sensor channels and determining channel capacitance measurements responsive to the sensed signals.

Abstract: A controller for a sensor is configured to receive a control signal from an external device, the control signal corresponding to potential interference. The controller adjusts a sensing parameter using the control signal to avoid the potential interference. The potential interference is at least one of an electrical interference and an optical interference. The controller may include a sensor module that includes circuitry configured to acquire resulting signals with sensing elements using the adjusted sensing parameter.

Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus includes a group of emitters arranged to emit light to illuminate at least part of the touch surface, a light detector arranged to receive light from the group of emitters, and a processing element. Each emitter is controlled to transmit a code by way of the emitted light such that the code identifies the respective emitter. The codes may at least partly be transmitted concurrently. The codes may be selected such that a value of an autocorrelation of each code is significantly higher than a value of a cross-correlation between any two codes of different emitters. The processing element processes an output signal from the light detector to separate the light received from the individual emitters based on the transmitted codes, and to determine the position of the object/objects based on the light received from the individual emitters.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electronic device and an operating method thereof. The electronic device includes a housing including a first area and a second area; a first device disposed in the first area; and a second device disposed in the second area, wherein the first device includes a first touch sensing circuit configured to use a first frequency in order to sense a touch, the second device includes a second touch sensing circuit configured to use a second frequency in order to sense a touch, and the first frequency at least temporarily differs from the second frequency while the electronic device operates. The method includes using a first frequency for sensing a touch corresponding to a first device; and using a second frequency for sensing a touch corresponding to a second device, wherein the first frequency at least temporarily differs from the second frequency while the electronic device operates.

Abstract: A processor includes a memory hierarchy, buffer, and a compression module. The compression module includes logic to evaluate a stream of data to be compressed according to a compression scheme, selectively modify a format of the compression scheme based upon a number of literals received, compress a sequence of the data to produce the output data sequence, and send the output data sequence to the memory hierarchy.

Abstract: A touch display substrate includes a substrate including a display region and a non-display region; a touch sensing circuit in the non-display region; a plurality of touch sensing electrodes in the display region, the plurality of touch sensing electrodes grouped into at least two touch sensing electrode groups in accordance with distances from the touch sensing electrodes to the touch sensing circuit; and a plurality of touch leads, where one end of each of the touch leads is electrically connected with one of the touch sensing electrodes, and the other end of the touch lead is electrically connected with the touch control circuit. The touch sensing circuit is configured to input touch driving signals of a different frequency to each of the touch sensing electrode groups, and the touch driving signals input to the touch sensing electrodes in the same touch sensing electrode group are of the same frequency.

Abstract: Provided is a touch chip including a touch input detector and a compensator, wherein an input terminal of the touch input detector and an output terminal of the compensator are together connected to a touch input sensing electrode, and a direction change of a first current flowing through the input terminal of the touch input detector and a direction change of a second current flowing through the output terminal of the compensator are performed through synchronization.

Abstract: Embodiments are related to user input devices that accept complex user input including a combination of touch and push (or pick) input. Embodiments of the invention provide for selective ignoring or rejection of input received from such devices in order to avoid interpreting unintentional user actions as commands. Furthermore, some input signals can be modified. The selective rejection or modification can be performed by the user interface device itself or by a computing device that includes or is attached to the user interface device. The selective rejection or modification may be performed by a module that processes input signals, performs the necessary rejections and modifications and sends revised input signals to higher level modules.

Abstract: A system comprises a touch-screen having multiple light transceivers configured to emit and detect light. The system also comprises processing logic coupled to the light transceivers, where the processing logic is configured to obtain spatial dimension information of multiple possible touch points on the touch-screen using the detected light. The processing logic uses the spatial information to predict which of the multiple possible touch points comprise actual touch points and which of the multiple possible touch points comprise phantom touch points.

Abstract: A touch-screen display apparatus, the apparatus may include first and second sheets having opposed major surfaces and a size and shape defined by a periphery. The periphery may be defined by opposed ends and opposed edges. The first and second sheets may each have a conductive pattern including a pair of opposed busbars and a plurality of traces electrically coupled to, and extending between, corresponding pairs of opposed busbars. The transparent force sensing (TFS) sheet may have opposed major surfaces and a variable resistance which is related to a force exerted upon one or more of its major surfaces. The TFS sheet may be situated between the first and second sheets. The apparatus may also include one or more separation portions situated between the TFS sheet and the first or second sheet to bias the TFS sheet apart from the first or second sheet.

Abstract: A touch-screen display apparatus, the apparatus may include first and second sheets having opposed major surfaces and a size and shape defined by a periphery. The periphery may be defined by opposed ends and opposed edges. The first and second sheets may each have a conductive pattern including a pair of opposed busbars and a plurality of traces electrically coupled to, and extending between, corresponding pairs of opposed busbars. The transparent force sensing (TFS) sheet may have opposed major surfaces and a variable resistance which is related to a force exerted upon one or more of its major surfaces. The TFS sheet may be situated between the first and second sheets. The apparatus may also include one or more separation portions situated between the TFS sheet and the first or second sheet to bias the TFS sheet apart from the first or second sheet.

Abstract: An optical touch panel system includes: a reflective element disposed on a first side of the touch control area; two lighting elements respectively disposed on a second side and a third side of the touch control area , wherein the second side and the third side are adjacent to each other, and the third side is opposite the first side; a first light projection apparatus including a mirror and a light generator, disposed on the first side and at a location adjacent to a fourth side of the touch control area; an image sensor capturing a first picture and a second picture respectively when the light generator is inactivated and activated; and a processor calculating a coordinate of the object according to geometrical information of an projected object image and a projected mirror image of the object in the first picture and the second picture.

Abstract: An exemplary apparatus comprises a housing attachable to a touchscreen-equipped computing device wherein one or more image sensors in the housing obtain images of an object in the vicinity of the touchscreen and a processor analyzes the images to compute the position of the object relative to the touchscreen and communicates to the computing device attribute data pertaining to the imaged object. Exemplary methods are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a user interface that responds to differences in pressure detected by a touch-sensitive screen. The user selects one type of user-interface action by “lightly” touching the screen and selects another type of action by exerting more pressure. Embodiments can respond to single touches, to gestural touches that extend across the face of the touch-sensitive screen, and to touches in which the user-exerted pressure varies during the course of the touch. Some embodiments respond to how quickly the user changes the amount of pressure applied. In some embodiments, the location and pressure of the user's input are compared against a stored gesture profile. Action is taken only if the input matches “closely enough” to the stored gesture profile. In some embodiments, a notification is sent to the user when the pressure exceeds a threshold between a light and a heavy press.

Abstract: An optical touch-sensitive device is able to determine the locations of multiple simultaneous touch events. The optical touch-sensitive device includes multiple emitters and detectors. Each emitter produces optical beams which are received by the detectors. Touch events disturb the optical beams. Line images of the touch events are captured, which are then used to determine the touch events.

Abstract: A method for detecting multiple objects on a touchpad having a grid of orthogonal electrodes, wherein all drive electrodes are simultaneously stimulated, and then frequency or electrode coding is used to separate each electrode junction and produce a capacitance image of the touchpad surface in a single measurement sequence.

Abstract: A method for determining an incline angle of an electromagnetic pointer is provided. The electromagnetic pointer is positioned on or above a digitizer which has a plurality of loop antennas. The method comprises steps of: locating a peak-value loop antenna which has a maximum inductive signal value; scanning plural loop antennas that are near to the peak-value loop antenna so as to obtain a signal distribution; simulating at least two signal curves by using signal values sensed by the peak-value loop antenna and the neighboring loop antennas; calculating a rate of change between every two signal curves; and determining an incline angle of the electromagnetic pointer by looking up a conversion table with the calculated rate of change. The present invention only needs to scan five to seven loop antennas to determine the incline angle, thereby increasing the efficiency of incline angle determination.

Abstract: A method for determining an incline angle of an electromagnetic pointer is provided. The electromagnetic pointer is positioned on or above a digitizer which has a plurality of loop antennas. The method comprises steps of: locating a peak-value loop antenna which has a maximum inductive signal value; scanning plural loop antennas that are near to the peak-value loop antenna so as to obtain a signal distribution; simulating at least two signal curves by using signal values sensed by the peak-value loop antenna and the neighboring loop antennas; calculating a rate of change between every two signal curves; and determining an incline angle of the electromagnetic pointer by looking up a conversion table with the calculated rate of change. The present invention only needs to scan five to seven loop antennas to determine the incline angle, thereby increasing the efficiency of incline angle determination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a control device and control device operation. In one embodiment a control device includes a slider configured to support a control knob, a rack coupled to the slider and configured to linearly displace the slider. The rack including slots. The control device may further include a drive element configured to displace the rack and position the control knob, and an optical detection module configured to detect position of the control knob based on one or more optical signals detected relative to slots of the rack. According to another embodiment, a control console is provided including control devices.

Abstract: An optical detecting device including: an emission unit that emits emitting light; a light-receiving unit that receives the emitting light reflected off an object; an amplifying unit that amplifies a received-light detection signal of the light-receiving unit; a detecting unit that detects position identifying information of the object based on a signal output from the amplifying unit; a determining unit that determines a position of the object based on the position identifying information; and a coupling capacitor provided between an output node of the amplifying unit and an input node of the detecting unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new layout for inductive loops of the electromagnetic-induction system, and particularly relates to a new layout for inductive loops of the electromagnetic-induction system which can be integrated with another type of input system. The inductive loop structure of the layout for inductive loops of the electromagnetic-induction system comprises a plurality of -shaped regions, a plurality of switches, a plurality of grounding lines, a grounding switch, and a plurality of signal ports. The -shaped regions are connected with each other to form a fence-shaped inductive loop structure, but the -shaped regions are not interlaced with each other. By this way, the difficulties and the complication for layout for inductive loops of the electromagnetic-induction system are decreased. Therefore, it helps the layout for inductive loops of the electromagnetic-induction system to be integrated with another type of input system into one system.

Abstract: An encoding and decoding method for a microdot matrix includes the steps of: forming a plurality of microdots by encoding based on Reflected Gray Codes in a data region included in each of a plurality of microdot blocks included in a microdot matrix, wherein the microdots corresponding to lower order bits of the Reflected Gray Codes are formed as the outmost microdots in the data region; scanning the microdot matrix to fetch an image and recognizing a microdot group in the date region of each microdot block in the image; and decoding a corresponded coordinate of the image on the microdot matrix according to the microdot block to which the microdot group containing lower order bits of the Reflected Gray Codes belongs.

Abstract: Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. A touch pad may be mounted in a computer housing. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. Force sensors may be mounted under each of the four corners of the rectangular planar touch pad member. The force sensors may be used to measure how much force is applied to the surface of the planar touch pad member by a user. Processed force sensor signals may indicate the presence of button activity such as press and release events. In response to detected button activity or other activity in the device, actuator drive signals may be generated for controlling the actuator. The user may supply settings to adjust signal processing and tactile feedback parameters.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive device includes a touch panel, drive unit, and measurement unit. A touch applied to a given node of the panel changes a capacitive coupling between a given drive and sense electrode of the touch panel. The drive unit delivers first and second drive signals, having different first and second frequencies, to first and second drive electrodes respectively at the same or overlapping times. The measurement unit receives a first response signal from a sense electrode, and analyzes the signal using maximum likelihood estimation to determine the coupling capacitance between the first drive electrode and the sense electrode, and between the second drive electrode and the sense electrode. More drive electrodes, including in some cases all the drive electrodes, can be driven with unique drive frequencies, and more sense electrodes, including in some cases all the sense electrodes, can be sensed by the measurement unit.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a navigation input device, and methods, systems and components corresponding thereto. According to some embodiments, the navigation input device has a large depth of field associated therewith and employs time- and/or frequency-domain processing algorithms and techniques. The device is capable of providing accurate and reliable information regarding the (X,Y) position of the device on a navigation surface as it is moved laterally thereatop and thereacross, notwithstanding changes in a vertical position of the device that occur during navigation and that do not exceed the depth of field of an imaging lens incorporated therein. According to one embodiment, the navigation input device is a writing instrument that does not require the use of an underlying touch screen, touch pad or active backplane to accurately and reliably record successive (X,Y) positions of the writing device as it is moved across and atop an underlying writing medium such as paper, a pad or a display.

Abstract: Simplified patterning of layers of a thin film is disclosed. In some embodiments, the patterning can include patterning a first conductive layer using a patterned dielectric layer as a mask and patterning a second conductive layer using a patterned passivation layer as another mask. In other embodiments, the patterning can include patterning a first conductive layer using a removable photosensitive layer as a mask, patterning a black mask layer using a removable photo mask, and patterning a second conductive layer using a patterned passivation layer as another mask. In still other embodiments, the patterning can include patterning a first conductive layer using a patterned black mask layer as a mask and patterning a second conductive layer using a patterned passivation layer as another mask. An exemplary device utilizing the thin film so patterned can include a touch sensor panel.

Abstract: A coordinate position detection device includes: charging circuits having both the capability of charging a coupling capacitance in a capacitive-coupling touch panel with a position-detection resistive film whose potential periodically varies between a positive potential and a negative potential and the capability of restoring the charged coupling capacitance to its state prior to charging; current-to-voltage conversion circuits converting into a voltage the total amount of charging currents of the coupling capacitance after the charging circuits supply the charging current to the coupling capacitance a plurality of times; and a computation device detecting the coordinate position of a touched area based on the outputs of the current-to-voltage conversion circuits.

Abstract: An encoding and decoding method for a microdot matrix includes the steps of: forming a plurality of microdots by encoding based on Reflected Gray Codes in a data region included in each of a plurality of microdot blocks included in a microdot matrix, wherein the microdots corresponding to lower order bits of the Reflected Gray Codes are formed as the outmost microdots in the data region; scanning the microdot matrix to fetch an image and recognizing a microdot group in the date region of each microdot block in the image; and decoding a corresponded coordinate of the image on the microdot matrix according to the microdot block to which the microdot group containing lower order bits of the Reflected Gray Codes belongs.

Abstract: An electromagnetic input device includes a movable magnetized stylus, an inducting module, and a controller. The movable magnetized stylus is operable to generate a magnetic field. The inducting module includes a plurality of inducting cells, a plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of output lines. Each inducting cell includes a coil, and is operable to output a differential signal with a differential voltage according to the change of magnetic flux through the coil caused by the moving of the stylus. The gate lines are connected to the plurality of inducting cells. The output lines are connected to the plurality of inducting cells. The controller is connected to the gate lines and the output lines. The controller is operable to output gate signals to enable the inducting cells to output the differential signals, and convert the differential signals to digital signals.

Abstract: A stylus includes a tube body, a touch end connected to the tube body, an inflatable balloon enwrapping the tube body such that the tube body and the balloon cooperatively define a sealed chamber, and an inflating mechanism for inserting gas into the sealed chamber to inflate the balloon and therefore, the size of the stylus is adjustable and convenient for using.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a method and a software application embodying the method for displaying the information in the display (10) of a data processing device in a situation where a portion of the display (10) area, and thus also a portion of the information on the display, is covered by an obstacle (11) in front of the display (10). The method according to the invention detects the size and position of the obstacle (11), and then regroups (12c) the information in the display (10) into a portion of the display (10), which is not left behind the detected obstacle (11).

Abstract: In a touched position detection method for a touch panel for detecting a touched position, based on measured values by a plurality of sensors, presence of a touch is determined when a measured value by a sensor exceeds a touch threshold. As a touch threshold, a value which cannot be attained due to a mere noise but can due to presence of a touch is set. With respect to sensors located in the vicinity of a sensor showing a high measured value, a higher weighted value is applied to modify a measured value in a touched position calculation process than that to be applied to other sensors.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus of the present invention has a first unit and a second unit coupled to the first unit through a coupling section which allows the second unit to be opened and closed relative to the first unit and the second unit has a display screen with a pen input function for detecting the contact of a pen or the close position of a pen. The first unit includes a bottom cover, a circuit substrate arranged above the bottom cover, and an upper cover arranged above the circuit substrate. The circuit substrate has a DC-DC converter that is disposed thereon and provided with one or more coils that generate power for operating the electronic apparatus, and at least one of the coils is disposed on the surface of the circuit substrate facing the bottom cover.

Abstract: A coordinate position detection device according to the present invention includes: charging circuits having both the capability of charging a coupling capacitance in a capacitive-coupling touch panel with a position-detection resistive film whose potential periodically varies between a positive potential and a negative potential and the capability of restoring the charged coupling capacitance to its state prior to charging; current-to-voltage conversion circuits converting into a voltage the total amount of charging currents of the coupling capacitance after the charging circuits supply the charging current to the coupling capacitance a plurality of times; and a computation device detecting the coordinate position of a touched area based on the outputs of the current-to-voltage conversion circuits.

Abstract: A stand alone low cost writing pad includes a rechargeable battery, a low capacity memory, a low power processor, a first pair of connectors and supports audio, video and digital ink capturing functionalities. The writing may be detached from and re-attached to a stand alone base unit using the first pair of connectors. The base unit includes another rechargeable battery, high capacity memory, high power processor and a second pair of connectors. First data bus of the writing pad and second data bus of the base unit respectively run into the first pair of connectors and the second pair of connectors thereby ensuring that a communication pathway is set up between the writing pad and base unit when the writing pad is attached to the base unit. The base unit receives the captured audio and digital ink from the writing pad via the communication pathway and the high power processor runs voice recognition and optical character recognition software on received data to generate a second data.

Abstract: An a data input system includes an encoded pad having position encoding and a data input device adapted to image a portion of the encoded pad to determine position and orientation of the data input device relative to the encoded pad. The encoding pad includes a plurality of correlation windows. Each correlation window includes a primary encoding marker in form of vertical line segment and a set of secondary encoding markers in form of diagonal line segments, at least one diagonal line segment intersecting the vertical line segment at an intersection angle. Spacing of the diagonal line segments encodes the X-axis position of the input device relative to the encoding pad. Intersection angle encodes the Y-axis position of the input device relative to the encoding pad. Angle of the primary encoding marker vertical line segment within the frame of the captured image encodes the angular orientation of the input device relative to the axes of the encoded pad.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive conductive sheet is provided by having a plurality of ferromagnetic conductive particles dispersed in a transparent elastic member joined together and linearly aligned with the thickness direction thereby forming a linear aggregate and then having the linear aggregate segmented into a plurality conductive elements, held linearly aligned with the thickness direction, with predetermined gaps formed therebetween. Further, a touch panel having good transparency and allowing stabilized operation is provided by interposing the pressure sensitive conductive sheet between an upper conductive layer on the lower face of an upper substrate and a lower conductive layer on the upper face of a lower substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of touch pad. In particular, there is provided a touch pad comprising a storage unit, a sensing electrode array unit and a processing unit. A trace graph composed of coordinate values of positions on the sensing electrode array unit, touched by a user in the course of operating the touch pad is recorded; comparison is made between the trace graph and a graphical password to generate a comparison value. Since the touch pad is provided with the function of recognizing the graphical password, a computer can use it to input graphical password, text password, and various characters in various states such as BIOS state and a variety of OS states, which can enhance the security of devices such as computers and make the product more interesting and easy to use.

Abstract: In an information transmitting device, a variable capacitor which is charged to have a predetermined voltage discharges through a predetermined resistor. Until the voltage becomes lower than a predetermined threshold voltage, the number of AC signals having a predetermined frequency is counted. Accordingly, first continuous amount information of a binary code corresponding to a writing pressure is obtained and is converted to a Gray code, which is regarded as second continuous amount information. A resonant circuit is opened or shorted in accordance with ‘0’ or ‘1’ in the second continuous amount information, so as to transmit the second continuous amount information.

Abstract: An Analog to Digital (AD) converter and an AD converting method are provided. The AD converter includes one or more stators, and one or more actuators that move according to an input voltage. The digital output of the AD converter is determined based on an arrangement of the stators and the positions of the actuators relative to the stators. The AD converter can achieve high resolution and/or high speed with lower power consumption.

Abstract: A sensor panel having a matrix of independently decoded sensors, arranged in a two-dimensional pattern allows a consumer identification unit (CIDU) to detect a user-specific gesture made with a gesturing instrument such as an RF ID device. The CIDU monitors on a timed basis which of the sensors in the panel are receiving a signal from an RF ID device which has entered the proximity of one or more of the sensors. The user moves the sensor in a two-dimensional pattern to perform a “gesture signature” in free space near the panel, and the CIDU records the sequence of receiving sensors. This sequence can then be quickly and efficiently handled as a number to be looked up to identify and authenticate the user. Preferably, the user is allowed to define multiple signature gestures, each having the possibility of being associated with a transaction or authorization level.

Abstract: An input device for a computer or other programmable device translates the proximity of an object to one or more antennae into an electronic signal. The antennae generate a first frequency and a second frequency. When an object, such as a hand, is placed in proximity to the antenna, the object causes the first and second frequencies to heterodyne, which creates a third frequency, also referred to as a beat frequency or pulse frequency. A receiver interprets the pulse frequency and translates it into an electronic signal that can be used to command a computer or other programmable device.