US20100103143A1 - Touch screen signal processing - Google Patents

Touch screen signal processing Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20100103143A1
US20100103143A1 US12/582,092 US58209209A US2010103143A1 US 20100103143 A1 US20100103143 A1 US 20100103143A1 US 58209209 A US58209209 A US 58209209A US 2010103143 A1 US2010103143 A1 US 2010103143A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
screen
light
image
sections
light sources
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/582,092
Inventor
John David Newton
Simon James Bridger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Smart Technologies ULC
Original Assignee
Next Holdings Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from PCT/NZ2004/000029 external-priority patent/WO2004072843A1/en
Application filed by Next Holdings Ltd filed Critical Next Holdings Ltd
Priority to US12/582,092 priority Critical patent/US20100103143A1/en
Publication of US20100103143A1 publication Critical patent/US20100103143A1/en
Assigned to SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC reassignment SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: NEXT HOLDINGS, LIMITED
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06FELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G06F3/042Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09GARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2360/00Aspects of the architecture of display systems
    • G09G2360/14Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors
    • G09G2360/144Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors the light being ambient light
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09GARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G2360/00Aspects of the architecture of display systems
    • G09G2360/14Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors
    • G09G2360/145Detecting light within display terminals, e.g. using a single or a plurality of photosensors the light originating from the display screen
    • GPHYSICS
    • G09EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09GARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/20Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
    • G09G3/34Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source
    • G09G3/3406Control of illumination source

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a touch sensitive screen and in particular to optically detecting the presence of an object by using signal processing.
  • Touch screens of the prior art can take on five main forms. These five forms of touch screen input device include resistive, capacitive, surface acoustic wave (SAW), infrared (IR), and optical. Each of these types of touch screen has its own features, advantages and disadvantages.
  • SAW surface acoustic wave
  • IR infrared
  • Resistive is the most common type of touch screen technology. It is a low-cost solution found in many touch screen applications, including hand-held computers, PDA's, consumer electronics, and point-of-sale-applications.
  • a resistive touch screen uses a controller and a specifically coated glass overlay on the display face to produce the touch. connection.
  • the primary types of resistive overlays are 4-wire, 5-wire, and 8 wires.
  • the 5-wire and 8-wire technologies are more expensive to manufacture and calibrate, while 4-wire provides lower image clarity.
  • Two options are generally given: polished or anti-glare. Polished offers clarity of image, but generally introduces glare. Anti-glare will minimize glare, but will also further diffuse the light thereby reducing the clarity.
  • resistive display can be accessed with a finger (gloved or not), pen, stylus, or a hard object.
  • resistive displays are less effective in public environments due to the degradation in image clarity caused by the layers of resistive film, and its susceptibility to scratching.
  • the resistive screen is the most popular technology because of its relatively low price (at smaller screen sizes), and ability to use a range of input means (fingers, gloves, hard and soft stylus).
  • Capacitive touch screens are all glass and designed for use in ATM's and similar kiosk type applications. A small current of electricity runs across the screen with circuits located at the corners of the screen to measure the capacitance of a person touching the overlay. Touching the screen interrupts the current and activates the software operating the kiosk. Because the glass and bezel that mounts it to the monitor can be sealed, the touch screen is both durable and resistant to water, dirt and dust. This makes it commonly used in harsher environments like gaming, vending retail displays, public kiosks and industrial applications. However, the capacitive touch screen is only activated by the touch of a human finger and a gloved finger, pen, stylus or hard object will not work. Hence, it is inappropriate for use in many applications, including medical and food preparation.
  • SAW Surface acoustic wave
  • a SAW touch screen uses a glass display overlay. Sound waves are transmitted across the surface of the display. Each wave is spread across the screen by bouncing off reflector arrays along the edges of the overlay. Two receivers detect the waves. When the user touches the glass surface, the user's finger absorbs some of the energy of the acoustic wave and the controller circuitry measures the touch location.
  • SAW touch screen technology is used in ATM's, Amusements Parks, Banking and Financial Applications and kiosks. The technology is not able to be gasket sealed, and hence is not suitable to many industrial or commercial applications. Compared to resistive and capacitive technologies, it provides superior image clarity, resolution, and higher light transmission.
  • Infrared technology relies on the interruption of an infrared light grid in front of the display screen.
  • the touch frame or opto-matrix frame contains a row of infrared LEDs and photo transistors; each mounted on two opposite sides to create a grid of invisible infrared light.
  • the frame assembly is comprised of printed wiring boards on which the opto-electronics are mounted and is concealed behind an infrared-transparent bezel.
  • the bezel shields the opto-electronics from the operating environment while allowing the infrared beams to pass through.
  • the infrared controller sequentially pulses the LEDs to create a grid of infrared light beams.
  • Infrared touch screens are often used in manufacturing and medical applications because they can be completely sealed and operated using any number of hard or soft objects. The major issue with infrared is the “seating” of the touch frame is slightly above the screen. Consequently, it is susceptible to “early activation” before the finger or stylus has actually touched the screen. The cost to manufacture the infrared bezel is also quite high.
  • Optical imaging for touch screens uses a combination of line-scan cameras, digital signal processing, front or back illumination and algorithms to determine a point of touch.
  • the imaging lenses image the user's finger, stylus or object by scanning along the surface of the display.
  • This type of touch screen is susceptible to false readings due to moving shadows and bright lights and also requires that the screen be touched before a reading is taken. Attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages. Touch screens using optical imaging technology are disclosed in the following publications.
  • a touch screen using digital ambient light sampling is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,806, in particular this patent discloses a touch input device that continuously samples and stores ambient light readings and compares these with previously taken readings. This is done to minimise the effect of bright light and shadows.
  • a touch screen for use with a computer system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,709.
  • a user input device sensitive to touch is disclosed that uses threshold adjustment processing.
  • a light intensity value is read and an “ON” threshold is established, this threshold measurement and adjustment is frequently and periodically performed.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,845 discloses a touch screen display that uses an optical detection apparatus to modulate the ON/OFF frequency of light emitters at a frequency of twice the commercial AC line source. The receiver determines the presence of light and compares this to the actual signal transmitted.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,328 discloses a touch screen that uses a photosensor unit positioned at a predetermined height above the touch screen, and when a pointer nears the touch screen, rays of its reflected or shadowed ambient light allow it to be sensed.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,551 discloses a touch screen that can detect a pointer near the surface of the display by detecting light reflected by the pointer (reflected or diffusive).
  • the invention may broadly be said to consist in a touch display comprising:
  • each said camera located at the periphery of said screen to image the space in front of said screen, said output including a scanned Image
  • means for processing said outputs to detect the level of light, said light including:
  • a processor receiving the processed outputs of said cameras, said processor employing triangulation techniques and said processed outputs to determine whether the processed outputs indicate the presence of an object proximate to said screen and if so the location of said object.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to said camera.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
  • said processor determines location of said object as a planar screen co-ordinate.
  • said light sources are behind said screen arranged to project light through said screen and said display includes at each edge having a light source, light deflectors in front of said screen, directing light emitted from said light sources across the surface of said screen.
  • said cameras are line scan cameras, said camera output including information on line scanned and said processor using said information in determining location of said object.
  • said touch display including:
  • said means for processing said outputs includes said means for excluding image data outside said frequency band and said means for excluding image data outside said frequency includes filtering.
  • said filtering includes applying a filter selected from the group consisting of:
  • said touch display including
  • said means for processing said outputs subtracts the ambient state from the lighted state before detecting the level of light.
  • said said light sources are LEDs and said touch display includes means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source independent of other sections of said light source.
  • means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source includes means for independently controlling the effective intensity of said light source.
  • said means for controlling sections of said light source comprises wiring said sections in antiphase and driving using a bridge drive.
  • Preferably means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a diagonal bridge drive.
  • said means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a shift register for each section to be controlled.
  • said means for taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said means for processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
  • the invention may broadly be said to consist in a touch display comprising:
  • At least two cameras having outputs located at the periphery of said screen, said cameras located so as not to receive direct light from said light sources, each said camera imaging the space in front of said screen, said output including a scanned image;
  • a processor receiving the processed outputs of said cameras, said processor employing triangulation techniques and said processed outputs to determine whether the processed outputs indicate the presence of an object proximate to said screen and if so the location of said object.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to said camera.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
  • said processor determines location of said object as a planar screen co-ordinate.
  • said touch display including:
  • said means for processing said outputs includes said means for excluding image data outside said frequency band and said means for excluding image data outside said frequency includes filtering.
  • filtering includes applying a filter selected from the group consisting of:
  • said touch display including:
  • said means for processing said outputs subtracts the ambient state from the lighted state before detecting the level of light.
  • said light sources are LEDs and said touch display includes means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source independent of other sections of said light source.
  • means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source includes means for independently controlling the effective intensity of said light source.
  • the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises wiring said sections in antiphase and driving using a bridge drive.
  • the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a diagonal bridge drive.
  • the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a shift register for each section to be controlled.
  • said means for taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said means for processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
  • said screen is reflective
  • said camera further images said screen
  • said means for processing outputs detects the level of light from the mirror image.
  • said processed out put indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object relative to said camera and the distance of said object from said screen.
  • the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image including the steps of:
  • each said camera located at the periphery of said screen to image the space in front of said screen, said output including a scanned image
  • processing said outputs to detect the level of light, said light including:
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to a said camera.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
  • said location of is a planar screen co-ordinate.
  • said light sources are behind said screen and arranged to project light through said screen and said display includes at each edge having a light source, light deflectors in front of said screen, directing light emitted from said light sources across the surface of said screen.
  • said cameras are line scan cameras, said camera output including information on line scanned and said processor using said information in determining location of said object.
  • said method including the steps of:
  • the step of processing said outputs includes the steps of excluding image data outside said frequency band and said step of excluding image data outside said frequency includes filtering.
  • filtering includes the step of applying a filter selected from the group consisting of:
  • said method including the steps of:
  • step of processing said outputs subtracts the ambient state from the lighted state before detecting the level of light.
  • said light sources are LEDs and said touch display includes means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source independent of other sections of said light source.
  • the step of controlling the operation of sections of said light source includes independently controlling the effective intensity of said light source.
  • the step of controlling sections of said light source comprises wiring said sections in antiphase and driving using a bridge drive.
  • the step of controlling sections of said light source comprises using a diagonal bridge drive.
  • the step of controlling sections of said light source comprises using a shift register for each section to be controlled.
  • the step of taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said step of processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
  • the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image including the steps of:
  • processing the processed outputs of said cameras employing triangulation techniques and said processed outputs to determine whether the processed outputs indicate the presence of an object proximate to said screen and if so the location of said object.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to said camera.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
  • said processor determines location of said object as a planar screen co-ordinate.
  • said method including:
  • said means for processing said outputs includes said means for excluding image data outside said frequency band and said means for excluding image data outside said frequency includes filtering.
  • filtering includes applying a filter selected from the group consisting of:
  • said means for processing said outputs subtracts the ambient state from the lighted state before detecting the level of light.
  • said light sources are LEDs and said touch display includes means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source independent of other sections of said light source.
  • the means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source includes means for independently controlling the effective intensity of said light source.
  • the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises wiring said sections in antiphase and driving using a bridge drive.
  • the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a diagonal bridge drive.
  • the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a shift register for each section to be controlled.
  • said means for taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said means for processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
  • said screen is reflective
  • said camera further images said screen
  • said means for processing outputs detects the level of light from the mirror image.
  • said processed out put indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object relative to said camera and the distance of said object from said screen.
  • the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image:
  • said locations are substantially non-opposite so that when an object is present said output is substantially indicative of light reflected from said object.
  • the invention may broadly be said to consist in a user input device for locating an object with reference to an image comprising:
  • At least one light source at or proximate to the periphery of said image, said light source directing light across said image;
  • At one detector having an output, said detector located or in proximity to said image to image the space in front of said screen, said output indicative of a level of light;
  • a processor receiving said outputs and using triangulation techniques and said outputs determining the presence of said object and if so the location of said object.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a front view of the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention
  • FIG. 1 a is an illustration of a cross sectional view through X-X of FIG. 1 ,
  • FIG. 1 b is an illustration of front illumination of the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an illustration of the mirroring effect in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of the filter implementation of the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 b is a diagrammatic illustration of the pixels seen by an area camera and transmitted to the processing module in the preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the system of the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of the determination of the position of an object using the mirrored signal in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 a is top view of the determination of the position of an object using the mirrored signal in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is an illustration of the calibration in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a graph representing in the frequency domain the output from the imager in the processing module in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 a is a graph representing in the frequency domain the filters responses on the signal from the imager in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention
  • FIG. 6 b is a graph representing in the frequency domain the separation of the object from the background after two types of filtering in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention
  • FIG. 7 is an illustration of a front view of the alternate embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 a is an illustration of a cross sectional view through X-X of the alternate embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 b is an illustration of rear illumination of the alternate embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 c is an illustration of rear illumination controlling the sense height of the alternate embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 d is a diagrammatic illustration of the pixels seen by a line scan camera and transmitted to the processing module in the alternate embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 8 is a graph representing simple separation of an object from the background in the alternate embodiment of the present invention.
  • the present invention relates to improvements in signal processing in the field of optical imaging touch screens.
  • the optical touch screen uses front illumination and is comprised of a screen, a series of light sources, and at least two area scan cameras located in the same plane and at the periphery of the screen.
  • the optical touch screen uses backlight illumination; the screen is surrounded by an array of light sources located behind the touch panel which are redirected across the surface of the touch panel. At least two line scan cameras are used in the same plane as the touch screen panel.
  • FIG. 3 A block diagram of a general touch screen system 1 is shown in FIG. 3 .
  • Information flows from the cameras 6 to the video processing unit and computer, together referred to as the processing module 10 .
  • the processing module 10 performs many types of calculations including filtering, data sampling, and triangulation and controls the modulation of the illumination source 4 .
  • the touch screen system 1 is comprised of a monitor 2 , a touch screen panel 3 , at least two lights 4 , a processing module (not shown) and at least two area scan cameras 6 .
  • the monitor 2 which displays information to the user, is positioned behind the touch screen panel 3 .
  • Below the touch screen panel 3 and the monitor 2 are the area scan cameras 6 and light sources 4 .
  • the light sources 4 are preferably Light Emitting Diodes (LED) but may be another type of light source, for example, a fluorescent tube. LEDs are ideally used as they may be modulated as required, they do not have an inherent switching frequency.
  • the cameras 6 and LEDs 4 are in the same plane as the touch panel 3 .
  • the viewing field 6 a of the area scan camera 6 and the radiation path 4 a of the LEDs 4 are in the same plane and parallel to the touch panel 3 .
  • an object 7 shown as a finger
  • enters into the radiation path 4 a it is illuminated. This is typically known as front panel illumination or object illumination.
  • FIG. 1 b this principle is again illustrated.
  • a signal is reflected back to the camera 6 . This indicates that a finger 7 is near to or touching the touch panel 3 .
  • the location of the touch panel 3 must be established. This is performed using another signal, a mirrored signal.
  • the mirrored signal occurs when the object 7 nears the touch panel 3 .
  • the touch panel 3 is preferably made from glass which has reflective properties.
  • the finger 7 is positioned at a distance 8 above the touch panel 3 and is mirrored 7 a in the touch panel 3 .
  • the camera 6 (only shown as the camera lens) images both the finger 7 and the reflected image 7 a.
  • the image of finger 7 is reflected 7 a in panel 3 ; this can be seen through the field lines 6 b, 6 c and virtual field line 6 d. This allows the camera 6 to image the reflected 7 a image of the finger 7 .
  • the data produced from the camera 6 corresponds to the position of the field lines 6 e, 6 b as they enter the camera 6 . This data is then fed into a processing module 10 for analysis.
  • FIG. 2 a A section of the processing module 10 is shown in FIG. 2 a .
  • a series of scanning imagers 13 and digital filters 11 and comparators 12 implemented in software.
  • there are 30,000 digital filters 11 and comparators 12 broken up into 100 columns of 300 pixels, this forms a matrix similar to the matrix of pixels on the monitor 2 .
  • FIG. 1 A representation of this is shown in FIG.
  • FIG. 2 b A more illustrated example of this matrix is shown in FIG. 2 b .
  • Eight pixels 3 a - 3 h are connected, in groups of columns, to an image scanner 13 that is subsequently connected to a filter 11 and a comparator 12 (as part of the processing module 10 ).
  • the numbers used in FIG. 2 b are used for illustration only; an accurate number of pixels could be greater or less in number.
  • the pixels shown in this diagram may not form this shape in the panel 3 , their shape will be dictated by the position and type of camera 6 used.
  • finger 7 and mirrored finger 7 a activates at least two pixels; two pixels are used for simplicity. This is shown by the field lines 6 e and 6 b entering the processing module 10 . This activates the software so the two signals pass through a digital filter 11 and a comparator 12 and results in a digital signal output 12 a - 12 e.
  • the comparator 12 compares the output from the filter 11 to a predetermined threshold value. If there is a finger 7 detected at the pixel in question, the output will be high, otherwise it will be low.
  • the mirrored signal also provides information about the position of the finger 7 in relation to the cameras 6 . It can determine the height 8 of the finger 7 above the panel 3 and its angular position. The information gathered from the mirrored signal is enough to determine where the finger 7 is in relation to the panel 3 without the finger 7 having to touch the panel 3 .
  • FIGS. 4 and 4 a show the positional information that is able to be obtained from the processing of the mirrored signal.
  • the positional information is given in polar co-ordinates.
  • the positional information relates to the height of the finger 7 , and the position of the finger 7 over the panel 3 .
  • the height that the finger 7 is above the panel 3 can be seen in the distance between the outputs 12 a - 12 e.
  • the finger 7 is a height 8 above the panel 3 and the outputs 12 b and 12 e are producing a high signal.
  • the other outputs 12 a, 12 d are producing a low signal. It has been found that the distance 9 between the high outputs 12 b, 12 e is twice as great as the actual height 8 of the finger above the panel 3 .
  • the processing module 10 modulates and collimates the LEOs 4 and sets a sampling rate.
  • the LEDs 4 are modulated, in the simplest embodiment the LEDs 4 are switched on and off at a predetermined frequency. Other types of modulation are possible, for example modulation with a sine wave. Modulating the LEDs 4 at a high frequency results in a frequency reading (when the finger 7 is sensed) that is significantly greater than any other frequencies produced by changing lights and shadows.
  • the modulation frequency is greater than 500 Hz but no more than 10 kHz.
  • the cameras 6 continuously generate an output, which due to data and time constraints is periodically sampled by the processing module 10 .
  • the sampling rate is at least two times the modulation frequency; this is used to avoid aliasing.
  • the modulation of the LEDs and the sampling frequency does not need to be synchronised.
  • FIG. 6 The output in the frequency domain from the scanning imager 13 is shown in FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 6 there are two typical graphs, one showing when there is no object being sensed 21 and one showing when a finger is sensed 20 .
  • both graphs there is a region of movement of shadows 22 at approximately 5 to 20 Hz, and an AC mains frequency region 23 at approximately 50 to 60 Hz.
  • no signal is transmitted to the area camera so there are no other peaks in the output.
  • a signal 24 corresponding to the LED modulated frequency, for example 500 Hz.
  • the lower unwanted frequencies 22 , 23 can be removed by various forms of filters. Types of filters can include comb, high pass, notch, and band pass filters.
  • FIG. 6 a the output from the image scanner is shown with a couple of different filter responses 26 , 27 being applied to the signal 20 .
  • a 500 Hz comb filter 26 may be implemented (if using a 500 Hz modulation frequency). This will remove only the lowest frequencies.
  • a more advanced implementation would involve using a band pass 27 or notch filter. In this situation, all the data, except the region where the desired frequency is expected, is removed. In FIG. 6 a this is shown as a 500 Hz narrow band filter 27 applied to the signal 20 with a modulation frequency of 500 Hz.
  • These outputs 30 , 31 from the filters 26 , 27 are further shown in FIG. 6 b .
  • the top graph shows the output 30 if a comb filter 26 is used while the bottom graph shows the output 31 when a band filter 27 is used.
  • the band filter 27 removes all unwanted signals while leaving the area of interest.
  • Triangulation is known in the prior art and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,917 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,328, and are herein incorporated by reference.
  • the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention uses very quick and easy calibration that allows the touch screen to be used in any situation and moved to new locations, for example the touch screen is manufactured as a lap top.
  • Calibration involves touching the panel 3 in three different locations 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, as shown in FIG. 5 ; this defines the touch plane of the touch panel 3 .
  • These three touch points 31 a, 31 b, 31 c provide enough information to the processing module (not shown) to calculate the position and size of the touch plane in relation to the touch panel 3 .
  • Each touch point 31 a, 31 b, 31 c uses both mirrored and direct signals, as previously described, to generate the required data.
  • These touch points 31 a, 31 b, 31 c may vary around the panel 3 , they need not be the actual locations shown.
  • FIG. 7 shows the alternate embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention.
  • the monitor 40 is behind the touch panel 41 and around the sides and the lower edge of the panel 41 is an array of lights 42 . These point outwards towards the user and are redirected across the panel 41 by a diffusing plate 43 .
  • the array of lights 42 consists of numerous Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
  • the diffusing plates 43 are used redirect and diffuse the light emitted from the LEDs 42 across the panel 41 .
  • At least two line-scan cameras 44 are placed in the upper two corners of the panel 3 and are able to image an object. The cameras 44 can be alternately placed at any position around the periphery of the panel 41 .
  • the bezel 45 acts as a frame that stops the light radiation from being transmitted to the external environment.
  • the bezel 45 reflects the light rays into the cameras 44 so a light signal is always read into the camera 44 when there is no object near the touch panel 41 .
  • the array of lights 42 may be replaced with cold cathode tubes.
  • a diffusing plate 43 is not necessary as the outer tube of the cathode tube diffuses the light.
  • the cold cathode tube runs along the entire length of one side of the panel 41 . This provides a substantially even light intensity across the surface of the panel 41 .
  • Cold cathode tubes are not preferably used as they are difficult and expensive to modify to suit the specific length of each side of the panel 41 . Using LED's allows greater flexibility in the size and shape of the panel 41 .
  • the diffusing plate 43 is used when the array of lights 42 consists of numerous LED's.
  • the plate 43 is used to diffuse the light emitted from an LED and redirect it across the surface of panel 41 .
  • the light 47 from the LEDs 42 begins its path at right angles to the panel 41 . Once it hits the diffusing plate 43 , it is redirected parallel to the panel 41 .
  • the light 47 travels slightly above the surface of the panel 41 so to illuminate the panel 41 .
  • the light 47 is collimated and modulated by the processing module (not shown) as previously described.
  • increasing the width 46 of the bezel 45 can be increased or decreased. Increasing the width 46 of the bezel 45 increases the distance at which an object can be sensed. Similarly, the opposite applies to decreasing the width 10 of the bezel 45
  • the line scan cameras 44 consists of a CCD element, lens and driver control circuitry. When an image is seen by the cameras 44 a corresponding output signal is generated.
  • the line scan cameras 44 can read two light variables, namely direct light transmitted from the LED's 42 and reflected light.
  • the method of sensing and reading direct and mirrored light is similar to what has been previously described, but is simpler as line scan cameras can only read one column from the panel at once; it is not broken up into a matrix as when using an area scan camera. This is shown in FIG. 7 d where the panel 41 is broken up into sections 14 a - 14 d (what the line scan camera can see). The rest of the process has been described previously.
  • the pixels shown in this diagram may not form this shape in the panel 41 , their shape will be dictated by the position and type of camera 44 used.
  • the line scan cameras will be continuously reading the modulated light transmitted from the LEDs. This will result in the modulated frequency being present in the output whenever there is no object to interrupt the light path. When an object interrupts the light path, the modulated frequency in the output will not be present. This indicates that an object is in near to or touching the touch panel.
  • the frequency present in the output signal is twice the height (twice the amplitude) than the frequency in the preferred embodiment. This is due to both signals (direct and mirrored) being present at once.
  • the output from the camera is sampled when the LEDs are modulating on and off. This provides a reading of ambient light plus backlight 50 and a reading of ambient light alone 51 .
  • an object interrupts the light from the LEDs, there is a dip 52 in the output 50 .
  • the ambient reading 51 is subtracted from the ambient and backlight reading 50 . This results in an output 54 where the dip 52 can be seen and thus simple thresholding can be used to identify the dip 52 .
  • the backlight is broken up into a number of individual sections, 42 a to 42 f.
  • One section or a subset of sections is activated at any time.
  • Each of these sections is imaged by a subset of the pixels of the image sensors 44 .
  • the backlight emitters are operated at higher current for shorter periods. As the average power of the emitter is limited, the peak brightness is increased. Increased peak brightness improves the ambient light performance.
  • the backlight switching may advantageously be arranged such that while one section is illuminated, the ambient light level of another section is being measured by the signal processor. By simultaneously measuring ambient and backlit sections, speed is improved over single backlight systems.
  • the backlight brightness is adaptively adjusted by controlling LED current or pulse duration, as each section is activated so as to use the minimum average power whilst maintaining a constant signal to noise plus ambient ratio for the pixels that view that section.
  • Control of the plurality of sections with a minimum number of control lines is achieved in one of several ways.
  • two groups of diodes can be wired antiphase and driven with a bridge drive.
  • a diagonal bridge drive is used.
  • four wires are able to select 1 of 12 sections, 5 wires can drive 20 sections, and 6 wires can drive 30 sections.
  • a shift register is physically distributed around the backlight, and only two control lines are required.
  • X-Y multiplexing arrangements are well known in the art. For example, 8+4 wires are used to control a 4 digit display with 32 LED's. In one embodiment, a 4 wire diagonal multiplexing arrangement can have 12 LEDs.
  • the control lines are driven by tristate outputs such as are commonly found at the pins of microprocessors such as the Microchip PIC family. Each tristate output has two electronic switches which are commonly mosfets. Either or neither of the switches can be turned on. To operate each LED, unique combinations of switches can be enabled.
  • This arrangement can be used with any number of control lines, but is particularly advantageous for the cases of 4,5,6 control lines, where 12,20,30 leds can be controlled whilst the printed circuit board tracking remains simple. Where higher control numbers are used it may be advantageous to use degenerate forms where some of the possible leds are omitted to ease the practical interconnection difficulties.
  • the diagonal multiplexing system has the following features:

Abstract

A touch screen which uses light sources at one or more edges of the screen which directs light across the surface of the screen and at least two cameras having electronic outputs located at the periphery of the screen to receive light from said light sources. A processor receives the outputs of said cameras and employs triangulation techniques to determine the location of an object proximate to said screen. Detecting the presence of an object includes detecting at the cameras the presence or absence of direct light due to the object, using a screen surface as a mirror and detecting at the cameras the presence or absence of reflected light due to an object. The light sources may be modulated to provide a frequency band in the output of the cameras.

Description

  • This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/033,183, filed Jan. 11, 2005, which is a continuation of Application No. PCT NZ2004/000029, published as WO 2004/072843, filed Feb. 16, 2004, which claims priority to NZ Application No. 524211, filed Feb. 14, 2003, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
  • TECHNICAL FIELD
  • The present invention relates to a touch sensitive screen and in particular to optically detecting the presence of an object by using signal processing.
  • BACKGROUND PRIOR ART
  • Touch screens of the prior art can take on five main forms. These five forms of touch screen input device include resistive, capacitive, surface acoustic wave (SAW), infrared (IR), and optical. Each of these types of touch screen has its own features, advantages and disadvantages.
  • Resistive is the most common type of touch screen technology. It is a low-cost solution found in many touch screen applications, including hand-held computers, PDA's, consumer electronics, and point-of-sale-applications. A resistive touch screen uses a controller and a specifically coated glass overlay on the display face to produce the touch. connection. The primary types of resistive overlays are 4-wire, 5-wire, and 8 wires. The 5-wire and 8-wire technologies are more expensive to manufacture and calibrate, while 4-wire provides lower image clarity. Two options are generally given: polished or anti-glare. Polished offers clarity of image, but generally introduces glare. Anti-glare will minimize glare, but will also further diffuse the light thereby reducing the clarity. One benefit of using a resistive display is that it can be accessed with a finger (gloved or not), pen, stylus, or a hard object. However, resistive displays are less effective in public environments due to the degradation in image clarity caused by the layers of resistive film, and its susceptibility to scratching. Despite the trade-offs, the resistive screen is the most popular technology because of its relatively low price (at smaller screen sizes), and ability to use a range of input means (fingers, gloves, hard and soft stylus).
  • Capacitive touch screens are all glass and designed for use in ATM's and similar kiosk type applications. A small current of electricity runs across the screen with circuits located at the corners of the screen to measure the capacitance of a person touching the overlay. Touching the screen interrupts the current and activates the software operating the kiosk. Because the glass and bezel that mounts it to the monitor can be sealed, the touch screen is both durable and resistant to water, dirt and dust. This makes it commonly used in harsher environments like gaming, vending retail displays, public kiosks and industrial applications. However, the capacitive touch screen is only activated by the touch of a human finger and a gloved finger, pen, stylus or hard object will not work. Hence, it is inappropriate for use in many applications, including medical and food preparation.
  • Surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology provides better image clarity because it uses pure glass construction. A SAW touch screen uses a glass display overlay. Sound waves are transmitted across the surface of the display. Each wave is spread across the screen by bouncing off reflector arrays along the edges of the overlay. Two receivers detect the waves. When the user touches the glass surface, the user's finger absorbs some of the energy of the acoustic wave and the controller circuitry measures the touch location. SAW touch screen technology is used in ATM's, Amusements Parks, Banking and Financial Applications and kiosks. The technology is not able to be gasket sealed, and hence is not suitable to many industrial or commercial applications. Compared to resistive and capacitive technologies, it provides superior image clarity, resolution, and higher light transmission.
  • Infrared technology relies on the interruption of an infrared light grid in front of the display screen. The touch frame or opto-matrix frame contains a row of infrared LEDs and photo transistors; each mounted on two opposite sides to create a grid of invisible infrared light. The frame assembly is comprised of printed wiring boards on which the opto-electronics are mounted and is concealed behind an infrared-transparent bezel. The bezel shields the opto-electronics from the operating environment while allowing the infrared beams to pass through. The infrared controller sequentially pulses the LEDs to create a grid of infrared light beams. When a stylus, such as a finger, enters the grid, it obstructs the beams. One or more phototransistors detect the absence of light and transmit a signal that identifies the x and y coordinates. Infrared touch screens are often used in manufacturing and medical applications because they can be completely sealed and operated using any number of hard or soft objects. The major issue with infrared is the “seating” of the touch frame is slightly above the screen. Consequently, it is susceptible to “early activation” before the finger or stylus has actually touched the screen. The cost to manufacture the infrared bezel is also quite high.
  • Optical imaging for touch screens uses a combination of line-scan cameras, digital signal processing, front or back illumination and algorithms to determine a point of touch. The imaging lenses image the user's finger, stylus or object by scanning along the surface of the display. This type of touch screen is susceptible to false readings due to moving shadows and bright lights and also requires that the screen be touched before a reading is taken. Attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages. Touch screens using optical imaging technology are disclosed in the following publications.
  • A touch screen using digital ambient light sampling is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,806, in particular this patent discloses a touch input device that continuously samples and stores ambient light readings and compares these with previously taken readings. This is done to minimise the effect of bright light and shadows.
  • A touch screen for use with a computer system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,709. In particular a user input device sensitive to touch is disclosed that uses threshold adjustment processing. A light intensity value is read and an “ON” threshold is established, this threshold measurement and adjustment is frequently and periodically performed.
  • This U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,140 patent discloses a method for optically determining the position and direction of an object on a touch screen display. In particular, a diffuser is positioned over the light sources to produce an average light intensity over the touch screen.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,845 discloses a touch screen display that uses an optical detection apparatus to modulate the ON/OFF frequency of light emitters at a frequency of twice the commercial AC line source. The receiver determines the presence of light and compares this to the actual signal transmitted.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,328 discloses a touch screen that uses a photosensor unit positioned at a predetermined height above the touch screen, and when a pointer nears the touch screen, rays of its reflected or shadowed ambient light allow it to be sensed.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,551 discloses a touch screen that can detect a pointer near the surface of the display by detecting light reflected by the pointer (reflected or diffusive).
  • DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide a touch sensitive screen which goes someway to overcoming the above mentioned disadvantages or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.
  • Accordingly in a first aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a touch display comprising:
  • a screen for a user to touch and view an image on or through;
  • light sources at one or more edges of said screen, said light sources directing light across the surface of said screen;
  • at least two cameras having outputs, each said camera located at the periphery of said screen to image the space in front of said screen, said output including a scanned Image;
  • means for processing said outputs to detect the level of light, said light including:
      • direct light from said light sources, and/or
      • reflected light from said light sources;
  • a processor receiving the processed outputs of said cameras, said processor employing triangulation techniques and said processed outputs to determine whether the processed outputs indicate the presence of an object proximate to said screen and if so the location of said object.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to said camera.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
  • Preferably said processor determines location of said object as a planar screen co-ordinate.
  • Preferably said light sources are behind said screen arranged to project light through said screen and said display includes at each edge having a light source, light deflectors in front of said screen, directing light emitted from said light sources across the surface of said screen.
  • Preferably said cameras are line scan cameras, said camera output including information on line scanned and said processor using said information in determining location of said object.
  • Preferably said touch display including:
  • means for modulating said light from said light sources to provide a frequency band within the imageable range of said cameras;
  • means for excluding image data outside said frequency band.
  • Preferably said means for processing said outputs includes said means for excluding image data outside said frequency band and said means for excluding image data outside said frequency includes filtering.
  • Preferably said filtering includes applying a filter selected from the group consisting of:
  • a comb filter;
  • a high pass filter;
  • a notch filter; and
  • a band pass filter.
  • Preferably said touch display including
  • means for controlling said light sources; and
  • means for taking and processing an image taken in a non lighted ambient light state and in a lighted state;
  • wherein said means for processing said outputs subtracts the ambient state from the lighted state before detecting the level of light.
  • Preferably said said light sources are LEDs and said touch display includes means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source independent of other sections of said light source.
  • Preferably means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source includes means for independently controlling the effective intensity of said light source.
  • Preferably said means for controlling sections of said light source comprises wiring said sections in antiphase and driving using a bridge drive.
  • Preferably means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a diagonal bridge drive.
  • Preferably said means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a shift register for each section to be controlled.
  • Preferably said means for taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said means for processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
  • Preferably some section are lighted and others are not when an image is taken.
  • Accordingly in a second aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a touch display comprising:
  • a screen for a user to touch and view an image on or through;
  • light sources at one or more edges edge of said screen, said light sources directing light across the surface of said screen;
  • at least two cameras having outputs located at the periphery of said screen, said cameras located so as not to receive direct light from said light sources, each said camera imaging the space in front of said screen, said output including a scanned image;
  • means for processing said outputs to detect level of reflected light; and
  • a processor receiving the processed outputs of said cameras, said processor employing triangulation techniques and said processed outputs to determine whether the processed outputs indicate the presence of an object proximate to said screen and if so the location of said object.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to said camera.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
  • Preferably said processor determines location of said object as a planar screen co-ordinate.
  • Preferably said touch display including:
  • means for modulating said light from said light sources to provide a frequency band within the imageable range of said cameras;
  • means for excluding image data outside said frequency band.
  • Preferably said means for processing said outputs includes said means for excluding image data outside said frequency band and said means for excluding image data outside said frequency includes filtering.
  • Preferably filtering includes applying a filter selected from the group consisting of:
  • a comb filter;
  • a high pass filter;
  • a notch filter; and
  • a band pass filter.
  • Preferably said touch display including:
  • means for controlling said light sources; and
  • means for taking and processing an image taken in a non lighted ambient light state and in a lighted state;
  • wherein said means for processing said outputs subtracts the ambient state from the lighted state before detecting the level of light.
  • Preferably said light sources are LEDs and said touch display includes means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source independent of other sections of said light source.
  • Preferably means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source includes means for independently controlling the effective intensity of said light source.
  • Preferably the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises wiring said sections in antiphase and driving using a bridge drive.
  • Preferably the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a diagonal bridge drive.
  • Preferably the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a shift register for each section to be controlled.
  • Preferably said means for taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said means for processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
  • Preferably some sections are lighted and others are not when an image is taken.
  • Preferably said screen is reflective, said camera further images said screen, and said means for processing outputs detects the level of light from the mirror image.
  • Preferably said processed out put indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object relative to said camera and the distance of said object from said screen.
  • Accordingly in a third aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image including the steps of:
  • providing a screen for a user to touch and view an image on or through;
  • providing light sources at one or more edges of said screen, said light sources directing light across the surface of said screen;
  • providing at least two cameras having outputs, each said camera located at the periphery of said screen to image the space in front of said screen, said output including a scanned image;
  • processing said outputs to detect the level of light, said light including:
  • direct light from said light sources, and/or
  • reflected light from said light sources;
  • processing the processed outputs of said cameras, using triangulation techniques to obtain the location of said object.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to a said camera.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
  • Preferably said location of is a planar screen co-ordinate.
  • Preferably said light sources are behind said screen and arranged to project light through said screen and said display includes at each edge having a light source, light deflectors in front of said screen, directing light emitted from said light sources across the surface of said screen.
  • Preferably said cameras are line scan cameras, said camera output including information on line scanned and said processor using said information in determining location of said object.
  • Preferably said method including the steps of:
  • modulating said light from said light sources to provide a frequency band within the imageable range of said cameras;
  • excluding image data outside said frequency band.
  • Preferably the step of processing said outputs includes the steps of excluding image data outside said frequency band and said step of excluding image data outside said frequency includes filtering.
  • Preferably filtering includes the step of applying a filter selected from the group consisting of:
  • a comb filter;
  • a high pass filter;
  • a notch filter; and
  • a band pass filter.
  • Preferably said method including the steps of:
  • controlling said light sources; and
  • taking and processing an image taken in a non lighted ambient light state and in a lighted state;
  • wherein said step of processing said outputs subtracts the ambient state from the lighted state before detecting the level of light.
  • Preferably said light sources are LEDs and said touch display includes means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source independent of other sections of said light source.
  • Preferably the step of controlling the operation of sections of said light source includes independently controlling the effective intensity of said light source.
  • Preferably the step of controlling sections of said light source comprises wiring said sections in antiphase and driving using a bridge drive.
  • Preferably the step of controlling sections of said light source comprises using a diagonal bridge drive.
  • Preferably the step of controlling sections of said light source comprises using a shift register for each section to be controlled.
  • Preferably the step of taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said step of processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
  • Preferably some sections are lighted and others are not when an image is taken.
  • Accordingly in a fourth aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image including the steps of:
  • providing a screen for a user to touch and view an image on or through;
  • providing light sources at one or more edges edge of said screen, said light sources directing light across the surface of said screen;
  • providing at least two cameras having outputs located at the periphery of said screen, said cameras located so as not to receive direct light from said light sources, each said camera imaging the space in front of said screen, said output including a scanned image;
  • processing said outputs to detect level of reflected light; and
  • processing the processed outputs of said cameras, employing triangulation techniques and said processed outputs to determine whether the processed outputs indicate the presence of an object proximate to said screen and if so the location of said object.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to said camera.
  • Preferably said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
  • Preferably said processor determines location of said object as a planar screen co-ordinate.
  • Preferably said method including:
  • means for modulating said light from said light sources to provide a frequency band within the imageable range of said cameras;
  • means for excluding image data outside said frequency band.
  • Preferably said means for processing said outputs includes said means for excluding image data outside said frequency band and said means for excluding image data outside said frequency includes filtering.
  • Preferably filtering includes applying a filter selected from the group consisting of:
  • a comb filter;
  • a high pass filter;
  • a notch filter; and
  • a band pass filter.
  • Preferably said method including
  • means for controlling said light sources; and
  • means for taking and processing an image taken in a non lighted ambient light state and in a lighted state;
  • wherein said means for processing said outputs subtracts the ambient state from the lighted state before detecting the level of light.
  • Preferably said light sources are LEDs and said touch display includes means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source independent of other sections of said light source.
  • Preferably the means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source includes means for independently controlling the effective intensity of said light source.
  • Preferably the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises wiring said sections in antiphase and driving using a bridge drive.
  • Preferably the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a diagonal bridge drive.
  • Preferably the means for controlling sections of said light source comprises using a shift register for each section to be controlled.
  • Preferably said means for taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said means for processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
  • Preferably some sections are lighted and others are not when an image is taken.
  • Preferably said screen is reflective, said camera further images said screen, and said means for processing outputs detects the level of light from the mirror image.
  • Preferably said processed out put indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object relative to said camera and the distance of said object from said screen.
  • Accordingly in a fifth aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image:
  • providing at least one light sources on or adjacent the periphery of said image, said light sources directing light across said image;
  • detecting at at least two locations on or adjacent the periphery of said image, the level of light and providing said level as an output;
  • processing said outputs using triangulation techniques to determine whether said outputs indicate the presence of an object proximate to said image and if so the location of said object.
  • Preferably said locations are substantially non-opposite so that when an object is present said output is substantially indicative of light reflected from said object.
  • Accordingly in a sixth aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a user input device for locating an object with reference to an image comprising:
  • at least one light source at or proximate to the periphery of said image, said light source directing light across said image;
  • at one detector having an output, said detector located or in proximity to said image to image the space in front of said screen, said output indicative of a level of light;
  • a processor receiving said outputs and using triangulation techniques and said outputs determining the presence of said object and if so the location of said object.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a front view of the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 1 a is an illustration of a cross sectional view through X-X of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 1 b is an illustration of front illumination of the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 2 is an illustration of the mirroring effect in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of the filter implementation of the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 2 b is a diagrammatic illustration of the pixels seen by an area camera and transmitted to the processing module in the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the system of the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of the determination of the position of an object using the mirrored signal in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 4 a is top view of the determination of the position of an object using the mirrored signal in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 5 is an illustration of the calibration in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 6 is a graph representing in the frequency domain the output from the imager in the processing module in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 6 a is a graph representing in the frequency domain the filters responses on the signal from the imager in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 6 b is a graph representing in the frequency domain the separation of the object from the background after two types of filtering in the preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 7 is an illustration of a front view of the alternate embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 7 a is an illustration of a cross sectional view through X-X of the alternate embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 7 b is an illustration of rear illumination of the alternate embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention,
  • FIG. 7 c is an illustration of rear illumination controlling the sense height of the alternate embodiment of the present invention,
  • FIG. 7 d is a diagrammatic illustration of the pixels seen by a line scan camera and transmitted to the processing module in the alternate embodiment of the present invention,
  • FIG. 8 is a graph representing simple separation of an object from the background in the alternate embodiment of the present invention.
  • BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to improvements in signal processing in the field of optical imaging touch screens. In the preferred embodiment the optical touch screen uses front illumination and is comprised of a screen, a series of light sources, and at least two area scan cameras located in the same plane and at the periphery of the screen. In another embodiment, the optical touch screen uses backlight illumination; the screen is surrounded by an array of light sources located behind the touch panel which are redirected across the surface of the touch panel. At least two line scan cameras are used in the same plane as the touch screen panel. The signal processing improvements created by these implementations are that an object can be sensed when in close proximity to the surface of the touch screen, calibration is simple, and the sensing of an object is not effected by the changing ambient light conditions, for example moving lights or shadows.
  • A block diagram of a general touch screen system 1 is shown in FIG. 3. Information flows from the cameras 6 to the video processing unit and computer, together referred to as the processing module 10. The processing module 10 performs many types of calculations including filtering, data sampling, and triangulation and controls the modulation of the illumination source 4.
  • Front Illumination Touch Screen
  • The preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The touch screen system 1 is comprised of a monitor 2, a touch screen panel 3, at least two lights 4, a processing module (not shown) and at least two area scan cameras 6. The monitor 2, which displays information to the user, is positioned behind the touch screen panel 3. Below the touch screen panel 3 and the monitor 2 are the area scan cameras 6 and light sources 4. The light sources 4 are preferably Light Emitting Diodes (LED) but may be another type of light source, for example, a fluorescent tube. LEDs are ideally used as they may be modulated as required, they do not have an inherent switching frequency. The cameras 6 and LEDs 4 are in the same plane as the touch panel 3.
  • Referring to FIG. 1 a, the viewing field 6 a of the area scan camera 6 and the radiation path 4 a of the LEDs 4 are in the same plane and parallel to the touch panel 3. When an object 7, shown as a finger, enters into the radiation path 4 a, it is illuminated. This is typically known as front panel illumination or object illumination. In FIG. 1 b, this principle is again illustrated. Once a finger 7 enters into the radiation field 4 a, a signal is reflected back to the camera 6. This indicates that a finger 7 is near to or touching the touch panel 3. In order to determine if the finger 7 is actually touching the touch panel 3, the location of the touch panel 3 must be established. This is performed using another signal, a mirrored signal.
  • Mirrored Signal
  • The mirrored signal occurs when the object 7 nears the touch panel 3. The touch panel 3 is preferably made from glass which has reflective properties. As shown in FIG. 2, the finger 7 is positioned at a distance 8 above the touch panel 3 and is mirrored 7 a in the touch panel 3. The camera 6 (only shown as the camera lens) images both the finger 7 and the reflected image 7 a. The image of finger 7 is reflected 7 a in panel 3; this can be seen through the field lines 6 b, 6 c and virtual field line 6 d. This allows the camera 6 to image the reflected 7 a image of the finger 7. The data produced from the camera 6 corresponds to the position of the field lines 6 e, 6 b as they enter the camera 6. This data is then fed into a processing module 10 for analysis.
  • A section of the processing module 10 is shown in FIG. 2 a. Within the processing module 10 is a series of scanning imagers 13 and digital filters 11 and comparators 12 implemented in software. There are a set number of pixels on the touch panel, for example 30,000 pixels. These may be divided up into 100 columns of 300 pixels. The number of pixels may be more or less than the numbers used, the numbers are used for example only. In this situation, there are 30,000 digital filters 11 and comparators 12, broken up into 100 columns of 300 pixels, this forms a matrix similar to the matrix of pixels on the monitor 2. A representation of this is shown in FIG. 2 a as one column is serviced by one image scanner 13 and three sets 14 a, 14 b, 14 c of digital filters 11 and comparators 12, this allows information from three pixels to be read. A more illustrated example of this matrix is shown in FIG. 2 b. Eight pixels 3 a-3 h are connected, in groups of columns, to an image scanner 13 that is subsequently connected to a filter 11 and a comparator 12 (as part of the processing module 10). The numbers used in FIG. 2 b are used for illustration only; an accurate number of pixels could be greater or less in number. The pixels shown in this diagram may not form this shape in the panel 3, their shape will be dictated by the position and type of camera 6 used.
  • Referring back to FIG. 2, finger 7 and mirrored finger 7 a activates at least two pixels; two pixels are used for simplicity. This is shown by the field lines 6 e and 6 b entering the processing module 10. This activates the software so the two signals pass through a digital filter 11 and a comparator 12 and results in a digital signal output 12 a-12 e. The comparator 12 compares the output from the filter 11 to a predetermined threshold value. If there is a finger 7 detected at the pixel in question, the output will be high, otherwise it will be low.
  • The mirrored signal also provides information about the position of the finger 7 in relation to the cameras 6. It can determine the height 8 of the finger 7 above the panel 3 and its angular position. The information gathered from the mirrored signal is enough to determine where the finger 7 is in relation to the panel 3 without the finger 7 having to touch the panel 3.
  • FIGS. 4 and 4 a show the positional information that is able to be obtained from the processing of the mirrored signal. The positional information is given in polar co-ordinates. The positional information relates to the height of the finger 7, and the position of the finger 7 over the panel 3.
  • Referring again to FIG. 2, the height that the finger 7 is above the panel 3 can be seen in the distance between the outputs 12 a-12 e. In this example the finger 7 is a height 8 above the panel 3 and the outputs 12 b and 12 e are producing a high signal. The other outputs 12 a, 12 d are producing a low signal. It has been found that the distance 9 between the high outputs 12 b, 12 e is twice as great as the actual height 8 of the finger above the panel 3.
  • Modulating
  • The processing module 10 modulates and collimates the LEOs 4 and sets a sampling rate. The LEDs 4 are modulated, in the simplest embodiment the LEDs 4 are switched on and off at a predetermined frequency. Other types of modulation are possible, for example modulation with a sine wave. Modulating the LEDs 4 at a high frequency results in a frequency reading (when the finger 7 is sensed) that is significantly greater than any other frequencies produced by changing lights and shadows. The modulation frequency is greater than 500 Hz but no more than 10 kHz.
  • Sampling
  • The cameras 6 continuously generate an output, which due to data and time constraints is periodically sampled by the processing module 10. In the preferred embodiment, the sampling rate is at least two times the modulation frequency; this is used to avoid aliasing. The modulation of the LEDs and the sampling frequency does not need to be synchronised.
  • Filtering
  • The output in the frequency domain from the scanning imager 13 is shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, there are two typical graphs, one showing when there is no object being sensed 21 and one showing when a finger is sensed 20. In both graphs there is a region of movement of shadows 22 at approximately 5 to 20 Hz, and an AC mains frequency region 23 at approximately 50 to 60 Hz.
  • In the preferred embodiment when there is not object in the field view, no signal is transmitted to the area camera so there are no other peaks in the output. When an object is in the field of view, there is a signal 24 corresponding to the LED modulated frequency, for example 500 Hz. The lower unwanted frequencies 22, 23 can be removed by various forms of filters. Types of filters can include comb, high pass, notch, and band pass filters.
  • In FIG. 6 a the output from the image scanner is shown with a couple of different filter responses 26, 27 being applied to the signal 20. In a simple implementation a 500 Hz comb filter 26 may be implemented (if using a 500 Hz modulation frequency). This will remove only the lowest frequencies. A more advanced implementation would involve using a band pass 27 or notch filter. In this situation, all the data, except the region where the desired frequency is expected, is removed. In FIG. 6 a this is shown as a 500 Hz narrow band filter 27 applied to the signal 20 with a modulation frequency of 500 Hz. These outputs 30, 31 from the filters 26, 27 are further shown in FIG. 6 b. The top graph shows the output 30 if a comb filter 26 is used while the bottom graph shows the output 31 when a band filter 27 is used. The band filter 27 removes all unwanted signals while leaving the area of interest.
  • Once the signal has been filtered and the signal in the area of interest identified, the resulting signal is passed to the comparators to be converted into a digital signal and triangulation is performed to determine the actual position of the object. Triangulation is known in the prior art and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,917 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,328, and are herein incorporated by reference.
  • Calibration
  • The preferred embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention uses very quick and easy calibration that allows the touch screen to be used in any situation and moved to new locations, for example the touch screen is manufactured as a lap top. Calibration involves touching the panel 3 in three different locations 31 a, 31 b, 31 c, as shown in FIG. 5; this defines the touch plane of the touch panel 3. These three touch points 31 a, 31 b, 31 c provide enough information to the processing module (not shown) to calculate the position and size of the touch plane in relation to the touch panel 3. Each touch point 31 a, 31 b, 31 c uses both mirrored and direct signals, as previously described, to generate the required data. These touch points 31 a, 31 b, 31 c may vary around the panel 3, they need not be the actual locations shown.
  • Back Illumination Touch Screen
  • FIG. 7 shows the alternate embodiment of the touch screen of the present invention. As in the preferred embodiment, the monitor 40 is behind the touch panel 41 and around the sides and the lower edge of the panel 41 is an array of lights 42. These point outwards towards the user and are redirected across the panel 41 by a diffusing plate 43. The array of lights 42 consists of numerous Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The diffusing plates 43 are used redirect and diffuse the light emitted from the LEDs 42 across the panel 41. At least two line-scan cameras 44 are placed in the upper two corners of the panel 3 and are able to image an object. The cameras 44 can be alternately placed at any position around the periphery of the panel 41. Around the periphery of the touch panel 41 is a bezel 45 or enclosure. The bezel 45 acts as a frame that stops the light radiation from being transmitted to the external environment. The bezel 45 reflects the light rays into the cameras 44 so a light signal is always read into the camera 44 when there is no object near the touch panel 41.
  • Alternately, the array of lights 42 may be replaced with cold cathode tubes. When using a cold cathode tube, a diffusing plate 43 is not necessary as the outer tube of the cathode tube diffuses the light. The cold cathode tube runs along the entire length of one side of the panel 41. This provides a substantially even light intensity across the surface of the panel 41. Cold cathode tubes are not preferably used as they are difficult and expensive to modify to suit the specific length of each side of the panel 41. Using LED's allows greater flexibility in the size and shape of the panel 41.
  • The diffusing plate 43 is used when the array of lights 42 consists of numerous LED's. The plate 43 is used to diffuse the light emitted from an LED and redirect it across the surface of panel 41. As shown in FIG. 7 a, the light 47 from the LEDs 42 begins its path at right angles to the panel 41. Once it hits the diffusing plate 43, it is redirected parallel to the panel 41. The light 47 travels slightly above the surface of the panel 41 so to illuminate the panel 41. The light 47 is collimated and modulated by the processing module (not shown) as previously described.
  • Referring to FIG. 7 a, increasing the width 46 of the bezel 45 can be increased or decreased. Increasing the width 46 of the bezel 45 increases the distance at which an object can be sensed. Similarly, the opposite applies to decreasing the width 10 of the bezel 45
  • The line scan cameras 44 consists of a CCD element, lens and driver control circuitry. When an image is seen by the cameras 44 a corresponding output signal is generated.
  • Referring to FIGS. 7 b and 7 c, when the touch screen is not being used, i.e. when there is no user interaction or input, all the light emitted from the array of lights 42 is transmitted to the line-scan cameras 44. When there is user input, i.e. a user selects something on the screen by touching it with their finger; a section of the light being transmitted to the camera 44 is interrupted. Through calculations utilising triangulation algorithms with the outputted data from the camera 44, the location of the activation can be determined.
  • The line scan cameras 44 can read two light variables, namely direct light transmitted from the LED's 42 and reflected light. The method of sensing and reading direct and mirrored light is similar to what has been previously described, but is simpler as line scan cameras can only read one column from the panel at once; it is not broken up into a matrix as when using an area scan camera. This is shown in FIG. 7 d where the panel 41 is broken up into sections 14 a-14 d (what the line scan camera can see). The rest of the process has been described previously. The pixels shown in this diagram may not form this shape in the panel 41, their shape will be dictated by the position and type of camera 44 used.
  • In the alternate embodiment, since the bezel surrounds the touch panel, the line scan cameras will be continuously reading the modulated light transmitted from the LEDs. This will result in the modulated frequency being present in the output whenever there is no object to interrupt the light path. When an object interrupts the light path, the modulated frequency in the output will not be present. This indicates that an object is in near to or touching the touch panel. The frequency present in the output signal is twice the height (twice the amplitude) than the frequency in the preferred embodiment. This is due to both signals (direct and mirrored) being present at once.
  • In a further alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 8, the output from the camera is sampled when the LEDs are modulating on and off. This provides a reading of ambient light plus backlight 50 and a reading of ambient light alone 51. When an object interrupts the light from the LEDs, there is a dip 52 in the output 50. As ambient light varies a lot, it is difficult to see this small dip 52. For this reason, the ambient reading 51 is subtracted from the ambient and backlight reading 50. This results in an output 54 where the dip 52 can be seen and thus simple thresholding can be used to identify the dip 52.
  • Calibration of this alternate embodiment is performed in the same manner as previously described but the touch points 31 a, 31 b, 31 c (referring to FIG. 5) cannot be in the same line, they must be spread about the surface of the panel 3.
  • In FIG. 7 the backlight is broken up into a number of individual sections, 42 a to 42 f. One section or a subset of sections is activated at any time. Each of these sections is imaged by a subset of the pixels of the image sensors 44. Compared to a system with a single backlight control, the backlight emitters are operated at higher current for shorter periods. As the average power of the emitter is limited, the peak brightness is increased. Increased peak brightness improves the ambient light performance.
  • The backlight switching may advantageously be arranged such that while one section is illuminated, the ambient light level of another section is being measured by the signal processor. By simultaneously measuring ambient and backlit sections, speed is improved over single backlight systems.
  • The backlight brightness is adaptively adjusted by controlling LED current or pulse duration, as each section is activated so as to use the minimum average power whilst maintaining a constant signal to noise plus ambient ratio for the pixels that view that section.
  • Control of the plurality of sections with a minimum number of control lines is achieved in one of several ways.
  • In a first implementation of a two section backlight two groups of diodes can be wired antiphase and driven with a bridge drive.
  • In a second implementation with more than two sections, a diagonal bridge drive is used. For example, four wires are able to select 1 of 12 sections, 5 wires can drive 20 sections, and 6 wires can drive 30 sections.
  • In a third implementation, for a large number of sections, a shift register is physically distributed around the backlight, and only two control lines are required.
  • X-Y multiplexing arrangements are well known in the art. For example, 8+4 wires are used to control a 4 digit display with 32 LED's. In one embodiment, a 4 wire diagonal multiplexing arrangement can have 12 LEDs. The control lines are driven by tristate outputs such as are commonly found at the pins of microprocessors such as the Microchip PIC family. Each tristate output has two electronic switches which are commonly mosfets. Either or neither of the switches can be turned on. To operate each LED, unique combinations of switches can be enabled. This arrangement can be used with any number of control lines, but is particularly advantageous for the cases of 4,5,6 control lines, where 12,20,30 leds can be controlled whilst the printed circuit board tracking remains simple. Where higher control numbers are used it may be advantageous to use degenerate forms where some of the possible leds are omitted to ease the practical interconnection difficulties.
  • The diagonal multiplexing system has the following features:
      • it is advantageous where there are 4 or more control lines
      • it requires tri-state push-pull drivers on each control line
      • rather than using an x-y arrangement of control lines with led's at the crossings, the arrangement is represented by a ring of control lines with a pair of antiphase LED's arranged on each of the diagonals between the control lines. Each LED can be uniquely selected, and certain combinations can also be selected.
      • uses the minimum possible number of wires
      • where emc filtering is needed on the wires there is a significant saving in components
  • To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

Claims (31)

1.-30. (canceled)
31. A touch display comprising:
a screen for a user to touch and view an image on or through;
light sources at one or more edges of said screen, said light sources directing light across the surface of said screen;
a lighting controller configured to control the operation of sections of said light sources independent of other sections of said light sources;
at least two cameras having outputs, each said camera located at the periphery of said screen to image the space in front of said screen, said output including a scanned image;
means for processing said outputs to detect the level of light, said light including:
direct light from said light sources, and/or
reflected light from said light sources;
a processor receiving the processed outputs of said cameras, said processor employing triangulation techniques and said processed outputs to determine whether the processed outputs indicate the presence of an object proximate to said screen and if so the location of said object.
32. A touch display as claimed in claim 31 wherein said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to said camera and the distance of said object from said screen.
33. A touch display as claimed in claim 31 wherein said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
34. A touch display as claimed in claim 31 wherein said processed output indicates that said object has touched said screen when said object and said presumed object coincide.
35. A touch display as claimed in claim 31 wherein said cameras are line scan cameras, said camera output including information on line scanned and said processor using said information in determining the location of said object.
36. A touch display as claimed in claim 31 wherein said processor determines the location of said object as a planar screen co-ordinate.
37. A touch display as claimed in claim 31 wherein said light sources are behind said screen arranged to project light through said screen and said display includes at each edge having a light source, light deflectors in front of said screen, directing light emitted from said light sources across the surface of said screen.
38. A touch display as claimed in claim 31 wherein said light sources are Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
39. A touch display as claimed in 38 wherein the lighting controller is configured to independently control the effective intensity of said light source.
40. A touch display as claimed in claim 38 wherein the sections of said light source are wired in antiphase and the lighting controller comprises a bridge drive driving the sections.
41. A touch display as claimed in claim 38 wherein the lighting controller comprises a diagonal bridge drive.
42. A touch display as claimed in claim 38 wherein lighting controller comprises a shift register.
43. A touch display as claimed in claim 38 wherein said means for taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said means for processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
44. A touch display as claimed in claim 43 wherein some sections are lighted and others are not when an image is taken.
45-53. (canceled)
54. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image including the steps of:
providing a screen for a user to touch and view an image on or through;
providing light sources at one or more edges behind said screen, said light sources directing light across the surface of said screen;
controlling the operation of sections of said light sources independent of other sections of said light sources;
providing at least two cameras having outputs, each said camera located at the periphery of said screen to image the space in front of said screen, said output including a scanned image;
processing said outputs to detect the level of light, said light including:
direct light from said light sources, and/or
reflected light from said light sources;
processing the processed outputs of said cameras, using triangulation techniques to obtain the location of said object.
55. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 54 wherein said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to a said camera.
56. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 54 wherein said processed output indicates the relative bearing of a presumed object location relative to the centre of the lens of said camera.
57. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 54 wherein said processed output indicates that said object has touched said screen when said object and said presumed object coincide.
58. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 54 wherein said cameras are line scan cameras, said camera output including information on line scanned and said processor using said information in determining location of said object.
59. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 54 wherein said location is a planar screen co-ordinate.
60. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 54 wherein said light sources are behind said screen and arranged to project light through said screen and said display includes at each edge having a light source, light deflectors in front of said screen, directing light emitted from said light sources across the surface of said screen.
61. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 54 wherein said light sources are LEDs and said touch display includes means for controlling the operation of sections of said light source independent of other sections of said light source.
62. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 61 wherein the step of controlling the operation of sections of said light source includes independently controlling the effective intensity of said light source.
63. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 61 wherein the step of controlling sections of said light source comprises wiring said sections in antiphase and driving using a bridge drive.
64. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 61 wherein the step of controlling sections of said light source comprises using a diagonal bridge drive.
65. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 61 wherein the step of controlling sections of said light source comprises using a shift register for each section to be controlled.
66. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 61 wherein the step of taking and processing images includes controlling sections of said light sources and each said camera and said step of processing said outputs includes processing information on whether a said section is lighted or not.
67. A method of receiving user inputs in reference to an image as claimed in claim 66 wherein some sections are lighted and others are not when an image is taken.
68-88. (canceled)
US12/582,092 2003-02-14 2009-10-20 Touch screen signal processing Abandoned US20100103143A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/582,092 US20100103143A1 (en) 2003-02-14 2009-10-20 Touch screen signal processing

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ524211 2003-02-14
NZ52421103 2003-02-14
PCT/NZ2004/000029 WO2004072843A1 (en) 2003-02-14 2004-02-16 Touch screen signal processing
US11/033,183 US7629967B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2005-01-11 Touch screen signal processing
US12/582,092 US20100103143A1 (en) 2003-02-14 2009-10-20 Touch screen signal processing

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/033,183 Division US7629967B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2005-01-11 Touch screen signal processing

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20100103143A1 true US20100103143A1 (en) 2010-04-29

Family

ID=34889525

Family Applications (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/033,183 Active 2027-08-01 US7629967B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2005-01-11 Touch screen signal processing
US12/578,165 Active 2026-06-29 US8466885B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2009-10-13 Touch screen signal processing
US12/580,409 Active 2025-04-09 US8289299B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2009-10-16 Touch screen signal processing
US12/582,092 Abandoned US20100103143A1 (en) 2003-02-14 2009-10-20 Touch screen signal processing

Family Applications Before (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/033,183 Active 2027-08-01 US7629967B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2005-01-11 Touch screen signal processing
US12/578,165 Active 2026-06-29 US8466885B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2009-10-13 Touch screen signal processing
US12/580,409 Active 2025-04-09 US8289299B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2009-10-16 Touch screen signal processing

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (4) US7629967B2 (en)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110169727A1 (en) * 2010-01-13 2011-07-14 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system and illumination system therefor
US8115753B2 (en) 2007-04-11 2012-02-14 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen system with hover and click input methods
US8149221B2 (en) 2004-05-07 2012-04-03 Next Holdings Limited Touch panel display system with illumination and detection provided from a single edge
US20120206410A1 (en) * 2011-02-15 2012-08-16 Hsun-Hao Chang Method and system for generating calibration information for an optical imaging touch display device
US8289299B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2012-10-16 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing
US8384693B2 (en) 2007-08-30 2013-02-26 Next Holdings Limited Low profile touch panel systems
US8405637B2 (en) 2008-01-07 2013-03-26 Next Holdings Limited Optical position sensing system and optical position sensor assembly with convex imaging window
US8432377B2 (en) 2007-08-30 2013-04-30 Next Holdings Limited Optical touchscreen with improved illumination
US8456447B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2013-06-04 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing
US20130141393A1 (en) * 2011-12-06 2013-06-06 Yu-Yen Chen Frameless optical touch device and image processing method for frameless optical touch device
US8508508B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2013-08-13 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing with single-point calibration
US9880668B2 (en) 2013-09-11 2018-01-30 Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd. Method for identifying input information, apparatus for identifying input information and electronic device

Families Citing this family (114)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4052498B2 (en) 1999-10-29 2008-02-27 株式会社リコー Coordinate input apparatus and method
JP2001184161A (en) 1999-12-27 2001-07-06 Ricoh Co Ltd Method and device for inputting information, writing input device, method for managing written data, method for controlling display, portable electronic writing device, and recording medium
CN1310126C (en) * 2000-07-05 2007-04-11 智能技术公司 Camera-based touch system
US6803906B1 (en) 2000-07-05 2004-10-12 Smart Technologies, Inc. Passive touch system and method of detecting user input
US8674966B2 (en) 2001-11-02 2014-03-18 Neonode Inc. ASIC controller for light-based touch screen
US9778794B2 (en) 2001-11-02 2017-10-03 Neonode Inc. Light-based touch screen
US6954197B2 (en) * 2002-11-15 2005-10-11 Smart Technologies Inc. Size/scale and orientation determination of a pointer in a camera-based touch system
US9195344B2 (en) * 2002-12-10 2015-11-24 Neonode Inc. Optical surface using a reflected image for determining three-dimensional position information
US7532206B2 (en) 2003-03-11 2009-05-12 Smart Technologies Ulc System and method for differentiating between pointers used to contact touch surface
US7411575B2 (en) * 2003-09-16 2008-08-12 Smart Technologies Ulc Gesture recognition method and touch system incorporating the same
US7274356B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2007-09-25 Smart Technologies Inc. Apparatus for determining the location of a pointer within a region of interest
US7355593B2 (en) 2004-01-02 2008-04-08 Smart Technologies, Inc. Pointer tracking across multiple overlapping coordinate input sub-regions defining a generally contiguous input region
GB2424269A (en) 2004-04-01 2006-09-20 Robert Michael Lipman Control apparatus
US7460110B2 (en) 2004-04-29 2008-12-02 Smart Technologies Ulc Dual mode touch system
US8120596B2 (en) 2004-05-21 2012-02-21 Smart Technologies Ulc Tiled touch system
US7432917B2 (en) * 2004-06-16 2008-10-07 Microsoft Corporation Calibration of an interactive display system
WO2006090386A2 (en) * 2005-02-24 2006-08-31 Vkb Inc. A virtual keyboard device
WO2008111079A2 (en) 2007-03-14 2008-09-18 Power2B, Inc. Interactive devices
US10452207B2 (en) 2005-05-18 2019-10-22 Power2B, Inc. Displays and information input devices
JP2009508205A (en) 2005-09-08 2009-02-26 パワー2ビー,インコーポレイティド Display and information input device
US9046962B2 (en) * 2005-10-31 2015-06-02 Extreme Reality Ltd. Methods, systems, apparatuses, circuits and associated computer executable code for detecting motion, position and/or orientation of objects within a defined spatial region
CN100589070C (en) * 2006-07-27 2010-02-10 广东威创视讯科技股份有限公司 Anti-interference type infrared touch device and positioning method
US9442607B2 (en) 2006-12-04 2016-09-13 Smart Technologies Inc. Interactive input system and method
US8400407B2 (en) * 2007-07-18 2013-03-19 Smart Technologies Ulc Touch panel and interactive input system incorporating the same
US8094137B2 (en) 2007-07-23 2012-01-10 Smart Technologies Ulc System and method of detecting contact on a display
TWI339808B (en) * 2007-09-07 2011-04-01 Quanta Comp Inc Method and system for distinguishing multiple touch points
US20090066657A1 (en) * 2007-09-12 2009-03-12 Richard Charles Berry Contact search touch screen
US8159458B2 (en) 2007-12-13 2012-04-17 Apple Inc. Motion tracking user interface
AR064377A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-04-01 Rovere Victor Manuel Suarez DEVICE FOR SENSING MULTIPLE CONTACT AREAS AGAINST OBJECTS SIMULTANEOUSLY
US20120075254A1 (en) * 2008-01-07 2012-03-29 Simon James Bridger Touch System Having An Uninterrupted Light Source
RU2519392C2 (en) 2008-01-11 2014-06-10 О-Нэт Вэйв Тач Лимитед Sensor device
BRPI0907219A8 (en) * 2008-01-14 2015-09-29 Avery Dennison Corp retro reflector for use in touch screen applications and position sensor systems
US8902193B2 (en) 2008-05-09 2014-12-02 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system and bezel therefor
US8248691B2 (en) * 2008-05-30 2012-08-21 Avery Dennison Corporation Infrared light transmission film
TWI423100B (en) * 2010-10-20 2014-01-11 Pixart Imaging Inc Optical sensing system
BRPI0822675B1 (en) * 2008-09-15 2019-09-17 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD
TW201030376A (en) * 2008-10-31 2010-08-16 Rpo Pty Ltd A transmissive body
US8339378B2 (en) 2008-11-05 2012-12-25 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system with multi-angle reflector
SE533704C2 (en) 2008-12-05 2010-12-07 Flatfrog Lab Ab Touch sensitive apparatus and method for operating the same
WO2010069024A1 (en) * 2008-12-15 2010-06-24 Idee Tecnologia Ltda. Electronic equipment provided with a compact optical sensing module connected to a projection module for on-board electronic equipment with touch sensitive screen and other interactive devices
KR101164193B1 (en) * 2008-12-22 2012-07-11 한국전자통신연구원 System and method for distinguishing and detecting multiple infrared signal coordinates
KR20100075327A (en) * 2008-12-24 2010-07-02 엘지디스플레이 주식회사 Touch type display device
US20100201637A1 (en) * 2009-02-11 2010-08-12 Interacta, Inc. Touch screen display system
US8917239B2 (en) 2012-10-14 2014-12-23 Neonode Inc. Removable protective cover with embedded proximity sensors
US8775023B2 (en) 2009-02-15 2014-07-08 Neanode Inc. Light-based touch controls on a steering wheel and dashboard
US8643628B1 (en) 2012-10-14 2014-02-04 Neonode Inc. Light-based proximity detection system and user interface
CN101872268A (en) * 2009-04-21 2010-10-27 鸿富锦精密工业(深圳)有限公司 Touch control device
CN102597796B (en) * 2009-06-16 2015-02-04 百安托国际有限公司 Two-dimensional position sensing systems and sensors therefor
KR101303443B1 (en) * 2009-07-07 2013-09-05 엘지디스플레이 주식회사 Liquid Crystal Display
US8692768B2 (en) 2009-07-10 2014-04-08 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system
JP5374266B2 (en) * 2009-07-22 2013-12-25 株式会社シロク Optical position detector
RU2573763C2 (en) 2009-12-11 2016-01-27 Авери Деннисон Корпорейшн Position reading systems for use in sensor displays and prismatic film used in them
US8558804B2 (en) * 2009-12-14 2013-10-15 Silicon Motion, Inc. Touch control apparatus and touch point detection method
KR101128030B1 (en) * 2009-12-14 2012-03-29 (주)누리봄 System of touch panel
EP2517090A1 (en) * 2009-12-21 2012-10-31 FlatFrog Laboratories AB Touch surface with identification of reduced performance
US20110187678A1 (en) * 2010-01-29 2011-08-04 Tyco Electronics Corporation Touch system using optical components to image multiple fields of view on an image sensor
JP2011175618A (en) * 2010-01-29 2011-09-08 Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd Optical touch panel
TW201128486A (en) * 2010-02-01 2011-08-16 Acer Inc Optical touch control display apparatus and method thereof
TWI410843B (en) * 2010-03-26 2013-10-01 Quanta Comp Inc Background image updating method and touch screen
CN102236477B (en) * 2010-04-21 2013-05-08 广达电脑股份有限公司 Background image updating method and touch screen
US20110285669A1 (en) * 2010-05-21 2011-11-24 Lassesson Kristian Electronic Devices Including Interactive Displays Implemented Using Cameras and Related Methods and Computer Program Products
TW201201079A (en) * 2010-06-23 2012-01-01 Pixart Imaging Inc Optical touch monitor
WO2012015395A1 (en) 2010-07-27 2012-02-02 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. System and method for remote touch detection
US9471179B2 (en) 2010-08-20 2016-10-18 Serafim Technologies Inc. Laser optical touch control module analog-to-digital conversion system and method of the same
JP5934216B2 (en) * 2010-09-02 2016-06-15 バーント インターナショナル リミテッド System and method for detecting and tracking radiation shielding objects on a surface
JP5815932B2 (en) * 2010-10-27 2015-11-17 京セラ株式会社 Electronics
CN102609150A (en) * 2011-01-21 2012-07-25 东莞万士达液晶显示器有限公司 Interactive projection device and operating method of interactive projection device
TWI529572B (en) * 2011-02-23 2016-04-11 原相科技股份有限公司 Method for detecting operation object and touch device
TWI441060B (en) 2011-04-14 2014-06-11 Pixart Imaging Inc Image processing method for optical touch system
US9348466B2 (en) * 2011-06-24 2016-05-24 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Touch discrimination using fisheye lens
TWI454996B (en) * 2011-08-18 2014-10-01 Au Optronics Corp Display and method of determining a position of an object applied to a three-dimensional interactive display
US9030445B2 (en) 2011-10-07 2015-05-12 Qualcomm Incorporated Vision-based interactive projection system
US10019112B2 (en) * 2011-10-25 2018-07-10 Semiconductor Components Industries, Llc Touch panels with dynamic zooming and low profile bezels
JP2013210956A (en) * 2012-03-30 2013-10-10 Ricoh Co Ltd Display device
TW201342137A (en) * 2012-04-10 2013-10-16 Pixart Imaging Inc Optical operation system
US10168835B2 (en) 2012-05-23 2019-01-01 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Spatial resolution in touch displays
TWI470512B (en) * 2012-07-13 2015-01-21 Wistron Corp Optical touch method and system thereof
US9741184B2 (en) 2012-10-14 2017-08-22 Neonode Inc. Door handle with optical proximity sensors
US9921661B2 (en) 2012-10-14 2018-03-20 Neonode Inc. Optical proximity sensor and associated user interface
US10324565B2 (en) 2013-05-30 2019-06-18 Neonode Inc. Optical proximity sensor
US10585530B2 (en) 2014-09-23 2020-03-10 Neonode Inc. Optical proximity sensor
US9164625B2 (en) 2012-10-14 2015-10-20 Neonode Inc. Proximity sensor for determining two-dimensional coordinates of a proximal object
US10282034B2 (en) 2012-10-14 2019-05-07 Neonode Inc. Touch sensitive curved and flexible displays
US9092093B2 (en) 2012-11-27 2015-07-28 Neonode Inc. Steering wheel user interface
US9122351B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2015-09-01 Verizon Patent And Licensing Inc. Apparatus for detecting proximity of object near a touchscreen
US10019113B2 (en) 2013-04-11 2018-07-10 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Tomographic processing for touch detection
US9874978B2 (en) 2013-07-12 2018-01-23 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Partial detect mode
US10126882B2 (en) 2014-01-16 2018-11-13 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab TIR-based optical touch systems of projection-type
WO2015108479A1 (en) 2014-01-16 2015-07-23 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Light coupling in tir-based optical touch systems
JP6398248B2 (en) * 2014-01-21 2018-10-03 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Position detection system and method for controlling position detection system
US10126870B2 (en) 2014-06-03 2018-11-13 Synaptics Incorporated Techniques for mitigating noise in capacitive sensing devices
EP3161594A4 (en) 2014-06-27 2018-01-17 FlatFrog Laboratories AB Detection of surface contamination
TWI562044B (en) * 2014-08-20 2016-12-11 Wistron Corp Touch display device
US9652082B1 (en) 2014-08-20 2017-05-16 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Space efficient electronic device component configurations
WO2016122385A1 (en) 2015-01-28 2016-08-04 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Dynamic touch quarantine frames
US10318074B2 (en) 2015-01-30 2019-06-11 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Touch-sensing OLED display with tilted emitters
WO2016130074A1 (en) 2015-02-09 2016-08-18 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Optical touch system comprising means for projecting and detecting light beams above and inside a transmissive panel
US10401546B2 (en) 2015-03-02 2019-09-03 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Optical component for light coupling
US9823782B2 (en) 2015-11-20 2017-11-21 International Business Machines Corporation Pre-touch localization on a reflective surface
US10606468B2 (en) 2015-11-20 2020-03-31 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamic image compensation for pre-touch localization on a reflective surface
US9733764B2 (en) 2015-11-20 2017-08-15 International Business Machines Corporation Tracking of objects using pre-touch localization on a reflective surface
EP4075246A1 (en) 2015-12-09 2022-10-19 FlatFrog Laboratories AB Stylus for optical touch system
WO2018096430A1 (en) 2016-11-24 2018-05-31 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Automatic optimisation of touch signal
LT3667475T (en) 2016-12-07 2022-11-10 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab A curved touch device
CN110300950B (en) 2017-02-06 2023-06-16 平蛙实验室股份公司 Optical coupling in touch sensing systems
US10481737B2 (en) 2017-03-22 2019-11-19 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Pen differentiation for touch display
CN110663015A (en) 2017-03-28 2020-01-07 平蛙实验室股份公司 Touch sensitive device and method for assembly
US11256371B2 (en) 2017-09-01 2022-02-22 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Optical component
WO2019172826A1 (en) 2018-03-05 2019-09-12 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab Improved touch-sensing apparatus
EP3887192B1 (en) 2018-11-28 2023-06-07 Neonode Inc. Motorist user interface sensor
US10871384B2 (en) * 2019-02-26 2020-12-22 Thomas P. Moyer Apparatus and methods utilizing emissive patterns to determine positional information
US11842014B2 (en) 2019-12-31 2023-12-12 Neonode Inc. Contactless touch input system
JP2023512682A (en) 2020-02-10 2023-03-28 フラットフロッグ ラボラトリーズ アーベー Improved touch detector
KR20230074269A (en) 2020-09-30 2023-05-26 네오노드, 인크. optical touch sensor

Citations (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4782328A (en) * 1986-10-02 1988-11-01 Product Development Services, Incorporated Ambient-light-responsive touch screen data input method and system
US5317140A (en) * 1992-11-24 1994-05-31 Dunthorn David I Diffusion-assisted position location particularly for visual pen detection
US5484966A (en) * 1993-12-07 1996-01-16 At&T Corp. Sensing stylus position using single 1-D image sensor
US5926239A (en) * 1996-08-16 1999-07-20 Si Diamond Technology, Inc. Backlights for color liquid crystal displays
US20020097384A1 (en) * 1998-01-27 2002-07-25 Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd. Photograph printing device, electronic image input device, film scanner, scratch recognition method, memory medium recording scratch recognition program, and image restoration method
US6429856B1 (en) * 1998-05-11 2002-08-06 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Coordinate position inputting/detecting device, a method for inputting/detecting the coordinate position, and a display board system
US6677934B1 (en) * 1999-07-30 2004-01-13 L-3 Communications Infrared touch panel with improved sunlight rejection
US6760009B2 (en) * 1998-06-09 2004-07-06 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Coordinate position inputting/detecting device, a method for inputting/detecting the coordinate position, and a display board system
US6838657B2 (en) * 2000-04-14 2005-01-04 Fujitsu Limited Optical position detecting device and recording medium
US20050078240A1 (en) * 2003-08-29 2005-04-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
US20080297595A1 (en) * 2003-05-30 2008-12-04 Hildebrandt Peter W Visual communication system
US20090122027A1 (en) * 2004-05-07 2009-05-14 John Newton Touch Panel Display System with Illumination and Detection Provided from a Single Edge
US20100110005A1 (en) * 2008-11-05 2010-05-06 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system with multi-angle reflector
US20110095977A1 (en) * 2009-10-23 2011-04-28 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system incorporating multi-angle reflecting structure
US20110199387A1 (en) * 2009-11-24 2011-08-18 John David Newton Activating Features on an Imaging Device Based on Manipulations
US20110199335A1 (en) * 2010-02-12 2011-08-18 Bo Li Determining a Position of an Object Using a Single Camera
US8115753B2 (en) * 2007-04-11 2012-02-14 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen system with hover and click input methods
US8289299B2 (en) * 2003-02-14 2012-10-16 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing
US8456447B2 (en) * 2003-02-14 2013-06-04 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing

Family Cites Families (483)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US844152A (en) 1906-02-21 1907-02-12 William Jay Little Camera.
US2407680A (en) 1945-03-02 1946-09-17 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Reflex light reflector
US2769374A (en) 1951-10-19 1956-11-06 Sick Erwin Electrical light screen
US3025406A (en) 1959-02-05 1962-03-13 Flightex Fabrics Inc Light screen for ballistic uses
US3187185A (en) 1960-12-22 1965-06-01 United States Steel Corp Apparatus for determining surface contour
US3128340A (en) 1961-12-21 1964-04-07 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Electrographic transmitter
DE1221927B (en) 1964-05-06 1966-07-28 Sick Erwin Light barrier, in particular accident protection device
US3478220A (en) 1966-05-11 1969-11-11 Us Navy Electro-optic cursor manipulator with associated logic circuitry
US3563771A (en) 1968-02-28 1971-02-16 Minnesota Mining & Mfg Novel black glass bead products
US3613066A (en) 1968-10-22 1971-10-12 Cii Computer input equipment
US3810804A (en) 1970-09-29 1974-05-14 Rowland Dev Corp Method of making retroreflective material
US3775560A (en) 1972-02-28 1973-11-27 Univ Illinois Infrared light beam x-y position encoder for display devices
US3764813A (en) 1972-04-12 1973-10-09 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Coordinate detection system
US3830682A (en) 1972-11-06 1974-08-20 Rowland Dev Corp Retroreflecting signs and the like with novel day-night coloration
US3860754A (en) 1973-05-07 1975-01-14 Univ Illinois Light beam position encoder apparatus
US3857022A (en) 1973-11-15 1974-12-24 Integrated Sciences Corp Graphic input device
DE2550653C3 (en) 1975-11-11 1978-12-21 Erwin Sick Gmbh Optik-Elektronik, 7808 Waldkirch Rotating beam light curtain
US4144449A (en) 1977-07-08 1979-03-13 Sperry Rand Corporation Position detection apparatus
GB1575420A (en) 1978-02-01 1980-09-24 Marconi Co Ltd Position resolving apparatus
CA1109539A (en) 1978-04-05 1981-09-22 Her Majesty The Queen, In Right Of Canada, As Represented By The Ministe R Of Communications Touch sensitive computer input device
US4243879A (en) 1978-04-24 1981-01-06 Carroll Manufacturing Corporation Touch panel with ambient light sampling
US4243618A (en) 1978-10-23 1981-01-06 Avery International Corporation Method for forming retroreflective sheeting
US4420261A (en) 1980-09-02 1983-12-13 Lowbar, Inc. Optical position location apparatus
US4468694A (en) 1980-12-30 1984-08-28 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus and method for remote displaying and sensing of information using shadow parallax
US4329037A (en) 1981-06-08 1982-05-11 Container Corporation Of America Camera structure
US4558313A (en) 1981-12-31 1985-12-10 International Business Machines Corporation Indicator to data processing interface
US4459476A (en) 1982-01-19 1984-07-10 Zenith Radio Corporation Co-ordinate detection system
US4542375A (en) 1982-02-11 1985-09-17 At&T Bell Laboratories Deformable touch sensitive surface
US4601861A (en) 1982-09-30 1986-07-22 Amerace Corporation Methods and apparatus for embossing a precision optical pattern in a resinous sheet or laminate
US4486363A (en) 1982-09-30 1984-12-04 Amerace Corporation Method and apparatus for embossing a precision optical pattern in a resinous sheet
US4507557A (en) 1983-04-01 1985-03-26 Siemens Corporate Research & Support, Inc. Non-contact X,Y digitizer using two dynamic ram imagers
US4553842A (en) 1983-05-09 1985-11-19 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Two dimensional optical position indicating apparatus
FR2554261B1 (en) 1983-10-28 1987-04-30 Thomson Csf SENSITIVE DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING A SCANNING SCREEN
US4550250A (en) 1983-11-14 1985-10-29 Hei, Inc. Cordless digital graphics input device
US4766424A (en) 1984-03-30 1988-08-23 Zenith Electronics Corporation Light collecting and redirecting means
US4672364A (en) 1984-06-18 1987-06-09 Carroll Touch Inc Touch input device having power profiling
US4943806A (en) 1984-06-18 1990-07-24 Carroll Touch Inc. Touch input device having digital ambient light sampling
US4703316A (en) 1984-10-18 1987-10-27 Tektronix, Inc. Touch panel input apparatus
JPS61115123A (en) 1984-11-06 1986-06-02 アリー ジエイ.カーツジグ Contact screen
US4673918A (en) 1984-11-29 1987-06-16 Zenith Electronics Corporation Light guide having focusing element and internal reflector on same face
US4710760A (en) 1985-03-07 1987-12-01 American Telephone And Telegraph Company, At&T Information Systems Inc. Photoelastic touch-sensitive screen
US4688933A (en) 1985-05-10 1987-08-25 The Laitram Corporation Electro-optical position determining system
DE3616490A1 (en) 1985-05-17 1986-11-27 Alps Electric Co Ltd OPTICAL COORDINATE INPUT DEVICE
JPS61262917A (en) 1985-05-17 1986-11-20 Alps Electric Co Ltd Filter for photoelectric touch panel
US4980547A (en) 1985-05-24 1990-12-25 Wells-Gardner Electronics Corp. Light distribution and detection apparatus
SE8602233L (en) 1985-06-05 1986-12-06 Illinois Tool Works OPTICAL DETERMINATION DEVICE
US4762990A (en) 1985-10-21 1988-08-09 International Business Machines Corporation Data processing input interface determining position of object
US4831455A (en) 1986-02-21 1989-05-16 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Picture reading apparatus
US4822145A (en) 1986-05-14 1989-04-18 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Method and apparatus utilizing waveguide and polarized light for display of dynamic images
JPS6375918A (en) 1986-09-19 1988-04-06 Alps Electric Co Ltd Coordinate input device
US4868912A (en) 1986-11-26 1989-09-19 Digital Electronics Infrared touch panel
US4893120A (en) * 1986-11-26 1990-01-09 Digital Electronics Corporation Touch panel using modulated light
US5025411A (en) 1986-12-08 1991-06-18 Tektronix, Inc. Method which provides debounced inputs from a touch screen panel by waiting until each x and y coordinates stop altering
US4746770A (en) 1987-02-17 1988-05-24 Sensor Frame Incorporated Method and apparatus for isolating and manipulating graphic objects on computer video monitor
US4820050A (en) 1987-04-28 1989-04-11 Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation Solid-state optical position determining apparatus
US4811004A (en) 1987-05-11 1989-03-07 Dale Electronics, Inc. Touch panel system and method for using same
US4990901A (en) 1987-08-25 1991-02-05 Technomarket, Inc. Liquid crystal display touch screen having electronics on one side
US4928094A (en) 1988-01-25 1990-05-22 The Boeing Company Battery-operated data collection apparatus having an infrared touch screen data entry device
JP2705156B2 (en) 1988-03-07 1998-01-26 ソニー株式会社 Touch panel device
JPH01314324A (en) 1988-06-14 1989-12-19 Sony Corp Touch panel device
US5164714A (en) 1988-06-20 1992-11-17 Amp Incorporated Modulated touch entry system and method with synchronous detection
JPH01320521A (en) 1988-06-22 1989-12-26 Wacom Co Ltd Electronic blackboard device and its writing tool or the like
US4851664A (en) 1988-06-27 1989-07-25 United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Narrow band and wide angle hemispherical interference optical filter
US5109435A (en) 1988-08-08 1992-04-28 Hughes Aircraft Company Segmentation method for use against moving objects
US5196835A (en) 1988-09-30 1993-03-23 International Business Machines Corporation Laser touch panel reflective surface aberration cancelling
US4916308A (en) 1988-10-17 1990-04-10 Tektronix, Inc. Integrated liquid crystal display and optical touch panel
DE3836429A1 (en) 1988-10-26 1990-05-03 Paul Nolden Sensor matrix for screens
DE3932030A1 (en) 1989-09-26 1991-04-04 Philips Patentverwaltung HIGH PRESSURE GAS DISCHARGE LAMP
US5179369A (en) 1989-12-06 1993-01-12 Dale Electronics, Inc. Touch panel and method for controlling same
JP2917155B2 (en) 1989-12-18 1999-07-12 株式会社日立製作所 Image combining device and method
US5130794A (en) 1990-03-29 1992-07-14 Ritchey Kurtis J Panoramic display system
US5105186A (en) 1990-05-25 1992-04-14 Hewlett-Packard Company Lcd touch screen
US5043751A (en) 1990-06-08 1991-08-27 Richard Rice Self-bracing credit-card-size camera for single-shot emergency use, and method for manufacture and distribution
JPH0458316A (en) 1990-06-28 1992-02-25 Toshiba Corp Information processor
US5162783A (en) 1990-07-23 1992-11-10 Akzo N.V. Infrared touch screen device for a video monitor
US5025314A (en) 1990-07-30 1991-06-18 Xerox Corporation Apparatus allowing remote interactive use of a plurality of writing surfaces
US5103085A (en) 1990-09-05 1992-04-07 Zimmerman Thomas G Photoelectric proximity detector and switch
US6736321B2 (en) 1995-12-18 2004-05-18 Metrologic Instruments, Inc. Planar laser illumination and imaging (PLIIM) system employing wavefront control methods for reducing the power of speckle-pattern noise digital images acquired by said system
US5103249A (en) 1990-10-24 1992-04-07 Lauren Keene Folding disposable camera apparatus in combination with instant film
US5239152A (en) 1990-10-30 1993-08-24 Donnelly Corporation Touch sensor panel with hidden graphic mode
US5162618A (en) 1990-11-16 1992-11-10 Exzec, Inc. Acoustic touch position sensor with first order lamb wave reflective arrays
US5148015A (en) 1990-12-24 1992-09-15 Pitney Bowes Inc. Touch switch input device for computer system
US5239373A (en) 1990-12-26 1993-08-24 Xerox Corporation Video computational shared drawing space
JP3318897B2 (en) 1991-01-29 2002-08-26 ソニー株式会社 Remote controller with video monitor
US5097516A (en) 1991-02-28 1992-03-17 At&T Bell Laboratories Technique for illuminating a surface with a gradient intensity line of light to achieve enhanced two-dimensional imaging
US5168531A (en) 1991-06-27 1992-12-01 Digital Equipment Corporation Real-time recognition of pointing information from video
US5196836A (en) 1991-06-28 1993-03-23 International Business Machines Corporation Touch panel display
US5200861A (en) 1991-09-27 1993-04-06 U.S. Precision Lens Incorporated Lens systems
US5272470A (en) 1991-10-10 1993-12-21 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus and method for reducing system overhead while inking strokes in a finger or stylus-based input device of a data processing system
US6141000A (en) 1991-10-21 2000-10-31 Smart Technologies Inc. Projection display system with touch sensing on screen, computer assisted alignment correction and network conferencing
US5448263A (en) 1991-10-21 1995-09-05 Smart Technologies Inc. Interactive display system
CA2367864C (en) 1991-10-21 2010-05-25 Smart Technologies Inc. Interactive display apparatus for displaying computer-generated image projected thereon
GB2263765A (en) 1992-01-25 1993-08-04 Paul Philip Oliver Touch screen systems
GB9201949D0 (en) 1992-01-30 1992-03-18 Jenkin Michael Large-scale,touch-sensitive video display
US5200851A (en) 1992-02-13 1993-04-06 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Infrared reflecting cube-cornered sheeting
US5483261A (en) 1992-02-14 1996-01-09 Itu Research, Inc. Graphical input controller and method with rear screen image detection
US5233502A (en) 1992-03-11 1993-08-03 International Business Machines Corp. Removable and reversible display device for portable computer
US5880411A (en) 1992-06-08 1999-03-09 Synaptics, Incorporated Object position detector with edge motion feature and gesture recognition
KR940001227A (en) 1992-06-15 1994-01-11 에프. 제이. 스미트 Touch screen devices
US5605406A (en) 1992-08-24 1997-02-25 Bowen; James H. Computer input devices with light activated switches and light emitter protection
US5724743A (en) 1992-09-04 1998-03-10 Snap-On Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for determining the alignment of motor vehicle wheels
JP3244798B2 (en) 1992-09-08 2002-01-07 株式会社東芝 Moving image processing device
US5982352A (en) 1992-09-18 1999-11-09 Pryor; Timothy R. Method for providing human input to a computer
US5422494A (en) 1992-10-16 1995-06-06 The Scott Fetzer Company Barrier transmission apparatus
EP0594146B1 (en) 1992-10-22 2002-01-09 Advanced Interconnection Technology, Inc. System for automatic optical inspection of wire scribed circuit boards
US5751355A (en) 1993-01-20 1998-05-12 Elmo Company Limited Camera presentation supporting system
US5374971A (en) 1993-03-12 1994-12-20 Picturetel Corporation Two-view video camera stand and support method
US5502568A (en) 1993-03-23 1996-03-26 Wacom Co., Ltd. Optical position detecting unit, optical coordinate input unit and optical position detecting method employing a pattern having a sequence of 1's and 0's
US5359155A (en) 1993-03-25 1994-10-25 Tiger Scientific Corp. Illumination apparatus for a digitizer tablet
US5729704A (en) 1993-07-21 1998-03-17 Xerox Corporation User-directed method for operating on an object-based model data structure through a second contextual image
US5490655A (en) 1993-09-16 1996-02-13 Monger Mounts, Inc. Video/data projector and monitor ceiling/wall mount
US7310072B2 (en) 1993-10-22 2007-12-18 Kopin Corporation Portable communication display device
JP3419050B2 (en) 1993-11-19 2003-06-23 株式会社日立製作所 Input device
US5739850A (en) 1993-11-30 1998-04-14 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Apparatus for improving the image and sound processing capabilities of a camera
US5712658A (en) 1993-12-28 1998-01-27 Hitachi, Ltd. Information presentation apparatus and information display apparatus
GB2286100A (en) 1994-01-19 1995-08-02 Ibm Touch-sensitive display apparatus
US5457289A (en) 1994-03-16 1995-10-10 Microtouch Systems, Inc. Frontally shielded capacitive touch sensor system
US5577733A (en) 1994-04-08 1996-11-26 Downing; Dennis L. Targeting system
KR100300397B1 (en) 1994-04-21 2001-10-22 김순택 System having touch panel and digitizer function and driving method
US5771039A (en) 1994-06-06 1998-06-23 Ditzik; Richard J. Direct view display device integration techniques
US5525764A (en) 1994-06-09 1996-06-11 Junkins; John L. Laser scanning graphic input system
US5528263A (en) 1994-06-15 1996-06-18 Daniel M. Platzker Interactive projected video image display system
US5737740A (en) 1994-06-27 1998-04-07 Numonics Apparatus and method for processing electronic documents
JPH0863326A (en) 1994-08-22 1996-03-08 Hitachi Ltd Image processing device/method
US5528290A (en) 1994-09-09 1996-06-18 Xerox Corporation Device for transcribing images on a board using a camera based board scanner
JPH0888785A (en) 1994-09-16 1996-04-02 Toshiba Corp Image input device
US6258443B1 (en) 1994-09-28 2001-07-10 Reflexite Corporation Textured retroreflective prism structures and molds for forming same
US6670985B2 (en) 1994-09-28 2003-12-30 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image sensing apparatus including a card device connectable to an information processing device
US5686942A (en) 1994-12-01 1997-11-11 National Semiconductor Corporation Remote computer input system which detects point source on operator
DE69522913T2 (en) 1994-12-08 2002-03-28 Hyundai Electronics America Device and method for electrostatic pen
JPH08237407A (en) 1994-12-09 1996-09-13 Xerox Corp Method of positioning relative alignment of picture tile andcorrecting penetrative distortion
US5638092A (en) 1994-12-20 1997-06-10 Eng; Tommy K. Cursor control system
JPH08179888A (en) 1994-12-21 1996-07-12 Hitachi Ltd Input device for large screen display
US5554828A (en) 1995-01-03 1996-09-10 Texas Instruments Inc. Integration of pen-based capability into a field emission device system
US5804773A (en) 1995-02-16 1998-09-08 Elo Touchsystems, Inc. Simplified touch screen with improved position accuracy
US5594469A (en) 1995-02-21 1997-01-14 Mitsubishi Electric Information Technology Center America Inc. Hand gesture machine control system
US5736686A (en) 1995-03-01 1998-04-07 Gtco Corporation Illumination apparatus for a digitizer tablet with improved light panel
JP3098926B2 (en) 1995-03-17 2000-10-16 株式会社日立製作所 Anti-reflective coating
US5591945A (en) 1995-04-19 1997-01-07 Elo Touchsystems, Inc. Acoustic touch position sensor using higher order horizontally polarized shear wave propagation
EP0823683B1 (en) 1995-04-28 2005-07-06 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Interface device
JP3436828B2 (en) 1995-05-08 2003-08-18 株式会社リコー Image processing device
US5698845A (en) 1995-05-23 1997-12-16 Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. Optical detection apparatus for detecting light interruption
US6031524A (en) 1995-06-07 2000-02-29 Intermec Ip Corp. Hand-held portable data terminal having removably interchangeable, washable, user-replaceable components with liquid-impervious seal
US5734375A (en) 1995-06-07 1998-03-31 Compaq Computer Corporation Keyboard-compatible optical determination of object's position
US5786810A (en) 1995-06-07 1998-07-28 Compaq Computer Corporation Method of determining an object's position and associated apparatus
US5764223A (en) 1995-06-07 1998-06-09 International Business Machines Corporation Touch-screen input device using the monitor as a light source operating at an intermediate frequency
JPH09106320A (en) 1995-08-24 1997-04-22 Symbios Logic Inc Apparatus and method for input of graphic
US5818424A (en) 1995-10-19 1998-10-06 International Business Machines Corporation Rod shaped device and data acquisition apparatus for determining the position and orientation of an object in space
US6384743B1 (en) 1999-06-14 2002-05-07 Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Touch screen for the vision-impaired
US5825352A (en) 1996-01-04 1998-10-20 Logitech, Inc. Multiple fingers contact sensing method for emulating mouse buttons and mouse operations on a touch sensor pad
JPH09190284A (en) 1996-01-11 1997-07-22 Canon Inc Information processor and information processing method
US5706132A (en) 1996-01-19 1998-01-06 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Dual orientation retroreflective sheeting
TW394879B (en) 1996-02-09 2000-06-21 Sega Enterprises Kk Graphics processing system and its data input device
US5739479A (en) 1996-03-04 1998-04-14 Elo Touchsystems, Inc. Gentle-bevel flat acoustic wave touch sensor
US5940065A (en) 1996-03-15 1999-08-17 Elo Touchsystems, Inc. Algorithmic compensation system and method therefor for a touch sensor panel
US5784054A (en) 1996-03-22 1998-07-21 Elo Toughsystems, Inc. Surface acoustic wave touchscreen with housing seal
US6015214A (en) 1996-05-30 2000-01-18 Stimsonite Corporation Retroreflective articles having microcubes, and tools and methods for forming microcubes
US7098392B2 (en) 1996-07-10 2006-08-29 Sitrick David H Electronic image visualization system and communication methodologies
US6075905A (en) 1996-07-17 2000-06-13 Sarnoff Corporation Method and apparatus for mosaic image construction
US6002808A (en) 1996-07-26 1999-12-14 Mitsubishi Electric Information Technology Center America, Inc. Hand gesture control system
JP3217972B2 (en) 1996-08-02 2001-10-15 松下電器産業株式会社 Mobile communication device with touch panel
US6208329B1 (en) 1996-08-13 2001-03-27 Lsi Logic Corporation Supplemental mouse button emulation system, method and apparatus for a coordinate based data input device
KR100269070B1 (en) 1996-08-30 2000-10-16 모리 하루오 Car navigation system
US5745116A (en) 1996-09-09 1998-04-28 Motorola, Inc. Intuitive gesture-based graphical user interface
US5936615A (en) 1996-09-12 1999-08-10 Digital Equipment Corporation Image-based touchscreen
US5819201A (en) 1996-09-13 1998-10-06 Magellan Dis, Inc. Navigation system with vehicle service information
JPH10124689A (en) 1996-10-15 1998-05-15 Nikon Corp Image recorder/reproducer
JP3943674B2 (en) 1996-10-25 2007-07-11 キヤノン株式会社 Camera control system, camera server and control method thereof
WO1998019201A1 (en) 1996-10-29 1998-05-07 Xeotron Corporation Optical device utilizing optical waveguides and mechanical light-switches
GB9623566D0 (en) 1996-11-13 1997-01-08 Kodak Ltd A camera
US6061177A (en) 1996-12-19 2000-05-09 Fujimoto; Kenneth Noboru Integrated computer display and graphical input apparatus and method
EP0849697B1 (en) 1996-12-20 2003-02-12 Hitachi Europe Limited A hand gesture recognition system and method
BR9714435B1 (en) 1996-12-25 2010-07-27 acoustic touch device, substrate for an acoustic sensitive device and process of detecting touch on a substrate.
US6252989B1 (en) 1997-01-07 2001-06-26 Board Of The Regents, The University Of Texas System Foveated image coding system and method for image bandwidth reduction
US6067080A (en) 1997-02-21 2000-05-23 Electronics For Imaging Retrofittable apparatus for converting a substantially planar surface into an electronic data capture device
JP3624070B2 (en) 1997-03-07 2005-02-23 キヤノン株式会社 Coordinate input device and control method thereof
US6122865A (en) 1997-03-13 2000-09-26 Steelcase Development Inc. Workspace display
US5914709A (en) 1997-03-14 1999-06-22 Poa Sana, Llc User input device for a computer system
JP3244017B2 (en) 1997-03-25 2002-01-07 宇部興産株式会社 Method for producing electrolyte solution for lithium secondary battery
WO1998044316A1 (en) 1997-04-02 1998-10-08 Goszyk Kurt A Adjustable area coordinate position data-capture system
US6104387A (en) 1997-05-14 2000-08-15 Virtual Ink Corporation Transcription system
JP3876942B2 (en) 1997-06-13 2007-02-07 株式会社ワコム Optical digitizer
US6346966B1 (en) 1997-07-07 2002-02-12 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Image acquisition system for machine vision applications
US6229529B1 (en) 1997-07-11 2001-05-08 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Write point detecting circuit to detect multiple write points
US5790910A (en) 1997-08-04 1998-08-04 Peerless Industries, Inc. Camera mounting apparatus
EP0897161B1 (en) 1997-08-07 2007-10-10 Fujitsu Limited Optical scanning-type touch panel
US6161066A (en) 1997-08-18 2000-12-12 The Texas A&M University System Advanced law enforcement and response technology
US20020036617A1 (en) 1998-08-21 2002-03-28 Timothy R. Pryor Novel man machine interfaces and applications
US6720949B1 (en) 1997-08-22 2004-04-13 Timothy R. Pryor Man machine interfaces and applications
US6243074B1 (en) 1997-08-29 2001-06-05 Xerox Corporation Handedness detection for a physical manipulatory grammar
US6072494A (en) 1997-10-15 2000-06-06 Electric Planet, Inc. Method and apparatus for real-time gesture recognition
US6215477B1 (en) 1997-10-22 2001-04-10 Smart Technologies Inc. Touch sensitive display panel
CA2219886A1 (en) 1997-10-31 1999-04-30 Smart Technologies Inc. Method and system for interfacing applications software with electronic writeboard
JP3794180B2 (en) 1997-11-11 2006-07-05 セイコーエプソン株式会社 Coordinate input system and coordinate input device
TW449709B (en) 1997-11-17 2001-08-11 Hewlett Packard Co A method for distinguishing a contact input
US6310610B1 (en) 1997-12-04 2001-10-30 Nortel Networks Limited Intelligent touch display
EP1717684A3 (en) 1998-01-26 2008-01-23 Fingerworks, Inc. Method and apparatus for integrating manual input
US7614008B2 (en) 2004-07-30 2009-11-03 Apple Inc. Operation of a computer with touch screen interface
JPH11212692A (en) 1998-01-28 1999-08-06 Ricoh Co Ltd Touch panel input device and graphical user interface method
US6226035B1 (en) 1998-03-04 2001-05-01 Cyclo Vision Technologies, Inc. Adjustable imaging system with wide angle capability
US6222175B1 (en) 1998-03-10 2001-04-24 Photobit Corporation Charge-domain analog readout for an image sensor
US6031531A (en) 1998-04-06 2000-02-29 International Business Machines Corporation Method and system in a graphical user interface for facilitating cursor object movement for physically challenged computer users
CA2268208C (en) 1998-04-06 2011-06-14 Smart Technologies, Inc. Method for erasing on an electronic writeboard
CA2267733A1 (en) 1998-04-06 1999-10-06 Smart Technologies, Inc. Method for editing objects representing writing on an electronic writeboard
US6020878A (en) * 1998-06-01 2000-02-01 Motorola, Inc. Selective call radio with hinged touchpad
US6496122B2 (en) 1998-06-26 2002-12-17 Sharp Laboratories Of America, Inc. Image display and remote control system capable of displaying two distinct images
US6064354A (en) 1998-07-01 2000-05-16 Deluca; Michael Joseph Stereoscopic user interface method and apparatus
JP2000043484A (en) 1998-07-30 2000-02-15 Ricoh Co Ltd Electronic whiteboard system
CA2305619C (en) 1998-07-31 2008-05-20 Seikagaku Corporation Novel glycosaminoglycan and pharmaceutical composition using the same as active ingredient
CA2340723A1 (en) 1998-08-18 2000-03-02 Digital Ink, Inc. Handwriting device with detection sensors for absolute and relative positioning
US7057647B1 (en) 2000-06-14 2006-06-06 E-Watch, Inc. Dual-mode camera system for day/night or variable zoom operation
JP4016526B2 (en) 1998-09-08 2007-12-05 富士ゼロックス株式会社 3D object identification device
JP2000089913A (en) 1998-09-08 2000-03-31 Gunze Ltd Touch panel input coordinate converting device
US6570612B1 (en) 1998-09-21 2003-05-27 Bank One, Na, As Administrative Agent System and method for color normalization of board images
DE19845030A1 (en) 1998-09-30 2000-04-20 Siemens Ag Imaging system for reproduction of medical image information
US6972753B1 (en) 1998-10-02 2005-12-06 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Touch panel, display device provided with touch panel and electronic equipment provided with display device
US6690357B1 (en) 1998-10-07 2004-02-10 Intel Corporation Input device using scanning sensors
US6731270B2 (en) 1998-10-21 2004-05-04 Luidia Inc. Piezoelectric transducer for data entry device
US6741267B1 (en) 1998-10-30 2004-05-25 Smart Technologies, Inc. Keyboard for an electronic writeboard and method
CA2252302C (en) 1998-10-30 2009-01-20 Smart Technologies Inc. Keyboard for an electronic writeboard and method
US6414673B1 (en) 1998-11-10 2002-07-02 Tidenet, Inc. Transmitter pen location system
JP4007705B2 (en) 1998-11-20 2007-11-14 富士通株式会社 Optical scanning touch panel
DE19856007A1 (en) 1998-12-04 2000-06-21 Bayer Ag Display device with touch sensor
US6147678A (en) 1998-12-09 2000-11-14 Lucent Technologies Inc. Video hand image-three-dimensional computer interface with multiple degrees of freedom
JP4493774B2 (en) 1998-12-28 2010-06-30 株式会社半導体エネルギー研究所 Electronics
US6597348B1 (en) 1998-12-28 2003-07-22 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Information-processing device
US6633328B1 (en) 1999-01-05 2003-10-14 Steris Corporation Surgical lighting system with integrated digital video camera
US6335724B1 (en) 1999-01-29 2002-01-01 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Method and device for inputting coordinate-position and a display board system
JP2000222110A (en) 1999-01-29 2000-08-11 Ricoh Elemex Corp Coordinate input device
JP4093665B2 (en) 1999-02-04 2008-06-04 リコーエレメックス株式会社 Coordinate detection device
JP4043128B2 (en) 1999-02-24 2008-02-06 富士通株式会社 Optical scanning touch panel
US6530664B2 (en) 1999-03-03 2003-03-11 3M Innovative Properties Company Integrated front projection system with enhanced dry erase screen configuration
US6179426B1 (en) 1999-03-03 2001-01-30 3M Innovative Properties Company Integrated front projection system
US6545669B1 (en) 1999-03-26 2003-04-08 Husam Kinawi Object-drag continuity between discontinuous touch-screens
JP3481498B2 (en) 1999-04-28 2003-12-22 日本航空電子工業株式会社 Optical touch panel
US6614422B1 (en) 1999-11-04 2003-09-02 Canesta, Inc. Method and apparatus for entering data using a virtual input device
JP3830121B2 (en) 1999-06-10 2006-10-04 株式会社 ニューコム Optical unit for object detection and position coordinate input device using the same
JP3054618B2 (en) 1999-06-11 2000-06-19 松下電器産業株式会社 Communication terminal device
TW459192B (en) 1999-06-25 2001-10-11 Toshiba Corp Electronic apparatus and electronic system provided with the same
JP2001014091A (en) 1999-06-30 2001-01-19 Ricoh Co Ltd Coordinate input device
JP3986710B2 (en) 1999-07-15 2007-10-03 株式会社リコー Coordinate detection device
US6245700B1 (en) 1999-07-27 2001-06-12 3M Innovative Properties Company Transparent microspheres
JP2001060145A (en) 1999-08-23 2001-03-06 Ricoh Co Ltd Coordinate input and detection system and alignment adjusting method therefor
JP4083941B2 (en) 1999-09-03 2008-04-30 株式会社リコー Coordinate input device
JP2001075735A (en) 1999-09-06 2001-03-23 Canon Inc Coordinate input device, its method and computer readable memory
US6727885B1 (en) 1999-09-07 2004-04-27 Nikon Corporation Graphical user interface and position or attitude detector
JP3905670B2 (en) 1999-09-10 2007-04-18 株式会社リコー Coordinate input detection apparatus, information storage medium, and coordinate input detection method
JP4094794B2 (en) 1999-09-10 2008-06-04 株式会社リコー Coordinate detection apparatus, information storage medium, and coordinate detection method
JP4057200B2 (en) 1999-09-10 2008-03-05 株式会社リコー Coordinate input device and recording medium for coordinate input device
US6512838B1 (en) 1999-09-22 2003-01-28 Canesta, Inc. Methods for enhancing performance and data acquired from three-dimensional image systems
WO2003007049A1 (en) 1999-10-05 2003-01-23 Iridigm Display Corporation Photonic mems and structures
JP4052498B2 (en) 1999-10-29 2008-02-27 株式会社リコー Coordinate input apparatus and method
US6710770B2 (en) 2000-02-11 2004-03-23 Canesta, Inc. Quasi-three-dimensional method and apparatus to detect and localize interaction of user-object and virtual transfer device
JP3819654B2 (en) 1999-11-11 2006-09-13 株式会社シロク Optical digitizer with indicator identification function
US6328270B1 (en) 1999-11-12 2001-12-11 Elbex Video Ltd. Swivel joint with cable passage for a television camera or a case
MXPA02005431A (en) 1999-12-02 2003-02-12 Elo Touchsystems Inc Apparatus and method to improve resolution of infrared touch systems.
JP2001166874A (en) 1999-12-10 2001-06-22 Tsutomu Kimura Input device
JP2001209487A (en) 2000-01-25 2001-08-03 Uw:Kk Handwriting communication system, and handwriting input and handwriting display device used for the system
US6529189B1 (en) 2000-02-08 2003-03-04 International Business Machines Corporation Touch screen stylus with IR-coupled selection buttons
JP3881148B2 (en) 2000-02-18 2007-02-14 株式会社リコー Photodetection device for coordinate detection, coordinate input / detection device, electronic blackboard, mounting position detection method, and storage medium
JP3934846B2 (en) 2000-03-06 2007-06-20 株式会社リコー Coordinate input / detection device, electronic blackboard system, light receiving element positional deviation correction method, and storage medium
JP2001265516A (en) 2000-03-16 2001-09-28 Ricoh Co Ltd Coordinate input device
JP4094796B2 (en) 2000-03-31 2008-06-04 株式会社リコー Coordinate input system, method for controlling coordinate input system, and computer-readable recording medium recording program for causing computer to execute the method
JP2001282445A (en) 2000-03-31 2001-10-12 Ricoh Co Ltd Coordinate input/detecting device and information display input device
JP3834766B2 (en) 2000-04-03 2006-10-18 独立行政法人科学技術振興機構 Man machine interface system
US6624833B1 (en) 2000-04-17 2003-09-23 Lucent Technologies Inc. Gesture-based input interface system with shadow detection
US7084868B2 (en) 2000-04-26 2006-08-01 University Of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc. System and method for 3-D digital reconstruction of an oral cavity from a sequence of 2-D images
US7859519B2 (en) 2000-05-01 2010-12-28 Tulbert David J Human-machine interface
US6803900B1 (en) 2000-05-12 2004-10-12 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Input and display device
US6864882B2 (en) 2000-05-24 2005-03-08 Next Holdings Limited Protected touch panel display system
WO2001093182A1 (en) 2000-05-29 2001-12-06 Vkb Inc. Virtual data entry device and method for input of alphanumeric and other data
US6650318B1 (en) 2000-10-13 2003-11-18 Vkb Inc. Data input device
USRE40368E1 (en) 2000-05-29 2008-06-10 Vkb Inc. Data input device
US6690397B1 (en) 2000-06-05 2004-02-10 Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. System for regional data association and presentation and method for the same
US6690363B2 (en) 2000-06-19 2004-02-10 Next Holdings Limited Touch panel display system
US6803906B1 (en) 2000-07-05 2004-10-12 Smart Technologies, Inc. Passive touch system and method of detecting user input
CN1310126C (en) 2000-07-05 2007-04-11 智能技术公司 Camera-based touch system
US7466843B2 (en) 2000-07-07 2008-12-16 Pryor Timothy R Multi-functional control and entertainment systems
US6531999B1 (en) 2000-07-13 2003-03-11 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Pointing direction calibration in video conferencing and other camera-based system applications
US7227526B2 (en) 2000-07-24 2007-06-05 Gesturetek, Inc. Video-based image control system
US6406758B1 (en) 2000-07-25 2002-06-18 3M Innovative Properties Company Method of applying a protective coating to a touch screen panel
JP3851763B2 (en) 2000-08-04 2006-11-29 株式会社シロク Position detection device, position indicator, position detection method, and pen-down detection method
JP4208394B2 (en) 2000-08-09 2009-01-14 株式会社リコー Coordinate input device
US6747663B2 (en) 2000-08-24 2004-06-08 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Interpolating sample values from known triangle vertex values
JP3793014B2 (en) 2000-10-03 2006-07-05 キヤノン株式会社 Electron source manufacturing apparatus, electron source manufacturing method, and image forming apparatus manufacturing method
US7058204B2 (en) 2000-10-03 2006-06-06 Gesturetek, Inc. Multiple camera control system
JP3612702B2 (en) 2000-10-05 2005-01-19 日産自動車株式会社 Infrared transmitting film and infrared sensor cover using the same
JP4538933B2 (en) 2000-10-06 2010-09-08 三菱電機株式会社 Liquid crystal display with position detection function
GB2386724A (en) 2000-10-16 2003-09-24 Tangis Corp Dynamically determining appropriate computer interfaces
US6774889B1 (en) 2000-10-24 2004-08-10 Microsoft Corporation System and method for transforming an ordinary computer monitor screen into a touch screen
US6897853B2 (en) 2000-11-10 2005-05-24 Microsoft Corp. Highlevel active pen matrix
US6518600B1 (en) 2000-11-17 2003-02-11 General Electric Company Dual encapsulation for an LED
US6590568B1 (en) 2000-11-20 2003-07-08 Nokia Corporation Touch screen drag and drop input technique
US6530702B2 (en) 2000-12-02 2003-03-11 Thomas H. S. Harris Operator supported remote camera positioning and control system
US7190348B2 (en) 2000-12-26 2007-03-13 International Business Machines Corporation Method for touchscreen data input
JP2002196874A (en) 2000-12-27 2002-07-12 Ntt Docomo Inc Device and method for inputting handwritten data, personal certification device and its method
US6947029B2 (en) 2000-12-27 2005-09-20 Masaji Katagiri Handwritten data input device and method, and authenticating device and method
US7914453B2 (en) 2000-12-28 2011-03-29 Ardent Sound, Inc. Visual imaging system for ultrasonic probe
US6540679B2 (en) 2000-12-28 2003-04-01 Guided Therapy Systems, Inc. Visual imaging system for ultrasonic probe
KR20030072591A (en) 2001-01-08 2003-09-15 브이케이비 인코포레이티드 A data input device
JP4270761B2 (en) 2001-01-17 2009-06-03 富士通コンポーネント株式会社 Touch panel
JP3977018B2 (en) 2001-02-07 2007-09-19 株式会社リコー Information input system
TW487593B (en) 2001-02-09 2002-05-21 Sampo Technology Corp Remote-controlled toy car set with camera and rear view mirror
US6741250B1 (en) 2001-02-09 2004-05-25 Be Here Corporation Method and system for generation of multiple viewpoints into a scene viewed by motionless cameras and for presentation of a view path
US7030861B1 (en) 2001-02-10 2006-04-18 Wayne Carl Westerman System and method for packing multi-touch gestures onto a hand
JP4639293B2 (en) 2001-02-27 2011-02-23 オプテックス株式会社 Automatic door sensor
US6540366B2 (en) 2001-03-19 2003-04-01 Smart Technologies, Inc. Overhead projection system
CA2341918A1 (en) 2001-03-19 2002-09-19 Robert Sirotich Overhead projection system
JP4357761B2 (en) 2001-03-23 2009-11-04 株式会社リコー Optical coordinate input device
JP4768143B2 (en) 2001-03-26 2011-09-07 株式会社リコー Information input / output device, information input / output control method, and program
GB2374266A (en) 2001-04-04 2002-10-09 Matsushita Comm Ind Uk Ltd Virtual user interface device
JP4551018B2 (en) 2001-04-05 2010-09-22 富士通株式会社 Image combiner
US6738051B2 (en) 2001-04-06 2004-05-18 3M Innovative Properties Company Frontlit illuminated touch panel
US6831632B2 (en) 2001-04-09 2004-12-14 I. C. + Technologies Ltd. Apparatus and methods for hand motion tracking and handwriting recognition
US6517266B2 (en) 2001-05-15 2003-02-11 Xerox Corporation Systems and methods for hand-held printing on a surface or medium
US6919880B2 (en) 2001-06-01 2005-07-19 Smart Technologies Inc. Calibrating camera offsets to facilitate object position determination using triangulation
US8035612B2 (en) * 2002-05-28 2011-10-11 Intellectual Ventures Holding 67 Llc Self-contained interactive video display system
CA2350152A1 (en) 2001-06-08 2002-12-08 Smart Technologies Inc. Camera-based system for capturing images of a target area
GB2378073B (en) 2001-07-27 2005-08-31 Hewlett Packard Co Paper-to-computer interfaces
US6927384B2 (en) 2001-08-13 2005-08-09 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. Method and device for detecting touch pad unit
US7202857B2 (en) 2001-08-29 2007-04-10 Microsoft Corporation Manual controlled scrolling
US7007236B2 (en) 2001-09-14 2006-02-28 Accenture Global Services Gmbh Lab window collaboration
JP2003162370A (en) 2001-09-14 2003-06-06 Ricoh Co Ltd Image processing apparatus, display apparatus with touch panel, image processing method, and program which makes computer execute image processing method
JP2003173237A (en) 2001-09-28 2003-06-20 Ricoh Co Ltd Information input-output system, program and storage medium
US7254775B2 (en) 2001-10-03 2007-08-07 3M Innovative Properties Company Touch panel system and method for distinguishing multiple touch inputs
JP3920067B2 (en) 2001-10-09 2007-05-30 株式会社イーアイティー Coordinate input device
WO2003040906A1 (en) 2001-11-09 2003-05-15 Minebea Co.,Ltd. Touch panel assembly
JP2003158597A (en) 2001-11-21 2003-05-30 Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd Image display device provided with screen used for hand- writing image entry face
JP2003167669A (en) 2001-11-22 2003-06-13 Internatl Business Mach Corp <Ibm> Information processor, program, and coordinate input method
US20030147016A1 (en) 2001-12-11 2003-08-07 Lin Jacob W. Liquid crystal display with touch panel
DE10163992A1 (en) 2001-12-24 2003-07-03 Merck Patent Gmbh 4-aryl-quinazolines
US7121470B2 (en) 2002-01-11 2006-10-17 Hand Held Products, Inc. Transaction terminal having elongated finger recess
JP3805259B2 (en) 2002-01-29 2006-08-02 富士写真フイルム株式会社 Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and electronic camera
US7091926B2 (en) 2002-02-08 2006-08-15 Kulas Charles J Computer display system using multiple screens
US6628216B2 (en) 2002-02-13 2003-09-30 Intersil Americas Inc. Calibration of resistor ladder using difference measurement and parallel resistive correction
CA2372868A1 (en) 2002-02-19 2003-08-19 Smart Technologies Inc. Method and system for cleaning images to highlight information recorded on a background surface
US7305115B2 (en) 2002-02-22 2007-12-04 Siemens Energy And Automation, Inc. Method and system for improving ability of a machine vision system to discriminate features of a target
JP2005535004A (en) 2002-03-27 2005-11-17 ネルコアー ピューリタン ベネット インコーポレイテッド Infrared touch frame system
US7038659B2 (en) 2002-04-06 2006-05-02 Janusz Wiktor Rajkowski Symbol encoding apparatus and method
JP2003303046A (en) 2002-04-11 2003-10-24 Ricoh Elemex Corp Optical coordinate detection device
US20040144760A1 (en) 2002-05-17 2004-07-29 Cahill Steven P. Method and system for marking a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer and laser marker for use therein
US7348963B2 (en) 2002-05-28 2008-03-25 Reactrix Systems, Inc. Interactive video display system
US7170492B2 (en) 2002-05-28 2007-01-30 Reactrix Systems, Inc. Interactive video display system
JP2004005272A (en) 2002-05-31 2004-01-08 Cad Center:Kk Virtual space movement control device, method and program
US7499033B2 (en) 2002-06-07 2009-03-03 Smart Technologies Ulc System and method for injecting ink into an application
US20030226968A1 (en) 2002-06-10 2003-12-11 Steve Montellese Apparatus and method for inputting data
US7330184B2 (en) 2002-06-12 2008-02-12 Smart Technologies Ulc System and method for recognizing connector gestures
US7283126B2 (en) 2002-06-12 2007-10-16 Smart Technologies Inc. System and method for providing gesture suggestions to enhance interpretation of user input
CA2390503C (en) 2002-06-12 2010-08-17 Smart Technologies Inc. System and method for providing gesture suggestions to enhance interpretation of user input
US7260257B2 (en) 2002-06-19 2007-08-21 Microsoft Corp. System and method for whiteboard and audio capture
JP2004030003A (en) 2002-06-24 2004-01-29 Auto Network Gijutsu Kenkyusho:Kk Optical touch panel device
US20040001144A1 (en) 2002-06-27 2004-01-01 Mccharles Randy Synchronization of camera images in camera-based touch system to enhance position determination of fast moving objects
US20040204129A1 (en) 2002-08-14 2004-10-14 Payne David M. Touch-sensitive user interface
JP2004078613A (en) 2002-08-19 2004-03-11 Fujitsu Ltd Touch panel system
CA2502235A1 (en) 2002-10-10 2004-04-22 Waawoo Technology Inc. Pen-shaped optical mouse
US6954197B2 (en) 2002-11-15 2005-10-11 Smart Technologies Inc. Size/scale and orientation determination of a pointer in a camera-based touch system
US7236154B1 (en) 2002-12-24 2007-06-26 Apple Inc. Computer light adjustment
US20040125086A1 (en) 2002-12-30 2004-07-01 Hagermoser Edward S. Touch input device having removable overlay
US6972401B2 (en) 2003-01-30 2005-12-06 Smart Technologies Inc. Illuminated bezel and touch system incorporating the same
US20040221265A1 (en) 2003-02-07 2004-11-04 Smart Technologies Inc. Connected and overlapped shapes enhancements
US8508508B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2013-08-13 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing with single-point calibration
EP1599789A4 (en) 2003-02-14 2010-03-31 Next Holdings Ltd Touch screen signal processing
US7176905B2 (en) 2003-02-19 2007-02-13 Agilent Technologies, Inc. Electronic device having an image-based data input system
US20040169639A1 (en) 2003-02-28 2004-09-02 Pate Michael A. Visible pointer tracking with separately detectable pointer tracking signal
US6947032B2 (en) 2003-03-11 2005-09-20 Smart Technologies Inc. Touch system and method for determining pointer contacts on a touch surface
US7532206B2 (en) 2003-03-11 2009-05-12 Smart Technologies Ulc System and method for differentiating between pointers used to contact touch surface
US7665041B2 (en) 2003-03-25 2010-02-16 Microsoft Corporation Architecture for controlling a computer using hand gestures
US7256772B2 (en) 2003-04-08 2007-08-14 Smart Technologies, Inc. Auto-aligning touch system and method
US7133032B2 (en) 2003-04-24 2006-11-07 Eastman Kodak Company OLED display and touch screen
US8330726B2 (en) 2003-05-19 2012-12-11 Xiroku, Inc. Position detection apparatus using area image sensor
AU2003304127A1 (en) 2003-05-19 2004-12-03 Itzhak Baruch Optical coordinate input device comprising few elements
US7432893B2 (en) 2003-06-14 2008-10-07 Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Input device based on frustrated total internal reflection
US7190496B2 (en) 2003-07-24 2007-03-13 Zebra Imaging, Inc. Enhanced environment visualization using holographic stereograms
JP4125200B2 (en) 2003-08-04 2008-07-30 キヤノン株式会社 Coordinate input device
JP4405766B2 (en) 2003-08-07 2010-01-27 キヤノン株式会社 Coordinate input device, coordinate input method
US20070152977A1 (en) 2005-12-30 2007-07-05 Apple Computer, Inc. Illuminated touchpad
JP2005086918A (en) 2003-09-09 2005-03-31 Fanuc Ltd Motor driving device
US20050052427A1 (en) 2003-09-10 2005-03-10 Wu Michael Chi Hung Hand gesture interaction with touch surface
US7411575B2 (en) 2003-09-16 2008-08-12 Smart Technologies Ulc Gesture recognition method and touch system incorporating the same
US20060279558A1 (en) 2003-09-22 2006-12-14 Koninklike Phillips Electronics N.V. Touc input screen using a light guide
JP2005107607A (en) 2003-09-29 2005-04-21 Eit:Kk Optical position detecting apparatus
US7274356B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2007-09-25 Smart Technologies Inc. Apparatus for determining the location of a pointer within a region of interest
US7145766B2 (en) 2003-10-16 2006-12-05 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Display for an electronic device
US7265748B2 (en) 2003-12-11 2007-09-04 Nokia Corporation Method and device for detecting touch pad input
JP2005182423A (en) 2003-12-19 2005-07-07 Totoku Electric Co Ltd Coordinate input device
US7355593B2 (en) 2004-01-02 2008-04-08 Smart Technologies, Inc. Pointer tracking across multiple overlapping coordinate input sub-regions defining a generally contiguous input region
US7265752B2 (en) 2004-01-09 2007-09-04 Microsoft Corporation Multi-chart geometry images
US7232986B2 (en) 2004-02-17 2007-06-19 Smart Technologies Inc. Apparatus for detecting a pointer within a region of interest
KR100875938B1 (en) 2004-02-19 2008-12-26 캐논 가부시끼가이샤 Optics and Beam Splitters
JP4522113B2 (en) 2004-03-11 2010-08-11 キヤノン株式会社 Coordinate input device
US7230608B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2007-06-12 Eastman Kodak Company OLED display and touch screen
US7460110B2 (en) 2004-04-29 2008-12-02 Smart Technologies Ulc Dual mode touch system
US7687736B2 (en) 2004-04-29 2010-03-30 Smart Technologies Ulc Tensioned touch panel and method of making same
US7492357B2 (en) 2004-05-05 2009-02-17 Smart Technologies Ulc Apparatus and method for detecting a pointer relative to a touch surface
US7178947B2 (en) 2004-06-04 2007-02-20 Dale Marks Lighting device with elliptical fresnel mirror
US7372456B2 (en) 2004-07-07 2008-05-13 Smart Technologies Inc. Method and apparatus for calibrating an interactive touch system
JP4442877B2 (en) 2004-07-14 2010-03-31 キヤノン株式会社 Coordinate input device and control method thereof
US20080129707A1 (en) 2004-07-27 2008-06-05 Pryor Timothy R Method and apparatus employing multi-functional controls and displays
US7515138B2 (en) 2004-10-01 2009-04-07 3M Innovative Properties Company Distinguishing vibration signals from interference in vibration sensing touch input devices
US20060070187A1 (en) 2004-10-04 2006-04-06 Chilson David N Hand punch tool for notching paper records
US7619616B2 (en) 2004-12-21 2009-11-17 Microsoft Corporation Pressure sensitive controls
US7559664B1 (en) 2004-12-27 2009-07-14 John V. Walleman Low profile backlighting using LEDs
TWI259409B (en) 2005-01-07 2006-08-01 Au Optronics Corp Touch panel for recognizing fingerprint and method of making the same
US20060158437A1 (en) 2005-01-20 2006-07-20 Blythe Michael M Display device
US7800594B2 (en) 2005-02-03 2010-09-21 Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd. Display device including function to input information from screen by light
US7696987B2 (en) 2005-03-04 2010-04-13 Smart Technologies Ulc Touch panel and method of manufacturing the same
CN101137956A (en) 2005-03-10 2008-03-05 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 System and method for detecting the location, size and shape of multiple objects that interact with a touch screen display
US20060202974A1 (en) 2005-03-10 2006-09-14 Jeffrey Thielman Surface
CA2501214A1 (en) 2005-03-18 2006-09-18 Smart Technologies Inc. Overhead projection system
US7705835B2 (en) 2005-03-28 2010-04-27 Adam Eikman Photonic touch screen apparatus and method of use
WO2006105274A2 (en) 2005-03-29 2006-10-05 Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation Video display and touchscreen assembly, system and method
JP4455392B2 (en) 2005-04-15 2010-04-21 キヤノン株式会社 Coordinate input device, control method therefor, and program
JP4455391B2 (en) 2005-04-15 2010-04-21 キヤノン株式会社 Coordinate input device, control method therefor, and program
US8487910B2 (en) 2005-05-02 2013-07-16 Smart Technologies Ulc Large scale touch system and methods for interacting with same
JP2006345209A (en) 2005-06-08 2006-12-21 Sony Corp Input device, information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
US20070019103A1 (en) 2005-07-25 2007-01-25 Vkb Inc. Optical apparatus for virtual interface projection and sensing
US7898532B2 (en) 2005-08-19 2011-03-01 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd Force sensor with dilatant fluid stop
US20070059520A1 (en) 2005-09-13 2007-03-15 Hatin Paul M Method and article for mounting a touch screen
US8847924B2 (en) 2005-10-03 2014-09-30 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Reflecting light
US7599520B2 (en) 2005-11-18 2009-10-06 Accenture Global Services Gmbh Detection of multiple targets on a plane of interest
US20070125652A1 (en) 2005-12-02 2007-06-07 Buckley Paul W Electroform, methods of making electroforms, and products made from electroforms
US20070132742A1 (en) 2005-12-08 2007-06-14 Deng-Peng Chen Method and apparatus employing optical angle detectors adjacent an optical input area
TWI333572B (en) 2005-12-20 2010-11-21 Ind Tech Res Inst Light source package structure
US7812826B2 (en) 2005-12-30 2010-10-12 Apple Inc. Portable electronic device with multi-touch input
US7734169B2 (en) 2006-01-10 2010-06-08 Olympus Imaging Corp. Camera
US20070165007A1 (en) 2006-01-13 2007-07-19 Gerald Morrison Interactive input system
JP4350715B2 (en) 2006-02-27 2009-10-21 ソフトバンクモバイル株式会社 E-mail address change notification system and e-mail address change notification method
US20070205994A1 (en) 2006-03-02 2007-09-06 Taco Van Ieperen Touch system and method for interacting with the same
US20070215451A1 (en) 2006-03-16 2007-09-20 Michael Sasloff Mobile device arrangement including replaceable touch panel
US8077153B2 (en) 2006-04-19 2011-12-13 Microsoft Corporation Precise selection techniques for multi-touch screens
WO2007132033A1 (en) 2006-05-17 2007-11-22 Smart Technology, S.A. System for detecting, guiding or tracking devices or persons
US7984995B2 (en) 2006-05-24 2011-07-26 Smart Technologies Ulc Method and apparatus for inhibiting a subject's eyes from being exposed to projected light
KR101295943B1 (en) 2006-06-09 2013-08-13 애플 인크. Touch screen liquid crystal display
US7333094B2 (en) 2006-07-12 2008-02-19 Lumio Inc. Optical touch screen
US7302156B1 (en) 2006-07-12 2007-11-27 Lumio Inc. Optical system
US7333095B1 (en) 2006-07-12 2008-02-19 Lumio Inc Illumination for optical touch panel
US9069417B2 (en) 2006-07-12 2015-06-30 N-Trig Ltd. Hover and touch detection for digitizer
US8441467B2 (en) 2006-08-03 2013-05-14 Perceptive Pixel Inc. Multi-touch sensing display through frustrated total internal reflection
TWI355631B (en) 2006-08-31 2012-01-01 Au Optronics Corp Liquid crystal display with a liquid crystal touch
TWI354962B (en) 2006-09-01 2011-12-21 Au Optronics Corp Liquid crystal display with a liquid crystal touch
US8564544B2 (en) 2006-09-06 2013-10-22 Apple Inc. Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for customizing display of content category icons
WO2008042310A2 (en) 2006-10-03 2008-04-10 Dow Global Technologies Inc. Improved atmospheric pressure plasma electrode
TW200818603A (en) 2006-10-05 2008-04-16 Advanced Connectek Inc Coupled multi-band antenna
US20080103267A1 (en) 2006-10-31 2008-05-01 General Electric Company Infrared transmissive thermoplastic composition
US8094129B2 (en) 2006-11-27 2012-01-10 Microsoft Corporation Touch sensing using shadow and reflective modes
DE102007021537B4 (en) 2006-12-13 2020-01-02 Lg Display Co., Ltd. Display unit with multi-touch detection function
US7777732B2 (en) 2007-01-03 2010-08-17 Apple Inc. Multi-event input system
US7268692B1 (en) 2007-02-01 2007-09-11 Lumio Inc. Apparatus and method for monitoring hand propinquity to plural adjacent item locations
US20090030853A1 (en) 2007-03-30 2009-01-29 De La Motte Alain L System and a method of profiting or generating income from the built-in equity in real estate assets or any other form of illiquid asset
JP4355815B2 (en) 2007-04-04 2009-11-04 シャープ株式会社 Image processing device
CN101663637B (en) 2007-04-11 2012-08-22 奈克斯特控股有限公司 Touch screen system with hover and click input methods
US8325154B2 (en) 2007-04-20 2012-12-04 Pixart Imaging Incorporation Optical touch control apparatus and method thereof
US20080259050A1 (en) 2007-04-20 2008-10-23 Pixart Imaging Incorporation Optical touch control apparatus and method thereof
KR20100055516A (en) 2007-08-30 2010-05-26 넥스트 홀딩스 인코포레이티드 Optical touchscreen with improved illumination
WO2009029764A1 (en) 2007-08-30 2009-03-05 Next Holdings, Inc. Low profile touch panel systems
CN101952818B (en) 2007-09-14 2016-05-25 智慧投资控股81有限责任公司 The processing of the user interactions based on attitude
JP5181605B2 (en) 2007-09-28 2013-04-10 日本精工株式会社 Shock absorbing steering column device
WO2009048365A1 (en) 2007-10-10 2009-04-16 Flatfrog Laboratories Ab A touch pad and a method of operating the touch pad
KR101407301B1 (en) 2007-12-03 2014-06-13 엘지디스플레이 주식회사 touch panel display apparatus
US20090207144A1 (en) 2008-01-07 2009-08-20 Next Holdings Limited Position Sensing System With Edge Positioning Enhancement
US20090213093A1 (en) 2008-01-07 2009-08-27 Next Holdings Limited Optical position sensor using retroreflection
US8405636B2 (en) 2008-01-07 2013-03-26 Next Holdings Limited Optical position sensing system and optical position sensor assembly
BRPI0907219A8 (en) 2008-01-14 2015-09-29 Avery Dennison Corp retro reflector for use in touch screen applications and position sensor systems
US7781722B2 (en) 2008-02-07 2010-08-24 Lumio Inc Optical touch screen assembly
EP2250546A2 (en) 2008-02-11 2010-11-17 Next Holdings Limited Systems and methods for resolving multitouch scenarios for optical touchscreens
WO2009137355A2 (en) 2008-05-06 2009-11-12 Next Holdings, Inc. Systems and methods for resolving multitouch scenarios using software filters
WO2009140347A2 (en) 2008-05-14 2009-11-19 3M Innovative Properties Company Systems and methods for assessing locations of multiple touch inputs
KR20110015461A (en) 2008-06-05 2011-02-15 스마트 테크놀러지스 유엘씨 Multiple pointer ambiguity and occlusion resolution
US8508488B2 (en) 2008-06-12 2013-08-13 Samsung Sdi Co., Ltd. Display apparatus having touch screen function
US20090309853A1 (en) 2008-06-13 2009-12-17 Polyvision Corporation Electronic whiteboard system and assembly with optical detection elements
US8135561B2 (en) 2008-10-10 2012-03-13 Pixart Imaging Inc. Sensing system
TW201009671A (en) 2008-08-21 2010-03-01 Tpk Touch Solutions Inc Optical semiconductor laser touch-control device
TWI402793B (en) 2008-10-01 2013-07-21 Quanta Comp Inc Calibrating apparatus and method for image processing apparatus
WO2010039932A1 (en) 2008-10-02 2010-04-08 Next Holdings, Inc. Construction of a camera having a reduced number of components
TWM361062U (en) 2009-01-09 2009-07-11 Quanta Comp Inc Touch screen
JP2010191942A (en) 2009-01-20 2010-09-02 Nitto Denko Corp Display equipped with optical coordinate input device
US20100225588A1 (en) 2009-01-21 2010-09-09 Next Holdings Limited Methods And Systems For Optical Detection Of Gestures
US20100229090A1 (en) 2009-03-05 2010-09-09 Next Holdings Limited Systems and Methods for Interacting With Touch Displays Using Single-Touch and Multi-Touch Gestures
US7751671B1 (en) 2009-03-25 2010-07-06 Next Holdings Limited Optical touchscreens comprising removably connected optical members
US20100315379A1 (en) 2009-05-22 2010-12-16 Matthew Allard Display Devices With Integrated Optical Components For Use in Position Detection
US20110019204A1 (en) 2009-07-23 2011-01-27 Next Holding Limited Optical and Illumination Techniques for Position Sensing Systems
US7932899B2 (en) 2009-09-01 2011-04-26 Next Holdings Limited Determining the location of touch points in a position detection system
US20110205155A1 (en) 2009-12-04 2011-08-25 John David Newton Methods and Systems for Position Detection Using an Interactive Volume

Patent Citations (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4782328A (en) * 1986-10-02 1988-11-01 Product Development Services, Incorporated Ambient-light-responsive touch screen data input method and system
US5317140A (en) * 1992-11-24 1994-05-31 Dunthorn David I Diffusion-assisted position location particularly for visual pen detection
US5484966A (en) * 1993-12-07 1996-01-16 At&T Corp. Sensing stylus position using single 1-D image sensor
US5926239A (en) * 1996-08-16 1999-07-20 Si Diamond Technology, Inc. Backlights for color liquid crystal displays
US20020097384A1 (en) * 1998-01-27 2002-07-25 Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd. Photograph printing device, electronic image input device, film scanner, scratch recognition method, memory medium recording scratch recognition program, and image restoration method
US6429856B1 (en) * 1998-05-11 2002-08-06 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Coordinate position inputting/detecting device, a method for inputting/detecting the coordinate position, and a display board system
US6760009B2 (en) * 1998-06-09 2004-07-06 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Coordinate position inputting/detecting device, a method for inputting/detecting the coordinate position, and a display board system
US6677934B1 (en) * 1999-07-30 2004-01-13 L-3 Communications Infrared touch panel with improved sunlight rejection
US6838657B2 (en) * 2000-04-14 2005-01-04 Fujitsu Limited Optical position detecting device and recording medium
US8289299B2 (en) * 2003-02-14 2012-10-16 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing
US8466885B2 (en) * 2003-02-14 2013-06-18 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing
US8456447B2 (en) * 2003-02-14 2013-06-04 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing
US20080297595A1 (en) * 2003-05-30 2008-12-04 Hildebrandt Peter W Visual communication system
US20050078240A1 (en) * 2003-08-29 2005-04-14 Seiko Epson Corporation Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus
US20090122027A1 (en) * 2004-05-07 2009-05-14 John Newton Touch Panel Display System with Illumination and Detection Provided from a Single Edge
US8115753B2 (en) * 2007-04-11 2012-02-14 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen system with hover and click input methods
US20100110005A1 (en) * 2008-11-05 2010-05-06 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system with multi-angle reflector
US20110095977A1 (en) * 2009-10-23 2011-04-28 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system incorporating multi-angle reflecting structure
US20110199387A1 (en) * 2009-11-24 2011-08-18 John David Newton Activating Features on an Imaging Device Based on Manipulations
US20110199335A1 (en) * 2010-02-12 2011-08-18 Bo Li Determining a Position of an Object Using a Single Camera

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8508508B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2013-08-13 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing with single-point calibration
US8289299B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2012-10-16 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing
US8466885B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2013-06-18 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing
US8456447B2 (en) 2003-02-14 2013-06-04 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen signal processing
US8149221B2 (en) 2004-05-07 2012-04-03 Next Holdings Limited Touch panel display system with illumination and detection provided from a single edge
US8115753B2 (en) 2007-04-11 2012-02-14 Next Holdings Limited Touch screen system with hover and click input methods
US8432377B2 (en) 2007-08-30 2013-04-30 Next Holdings Limited Optical touchscreen with improved illumination
US8384693B2 (en) 2007-08-30 2013-02-26 Next Holdings Limited Low profile touch panel systems
US8405637B2 (en) 2008-01-07 2013-03-26 Next Holdings Limited Optical position sensing system and optical position sensor assembly with convex imaging window
US8405636B2 (en) 2008-01-07 2013-03-26 Next Holdings Limited Optical position sensing system and optical position sensor assembly
US20110169727A1 (en) * 2010-01-13 2011-07-14 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system and illumination system therefor
US8624835B2 (en) * 2010-01-13 2014-01-07 Smart Technologies Ulc Interactive input system and illumination system therefor
US20120206410A1 (en) * 2011-02-15 2012-08-16 Hsun-Hao Chang Method and system for generating calibration information for an optical imaging touch display device
US9019241B2 (en) * 2011-02-15 2015-04-28 Wistron Corporation Method and system for generating calibration information for an optical imaging touch display device
US20130141393A1 (en) * 2011-12-06 2013-06-06 Yu-Yen Chen Frameless optical touch device and image processing method for frameless optical touch device
US9880668B2 (en) 2013-09-11 2018-01-30 Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd. Method for identifying input information, apparatus for identifying input information and electronic device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20100097353A1 (en) 2010-04-22
US8466885B2 (en) 2013-06-18
US20100090985A1 (en) 2010-04-15
US7629967B2 (en) 2009-12-08
US20050190162A1 (en) 2005-09-01
US8289299B2 (en) 2012-10-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8289299B2 (en) Touch screen signal processing
CA2515955C (en) Touch screen signal processing
US8456447B2 (en) Touch screen signal processing
US8508508B2 (en) Touch screen signal processing with single-point calibration
US20110199335A1 (en) Determining a Position of an Object Using a Single Camera
CA2848650C (en) Optical touch screen systems using reflected light
US9213443B2 (en) Optical touch screen systems using reflected light
US8564790B2 (en) Optical position detection apparatus and display apparatus having position detection function
US8847924B2 (en) Reflecting light
CN101663637B (en) Touch screen system with hover and click input methods
US20070018970A1 (en) Optical slider for input devices
US8803845B2 (en) Optical touch input system and method of establishing reference in the same
US20100295821A1 (en) Optical touch panel
US9383864B2 (en) Illumination structure for an interactive input system
JP2012508913A (en) Integrated touch sensing display device and manufacturing method thereof
WO2010039663A2 (en) Stereo optical sensors for resolving multi-touch in a touch detection system
KR20110013459A (en) Interactive input system with controlled lighting
EP0592419A1 (en) Position sensing display device.
JP2011090604A (en) Optical position detection apparatus and display device with position detection function
US20110095977A1 (en) Interactive input system incorporating multi-angle reflecting structure
JP4570145B2 (en) Optical position detection apparatus having an imaging unit outside a position detection plane
KR101808523B1 (en) Optical Touch Input Device and Driving Method for the Same
JPH01170980A (en) Touch input device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC, CANADA

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NEXT HOLDINGS, LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:035252/0904

Effective date: 20150227

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION