Writing Digitizer Circuit Patents (Class 178/20.01)
  • Patent number: 8754870
    Abstract: A touch screen panel that prevents sensing patterns from being viewable at a border of a touch active region. The touch screen panel includes: a transparent substrate; first sensing cells and second sensing cells alternately distributed in a touch active region on the transparent substrate; first connection patterns connecting the first sensing cells in a first direction; second connection patterns connecting the second sensing patterns in a second direction crossing the first direction; and dummy patterns extending outside the touch active region and connected with the first sensing cells and the second sensing cells at a border of the touch active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun-Haeng Cho, Do-Ok Park
  • Patent number: 8754860
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Koch, B. Michael Victor, Avi E. Cieplinski, Julian Missig
  • Patent number: 8730189
    Abstract: Provided is a coordinate input device including: a coordinate input unit having a plurality of first detection electrodes and a plurality of second detection electrodes; an electrode drive circuit that applies a drive signal to one or more of the detection electrodes; a capacitance detection circuit that detects a capacitance of the first and/or second detection electrode; means for selecting one or more of the detection electrodes to which the drive signal is not applied from among the detection electrodes which are disposed in parallel to the detection electrodes to which the drive signal is applied, as a reference electrode; means for detecting a capacitance of the selected reference electrode; means for correcting a capacitance detection result of the capacitance detection circuit on the basis of the detected capacitance of the reference electrode; and an input coordinate computing circuit that calculates an input coordinate from the corrected capacitance detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Mamba, Koji Nagata, Koji Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8717307
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8717322
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a substrate, a shield conductor formed on a surface of the substrate, an insulation film formed on the shield conductor, a plurality of first electrodes formed on the insulation film, which extend in a first direction, a plurality of second electrodes formed on the insulation film, which extend in the second direction. Each of the plurality of first electrodes includes a first portion formed on the surface of the substrate and a second portion formed in a separated manner from the second electrode on the insulation film, the first portion being connected to the second portion via a contact hole formed in the insulation film. The shield conductor has a plurality of opening portions which include first opening portions in which the first portions are formed and second opening portions in which the first portions are not formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Saitou
  • Patent number: 8711106
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8711123
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a resistive touchscreen for recognizing touch coordinates through a capacitor charging time constant, and more specifically, the invention comprises: an equal resistance line operating means for obtaining the same resistance line according to an (Rv+Ry+) value and the same resistance line according to an (Rv+Ry?) value by using the charge time constant after a charge time constant measuring means measures charge time constants of capacitors CconL and CconR; and a coordinate calculating means for obtaining intersecting points of the resistance lines, thereby perceiving the intersecting points as touch positions. According to the present invention, a conventional ADC (analog to digital converter) is not used because the touch positions can be perceived through the capacitor charging time constants, whereby the invention is advantageous for IC integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: AD Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Deok Park, Sang Bo Cheong, Jae Hong Joo, Min Sung Yang, Seong Hyun Nam, Sang Chuel Lee
  • Patent number: 8669947
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus according to the present invention including a detection unit for detecting a moving direction and a moving amount of a finger on an operation panel, and a moving control unit for changing the moving amount of an object on a display unit for a finger's unit moving amount depending on the moving direction of the finger which moves the object displayed on the display unit. According to the present invention, the moving amount of the object within a display region changes based on the moving direction of the finger to be operated on the operation panel. In this manner, the object moving amount is corrected depending on the finger moving direction, thereby eliminating the factors for reducing the operability during the object moving operation and improving the operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihito Sawai
  • Patent number: 8659562
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Koch, B. Michael Victor, Avi E. Cieplinski, Julian Missig
  • Patent number: 8643620
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sentelic Corporation
    Inventors: Jaoching Lin, Gary Lee, Linabel Chu
  • Patent number: 8605040
    Abstract: Provided is a resistance film type input device including: a first light transmission substrate and a second light transmission substrate which face each other; a first light transmission planar electrode formed on the surface of the first light transmission substrate, which faces the second light transmission substrate, in an input region, and first band-shaped electrodes having a sheet resistance value lower than that of the first planar electrode and electrically connected along both ends which face each other in a first direction of the first planar electrode; and a second light transmission planar electrode formed on the surface of the second light transmission substrate, which faces the first light transmission substrate, in the input region, and second band-shaped electrodes having a sheet resistance value lower than that of the second planar electrode and electrically connected along both ends which face each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction of the second planar electro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Display West, Inc.
    Inventor: Mutsumi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8599148
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a display for sensing at least one of a touch or an approach of a pointing means and a controller for controlling brightness of a sensed area according to the sensed touch or the approach of the pointing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Chung, Moon-Ju Kim, Hye-Jin Ryu, Dong-Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 8587540
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Koch, B. Michael Victor, Avi E. Cieplinski, Julian Missig
  • Patent number: 8581886
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a stylus receives a signal, the stylus being able to wirelessly transmit signals to and receive signals from a device, and the stylus having a plurality of electrodes disposed in a tip of the stylus. The stylus compares a first value of the signal to a first threshold and determines whether to start a timing period based at least in part on this comparison. If the timing period is started, the stylus compares a second value of the signal to a second threshold and determines whether to stop the timing period based at least in part on this second comparison. If the timing period is stopped, the stylus determines whether the duration of the timing period is within a pre-determined range of timing period values. If so, the stylus processes the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Vivek Pant, Trond Jarle Pedersen, Vemund Kval Bakken, Kishore Sundara-Rajan
  • Patent number: 8542206
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for interpreting manual swipe gestures as input in connection with touch-sensitive user interfaces that include virtual keyboards are disclosed herein. These allow for a user entering text using the virtual keyboard to perform certain functions using swipes across the key area rather than tapping particular keys. For example, leftward, rightward, upward, and downward swipes can be assigned to inserting a space, backspacing, shifting (as for typing capital letters), and inserting a carriage return and/or new line. Various other mappings are also described. The described techniques can be used in conjunction with a variety of devices, including handheld devices that include touch-screen interfaces, such as desktop computers, tablet computers, notebook computers, handheld computers, personal digital assistants, media players, mobile telephones, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, Henri Lamiraux, Matthew Evan Dreisbach
  • Patent number: 8514195
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for determining a level of cleanliness of a multi-touch screen display, characterizing objects that make contact with the screen, and initiating a specific maintenance action on the screen, based on screen cleanliness and the object(s) characterization(s). A screen diagnostic and maintenance (SDM) utility initiates a number of procedures to determine the type of object(s) and a set of characteristics of object(s) that make contact with the touch screen. Based on the results of the procedures, the SDM utility characterizes/identifies the object(s). In addition, the SDM utility initiates maintenance screen check(s) based on information stored in maintenance configuration file(s). Based on the results of the maintenance check(s), configuration file(s) data and type and characterization of the object(s) that have made contact with the screen, the SDM utility determines the type of maintenance that is performed and the timing/schedule of the maintenance action(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nicole M. Arnold, Lydia M. Do, Pamela A. Nesbitt, Lisa A. Seacat
  • Patent number: 8368669
    Abstract: A position detecting device is provided. The position detecting device includes a position pointer which transmits a position-pointing signal using a power supply stored in a rechargeable power storage unit, and a tablet which detects a position pointed to by the position pointer when receiving the position-pointing signal. The position pointer includes a coil, a charging circuit for charging the power storage unit, and a transmitter for transmitting the position-pointing signal. The tablet includes an excitation coil wound around a periphery of a position detecting area of the tablet, an excitation circuit for supplying an alternating voltage to the excitation coil, a position-pointing signal detector for detecting the position-pointing signal received from the position pointer, and an excitation controller for controlling a supply of the alternating voltage to the excitation coil based on the detected position-pointing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: WACOM Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yuji Katsurahira
  • Publication number: 20130002598
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a processor configured to receive position data corresponding to positions of objects relative to a touch-sensitive interface. The processor is configured to determine a first index point for the position data and a second index point of previous position data corresponding to previous positions of the objects relative to the touch-sensitive interface. The processor aligns the first and second index points and assigns an index to link the positions of the objects to the previous positions based on distances between the objects in the position data relative to the previous position data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Victor Phay Kok Heng, Soh Kok Hong
  • Patent number: 8345022
    Abstract: A linear compensation method of a touch panel is utilized to a touch control computer system. According to the method, a compensation reference table, including reference temperatures and reference surface resistances at pre-determined reference points having known coordinates at the reference temperatures, is obtained at first. Then, a set of user calibration resistance at the pre-determined reference points is obtained through a user calibration process, so as to obtain ratios of the user calibration resistances to interpolation surface resistances as correction weights. Under different temperature, interpolation surface resistances corrected by utilizing the correction weight to derive the current correction surface resistances that are corrected and nearly identical to actual surface resistances. Therefore, relatively precise coordinates are obtained through resistance-coordinate conversion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Getac Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Chang-Han Shen
  • Patent number: 8310460
    Abstract: A display device with a touch panel includes a display panel, and an electrostatic-capacitance-coupling touch panel which is arranged on a viewer-side surface of the display panel. The touch panel includes a substrate; a first shield conductor which is formed on the viewer-side surface of the substrate; an insulation film which is formed on the first shield conductor; a plurality of first electrodes which are formed on the insulation film, extend in the first direction and are arranged parallel to each other in the second direction which intersects with the first direction; and a plurality of second electrodes which are formed on the insulation film, extend in the second direction and are arranged parallel to each other in the first direction which intersects with the second direction. A predetermined signal is inputted to the first shield conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Saitou
  • Patent number: 8305350
    Abstract: A touch panel includes two transparent conductive films and at least one refractive index matching layer. The two transparent conductive films are disposed opposite to each other. The refractive index matching layer is disposed between the two transparent conductive films or disposed on one side of the transparent conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Chang, Yang-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 8294675
    Abstract: A touchpad assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The touchpad assembly may include a touchpad frame operative to be placed within an opening in an electronic device frame. The touchpad assembly may include a support plate for supporting a touchpad, and a bracket for receiving a pick button. The support plate and bracket may be manufactured into a same component to increase the rigidity of the touchpad assembly. The pick button may include a varying height to prevent the pick button from deflecting and to make the pick button travel for providing a selection instruction uniform. The pick button may be coupled to the frame using any suitable approach, including using springs connected the ends of the pick button to the frame. The frame may also include pads to muffle the sound of the pick button when it returns to its initial position after having been pressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dinesh Mathew, Chris Ligtenberg, Brett William Degner, Thomas W. Wilson, Jr., John Brock
  • Patent number: 8243049
    Abstract: An untethered stylus, configured to cooperate with a location sensor, includes a coil resonant circuit configured to develop an arbitrary AC voltage in response to a varying magnetic field produced by the location sensor. The coil resonant circuit includes a first capacitor and an inductive coil. A power converter includes a switch circuit having an output coupled to a second capacitor, an input coupled to the coil resonant circuit, and a threshold voltage. The switch circuit facilitates charging of the second capacitor in response to the arbitrary AC voltage and discontinuance of second capacitor charging in response to a voltage across the first capacitor reaching the threshold voltage so as to prevent diversion of a discharging current when the arbitrary AC voltage exceeds the threshold voltage. A stable DC voltage is provided at the output of the switch circuit. The power converter is preferably devoid of a Zener diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Martin J. Vos
  • Publication number: 20120169628
    Abstract: A touch panel includes an insulating base, a plurality of first sensing electrodes, a plurality of second sensing electrodes and a plurality of third sensing electrodes. The insulating base has a first surface and a second surface. The first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes are disposed on the first surface of the insulating base, and electrically isolated from each other. The third sensing electrodes are disposed on the second surface of the insulating base, and each third sensing electrode at least partially overlaps a portion of the first sensing electrodes and a portion of the second sensing electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Wei-Hung Kuo, Tun-Chun Yang, Seok-Lyul Lee, Wei-Ming Huang
  • Publication number: 20120032910
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a touch panel, including: a transparent substrate; a transparent electrode made of a conductive polymer and formed on one surface of the transparent substrate; an anisotropic conductive adhesion layer formed on an edge of the transparent electrode; and an electrode formed on the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer and electrically connected with the transparent electrode by the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer. The touch panel is advantageous in that the anisotropic conductive adhesion layer is disposed between the transparent electrode and the electrode, so that the chemical reaction between the transparent electrode and the electrode can be prevented, with the result that the resistance between the transparent electrode and the electrode can be maintained constant and the change in physical properties of the transparent electrode can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Il Kim, Yong Soo Oh, Jong Young Lee, Woon Chun Kim
  • Patent number: 8102382
    Abstract: A smart surface is disclosed that can stand alone or be contained within a portable computer or other system, for powering and communicating with single or multiple cord-free transducers. Operating or charging power is transmitted by the surface using a carrier signal that is on/off keyed or amplitude modulated with synchronization, clock, enable, address, modes, commands and other pulse width, encoded or digital data. The signal is transmitted to single or multiple cordless smart transducers located on or above the surface, such as pens with multiple pressure sensing and switch capability, pointers, stylus, cursors, pucks, mouse, pawns, implements and similar items. Overlapping resonant inductive circuits are used in the surface to transmit operating power and communicate data to the transducer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven M. Palay, James L. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 8063891
    Abstract: A touch pad includes a touch sensor, a touch detection unit, an atmospheric pressure detection unit, and an atmospheric pressure compensation unit. The touch sensor detects a touch input from users, and generates analog signals. The touch detection unit amplifies the analog signals by a controllable gain to generate amplified analog signals, converts the amplified analog signals to digital signals, and sends the digital signals to the processor to determine a touch location. The atmospheric pressure detection unit measures ambient atmospheric pressure, and generates an atmospheric pressure level. The atmospheric pressure compensation unit generates a gain regulation signal corresponding to the atmospheric pressure level to control the touch detection unit to regulate the controllable gain. A related method for regulating sensitivity of the touch pad is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsung-Jen Chuang
  • Patent number: 8022937
    Abstract: A smart surface is disclosed that can stand alone or be contained within a portable computer or other system, for powering and communicating with single or multiple cord-free transducers. Operating or charging power is transmitted by the surface using a carrier signal that is on/off keyed or amplitude modulated with synchronization, clock, enable, address, modes, commands and other pulse width, encoded or digital data. The signal is transmitted to single or multiple cordless smart transducers located on or above the surface, such as pens with multiple pressure sensing and switch capability, pointers, stylus, cursors, pucks, mouse, pawns, implements and similar items. Overlapping resonant inductive circuits are used in the surface to transmit operating power and communicate data to the transducer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven M. Palay, James L. Rodgers
  • Publication number: 20110216019
    Abstract: The touch-sensitive panel assembly contains a back frame, a front piece, a disk module, and a panel module. The back frame contains a back piece and two lateral pieces, forming a U-like shape. The back piece has a cable opening and a connector opening. Along an inner surface adjacent to a front end of each lateral piece, two first fastening elements and a second fastening element, each with a bolt hole, are vertically arranged in this sequence. The front piece has a number of third fastening elements on a back surface, each corresponding to a first fasting element. The third fastening elements are threaded through the panel module and locked to the first fastening elements by a number of bolts. The disk module is positioned beneath the front piece and the panel module. The disk module has fourth fastening elements corresponding to the second fastening elements of the back frame. A number of bolts are driven to lock the fourth and second fastening elements together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Yen-Te HSIAO
  • Patent number: 7956852
    Abstract: An information display system includes a position indicating apparatus that indicates a position and an information display apparatus that displays information and is connected to the position indicating apparatus so as to communicate with the position indicating apparatus. The position indicating apparatus includes: a detecting unit that detects an indicated position; a first storage unit that stores the detected position; and a transmitting unit that transmits positional information indicating the stored position. The information display apparatus includes: a display unit that displays content; a receiving unit that receives the transmitted positional information; an associating unit that associates the positional information with the content; and a second storage unit that stores the positional information and the content associated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kodama, Junji Ajioka, Takeshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7936343
    Abstract: A sensing device for sensing a position relative to a surface. The surface has printed therein or thereon coded data including at least one data portion, and visible information, at least some of the coded data being coincident with the visible information. The sensing device includes a sensor for sensing at least one data portion when placed in an operative position relative to the at least one region and generating indicating data using the sensed data portion. The indicating data is indicative of a position of the data portion relative to the surface and an orientation of the sensing device relative to the data portion. The indicating data is then communicated to a computer system to allow the position of the sensing device relative to the surface to be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Kia Silverbrook
  • Publication number: 20110025649
    Abstract: A bending wave touch system includes at least one sensor and a touchscreen controller. The at least one sensor is coupled to a substrate and is responsive to vibrations in the substrate. The at least one sensor outputs signals. The controller receives the signals from the at least one sensor and identifies touch coordinates based on high frequency components of the signals when a touch on the substrate includes at least one of a tap, a drag and a lift-off. The controller identifies a status of a hold condition of the touch based on at least two different time averages of low frequency components of the signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Hamid Sheikhzadeh Nadjar, Joe Henry Babb, Robert L. Brennan, Steven W. Haungs, James R. Wynne, JR., Joel C. Kent
  • Patent number: 7868873
    Abstract: A smart surface is disclosed that can stand alone or be contained within a portable computer or other system, for powering and communicating with single or multiple cord-free transducers. Operating or charging power is transmitted by the surface using a carrier signal that is on/off keyed or amplitude modulated with synchronization, clock, enable, address, modes, commands and other pulse width, encoded or digital data. The signal is transmitted to single or multiple cordless smart transducers located on or above the surface, such as pens with multiple pressure sensing and switch capability, pointers, stylus, cursors, pucks, mouse, pawns, implements and similar items. Overlapping resonant inductive circuits are used in the surface to transmit operating power and communicate data to the transducer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven M. Palay, James L. Rodgers
  • Publication number: 20100309131
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for electronically capturing handwritten data using a computing device having a handwriting capture interface. The method includes detecting a position associated with an actuation of the handwriting capture interface to define a handwritten input, and defining a bounding box encompassing at least a portion of individual strokes of the handwritten input. In addition, the method includes storing the handwritten input and the bounding box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Gregory J. Clary
  • Patent number: 7825902
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for identifying a number of interactions with a computer input area defined by at least first and second intersecting sets of detection paths. First, indications of which of the detection paths are affected by the interactions are received. Then, for each of the detection path sets, the set's indications of affected detection paths are parsed to identify up to N extents of adjacent, affected detection paths (N?2). A controller having logic to implement the method, and a system incorporating a control system that implements the method, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Avego Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chee-Heng Wong, Kai-Koon Lee, Wee-Sin Tan, Deng-Peng Chen
  • Publication number: 20090321148
    Abstract: A touch panel circuitry, which is coupled to a controller, comprises a plurality of electrode strips and a plurality of conductive traces. The electrode strip configured to provide touch signals has two strip ends. The conductive trace is configured for electrically coupling the two strip ends of the corresponding electrode strip so as to form a closed loop circuit. Each conductive trace is also connected to the controller to transmit signals generated by the corresponding electrode strip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: YU MIN HSU, CHIA FENG YANG, CHEN HSIANG HO
  • Patent number: 7608992
    Abstract: An organic electro-luminescence display device includes first pixels formed aver an optically transparent substrate, each of the first pixels including a first organic electro-luminescence element, which includes a first optically transparent and electrically conductive layer, an organic layer including a light-emitting layer, a second optically transparent and electrically conductive layer and a first optically reflective and electrically conductive layer in order, and second pixels formed over the optically transparent substrate, each of the second pixels including a second organic electro-luminescence element which includes a second optically reflective and electrically conductive layer, the first optically transparent and electrically conductive layer, the organic layer including the light-emitting layer and the second optically transparent and electrically conductive layer in order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Michiya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7605805
    Abstract: An electrical touch sensor is provided. The electrical touch sensor includes: a touch detection part having at least one touch pad and generating a first signal having a same delay time regardless of whether the object is in contact with the touch pad and a second signal having a varied delay time according to whether the object is in contact with the touch pad; and a contact signal generator generating a contact signal in response to the delay time-difference between the first and second signals. Therefore, it is possible to increase operation reliability by precisely determining whether the object is in contact with the pad, when the object has charge accumulation characteristics more than a certain level, although its conductive is insufficient. In addition, the electrical touch sensor can determine whether the object is in contact with the pad using only one pad to reduce a layout area of a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Atlab Inc.
    Inventors: Deok-Young Jung, Jae-Surk Hong, Young-Ho Shin
  • Publication number: 20090242283
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a touch panel device includes a substrate, an insulating layer, a number of first electrode groups and a number of second electrode groups. The first electrode groups are formed on the first surface of the insulating layer. Each of the first electrode groups includes a number of first electrodes and a number of first leads. The first electrodes are spaced with each other. The first leads electrically connect each two adjacent first electrodes. Each of the second electrode groups includes a number of second electrodes and a number of bridge conductors electrically connecting each two adjacent second electrodes. The second electrodes are spaced with each other and are arranged on the first surface of the insulating layer. The first electrodes and the second electrodes are arranged in a staggered manner. The bridge conductors are formed on the second surface of the insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Yen-Ch CHIU
  • Publication number: 20090229893
    Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of X scanning electrodes and a common detection electrode that forms capacitances together with the X scanning electrodes. A first driving signal is sequentially supplied to the X scanning electrodes, and a second driving signal is supplied to the X scanning electrodes other than the X scanning electrodes adjacent to the X scanning electrode supplied with the first driving signal. It is possible to detect two X scanning electrodes simultaneously approached by the fingers by detecting a current generated in the detection electrode when the first driving signal P and the second driving signal N are supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Muranaka
  • Publication number: 20090194341
    Abstract: A device is provided which includes a resistive touch input component. The resistive touch input component may operate as a proximity sensor and may include upper and lower conductive layers. The upper conductive layer may be in a higher impedence state than the lower conductive layer. A method for controlling a resistive touch input component is also provided in which at least a first terminal of a device is provided for connecting the upper conductive layer in a high impedence state, and in which at least one second terminal is provided for connecting a lower conductive layer in a state capable of operating the touch input component. Corresponding computer program products and devices are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Jari Nousiainen
  • Publication number: 20090188727
    Abstract: An apparatus with multiple processing units is provided for processing signals from one or more electromagnetic antenna board in a concurrent and/or cooperative manner. The apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of signal processing units, each connected to a different or same electromagnetic antenna board, and an integration processing unit connected to each of the signal processing units. The signal processing units process the signal from the connected antenna board independently, if connected to different antenna board, or cooperatively, if connected to the same antenna board. The result of the processed signals are then fed to the integration processing unit, which will perform further processing to obtain the final output signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Yun-Hsiang Yeh
  • Patent number: 7474300
    Abstract: In a position detecting apparatus, electric power of a position pointer is turned on only when the position pointer is put within a particular range from a tablet to minimize consumption of a battery disposed in the position pointer. When the position pointer is brought close to the tablet, a control signal transmitted from the tablet is detected by a resonant circuit of the position pointer, and MOSFETs serving as a power switch are turned on by the detected signal. In response, electric power is supplied from a battery via the MOSFETs to circuit elements of the position pointer, and thus an operation of the position pointer starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Katsurahira, Sadao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7439961
    Abstract: A driving apparatus of a touch panel includes a touch panel for generating a coordinate signal according to a position of a contact point, at least two interface integrated circuits connected to the touch panel, a computer system driving the touch panel and connected to any one of the at least two interface integrated circuits, a sensor for automatically detecting the interface integrated circuit connected to the computer system, and a controller for converting the coordinate signal in accordance with the interface integrated circuit detected at the sensor and transmitting the converted coordinate signal to the computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nam Young Kong
  • Patent number: 7327354
    Abstract: A method of determining a type of touch plane operator input device comprises sensing the impedance across first and second terminals of a touch plane operator input device to distinguish the touch plane operator input device as being one of at least two different types of touch plane operator input devices. A method of processing an input from a touch plane operator input device comprises determining a first location of a first touch on the touch plane operator input device; determining a second location of a second touch on the touch plane operator input device; comparing the first and second locations to obtain an indication of an amount of difference between the first and second locations; and determining whether the indication of the amount of difference exceeds a predetermined amount. These steps are performed by discrete logic circuitry that provides an event notification to a microprocessor when the indication of the amount of difference exceeds the predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Dan Dotson
  • Patent number: 7312788
    Abstract: The gesture-based input device for a user interface of a computer comprises two pairs of electrodes scalable for any screen size wherein the electrodes are arranged to capture the quasi-electrostatic field surrounding the user in order for the graphic user interface to provide different options or tasks to be selected by a user, a platform for supporting a user, a quasi-electrostatic field generator source connected to the platform and a circuitry connected to the electrodes for determining, relative to each of the electrodes, the position of that part of a user supported by the platform, e.g. a user's hand, being closest to the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Monika Fleischmann, Wolfgang Strauss, YinLin Li, Christoph Groenegress
  • Patent number: 7310082
    Abstract: A display has a display part displaying an image signal, an image signal processor providing the image signal to the display part, a pen sensor sensing at least two locations on a main body of the pen positioned on the display part and generating a first pen sensor signal and a second pen sensor signal, and a controller controlling the image signal processor to display the image as rotated based on the first pen sensor signal and the second pen sensor signal. The display senses an exact display direction which a user wants to use without operating a display direction converting switch and rotates the displayed image according to the sensed display direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoon-man Choi
  • Patent number: 7209125
    Abstract: A method for driving a touch panel that detects and compensates a double touch includes sequentially inputting coordinate values of touched points on the touch panel at predetermined time intervals, measuring a variation of the inputted coordinate values, determining the inputted coordinate values as a double touch when the measured variation is greater than a predetermined value, and compensating the inputted coordinate values if determined as a double touch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam Yong Kong, Cheon Suck Lee
  • Patent number: 7176902
    Abstract: Bending wave vibrations propagating in a substrate of a touch input device are sensed. Provision is made for discriminating between sensed vibrations propagating in the substrate indicative of an intended touch and sensed vibrations propagating in the substrate indicative of an unintended touch. In response to the sensed vibrations propagating in the substrate indicative of the intended touch, a wake-up signal is generated. The wake-up signal is communicated to a control system of the touch input device for transitioning the control system from a sleep state to an operational state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Peterson, Jr., Thomas J. Rebeschi
  • Patent number: 7173608
    Abstract: The method and system of the present invention allows a user to make notes on a paper book, where the information is transmitted to and overlaid on an online electronic duplicate of the book through a Bluetooth-enabled pen. The system and method of the present invention provides extension of the user's off-line experiences to an online environment, which may have application in electronic reading, writing, and shopping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: America Online, Inc.
    Inventor: Nisheeth Ranjan