Abstract: A touch sensor comprises a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves and includes a first surface having a touch sensitive region. A first sidewall intersects the first surface along a first edge. The first edge is configured to propagate a first acoustic wave along the first edge. The first acoustic wave may be a one-dimensional edge wave. A wave converter converts the first acoustic wave to a second acoustic wave, and the first surface is configured to propagate the second acoustic wave across the touch sensitive region.

Abstract: A cover sheet assembly is provided for a touchscreen system. The cover sheet assembly includes an insulating layer having a surface configured to be disposed over an electrically conductive area of a substrate of the touchscreen system. An electrically conductive material is disposed on at least a portion of the insulating layer surface. The electrically conductive material includes a plurality of microscopic linear conductive elements arranged in a pattern that is oriented with respect to a first direction of a first polarization of light such that the electrically conductive material is more transparent to the first polarization of light than to a second polarization of light that is polarized in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A location of contact with a touch sensitive device is determined. Output signals associated with a plurality of electrodes such as formed on a single layer of the touch sensitive device are measured to identify a first electrode positioned at an approximate location of contact with the touch sensor. An output signal associated with a different electrode that is separated from the first electrode is measured to determine an undesired signal amount, such as due to deflection. An undesired single amount associated with the first electrode may be estimated based on the undesired signal amount measured at the other electrode. The signal amount measured at the first electrode is then compensated by the estimated undesired signal amount. The location of contact with the touch sensor is then determined based on the compensated signal amount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing noise in a signal sensing a bending wave propagating in an object comprising the steps of: receiving a sensed signal representative of a plurality of locations of the object, and fitting a function satisfying bending wave propagation properties to the sensed signals, thereby reducing noise contributions to the sensed signals not satisfying the bending wave propagation properties. By doing so, noise contributions not satisfying the wave propagation properties can be suppressed from the sensed signal, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A location of contact with a touch sensitive device is determined. Values associated with each electrode of a plurality of electrodes formed on a single layer of the touch sensitive device are sampled. A determination is made as to whether a contact with the touch sensitive device has occurred. Values sampled subsequent to the contact are adjusted based on selected stored sampled values. A location of contact is then determined based on the adjusted values.

Abstract: A cover sheet assembly is provided for a touchscreen system. The cover sheet assembly includes an insulating layer having a surface configured to be disposed over an electrically conductive area of a substrate of the touchscreen system, and an electrically conductive material disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the insulating layer. The electrically conductive material includes a plurality of carbon nanoparticles and a plurality of metal nanoparticles.

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 touch sensor comprises a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves and includes a first surface having a touch sensitive region. A first sidewall intersects the first surface along a first edge. The first edge is configured to propagate a first acoustic wave along the first edge. The first acoustic wave may be a one-dimensional edge wave. A wave converter converts the first acoustic wave to a second acoustic wave, and the first surface is configured to propagate the second acoustic wave across the touch sensitive region.

Abstract: A touch panel includes a surface acoustic wave propagating substrate having top and bottom surfaces and a multi-layer coversheet that is positioned over the substrate. The coversheet includes a load-spreading layer, a compliant layer and an anti-sticking layer. The load-spreading layer has top and bottom surfaces, and the top surface receives touch input from an object. The compliant layer has top and bottom surfaces and the top surface of the compliant layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the load-spreading layer. The anti-sticking layer has top and bottom surfaces and the top surface of the anti-sticking layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the compliant layer. The bottom surface of the anti-sticking layer is positioned proximate to the top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A projected capacitive touch sensor system includes a substrate that defines a plurality of non-overlapping areas. Each non-overlapping area includes a plurality of detection electrodes arranged in non-overlapping columns. The columns include a horizontal detection electrode that extends along substantially an entire height of a first column, and at least a second column of at least two vertical detection electrodes that are electrically isolated from one another. The system further includes a measuring circuit configured to measure a mutual capacitance between the horizontal detection electrode and each of the at least two vertical detection electrodes in a given area. A processing logic circuit of the system is configured to determine horizontal detection electrode and vertical detection electrode combinations that have a changed mutual capacitance.

Abstract: A computer readable medium has instructions to calibrate a touch system by detecting touch points on a touchscreen that are each associated with touchscreen coordinates in a touchscreen coordinate system. The instructions associated each of the touch points with known calibration targets, and each of the calibration targets has display coordinates in a display coordinate system that is associated with at least one of a display screen and an operating system. The instructions fit the display coordinates and the touchscreen coordinates non-linearly with respect to each other based on a generalized Laplace-constrained fit that is used to identify correction parameters used to map a user generated run-time touch point on the touchscreen to a display coordinate location on a display screen. The correction parameters represent non-linear corrections.

Abstract: A touch sensor comprises a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves. The substrate includes a first surface having a touch sensitive region. A transducer is formed on the substrate. The transducer comprises a piezoelectric element which is thermally cured after being formed on the substrate. The transducer is configured for at least one of generating acoustic waves and detecting acoustic waves. Alternatively, the transducer may include a strip comprising the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: An acoustic touch apparatus is provided that includes a substrate capable of propagating surface acoustic waves, such as Rayleigh-type or Love-type waves. The substrate has a front surface, a back surface, and a curved connecting surface formed between the front surface and the back surface. The apparatus also includes at least one acoustic wave transducer and at least one reflective array, the acoustic wave transducer and the reflective array behind the back surface of the substrate. The acoustic wave transducer is capable of transmitting or receiving surface acoustic waves to or from the reflective array. The reflective array is capable of acoustically coupling the surface acoustic waves to propagate from the back surface and across the front surface via the curved connecting surface. Various types of acoustic touch apparatus with edge sensitive touch functions can be provided, according to specific embodiments.

Abstract: A touch panel includes a substrate that has top and bottom surfaces. A reflective image layer has top and bottom surfaces and displays an image. The bottom surface of the reflective image layer is bonded to the top surface of the substrate to form a stack having top and bottom sides. At least one sensor detects signals associated with bending waves propagating through the stack. The signals are used to identify coordinate locations of at least one touch event on the top or bottom sides of the stack, or to identify coordinate locations of touch events on both of the top and bottom sides of the stack.

Abstract: A bending wave touch system includes at least one sensor and a touchscreen controller. The at least one sensor is coupled to a substrate and is responsive to vibrations in the substrate. The at least one sensor outputs signals. The controller receives the signals from the at least one sensor and identifies touch coordinates based on high frequency components of the signals when a touch on the substrate includes at least one of a tap, a drag and a lift-off. The controller identifies a status of a hold condition of the touch based on at least two different time averages of low frequency components of the signals.

Abstract: A touch location on a capacitive touchscreen system is identified by receiving signals in response to a touch from electronic channels connected to one electrode or to a group of semi-adjacent electrodes provided on a substrate. Adjacent ones of the electrodes have substantially triangular shapes that alternate between a first and second orientation to form an interleaved arrangement such that the touch generates a signal cluster comprising the signals generated from a series of adjacent electronic channels. Weights with at least two different numerical values are applied to the signals from the series of adjacent electronic channels. The at least two different numerical values are based on levels of the signals. A location of the touch on the substrate is determined based on the weighted signals.

Abstract: A projected capacitive touch screen is provided that comprises a substrate and electrodes. The substrate defines an active touch zone surrounded by edges. The active touch zone includes a central active zone and an acceleration zone that is located proximate to, and extends along, at least one of the edges. The electrodes are provided on the substrate and are organized into first and second sets of electrodes that are contained within a common plane on the substrate. The first set of electrodes is interlaced with the second set of electrodes in a non-overlapping pattern on the substrate. At least a subset of the electrodes each has an apex and a base and a non-uniform triangular shape that extends along a longitudinal axis between the apex and the base. The subset of the electrodes is located such that at least a portion of the non-uniform triangular shape is located within the acceleration zone.

Abstract: A projected capacitive touchscreen system has triangular-shaped electrodes coupled to a substrate. Adjacent ones of the electrodes alternate between first and second orientations to form an interleaved arrangement. The electrodes having the first orientation are electrically connected into greater than two groups that each have at least two semi-adjacent electrodes and the electrodes having the second orientation are electrically connected into at least one group that has at least two semi-adjacent electrodes. A controller detects signal levels associated with at least one touch on the substrate from the greater than two groups and the at least one group. The signal levels are used to determine both X and Y coordinate positions of the at least one touch.

Abstract: A resistive touchscreen system comprises a substrate, a coversheet and a controller. The coversheet comprises a first conductive coating and the substrate comprises a second conductive coating. The substrate and coversheet are positioned proximate each other such that the first conductive coating faces the second conductive coating, and the substrate and coversheet are electrically disconnected with respect to each other in the absence of a touch. The controller is configured to (a) identify a multiple touch state when the substrate and coversheet are electrically connected with respect to each other at at least two touch locations, (b) to detect, over time, a plurality of apparent touch coordinates, (c) identify two possible X coordinates and two possible Y coordinates associated with at least one of the apparent touch coordinates, and (d) identify coordinate locations of two touches based on the apparent touch coordinates and the two possible X and Y coordinates.

Abstract: Resistive touchscreen system has substrate and coversheet with first and second conductive coatings. The substrate and coversheet are positioned proximate each other such that the first conductive coating faces the second conductive coating. The substrate and coversheet are electrically disconnected with respect to each other in the absence of a touch. First set of electrodes is formed on the substrate for establishing voltage gradients in first direction. Second set of electrodes is formed on the coversheet for establishing voltage gradients in second direction wherein the first and second directions are different. Controller biases the first and second sets of electrodes in first and second cycles and senses a bias load resistance associated with at least one of the sets of electrodes. The bias load resistance has a reference value associated with no touch. A decrease in the bias load resistance relative to the reference value indicates two simultaneous touches.