Touch sensing with mobile sensors

摘要

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

主权项

1. A method of sensing the position of an object comprising:
providing a deformable touch layer having a top surface accessible to a user and a bottom surface, the top surface having a length and width; providing a compliant dielectric layer mounted below the deformable touch layer and forming a border with the deformable touch layer; proving a plurality of sensors spaced apart and affixed in the region of the border, the combination of the deformable touch layer, sensors and compliant dielectric layer forming a three dimensional assembly having x and y axes correlating with the length and width, and a z axis generally perpendicular to the x and y axes; providing a sense object layer mounted below the compliant dielectric layer; sensing the presence of an object generally in the x and y axes by evaluating one or more sensors to determine which one or more sensors are closest to the object; and sensing the presence of an object in the z axis by evaluating one or more sensors and determining the relative position of a sensor with respect to the sense object layer, wherein sensing the presence of an object generally in the x and y axes by evaluating one or more sensors to determine which one or more sensors are closest to the object is independent of a relative position of the plurality of sensors with respect to the sense object layer.