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: 10372265
    Abstract: Touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch system that comprises a panel configured to conduct signals, along detection lines across a touch surface. A signal processor operates in a sequence of repetitions to: generate data samples that represent detected signal energy on the actual detection lines; generate based on the data samples, an interpolated sinogram comprising interpolation samples that represent fictitious detection lines which have a desired location on the touch surface; and reconstruct a signal interaction pattern for the touch surface based on the interpolated sinogram. The signal processor implements an error correction to counteract the influence of a change in validity status for a data sample among the data samples, by identifying interpolation samples affected by the change in validity status, and by setting each identified interpolation sample to a value that maintains a relative signal transmission of the fictitious detection line from a former repetition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Andreas Bjorklund, Mats Petter Wallander, Nicklas Ohlsson
  • Patent number: 10324566
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus includes an touch sensing part which operates a touch sensor arrangement to provide signal data representing a touch within a touch-sensing region on a front surface of a light transmissive panel; The touch-sensitive apparatus further includes a computer vision system part which operates a camera system to image a scene located externally of the touch-sensitive apparatus, and operates a computer vision controller to detect, based on image data generated by the camera system, at least one object within the scene. The touch-sensitive apparatus enables user interaction by touch control, gesture control and hover control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventor: Tomas Christiansson
  • Patent number: 10318041
    Abstract: A signal processor implements a technique for detecting objects on a panel which transmits signals inside the panel such that the objects are allowed to interact with (e.g. attenuate) the signals by contact with a touch surface of the panel. The signal processor operates to define cells that have a given location on the touch surface and are associated with a respective set of intersecting paths for the signals across the touch surface. The signal processor operates to obtain (90) an output signal from a signal detection arrangement that measures a signal property for each path; process (91) the output signal to obtain an interaction value for each path; and generate (93-95?) a cell value of a selected cell among the cells as either a robust measure of central tendency (e.g. a median) or a minimum/maximum among the interaction values for the intersecting paths. The signal processor determines (97) presence or absence of an object in the selected cell based on the cell value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Andreas Björklund, Tomas Christiansson, Mats Petter Wallander, Nicklas Ohlsson
  • Publication number: 20190094990
    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: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Christer FAHRAEUS, Henrik WALL, Ola WASSVIK, Tomas CHRISTIANSSON
  • Publication number: 20190025977
    Abstract: A device obtains a signal representative of objects on a touch surface of a multi-touch sensing apparatus and executes a method for extracting touch data from the signal. The method operates in a sequence of detection frames. Each detection frame comprises the steps of: obtaining (300) the signal; processing (301) the signal for identifying touches; determining (302) a set of identified touches and touch data for the set of identified touches; and outputting (303) the touch data. At least one of the steps of processing (301) and determining (302) includes a prioritization that actively favors certain touches to be identified and included in the set of identified touches, respectively. Temporal prioritization favors a touch that corresponds to a previous touch, which is identified in one or more preceding detection frames. Spatial prioritization favors a touch that is located within at least one predefined subarea on the touch surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Tomas CHRISTIANSSON, Ola WASSVIK, Christer FAHRAEUS
  • Patent number: 10161886
    Abstract: A device implements a method for detecting contamination of an FTIR-based panel. The apparatus generates projection signals representing detection lines that have propagated on a plurality of propagation paths by total internal reflection (TIR) inside a transmissive panel such that contamination on the panel surface causes attenuation (frustration) of at least one of the projection signals. The device generates a transmission value for each detection line in the transmissive panel, and determines the presence of contamination on the surface of the panel by comparing the transmission values according to at least one of the presented comparison techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Nicklas Ohlsson, Tomas Christiansson
  • Publication number: 20180356940
    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: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Tomas CHRISTIANSSON, Mattias KRUS, Kristofer JACOBSON, David GILLSJÖ
  • Publication number: 20180275830
    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 a region around the object reference point on the touch surface and a set of light paths intersecting the region. By performing statistical analysis of the set of light paths, characteristics of the object may be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Kristofer Jakobson, Nicklas Ohlsson, Mattias Krus, Magnus Hollström
  • Publication number: 20180275831
    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: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Kristofer Jakobson
  • Publication number: 20180275788
    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 19, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Kristofer Jakobson, Nicklas Ohlsson
  • Publication number: 20180253187
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a panel configured to conduct signals from a plurality of peripheral incoupling points to a plurality of peripheral outcoupling points. Actual detection lines are defined between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points to extend across a surface portion of the panel. The signals may be in the form of light, and objects touching the surface portion may affect the light via frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). A signal generator is coupled to the incoupling points to generate the signals, and a signal detector is coupled to the outcoupling points to generate an output signal. A data processor operates on the output signal to enable identification of touching objects. The output signal is processed (40) to generate a set of data samples, which are indicative of detected energy for at least a subset of the actual detection lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas CHRISTIANSSON, Peter Juhlin
  • Patent number: 10048773
    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: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Christer Fahraeus, Henrik Wall, Ola Wassvik, Tomas Christiansson
  • Patent number: 10031623
    Abstract: Touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch system that comprises a panel configured to conduct signals along detection lines across a touch surface. A signal processor obtains observed values for the detection lines, and identifies an interaction pattern on the touch surface as a solution to a function that comprises an aggregation of differences, for each detection line, between the observed value and a projected value, which is given by a projection function that defines a functional relation between the interaction pattern and the projected value for each detection line. The signal processor implements a normalization to ensure that the interaction pattern indicates weak touches even in the presence of strong touches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Nicklas Ohlsson
  • Patent number: 10019113
    Abstract: A signal processor in a touch-sensitive apparatus generates a 2D representation of touch interaction on a touch surface by tomographic processing. The signal processor generates observed values for detection lines that correspond to signal propagation paths across the touch surface. The observed values correspond to sampling points in a sample space defined by a first dimension representing a rotation angle of the detection line on the touch surface and a second dimension representing a distance of the detection line from a predetermined origin on the touch surface. The signal processor processes the observed values, by interpolation in the sample space, to generate estimated values for matched sampling points in the sample space using a tomographic reconstruction function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Nicklas Ohlsson, Markus Andreasson
  • Patent number: 10013107
    Abstract: A device obtains a signal representative of objects on a touch surface of a multi-touch sensing apparatus and executes a method for extracting touch data from the signal. The method operates in a sequence of detection frames. Each detection frame comprises the steps of: obtaining the signal; processing the signal for identifying touches; determining a set of identified touches and touch data for the set of identified touches; and outputting the touch data. At least one of the steps of processing and determining includes a prioritization that actively favors certain touches to be identified and included in the set of identified touches, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Ola Wassvik, Christer Fahraeus
  • Patent number: 9996196
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a panel configured to conduct signals from a plurality of peripheral incoupling points to a plurality of peripheral outcoupling points. Actual detection lines are defined between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points to extend across a surface portion of the panel. The signals may be in the form of light, and objects touching the surface portion may affect the light via frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). A signal generator is coupled to the incoupling points to generate the signals, and a signal detector is coupled to the outcoupling points to generate an output signal. A data processor operates on the output signal to enable identification of touching objects. The output signal is processed (40) to generate a set of data samples, which are indicative of detected energy for at least a subset of the actual detection lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Peter Juhlin
  • Publication number: 20180129354
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus includes an touch sensing part which operates a touch sensor arrangement to provide signal data representing a touch within a touch-sensing region on a front surface of a light transmissive panel; The touch-sensitive apparatus further includes a computer vision system part which operates a camera system to image a scene located externally of the touch-sensitive apparatus, and operates a computer vision controller to detect, based on image data generated by the camera system, at least one object within the scene. The touch-sensitive apparatus enables user interaction by touch control, gesture control and hover control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventor: Tomas CHRISTIANSSON
  • Patent number: 9927920
    Abstract: A device implements a method of tracking objects on a touch surface of an FTIR based touch-sensitive apparatus. An interaction map is generated that indicates local changes in interaction on the touch surface. The interaction map is processed for identification of positive and negative peaks that represent a locally increased and decreased interaction in the interaction map, respectively. To suppress the impact of interferences, a dedicated first heuristic and/or second heuristic is applied to identify potentially false peaks among the positive peaks. The first heuristic designates a positive peak as a potentially false peak when the positive peak is deemed to be associated with one or more of the negative peaks. The second heuristic designates a positive peak as a potentially false peak when the positive peak is deemed to be located along one of the movement trajectories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas Christiansson, Nicklas Ohlsson, Andreas Bjorklund
  • Publication number: 20180018061
    Abstract: Touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch system that comprises a panel configured to conduct signals along detection lines across a touch surface. A signal processor obtains observed values for the detection lines, and identifies an interaction pattern on the touch surface as a solution to a function that comprises an aggregation of differences, for each detection line, between the observed value and a projected value, which is given by a projection function that defines a functional relation between the interaction pattern and the projected value for each detection line. The signal processor implements a normalization to ensure that the interaction pattern indicates weak touches even in the presence of strong touches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: FlatFrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Tomas CHRISTIANSSON, Nicklas OHLSSON
  • Patent number: 9864470
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus includes an touch sensing part which operates a touch sensor arrangement to provide signal data representing a touch within a touch-sensing region on a front surface of a light transmissive panel; The touch-sensitive apparatus further includes a computer vision system part which operates a camera system to image a scene located externally of the touch-sensitive apparatus, and operates a computer vision controller to detect, based on image data generated by the camera system, at least one object within the scene. The touch-sensitive apparatus enables user interaction by touch control, gesture control and hover control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FLATFROG LABORATORIES AB
    Inventor: Tomas Christiansson