Abstract: A method of acquiring data of a matrix touch sensor including a matrix array of cells arranged according to a set of rows and columns, the method including: activating the cells arranged according to a column of at least one subset of columns of the matrix touch sensor; taking an overall measurement of an overall electrical characteristic on all the rows of at least one subset of rows of the matrix touch sensor; taking a sequential measurement of an electrical characteristic successively on each row of the at least one subset of rows, if the overall electrical characteristic has a value representative of a contact on at least one of the cells arranged according to the column; and repeating the overall measurement and sequential measurement after activating the cells arranged according to another column of the at least one subset of columns of the matrix touch sensor.

Abstract: A data acquisition method to acquire data from a multicontact matrix tactile sensor having a matrix array of a cells, includes scanning the cells of the matrix array sequentially, and measuring an electrical characteristic of a cell, which represents a weight of the cell. The method also includes comparing the weight with a predetermined significant weight value interval, storing cell data associated with the cell, where the cell data includes the weight and coordinates of the cell in the matrix array, after the weight is determined to lie within the predetermined significant weight value interval. The method also verifies an existence of a data record associated with neighboring cells in a neighboring zone of the cell, and updates the data record associated with the neighboring cells by storing in the data record data associated with the cell, after the existence of the data record is confirmed.

Abstract: A device configured to acquire tactile information including a transparent tactile matrix sensor having rows and columns of conductive stripes; and a scanning control unit, wherein the scanning control unit is configured to sequentially read out tactile information from the rows and the columns of the conductive stripes of the transparent tactile matrix sensor.

Abstract: A method of controlling a computerized device with a tactile multi-point matrix sensor placed on a display device, the method including the steps of simultaneously acquiring data of a first contact position and a second contact position of a first and a second finger that is placed on the multi-point tactile matrix sensor, respectively; creating a first cursor and a second cursor that are associated with the first and second finger, respectively; displaying a graphical object on the display device; associating the first cursor and the second cursor with the graphical object to interact with the graphical object; and generating control messages for the computerized device based on positional data of the first cursor, the second cursor, and the graphical object.

Abstract: A touch sensor including a tactile detection zone including a matrix array of conducting tracks constituting columns on a first insulating layer and rows on a second insulating layer, the first and second insulating layers being disposed opposite one another, and an array of conducting tracks configured to transfer electrical signals between the rows and columns of the matrix array and an interface connector for interfacing with a control system of the tactile sensor. The touch sensor further includes control circuits associated respectively with the rows and columns of the matrix array of conducting tracks, the array of conducting tracks extending between the control circuits and the interface connector.

Abstract: A tactile sensor includes an insulating support including a first face including a first series of parallel conducting tracks and a second face including a second series of parallel conducting tracks, the insulating support being folded and the second face being disposed opposite the first face. The tactile sensor includes an array of conducting tracks extending in an edge zone intended to be folded, along fold lines. The tactile sensor can, for example, be used in a tactile control screen.

Abstract: A multicontact tactile sensor including a matrix formed of two transparent conducting layers, at least one exhibiting an array of fine conducting tracks, a control circuit including a power supply for one of the layers, and a mechanism detecting the other layer, the sensor having an operating mode of multicontact type corresponding to a sweep of supply to the lines of the corresponding layer, and an operating mode of monocontact type corresponding to a continuous and uniform supply over a whole of the sensor, each operating mode being activated as a function of the detection or nondetection of at least one contact.

Abstract: An electronic analysis circuit of a multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor including an electrical supply mechanism powering one of two axes of the matrix, and a mechanism detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at intersections between the two axes. The supply axis and the detection axis are alternated. A multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor includes an electrical supply mechanism powering one of the two axes of the matrix, a mechanism detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at the intersections between the two axes, and such an electronic circuit.

Abstract: A multi-contact, tactile sensor including an upper layer including strip conductors arranged in lines, a lower layer including strip conductors arranged in columns, and a spacer positioned between the upper layer and the lower layer to insulate the upper layer and lower layer. An electromechanical mechanism is arranged between the upper and lower layers to increase electrical contact resistance during contact between at least one strip conductor of the upper layer and at least one strip conductor of the lower layer.

Abstract: A data acquisition method to acquire data from a multicontact matrix tactile sensor having a matrix array of a cells, includes scanning the cells of the matrix array sequentially, and measuring an electrical characteristic of a cell, which represents a weight of the cell. The method also includes comparing the weight with a predetermined significant weight value interval, storing cell data associated with the cell, where the cell data includes the weight and coordinates of the cell in the matrix array, after the weight is determined to lie within the predetermined significant weight value interval. The method also verifies an existence of a data record associated with neighboring cells in a neighboring zone of the cell, and updates the data record associated with the neighboring cells by storing in the data record data associated with the cell, after the existence of the data record is confirmed.

Abstract: A multicontact tactile sensor including an upper structure having first conductive tracks arranged in rows, a lower structure having second conductive tracks arranged in columns, spacers positioned between the upper structure and the lower structure; and an intermediate layer positioned on at least one of the first or the second conductive tracks, the intermediate layer made of a semiconductor metal oxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multipoint sensor (1), including: an upper layer (3) made of conducting tracks arranged in lines; a lower layer (6) made of conducting tracks arranged in columns; spacers (4) provided between the upper layer and the lower layer so as to insulate the upper layer (3) and the lower layer (6), characterised in that the sensor further includes at least one resistive intermediate layer (5) provided between the spacers and at least one layer from among the upper conducting layer and the lower conducting layer.

Abstract: A device configured to acquire tactile information, including a transparent tactile matrix sensor; a display device; a measurement unit configured to simultaneously measure a first position of a first finger and a second position of a second finger that are placed on the transparent tactile matrix sensor; a graphical processing unit configured to generate a first and a second cursor that are associated with the first and second position, respectively; and a processor configured to execute an application that associates the first and second cursors with a graphical object that is displayed on the display device, to interact with the graphical object.

Abstract: A process for controlling computerized equipment with a device including a multi-contact bidimensional sensor that acquires tactile information and a calculator that generates command signals as a function of the tactile information, including graphical objects on a screen placed under a transparent multi-contact tactile sensor, each graphical object associated with at least one specific processing rule such that the sensor delivers during each acquisition phase a plurality of tactile information, and each piece of the tactile information forms an object of a specific processing determined by its localization relative to a position of one of the graphical objects.

Abstract: A device configured to acquire tactile information, including a transparent tactile matrix sensor; a display device; a measurement unit configured to simultaneously measure a first position of a first finger and a second position of a second finger that are placed on the transparent tactile matrix sensor; a graphical processing unit configured to generate a first and a second cursor that are associated with the first and second position, respectively; and a processor configured to execute an application that associates the first and second cursors with a graphical object that is displayed on the display device, to interact with the graphical object.

Abstract: A device configured to acquire tactile information, that can be placed over a display device, including a transparent tactile matrix sensor having rows and columns of conductive stripes, the rows arranged next to each other to form a first layer, and the columns are arranged next to each other to form a second layer, and a transparent resistive layer arranged between the first layer of rows and the second layer of columns, a resistivity of the transparent resistive layer decreasing as a function of a pressure that is exerted onto the transparent resistive layer; and a measurement unit configured to measure an electric resistance for each overlap area of a column and a row that are separated from each other by the transparent resistive layer to acquire information on a pressure force at the respective overlap area to acquire the tactile information.

Abstract: A device for controlling an electronic apparatus by handling graphic objects. The device includes a visualisation screen, a transparent multi-contact touch sensor for acquiring multi-contact touch information generated by a plurality of pointing devices, and an electronic control circuit for generating control signals based on the touch information and for generating graphic objects on the visualisation screen. Each of the graphic objects is associated with at least one specific processing rule. Each piece of touch information is subjected to a specific processing determined by the location thereof relative to the position of the graphic objects. A first series of main graphic objects and a second series of subordinate graphic objects respectively have main and subordinate complementary functions associated respectively with at least one main specific processing rule and at least one subordinate specific processing rule.

Abstract: A multi-contact tactile sensor including an elastically deformable interaction layer and a supporting layer, a lower surface of the interaction layer including an array of strip conductors and an upper surface of the supporting layer including an array of strip conductors that are not parallel to the array of strip conductors on the interaction layer. The interaction layer and the supporting layer are separated by a first series of rigid insulating spacers. A second series of conducting spacers is in contact with at least one of the two arrays of strip conductors. The impedance and dimensions of the spacers of the second series are determined to prevent contact at rest and enable local contact during deformation of the interaction layer between the spacers of the second series and the array of strip conductors of the layer opposite the spacers.

Abstract: A method for acquisition and analysis of a multi-contact tactile sensor including a matrix of capture points and an electronic analysis circuit for controlling the acquisition and analysis of the matrix. The method includes acquisition of a sensor detection zone to determine a state of each of contact points of the detection zone and analysis of detection zone to deliver information as a function of an activation state of the contact points. The acquisition and the analysis are repeated iteratively. The acquisition is performed on a detection zone containing the activated contact points determined during a preceding analysis. The detection zone is smaller than the detection zone acquired during the preceding acquisition. The iteration is performed until a pre-determined spatial resolution is obtained. An electronic acquisition and analysis circuit and a multi-contact tactile sensor can implement such a method.

Abstract: A method of controlling a computerized device with a tactile multi-point matrix sensor placed on a display device, the method including the steps of simultaneously acquiring data of a first contact position and a second contact position of a first and a second finger that is placed on the multi-point tactile matrix sensor, respectively; creating a first cursor and a second cursor that are associated with the first and second finger, respectively; displaying a graphical object on the display device; associating the first cursor and the second cursor with the graphical object to interact with the graphical object; and generating control messages for the computerized device based on positional data of the first cursor, the second cursor, and the graphical object.