Abstract: A touch-screen display device comprises a series of column electrodes and a series of row electrodes, with an electronic display layer arranged behind the series of column electrodes and behind the series of row electrodes. The series of row electrodes crosses the series of column electrodes such that the electrical impedance at each crossing of a row and column electrode is responsive to the proximity of a touch input to that crossing. A row-drive circuit is configured to apply an excitation signal to a selected row electrode and to concurrently apply a compensation signal to one or more other row electrodes, the compensation signal being out of phase with respect to the excitation signal. A column-sense circuit is configured to sense a column signal from the series of column electrodes and to provide a corresponding column output.

Abstract: Methods and computing devices for estimating a force F exerted on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises determining that the touchpad is not being touched. At least on condition of determining that the touchpad is not being touched, a no-touch capacitance value of the PCB is calculated. After calculating the no-touch capacitance value, the method includes determining that the touchpad is being touched. At least on condition that the touchpad is being touched, the no-touch capacitance value and a touch-based capacitance value are used to estimate the force F exerted on the touchpad.

Abstract: A touch-screen display device comprises a series of column electrodes and a series of row electrodes, with an electronic display layer arranged behind the series of column electrodes and behind the series of row electrodes. The series of row electrodes crosses the series of column electrodes such that the electrical impedance at each crossing of a row and column electrode is responsive to the proximity of a touch input to that crossing. A row-drive circuit is configured to apply an excitation signal to a selected row electrode and to concurrently apply a compensation signal to one or more other row electrodes, the compensation signal being out of phase with respect to the excitation signal. A column-sense circuit is configured to sense a column signal from the series of column electrodes and to provide a corresponding column output.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adapting a conversion of a force or pressure sensed at a stylus into a converted output used for an inking process at a host device, wherein samples of the converted output are collected over a predetermined time period. Then, the collected samples are evaluated and at least one parameter of the conversion is controlled in response to a result of the evaluation. Thereby, a user-specific probability distribution of the sensed force or pressure can be matched to a desired probability distribution of the inking process.

Abstract: Touchpads, computing devices, and methods for estimating a plurality of forces exerted by a plurality of contacts on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises estimating a plurality of forces exerted by a plurality of contacts at a plurality of touch locations on a touchpad. For each contact, a plurality of assigned calibration weights are determined from a predetermined set of calibration weights. The plurality of assigned calibration weights and data from touchpad force sensors are used to determine a force exerted by the contact on the touchpad.

Abstract: Touchpads, computing devices, and methods for estimating a plurality of forces exerted by a plurality of contacts on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises estimating a plurality of forces exerted by a plurality of contacts at a plurality of touch locations on a touchpad. For each contact, a plurality of assigned calibration weights are determined from a predetermined set of calibration weights. The plurality of assigned calibration weights and data from touchpad force sensors are used to determine a force exerted by the contact on the touchpad.

Abstract: A computing device comprises a touchpad, a processor, and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to track a contact on a touchpad. A measured velocity and a measured force of the contact on the touchpad are determined. The measured velocity is normalized to a normalized velocity and the measured force of the contact is normalized to a normalized force. Based at least in part on the normalized velocity and the normalized force, a reported position of the contact on the touchpad is temporarily frozen.

Abstract: Methods and computing devices for estimating a force F exerted on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises determining that the touchpad is not being touched. At least on condition of determining that the touchpad is not being touched, a no-touch capacitance value of the PCB is calculated. After calculating the no-touch capacitance value, the method includes determining that the touchpad is being touched. At least on condition that the touchpad is being touched, the no-touch capacitance value and a touch-based capacitance value are used to estimate the force F exerted on the touchpad.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products provide touch screen erasing. A touch device includes an eraser detector that configured to analyze one or more blobs comprising a plurality of detected signals caused by a conductive pattern in or on an eraser type of touch instrument in proximity to the touch device. Each detected signal may have an associated intensity and location on the touch device. A position detector is configured to detect a position of an eraser based on the locations of the plurality of detected signals. An orientation detector is configured to detect an orientation of the eraser based on the intensities of the plurality of detected signals. An eraser reporter is configured to report the position and orientation of the eraser to a content source (e.g., an application and/or operating system providing displayed content).

Abstract: Methods and computing devices for estimating a finger force exerted on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises calculating a plurality of forces produced by a palm at a plurality of capacitive force sensors of the touchpad, where at least one of the sensors is saturated. After calculating the forces produced by the palm, the method determines that the touchpad is being contacted by the palm and a finger. The method uses the forces produced by the palm to determine the finger force exerted on the touchpad by the finger.

Abstract: Methods and computing devices for estimating a force F exerted on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises determining that the touchpad is not being touched. At least on condition of determining that the touchpad is not being touched, a no-touch capacitance value of the PCB is calculated. After calculating the no-touch capacitance value, the method includes determining that the touchpad is being touched. At least on condition that the touchpad is being touched, the no-touch capacitance value and a touch-based capacitance value are used to estimate the force F exerted on the touchpad.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating the effect of a contact by a hand or other body part of a user with a touch screen while holding an input device on the strength of a capacitively coupled uplink signal provided to the input device by a host device, by detecting and/or discriminating the body touch and modifying at least one uplink channel parameter.

Abstract: Methods and computing devices for estimating a finger force exerted on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises calculating a plurality of forces produced by a palm at a plurality of capacitive force sensors of the touchpad, where at least one of the sensors is saturated. After calculating the forces produced by the palm, the method determines that the touchpad is being contacted by the palm and a finger. The method uses the forces produced by the palm to determine the finger force exerted on the touchpad by the finger.

Abstract: Methods and computing devices for estimating a force F exerted on a touchpad are disclosed. In one example, a method comprises determining that the touchpad is not being touched. At least on condition of determining that the touchpad is not being touched, a no-touch capacitance value of the PCB is calculated. After calculating the no-touch capacitance value, the method includes determining that the touchpad is being touched. At least on condition that the touchpad is being touched, the no-touch capacitance value and a touch-based capacitance value are used to estimate the force F exerted on the touchpad.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a voltage driver circuit where a path between a ground node and an output node includes an inductor and/or another storage element and an energy transfer circuit composed of at least two switching elements (e.g., transistors) and at least two valve elements (e.g. diodes). The energy transfer circuit operates to discharge a capacitive load (e.g. output capacitor) into the storage element and facilitate transition from low to high voltage while increasing efficiency. An additional path to ground may be included via another switching element to prevent crosstalk and hold the output at ground potential.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating the effect of a contact by a hand or other body part of a user with a touch screen while holding an input device on the strength of a capacitively coupled uplink signal provided to the input device by a host device, by detecting and/or discriminating the body touch and modifying at least one uplink channel parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating the effect of a contact by a hand or other body part of a user with a touch screen while holding an input device on the strength of a capacitively coupled uplink signal provided to the input device by a host device, by detecting and/or discriminating the body touch and modifying at least one uplink channel parameter.

Abstract: A touch-screen display device comprises a series of column electrodes and a series of row electrodes, with an electronic display layer arranged behind the series of column electrodes and behind the series of row electrodes. The series of row electrodes crosses the series of column electrodes such that the electrical impedance at each crossing of a row and column electrode is responsive to the proximity of a touch input to that crossing. A row-drive circuit is configured to apply an excitation signal to a selected row electrode and to concurrently apply a compensation signal to one or more other row electrodes, the compensation signal being out of phase with respect to the excitation signal. A column-sense circuit is configured to sense a column signal from the series of column electrodes and to provide a corresponding column output.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for adapting a conversion of a force or pressure sensed at a stylus into a converted output used for an inking process at a host device, wherein samples of the converted output are collected over a predetermined time period. Then, the collected samples are evaluated and at least one parameter of the conversion is controlled in response to a result of the evaluation. Thereby, a user-specific probability distribution of the sensed force or pressure can be matched to a desired probability distribution of the inking process.

Abstract: A method to process touch input on a touch-screen display device having an electronic display layer arranged behind a series of column electrodes and behind a series of row electrodes. The method comprises: concurrently driving one or more row electrodes while leaving undriven one or more other row electrodes; sensing a row signal from the one or more other row electrodes; sensing a column signal from the series of column electrodes; and providing a corrected column output based at least partly on the column signal and on the row signal.