Patents by Inventor Tomas Christiansson

Tomas Christiansson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11301089
    Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to operate an image reconstruction algorithm on at least part of the thus-generated transmission values and determine a position of a touching object on the touch surface, and an attenuation value corresponding to the attenuation of the light resulting from the object touching the touch surface. Using these values, the processor is configured to identify the type of object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Mattias Krus, Kristofer Jacobson, David Gillsjö
  • Patent number: 11182023
    Abstract: A touch system is described having a method of determining touch of one or more objects on a touch surface of a touch-sensitive apparatus, wherein the method operates in a time sequence of frames, each frame comprising the steps of: for a current frame, processing an output signal of the touch sensitive apparatus to generate one or more touch traces, each touch trace having one or more characteristics; and outputting a confirmed touch signal for each touch trace having a touch trace matching at least one of said one or more characteristics in a first number of frames preceding the current frame, wherein the first number of frames is determined in dependence on said one or more characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Nicklas Ohlsson, Markus Andreasson, Tomas Christiansson, Andreas Björklund, Mats Peter Wallander
  • Patent number: 11175756
    Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed comprising a touch surface, and a touch sensor configured to determine a first set of coordinates on the touch surface of an object in contact with the touch surface. The touch sensing apparatus is configured to determine a virtual brush angle associated with the object, determine a movement of the object to a second set of coordinates determine an updated virtual brush angle for the object in dependence on a position of the second set of coordinates relative to the first set of coordinates, and output the second set of coordinates and the updated virtual brush angle. An associated method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: David Andersson, Kristofer Jacobson, Tomas Christiansson
  • Patent number: 11106312
    Abstract: A method of predicting the behaviour of one or more objects on a touch surface of a touch-sensitive apparatus comprises outputting an object position value of a first time series describing a position of the one or more objects on the touch surface. The method further comprises outputting an object position value of a second time series describing a position of the one or more objects on the touch surface. The object position value of the second time series is outputted before the corresponding object position value of the first time series. The method yet further comprises predicting the behaviour of the one or more objects based at least on the object position values of the second time series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Orjan Friberg, David Andersson
  • Patent number: 11099688
    Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to process the transmission values to determine an object reference point on the touch surface where the light is attenuated or occluded by an object and determine, from a set of light paths unaffected by an object, a set of object boundary light paths comprising one or more light paths passing closest to the object reference point. The characteristics of the object may then be determined in dependence on the set of object boundary light paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Kristofer Jakobson, Nicklas Ohlsson
  • Patent number: 11016605
    Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus can determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor can operate an image reconstruction algorithm on at least part of the thus-generated transmission values and determine a position of a touching object on the touch surface, an attenuation value corresponding to the attenuation of the light resulting from the object touching the touch surface, and an occlusion compensation value for compensating the occlusion affect from other objects on the touch surface. Using these values, the processor can identify the type of object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Kristofer Jakobson
  • Publication number: 20210103356
    Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to operate an image reconstruction algorithm on at least part of the thus-generated transmission values and determine a position of a touching object on the touch surface, and an attenuation value corresponding to the attenuation of the light resulting from the object touching the touch surface. Using these values, the processor is configured to identify the type of object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Tomas CHRISTIANSSON, Mattias KRUS, Kristofer JACOBSON, David GILLSJÖ
  • Publication number: 20210089164
    Abstract: A method of operating an optical touch apparatus is described wherein, the optical touch apparatus comprising a panel, a plurality of emitters and a plurality of detectors arranged with respect to the panel, the plurality of detectors configured to receive light from the plurality of emitters thereby defining detection samples of light transmitted between pairs of emitters and detectors. The optical touch apparatus being further configured to operate in an ambient light evaluation mode comprising the steps of: generating a first set of samples over a first integration time and a second set of samples over a second integration time using at least one detector, and applying a filter to at least the first and second set of samples to generate a residual ambient light value indicative of ambient light noise, wherein the touch apparatus is configured to perform the following steps: operating according to the ambient light evaluation mode for a plurality of repetitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Tomas CHRISTIANSSON, Henrik WALL, Nicklas Ohlsson, Mattias KRUS, Tomas SVENSSON
  • Publication number: 20210055825
    Abstract: A method of predicting the behaviour of one or more objects on a touch surface of a touch-sensitive apparatus comprises outputting an object position value of a first time series describing a position of the one or more objects on the touch surface. The method further comprises outputting an object position value of a second time series describing a position of the one or more objects on the touch surface. The object position value of the second time series is outputted before the corresponding object position value of the first time series. The method yet further comprises predicting the behaviour of the one or more objects based at least on the object position values of the second time series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Orjan Friberg, David Andersson
  • Publication number: 20210026466
    Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus is disclosed comprising a touch surface, and a touch sensor configured to determine a first set of coordinates on the touch surface of an object in contact with the touch surface. The touch sensing apparatus is configured to determine a virtual brush angle associated with the object, determine a movement of the object to a second set of coordinates determine an updated virtual brush angle for the object in dependence on a position of the second set of coordinates relative to the first set of coordinates, and output the second set of coordinates and the updated virtual brush angle. An associated method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: David ANDERSSON, Kristofer JACOBSON, Tomas CHRISTIANSSON
  • Publication number: 20210026587
    Abstract: A system is provided for processing touch data. The system comprises an operating system having a user interface and being configured to process touch data according to a first protocol and a software application running on the operating system. The software application provides an interaction area on the user interface and being configured to process touch data according to a second protocol. A touch controller is configured to send a first touch data corresponding to a touch event to the operating system via a first channel and a second touch data corresponding to the touch event to the software application via a second channel. Where the first touch data corresponds to the interaction area on the user interface, the operating system communicates the first touch data to the software application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Tomas CHRISTIANSSON, Örjan FRIBERG, Pablo CASES
  • Publication number: 20200393935
    Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to process the transmission values to determine an object reference point on the touch surface where the light is attenuated or occluded by an object and determine, from a set of light paths unaffected by an object, a set of object boundary light paths comprising one or more light paths passing closest to the object reference point. The characteristics of the object may then be determined in dependence on the set of object boundary light paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Kristofer Jakobson, Nicklas Ohlsson
  • Publication number: 20200293136
    Abstract: A touch sensitive apparatus is disclosed comprising a touch surface configured to receive touch input, a touch sensor configured to determine a surface coordinate of a touch input on the touch surface, an imaging device configured to capture image data of a user input device adapted to engage the touch surface to provide said touch input, a processing unit configured to receive a first surface coordinate of a touch input from the touch sensor; and correlate a touch input at a first surface coordinate with a first image sensor coordinate at which image data of the input device is captured; and generate a touch output signal based on the captured image data of the input device at the first image sensor coordinate. The touch output signal comprises a value for controlling user input device interaction associated with the touch input at the first surface coordinate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kristofer JAKOBSON, Tomas CHRISTIANSSON, Pablo CASES, Linnea LARSSON
  • Patent number: 10775937
    Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to operate an image reconstruction algorithm on at least part of the thus-generated transmission values and determine a position of a touching object on the touch surface, and an attenuation value corresponding to the attenuation of the light resulting from the object touching the touch surface. Using these values, the processor is configured to identify the type of object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Mattias Krus, Kristofer Jacobson, David Gillsjö
  • Patent number: 10761657
    Abstract: A method of operating an optical touch apparatus is described wherein, the optical touch apparatus comprising a panel, a plurality of emitters and a plurality of detectors arranged with respect to the panel, the plurality of detectors configured to receive light from the plurality of emitters thereby defining detection samples of light transmitted between pairs of emitters and detectors. The optical touch apparatus being further configured to operate in an ambient light evaluation mode comprising the steps of: generating a first set of samples over a first integration time and a second set of samples over a second integration time using at least one detector, and applying a filter to at least the first and second set of samples to generate a residual ambient light value indicative of ambient light noise, wherein the touch apparatus is configured to perform the following steps: operating according to the ambient light evaluation mode for a plurality of repetitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Henrik Wall, Nicklas Ohlsson, Mattias Krus, Tomas Svensson
  • Publication number: 20200150822
    Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus can determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor can operate an image reconstruction algorithm on at least part of the thus-generated transmission values and determine a position of a touching object on the touch surface, an attenuation value corresponding to the attenuation of the light resulting from the object touching the touch surface, and an occlusion compensation value for compensating the occlusion affect from other objects on the touch surface. Using these values, the processor can identify the type of object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Kristofer Jakobson
  • Patent number: 10606414
    Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus configured to determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor is then configured to process the transmission values to determine an object reference point on the touch surface where the light is attenuated or occluded by an object and determine, from a set of light paths unaffected by an object, a set of object boundary light paths comprising one or more light paths passing closest to the object reference point. The characteristics of the object may then be determined in dependence on the set of object boundary light paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Kristofer Jakobson, Nicklas Ohlsson
  • Patent number: 10481737
    Abstract: An optical IR touch sensing apparatus can determine, based on output signals of light detectors, a light energy value for each light path across a touch surface, and generate a transmission value for each light path based on the light energy value. A processor can operate an image reconstruction algorithm on at least part of the thus-generated transmission values and determine a position of a touching object on the touch surface, an attenuation value corresponding to the attenuation of the light resulting from the object touching the touch surface, and an occlusion compensation value for compensating the occlusion affect from other objects on the touch surface. Using these values, the processor can identify the type of object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Kristofer Jakobson
  • Patent number: 10474249
    Abstract: A touch sensing apparatus includes a group of emitters arranged to emit light to illuminate at least part of the touch surface, a light detector arranged to receive light from the group of emitters, and a processing element. Each emitter is controlled to transmit a code by way of the emitted light such that the code identifies the respective emitter. The codes may at least partly be transmitted concurrently. The codes may be selected such that a value of an autocorrelation of each code is significantly higher than a value of a cross-correlation between any two codes of different emitters. The processing element processes an output signal from the light detector to separate the light received from the individual emitters based on the transmitted codes, and to determine the position of the object/objects based on the light received from the individual emitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Christer Fahraeus, Henrik Wall, Ola Wassvik, Tomas Christiansson
  • Publication number: 20190317640
    Abstract: A method of operating an optical touch apparatus is described wherein, the optical touch apparatus comprising a panel, a plurality of emitters and a plurality of detectors arranged with respect to the panel, the plurality of detectors configured to receive light from the plurality of emitters thereby defining detection samples of light transmitted between pairs of emitters and detectors. The optical touch apparatus being further configured to operate in an ambient light evaluation mode comprising the steps of: generating a first set of samples over a first integration time and a second set of samples over a second integration time using at least one detector, and applying a filter to at least the first and second set of samples to generate a residual ambient light value indicative of ambient light noise, wherein the touch apparatus is configured to perform the following steps: operating according to the ambient light evaluation mode for a plurality of repetitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Tomas CHRISTIANSSON, Henrik WALL, Nicklas Ohlsson, Mattias KRUS, Tomas SVENSSON