Human-machine interface

摘要

A human-machine interface includes a panel formed of energy transmissive material having a contact surface on which one or more contacts may simultaneously be made. An energy source directs energy to the panel. The panel transmits energy received from the energy source to the contact surface. At least one parameter of the energy transmitted by the panel is altered at regions where contacts are made with the contact surface. A detector is coupled to the panel and detects the at least one parameter of the energy generally over the area of the contact surface and outputs values corresponding thereto. A processor is in communication with the detector. The processor processes the output values to determine the locations of the contact regions on the contact surface and at least one other attributed associated with each of the contacts.

主权项

1. A human-machine interface, comprising:
a panel formed of energy transmissive material, and having a substantially non-deformable major contact surface and a second major surface substantially parallel with the major contact surface; an energy source to direct energy to the panel;
wherein the panel is configured to transmit energy received from the energy source to the major contact surface; andwherein, at one or more contact regions of the major contact surface where an object contacts the major contact surface, the contact of the object with the major contact surface causes one or more alterations of at least one parameter of energy transmitted by the panel, the altered energy being representative of the object; an image acquisition device to acquire, through the panel and through the second major surface, an image of a region including the one or more contact regions and generally being over the area of the major contact surface and including at least the alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy; and a processor configured to communicate with the image acquisition device and process the image to determine a location of each contact region at which the object contacts the major contact surface, wherein the determination of the location of each contact region is based on at least the alterations of the at least one parameter of the energy.