Abstract: A touch sensor that may detect an object away from the sensor is provided. The touch sensor includes one or more drive electrodes; one or more detection electrodes forming capacitance in cooperation with the respective drive electrodes; a detection circuit applying drive signals to the respective drive electrodes to detect the object based on detection signals obtained from the respective detection electrodes in response to the respective drive signals; and a controller controlling to change a range of electric flux lines generated between the drive electrodes and the detection electrodes.

Abstract: A stylus comprises a first shell, a second shell, a first slide enabling member. The first shell has a first hole defined therethough. The second shell is slidably accommodated in the first hole of the first shell. The first slide enabling member couples the second shell to the first shell such that the second shell slides relative to the first shell from a retracted configuration to an extending configuration. The first slide enabling member includes a first pin and a first track that engages the first pin, the second shell slides relative to the first shell along the first pin.

Abstract: A position-detecting device detects a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument and includes an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument; and a manipulation-detecting unit located at at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel, and detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a substrate and a method for constructing a substrate with electrostatic discharge protection. The substrate includes an edge surface with at least one plated castellation capable of conducting electrostatic discharge. The at least one plated castellation is connected to a circuit trace on at least one of the bottom surface and the top surface of the substrate. The method includes punching holes along at least a portion of a perimeter of each of a plurality of substrates in a substrate array, plating the holes with a conductive material, and cutting each of the plurality of substrates along cut lines that bisect at least some of the holes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a display stack for a touch-sensitive screen. The display stack comprises a plurality of layers in which a top layer comprises a substantially transparent cover layer. The display stack is configured to display a color image. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor provided within the display stack. The touch sensor comprises a plurality of first conductive electrodes contacting a layer of a subset of the plurality of layers of the display stack. The subset of the plurality of layers is below the substantially transparent cover layer. The touch sensor also includes a plurality of second conductive electrodes contacting a layer of the subset of the plurality of layers.

Abstract: A position-detecting device detects a position pointed to by a position-pointing instrument and includes an operation panel detecting the position pointed to by the position-pointing instrument; and a manipulation-detecting unit located at at least one of the interior and the exterior of the operation panel, and detecting a manipulation by a second instrument other than the position-pointing instrument, or detecting a manipulation by both the position-pointing instrument and the second instrument.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing modular connection means to electrodes in a touch-sensitive device. The modular connections may include electronics allowing controlling electronics to individually address electrodes associated with driving electrodes and sensing signals occurring on electrodes.

Abstract: A thermoelectric touch sensor includes a first electrode, a thin film layer provided on the first electrode and including a thermoelectric material, a second electrode provided on the thin film layer, a sensing unit which senses at least one of a current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode and a voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first touch panel, a second touch panel, a touch sensor, and a controller. The first touch panel displays an object and detects a first touch operation of a user on the object. The second touch panel detects a second touch operation of the user. The touch sensor is provided between the first touch panel and the second touch panel and detects a third touch operation of the user. The controller moves the object displayed on the first touch panel in accordance with the first touch operation, and displays the object on the second touch panel when the third touch operation is detected within a first time period since the first touch operation has become undetected and the second touch operation is detected within a second time period since the third touch operation is detected.

Abstract: A system of one embodiment includes a touch-sensing device and a stylus. The touch sensing device includes an electrode array, which includes a plurality of electrode line pairs, and a controller. Each electrode line pair includes a first and second electrode line to send a first and second signal, respectively. The stylus includes a sensor to measure the first and second signals, a signal processor to determine position information, and a transmitter to send position information to the touch-sensing device. A method of another embodiment includes sending, by a first electrode line, a first signal having a first frequency. A second electrode line sends a second signal having a second frequency. A stylus receives the first and second signals. The stylus sends a response signal to the touch-sensing device based on the first and second signals. A position of the stylus is determined based on the first and second signals.

Abstract: A method of one embodiment includes generating, by a stylus, a composite signal. The composite signal includes a first signal having a first frequency, the first signal being used by a touch-sensing device to determine a position of the stylus relative to the touch-sensing device, and a second signal having a second frequency. The second signal may include status information such as an amount of force exerted on the stylus, battery information, orientation information, information indicating whether the stylus is within a threshold distance of the touch-sensing device, information indicating a status of a button of the stylus, and/or information indicating input from a user of the stylus. Furthermore, the second frequency is higher than the first frequency. The stylus sends the composite signal to the touch-sensing device, and an electrode array of the touch-sensing device may receive the composite signal.

Abstract: A method of one embodiment includes generating, by a touch-sensing device, a first signal comprising information identifying a first electrode line of an electrode array of the touch-sensing device, the first signal having a first strength. The first electrode sends the first signal to a stylus, which receives the first signal, the first signal having a received strength. The stylus sends a second signal comprising information based on the received first signal, and the touch-sensing device receives the second signal. A position of the stylus is determined based at least in part on the information identifying the first electrode line and the received strength of the first signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a circuit for determining positions of contacts on a capacitive position detecting panel. The capacitive position detecting panel includes a plurality of sensing lines and driving lines. The circuit includes a plurality of first amplifiers and second amplifiers. The first amplifiers respectively connect to the sensing lines, and the second amplifiers respectively connect to the driving lines. Input nodes of the first amplifiers are connected to a first input signal source, and input nodes of the second amplifiers are selectively connected to the first input signal source or a second input signal source. When the circuit is operated under a first operation mode, the input nodes of the second amplifiers are connected to the first input signal source; and when the circuit is operated under a second operating mode, the input modes of a plurality of specific second amplifiers are connected to the second input signal source.

Abstract: Methods for piecewise-linear and piecewise-affine transformations parameter decoupling in High Dimensional Touchpad (HDTP) user touch interfaces including those with multitouch capabilities are described. A calculation chain provides a first-order calculation of up to six touch parameters (left-right, front-back, downward pressure, roll angle, pitch angle, yaw angle) responsive in real-time to user touch on a touch-responsive sensor array. A piecewise-affine transformation is applied to these first-order calculations to produce parameter decoupling. The piecewise-affine transformation can be structured to depend only on current numerical values from the first-order calculation. Alternatively, the piecewise-affine transformation can be structured to additionally depend on the positive or negative direction of change over time of at least one numerical value from the first-order calculation, thereby providing a correction for hysteresis effects.

Abstract: An input apparatus with integrated detection sections of electromagnetic type and capacitive type is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a substrate, a control device and at least one signal processing device on the substrate. The substrate comprises an electromagnetic sensor coil layout and a capacitive sensor layout.

Abstract: A method and system for recognition of an intended user interaction with a digitizer is provided, the method comprising characterizing an intended user interaction input signals of a specific user, storing at least one characterization criterion from the characterization, and determining if a subsequently detected input signals meets the at least one characterization criterion.

Abstract: Touch sensors for detecting touch and hover events are disclosed. The touch sensors can include multiple split sense lines and/or multiple split drive lines. The split sense lines and/or split drive lines can include uniformly or non-uniformly spaced prongs. In some examples, the prongs can include uniformly or non-uniformly spaced extensions extending away from the prongs. The prongs and/or extensions can be interleaved with prongs and/or extensions of adjacent drive lines or sense lines.

Abstract: An electrostatic capacitive coupling type touch panel in which a period before wiring formed outside an input region is chipped or wire-broken due to deterioration of a mask pattern can be prolonged. The touch panel has an input region and plural wirings formed around the input region. The input region has plural X electrodes and plural Y electrodes crossing the X electrodes. The plural wirings are connected to corresponding electrodes of the plural X electrodes and Y electrodes. The plural wirings respectively have a conductive layer and a metal layer formed on the conductive layer. The conductive layer is formed to be wider than the metal layer. The plural wirings have a corner. Among the plural wirings, in the wiring provided in the farthest position from the input region, the corner of the metal layer is chamfered.

Abstract: Touchpad devices emulating button functionality (“click pad” devices) that simultaneously emulates multiple functionalities are described herein. In addition, embodiments provide for click pad emulation of both TrackPoint and touchpad functionality. According to embodiments, a click pad device emulating multiple functionalities may enable or disable certain functionalities based on user interaction with the click pad device. For example, a click pad device emulating both TrackPoint and touchpad functionality may enable TrackPoint functionality and disable touchpad functionality if user gestures on the click pad device indicate that the user is interacting with the click pad as a TrackPoint device.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a touch sensor comprises a substrate and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the substrate. The plurality of electrodes comprise a drive line having a plurality of drive electrodes and a sense line having a plurality of sense electrodes. At least one of the drive line and sense line has at least three rows of electrodes.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus accepts an input onto a display screen displayed on a display device. The information processing apparatus determines an input method of a first input using a first time and/or a first trajectory information from a start point to an end point of the accepted first input. The information processing apparatus stores the first trajectory information of the first input in a storage unit for storing therein the trajectory information of an input of which the input method has been determined. The information processing apparatus restores trajectory information of the input that was accepted by accepting, using the first trajectory information stored in the storage unit and trajectory information of a second input if a result of determination with respect to the second input accepted within a predetermined time since the first input is input is different from the input method of the first input.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a touch panel, including: an electrode formed in a pattern including rectangles arranged while sharing sides, the rectangle includes a first side and a second side which are parallel and a third side and a fourth side which are parallel, the first side being longer than the third side, and in the rectangles, among the rectangles, a first side of a first rectangle and a third side of a second rectangle form a straight angle, a first side of the third rectangle and a third side of a fourth rectangle form the straight angle, and a first side of the second rectangle and a fourth side of the third rectangle form the straight angle.

Abstract: A sensing method for a touch sensing device is provided. In one embodiment, for one set of interlaced receiving electrode and transmitting electrodes of the touch sensing device, an integrator coupled to the receiving electrode is reset only one time. In another embodiment, for each group of sensing electrodes, an integrator coupled to the sensing electrodes is reset only one time. Accordingly, the rate at which the touch sensing array is sensed may be increased. Noise reduced by the process of resetting the integrator due to charge injection effects may be decreased.

Abstract: A multipoint positioning method for a touchpad including the steps of: scanning a touchpad to retrieve two-dimensional data; calculating an object area and a number of maxima of local maxima in the two-dimensional data; comparing the object area with an area threshold when the number of maxima is larger than 1; and identifying positions of the local maxima as a plurality of contact positions when the object area is larger than or equal to the area threshold.

Abstract: A method of determining touches from a data set output from a touch screen comprising an array of sensing nodes. The method comprises analyzing the dataset and identifies a node with a maximum signal value among all unassigned nodes, and, if present, assigns that node to a touch. A logical test is applied to each node that is a neighbor to the assigned node to determine if that node should also be assigned to the touch and the logical test is repeatedly applied to the unassigned neighbors of each newly assigned node until there are no more newly assigned nodes, or no more unassigned nodes, thereby assigning a group of nodes to the touch defining its area. This process can be repeated until all of the nodes of a touch panel are assigned to a touch. The method is ideally suited to implementation on a microcontroller.

Abstract: A method includes, at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface: concurrently displaying a first text entry area and an unsplit keyboard on the display; detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to detecting the gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, replacing the unsplit keyboard with an integrated input area. The integrated input area includes a left portion with a left side of a split keyboard, a right portion with a right side of the split keyboard, and a center portion in between the left portion and the right portion.

Abstract: Techniques for disambiguating touch data and determining user assignment of touch points detected by a touch sensor are described. The techniques leverage both user-specific touch data projected onto axes and non-user-specific touch data captured over a complete area.

Abstract: A display is provided. The display includes electro-optical material arranged between first and second planes facing each other; a first substrate arranged on the first plane and including a conductor; first electrically conductive film arranged on the second plane; second electrically conductive film arranged outside an area sandwiched between the first and second planes; current detection circuit detects current on the second electrically conductive film; and control circuit that, during a time period the current is detected by the current detection circuit, applies substantially the same voltage as that applied to the second electrically conductive film to one of the conductor and the first electrically conductive film, which is arranged closer to the second electrically conductive film, and sets the other in a floating state, or applies substantially the same voltage as that applied to the second electrically conductive film to both the conductor and the first electrically conductive film.

Abstract: An electronic device and a method for changing an object according to a bending state. The method includes analyzing coordinates of touch areas to set an arbitrary area; checking that at least one object is included in the set area; and controlling a layout of the at least one object included in the set area according to a bending state.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a sense unit operable to sense a plurality of first signals transmitted on one or more vertical lines and one or more horizontal lines of a touch sensor, the one or more vertical lines and the one or more horizontal lines operable to drive the plurality of first signals. The apparatus also includes a drive unit operable to transmit, in response to the sense unit sensing at least one of the plurality of first signals, a second signal to the one or more vertical lines and the one or more horizontal lines, the second signal changing an effective charge of the one or more vertical lines and the one or more horizontal lines.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable terminal including a window for inputting information by a touching manner, a terminal body having a display module which is mounted therein and a window mounting portion for mounting the window at a front surface of the display module, and a coupling unit having one end inserted into the window and another end coupled to the window mounting portion so as to couple the window to the terminal body. The window and the terminal body are structurally coupled to each other, thereby providing stronger coupling force between the window and the terminal body.

Abstract: A complex sensing electrode structure applied to a touch panel includes a first conducive unit and a second conductive unit. The first conducive unit includes a plurality of first stripped conductive layers disposed on the transparent substrate and separated from each other by a predetermined distance. The second conductive unit includes a plurality of second stripped conductive layers disposed on the transparent substrate to respectively cover the first stripped conductive layers, and the conductive material used by the first stripped conductive layer and the conductive material used by the second stripped conductive layer are different. Hence, the manufacturing cost and the conductibility of the complex sensing electrode structure can be decreased effectively.

Abstract: A method includes, at an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface: concurrently displaying a first text entry area and an unsplit keyboard on the display; detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive surface; and, in response to detecting the gesture on the touch-sensitive surface, replacing the unsplit keyboard with an integrated input area. The integrated input area includes a left portion with a left side of a split keyboard, a right portion with a right side of the split keyboard, and a center portion in between the left portion and the right portion.

Abstract: A touch panel includes first and second normally spaced apart substrates. The first substrate includes first spaced apart touch electrodes extended in a first direction and each having a first width (W1). The second substrate includes second spaced apart touch electrodes extended in a different second direction and each having a second width (W2) which is substantially narrower than the first width. One of the substrates can be flexed so that momentary shorting contact is established between corresponding first and second touch electrodes at positions where pressing touch is provided. A combination of interconnect wirings and interrogation circuits are provided for automatically determining where and when the temporary shorting contacts were made, even if plural ones are simultaneously made. The disclosed embodiments include ones where the number of interconnect wirings are reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a sensor for a digitizer and a method for manufacturing the same. The sensor for a digitizer includes a magnetic layer having insulation property, a first coil formed on one surface of the magnetic layer, an insulating layer formed on one surface of the magnetic layer while covering the first coil, and a second coil formed on one surface of the insulating layer. By this configuration, the coil is directly formed on the magnetic layer to simplify a structure and improve stability of a signal transmitted and received from and to a coil by the magnetic layer.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes: a main module disposed in a main housing; a keyboard mounted on a mounting surface of the main housing and connected electrically to the main module; and a touch input unit mounted to the main housing and connected electrically to the main module. The touch input unit has first, second and third operating areas spaced apart from each other and exposed from the mounting surface of the main housing. The touch input unit generates an input signal corresponding to one touch point on any one of the first, second and third operating areas, and outputs the input signal to the main module such that the main module performs an operation corresponding to the input signal.

Abstract: A touch pad includes a first transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate. The first transparent substrate has a plurality of first axial electrodes and at least one hollow channel. The second transparent substrate has a plurality of second axial electrodes. Each of the second axial electrodes has a plurality of first sensing electrode regions and at least one second sensing electrode region. The first sensing electrode regions are provided on both sides of the second sensing electrode region and arranged to extend along a second direction. The central portion of the second sensing electrode regions is formed with a hollow region. By means of the first axial electrode and the second axial electrode, the touch pad of the present invention has an increased signal-to-noise ratio and an enhanced anti-jamming capability.

Abstract: An input device is disclosed, including a first drive electrode comprising a resistive material and a first sense electrode disposed proximate to the first drive electrode. The input device further includes a processing system which is coupled with the first drive electrode and the first sense electrode. In one embodiment, the processing system is configured for electrically driving a first end of the first drive electrode and electrically driving a second end of the first drive electrode to cause a change in a voltage gradient along a length of the first drive electrode. In such an embodiment, the change in the voltage gradient generates a first electrical signal in the first sense electrode. The processing system also acquires a first measurement of the first electrical signal and determines positional information along the length of the first drive electrode based upon the first measurement, wherein the positional information is related to an input object.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.

Abstract: A touch sensor panel having co-planar single-layer touch sensors fabricated on a single side of a substrate is disclosed. The drive and sense lines can be fabricated as column-like patterns in a first orientation and patches in a second orientation, where each column-like pattern in the first orientation is connected to a separate metal trace in the border area of the touch sensor panel, and all patches in each of multiple rows in the second orientation are connected together using a separate metal trace in the border area of the touch sensor panel. The metal traces in the border areas can be formed on the same side of the substrate as the patches and columns, but separated from the patches and column-like patterns by a dielectric layer.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a locus input unit configured to input a locus based on a user's locus input operation, a display unit configured to display the locus input by the locus input unit on a screen, a locus recognition unit configured to recognize the locus input by the locus input unit, and a display changing unit configured to change, based on a size of the locus input by the locus input unit and the locus recognized by the locus recognition unit, the size of the locus.

Abstract: A method for dynamically updating at least one pre-defined value of a parameter used to identify at least one operational mode of an object for user interaction with a digitizer sensor during interaction with the digitizer sensor comprises detecting signal outputs from a plurality of sensing elements of a digitizer sensor during user interaction with the digitizer sensor; characterizing a pattern formed by the signal outputs from the plurality of sensing elements; identifying a pre-defined event associated with an operational mode of the object based on the pattern; determining a value of the parameter from the signal outputs in response to identification of the pre-defined event; and updating the pre-defined value used to identify the operational mode based on the value of the parameter determined from the identified event.

Abstract: A device for improving the detection accuracy of a touch point on a touch panel and a method thereof are disclosed. The device includes a plurality of first and second X external conducting wires and a plurality of first and second Y external conducting wires that are electrically coupled with the first X side and the second X side of the touch panel and the first Y side and the second Y side of the touch panel to alternatively and respectively receive a first detection signal and a second detection signal from a first detection signal source and a second detection signal source. By using the relation of the currents generated form the first detection signal and the second detection signal, a x coordinate and a y coordinate of the location of the touch point is obtained.

Abstract: The input apparatus has an input unit for receiving a pressure input to an input object displayed on the display unit, a load detection unit for detecting a pressure load on the input unit, and a control unit for controlling to receive the pressure input if the pressure load satisfies a load standard. The control unit controls such that load standards for receiving pressure inputs to a plurality of adjacent input objects are differently set to a first load standard and a second load standard higher than the first load standard, and controls such that if a pressure load of a pressure input to an input object with the first load standard satisfies the second load standard, the pressure input is not received.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus includes a first material, a second material joined to the first material such that the first material and the second material are substantially flat across an interface between the first material and the second material, and first touch sensors disposed continuously across the interface from the first material to the second material.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a touch panel provided overlapped on a display screen, a touch pen allowing switching of degree of smoothness of a pen tip portion in a plurality of levels and a controller causing, when the tip end of the touch pen touches the touch panel, a prescribed object image to be displayed on a position corresponding to the touched position. The controller includes a display manner selecting unit for selecting a manner of displaying the object image in accordance with the degree of smoothness of the tip end portion of the touch pen, and a display controller for displaying the object in the display manner selected by the display manner selecting unit at the position corresponding to the touched position.

Abstract: A position detecting device includes: a position indicator operable to resonate at a first frequency, upon receipt of an excitation signal, to oscillate at a second frequency different from the first frequency so as to generate an oscillation signal, and to transmit the oscillation signal thus generated; and a position detector operable to generate the excitation signal and to transmit the excitation signal to the position indicator, and configured to perform band pass filtering and amplitude detection upon the oscillation signal received thereby for generating a processed signal, and to obtain information corresponding to position of the position indicator relative to the position detector based on the processed signal. A frequency range of the band pass filtering includes the second frequency and excludes the first frequency.

Abstract: Techniques for disambiguating touch data and determining user assignment of touch points detected by a touch sensor are described. The techniques leverage both user-specific touch data projected onto axes and non-user-specific touch data captured over a complete area.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sensor for a digitizer including a first magnetic layer, a first coil formed on one surface of the first magnetic layer, an insulating layer formed on one surface of the first magnetic layer, a second coil formed on one surface the insulating layer, and a second magnetic layer formed on one surface of the insulating layer, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Abstract: A portable computer arranged to rest comfortably in the hand has a small display screen. Accelerometers capable of detecting movement of the pen with respect to gravity provide input to a microcontroller which selects a response from a number of viewing modes. The pen may be held in either hand and the output message to the screen will be oriented according to the location of the pen. Full personal digital assistance functionality may be incorporated in a relatively small plastics casing and functions, such as calendar, contracts the like may be incorporated.