Abstract: A process for enabling objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together is disclosed that includes defining a target element that enables objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together through interaction with the target element. Operations are invoked that establish a relationship between a particular displayed object and a position on the target element and that causes transformations applied to the target element also to be applied to the particular displayed object while maintaining the relationship between the particular displayed object and the position on the target element.

Abstract: A process for enabling objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together is disclosed that includes defining a target element that enables objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together through interaction with the target element. Operations are invoked that establish a relationship between a particular displayed object and a position on the target element and that causes transformations applied to the target element also to be applied to the particular displayed object while maintaining the relationship between the particular displayed object and the position on the target element.

Abstract: A process for enabling objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together is disclosed that includes defining a target element that enables objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together through interaction with the target element. Operations are invoked that establish a relationship between a particular displayed object and a position on the target element and that causes transformations applied to the target element also to be applied to the particular displayed object while maintaining the relationship between the particular displayed object and the position on the target element.

Abstract: A multi-touch display device is configured to enable control of a displayed object by less than all of the input mechanisms determined to be engaging the displayed object at the same time.

Abstract: A three-dimensional data set is accessed. A two-dimensional plane is defined that intersects a space defined by the three-dimensional data set. The two-dimensional plane defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets. A three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set is rendered on such that at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is removed and at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed. A two-dimensional view of a first subset of the two-dimensional data set also is rendered. Controls are provided that enable visual navigation through the three-dimensional data set by engaging points on the multi-touch display device that correspond to either the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set and/or the two-dimensional view of the first subset of the two-dimensional data set.

Abstract: A process for enabling objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together is disclosed that includes defining a target element that enables objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together through interaction with the target element. Operations are invoked that establish a relationship between a particular displayed object and a position on the target element and that causes transformations applied to the target element also to be applied to the particular displayed object while maintaining the relationship between the particular displayed object and the position on the target element.

Abstract: A process for enabling objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together is disclosed that includes defining a target element that enables objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together through interaction with the target element. Operations are invoked that establish a relationship between a particular displayed object and a position on the target element and that causes transformations applied to the target element also to be applied to the particular displayed object while maintaining the relationship between the particular displayed object and the position on the target element.

Abstract: A process for enabling objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together is disclosed that includes defining a target element that enables objects displayed on a multi-input display device to be grouped together through interaction with the target element. Engagement of an input mechanism with one of the target element and a particular one of the objects displayed on the multi-input display device is detected. Movement of the input mechanism is monitored while the input mechanism remains engaged with whichever one of the target element and the particular displayed object that the input mechanism engaged. A determination is made that at least a portion of a particular displayed object is overlapping at least a portion of a target element on the multi-input display device upon detecting disengagement of the input mechanism.

Abstract: A three-dimensional data set is accessed. A two-dimensional plane is defined that intersects a space defined by the three-dimensional data set. The two-dimensional plane defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets. A three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set is rendered on such that at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is removed and at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed. A two-dimensional view of a first subset of the two-dimensional data set also is rendered. Controls are provided that enable visual navigation through the three-dimensional data set by engaging points on the multi-touch display device that correspond to either the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set and/or the two-dimensional view of the first subset of the two-dimensional data set.

Abstract: Methods and systems for interfacing with multi-point input devices employ various techniques for controlling displayed images, including 2D and 3D image translation, scale/zoom, rotation control and globe axis tilt control. Various techniques employ three or more simultaneous inputs, changes in characteristics of those inputs, and pressure sensing, among other things.

Abstract: A three-dimensional data set is accessed. A two-dimensional plane is defined that intersects a space defined by the three-dimensional data set. The two-dimensional plane defines a two-dimensional data set within the three-dimensional data set and divides the three-dimensional data set into first and second subsets. A three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set is rendered on such that at least a portion of the first subset of the three-dimensional data set is removed and at least a portion of the two-dimensional data set is displayed. A two-dimensional view of a first subset of the two-dimensional data set also is rendered. Controls are provided that enable visual navigation through the three-dimensional data set by engaging points on the multi-touch display device that correspond to either the three-dimensional view based on the three-dimensional data set and/or the two-dimensional view of the first subset of the two-dimensional data set.

Abstract: Methods and systems for interfacing with multi-input devices employ various techniques for controlling the window framing of images. Such techniques provide control, including moving, sizing, and orientating, of one or more displayed window frames in which one or more images are displayed.

Abstract: Techniques for constraining motion of 3D objects displayed on a 2D display interface are described. Touch points are placed by a user on the 2D display interface to manipulate a displayed object. Each touch point is matched with a contact point on the surface of the object. The motion of the object is restricted by adding penalty terms to an energy equation that includes terms that measure deviation between the screen-space location of the touch points and that of their matching contact points. The penalty terms measure deviation from an ideal value. In response to movement of at least one touch point to a new screen-space location, a transformation of the object is determined by applying an algorithm that operates on the energy equation to reduce deviations between the screen-space location of the touch points and that of their matching contact points while also reducing deviation from the ideal value or values set by the penalty term or terms.

Abstract: Optical filtered sensor-in-pixel technology for touch sensing, in which a waveguide receives infrared light emitted by a light source and causes at least some of the received infrared light to undergo total internal reflection within the waveguide. A frustrating layer is disposed relative to the waveguide so as to contact the waveguide when a touch input is provided. The frustrating layer causes frustration of the total internal reflection of the received infrared light within the waveguide at a contact point between the frustrating layer and the waveguide. A sensor-in-pixel display displays an image that is perceivable through the waveguide and the frustrating layer and includes photosensors. The photosensors have a photosensor corresponding to each pixel of the image and sense at least some of the infrared light that escapes from the waveguide at the contact point.

Abstract: Each touch point placed on a multi-touch display device is matched with a contact point on a surface of a three-dimensional object displayed on the multi-touch display device. A three-dimensional transformation of the object is calculated by a solver using an algorithm that reduces deviation between projected two-dimensional locations of the three-dimensional contact points after object transformation and two dimensional locations of their matching touch points. The solver, in calculating the three-dimensional transformation, assigns a weighting value to each touch point to distribute an aggregate amount of deviation calculated by the solver among the touch points such that a magnitude of the deviation between the projected two-dimensional location of one of the contact points and that of its matching touch point is different from a magnitude of the deviation between the projected two dimensional location of another contact point and that of its matching touch point.

Abstract: Methods and systems for interfacing with multi-point input devices employ various techniques for controlling displayed images, including 2D and 3D image translation, scale/zoom, rotation control and globe axis tilt control. Various techniques employ three or more simultaneous inputs, changes in characteristics of those inputs, and pressure sensing, among other things.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing a cleaned signal in a capacitive touch sensor. A phase of periodic noise on an input of the capacitive touch sensor is determined, and a periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise is generated. The periodic excitation signal is applied to an excited conductor in a first array of the touch sensor. While the excitation signal is applied, a response signal on a responding conductor in a second array of the touch sensor is detected, and, based on the detected response signal, a value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor is generated. A threshold value is accessed, and a determination is made whether the response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the value and the threshold value.

Abstract: A method implemented on the graphical user interface device to invoke an independent, user-localized menu in an application environment, by making a predetermined gesture with a pointing device on an arbitrary part of a display screen or surface, especially when applied in a multi-touch, multi-user environment, and in environments where multiple concurrent pointing devices are present. As an example, the user may trace out a closed loop of a specific size that invokes a default system menu at any location on the surface, even when a second user may be operating a different portion of the system elsewhere on the same surface. As an additional aspect of the invention, the method allows the user to smoothly transition between the menu-invocation and menu control.

Abstract: High-resolution, scalable multi-touch sensing display systems and processes based on frustrated total internal reflection employ an optical waveguide that receives light, such as infrared light, that undergoes total internal reflection and an imaging sensor that detects light that escapes the optical waveguide caused by frustration of the total internal reflection due to contact by a user. The optical waveguide when fitted with a compliant surface overlay provides superior sensing performance, as well as other benefits and features. The systems and processes described provide true multi-touch (multi-input) and high-spatial and temporal resolution capability due to the continuous imaging of the frustrated total internal reflection that escapes the entire optical waveguide. Among other features and benefits, the systems and processes are scalable to large installations.

Abstract: Techniques for disambiguating touch data and determining user assignment of touch points detected by a touch sensor are described. The techniques leverage both user-specific touch data projected onto axes and non-user-specific touch data captured over a complete area.