Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for using a touch sensing system capable of sensing location of a finger or object above a touch surface to inform a touch response system in an electronic device of a predicted future user input event or motion data in advance of an actual touch event. Current user input is sensed via the touch sensing system and data reflecting hover information is created. A model of user interaction with a touch surface is applied to the data representative of the user input to create data reflecting a prediction of a future user input event. In an embodiment, prior to occurrence of the predicted user input event, a predicted location and a predicted time at which the predicted future user input event will occur are provided to a touch response system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a controller for sensing deformation. Transmit antennas are located on a first structure and transmit signals. Receive antennas are located on a second structure and receive signals. Received signals are processed to determine an amount of deformation. The amount of deformation that occurs may then be correlated to the position of a hand or the location of another body part.

Abstract: A heterogeneous touch manifold is disclosed. In an embodiment, a layer of row conductors, a layer of column conductors and a layer of additional row conductors are provided, each of the column conductors and the additional row conductors are adapted for connection to receiving circuitry that receives signals thereon and provide a heatmap of signal strength for each of a plurality of unique orthogonal signals. In another embodiment, a layer of row conductors, a layer of column conductors and interleaved antennas are provided, each of the column conductors and the interleaved antennas are adapted for connection to receiving circuitry that receives signals thereon and provide a heatmap of signal strength for each of a plurality of unique orthogonal signals. In an embodiment, a plurality of unique orthogonal signals is provided by a signal generator, unique ones of them being provided to the row conductors, and at least one additional unique orthogonal signal being provided to a signal injector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a touch-sensitive controller system employing a controller comprising a plurality of separate FMT sensor patterns adapted to detect a variety positions of the human hand. The controller system outputs both touch events as well as data reflective of the hand interaction with the controller. The FMT sensors may be driven by a common signal generator, and can look at body-generate crosstalk to aid in understanding the position, orientation and grip of a hand on the controller. In an embodiment, signal injection can supplement FMT sensor data. Fusion among the data transmitted and received by the plurality of FMT sensors and additional injected signals may provide improved fidelity in both touch and hand modeling.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for decreasing latency between an acquisition of touch data and processing of an associated rendering task in a touch sensitive device having a touch sensing system capable of producing touch data at a touch sampling rate and having a display system that displays frames at a refresh rate. In an embodiment, the system estimates at least one of (a) a period of time for sampling touch data from the touch sensing system, (b) a period of time for computing touch event data from sampled touch data, and (c) a period of time for rendering of a frame to a frame buffer. The system determines a period of time Tc for (a) sampling touch data from the touch sensing system, (b) computing touch event data from sampled touch data, and (c) rendering of a frame to a frame buffer, based at least in part on the estimate. The system determines a point in time Tr at which the display system will be refreshed from the frame buffer.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch sensitive device includes a touch interface having conductors and a signal generator for generating signals on the conductors. A touch processor identifies touch on the touch interface by processing touch signals present on the conductors, and outputting a stream of touch events. A decimator receives the stream of touch events and outputs a modified stream of touch events for use by the touch sensitive device, the modified stream of touch events may include predicted or estimated usable touch events.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for decreasing latency between an acquisition of touch data and processing of an associated rendering task in a touch sensitive device having a touch sensing system capable of producing touch data at a touch sampling rate and having a display system that displays frames at a refresh rate. In an embodiment, the system estimates at least one of (a) a period of time for sampling touch data from the touch sensing system, (b) a period of time for computing touch event data from sampled touch data, and (c) a period of time for rendering of a frame to a frame buffer. The system determines a period of time Tc for (a) sampling touch data from the touch sensing system, (b) computing touch event data from sampled touch data, and (c) rendering of a frame to a frame buffer, based at least in part on the estimate. The system determines a point in time Tr at which the display system will be refreshed from the frame buffer.

Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods relate in general to the field of user input to a touch sensitive device, and in particular to user input systems and methods which can reduce the latency between a most recent input event and the displaying of a rendered frame reflecting such input.

Abstract: A system and method for distinguishing between sources of simultaneous touch events on a touch sensitive device are disclosed. The touch sensitive device includes row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Orthogonal row signals are generated on the row conductors and orthogonal column signals are generated on the column conductors. In an embodiment, an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on each of the plurality of row conductors is detected, an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals present on each of the plurality of column conductors is detected, and at least one of such amounts is used to associate each of the plurality of simultaneous touch events with a discrete source.

Abstract: A system for processing user input includes an input device, an input processing unit, a high-latency subsystem, a low-latency subsystem, input processing unit software for generating signals in response to user inputs, and an output device. The low-latency subsystem receives the signals and generates low-latency output and the high-latency subsystem processes the signals and generates high-latency output.

Abstract: A system and method for distinguishing between sources of simultaneous touch events on a touch sensitive device are disclosed. The touch sensitive device includes row conductors and column conductors, the path of each of the row conductors crossing the path of each of the column conductors. Orthogonal row signals are generated on the row conductors and orthogonal column signals are generated on the column conductors. In an embodiment, an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on each of the plurality of row conductors is detected, an amount of each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals present on each of the plurality of column conductors is detected, and at least one of such amounts is used to associate each of the plurality of simultaneous touch events with a discrete source.

Abstract: A method for providing a visual response to input with reduced latency in a computing device includes computing alternative sets of intermediate data for a first graphical user interface element, each alternative set of intermediate data comprising data useful to produce a visual representation of the graphical user interface element. The plurality of alternative sets of intermediate data and a set of intermediate data for a second graphical user interface element are stored in memory. The method creates an index identifying a first one of the plurality of alternative sets of intermediate data for the first graphical user interface element to use in forming a final pixel image. The index, the first set of alternative intermediate data for the graphical user interface element, and the intermediate data for the second graphical user interface element are used to create a first final pixel image for display to a user, the first final pixel image including the first and second graphical user interface elements.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch sensitive device includes a touch interface having conductors and a signal generator for generating signals on the conductors. A touch processor identifies touch on the touch interface by processing touch signals present on the conductors, and outputting a stream of touch events. A decimator receives the stream of touch events and outputs a modified stream of touch events for use by the touch sensitive device, the modified stream of touch events may include predicted or estimated usable touch events.

Abstract: Disclosed are keyboards and keyboard switches sensitive to touch, including, hover and pressure. The keyboard switches have transmit and receive antennae that are spaced apart such that no portion of the transmit antenna touches any portion of the receive antenna. The keyboard switches are arranged in logical rows and logical columns such that each of the keyboard switches is associated with one row and one column. Signal emitters are conductively coupled to the transmit antennae for each of the keyboard switches associated with each of the rows, and each of the signal emitters are adapted to cause each of the transmit antennae to transmit one or more source signals. Receivers are coupled to the receive antennae for each of the keyboard switches associated with each of the columns, and each of the receivers are adapted to capture a frame of signals present on the coupled receive antennae.

Abstract: Disclosed are keyboards and keyboard switches sensitive to touch, including, hover and pressure. The keyboard switches have transmit and receive antennae that are spaced apart such that no portion of the transmit antenna touches any portion of the receive antenna. The keyboard switches are arranged in logical rows and logical columns such that each of the keyboard switches is associated with one row and one column. Signal emitters are conductively coupled to the transmit antennae for each of the keyboard switches associated with each of the rows, and each of the signal emitters are adapted to cause each of the transmit antennae to transmit one or more source signals. Receivers are coupled to the receive antennae for each of the keyboard switches associated with each of the columns, and each of the receivers are adapted to capture a frame of signals present on the coupled receive antennae.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch sensitive device includes a touch interface having rows and columns and a signal generator for generating unique orthogonal signals on a plurality of the rows, respectively. A touch processor is identifies touch on the touch interface by processing touch signals present on the columns, and outputting a stream of touch events. A decimator receives the stream of touch events, selectively identifies one or more of the touch events in the stream, and outputs a modified stream of touch events for use by the touch sensitive device.

Abstract: A method for providing a visual response to input with reduced latency in a computing device includes computing alternative sets of intermediate data for a first graphical user interface element, each alternative set of intermediate data comprising data useful to produce a visual representation of the graphical user interface element. The plurality of alternative sets of intermediate data and a set of intermediate data for a second graphical user interface element are stored in memory. The method creates an index identifying a first one of the plurality of alternative sets of intermediate data for the first graphical user interface element to use in forming a final pixel image. The index, the first set of alternative intermediate data for the graphical user interface element, and the intermediate data for the second graphical user interface element are used to create a first final pixel image for display to a user, the first final pixel image including the first and second graphical user interface elements.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch sensitive device includes a touch interface having rows and columns and a signal generator for generating unique orthogonal signals on a plurality of the rows, respectively. A touch processor is identifies touch on the touch interface by processing touch signals present on the columns, and outputting a stream of touch events. A decimator receives the stream of touch events, selectively identifies one or more of the touch events in the stream and assembles information concerning one or more touch events in the stream, and outputs both the selectively identified touch events and the assembled information for use by the touch sensitive device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a touch surface, such as a GUI is graphically divided into two or more input regions, and based on this division, input event paths from a single sensor can be integrated within an operating system to provide application developers with the ability to easily and effectively filter there-between. The graphical division allows an application developer to specify which elements of a given GUI take one path, versus another. In an embodiment, low-latency and high-latency event paths are provided; an algorithm takes into consideration input regions and, based on those regions, handles the low- and high-latency input event paths in a computer system, directing the appropriate inputs through the appropriate processing, and directing the output to the appropriate process or queue without creating constraints on the low-latency event processing due to the presence of higher-latency event paths for a given sensor.

Abstract: A system for processing user input includes an input device, an input processing unit, a high-latency subsystem, a low-latency subsystem, input processing unit software for generating signals in response to user inputs, and an output device. The low-latency subsystem processes signals corresponding to at least some events and generates corresponding programmable low-latency output, the programmable output being based, at least in part, on state information being maintained by the high-latency subsystem. The high-latency subsystem processes signals corresponding to at least some events, and generates corresponding output, the output of the high-latency subsystem being higher latency than the output of the low-latency subsystem with respect to a given event.