초록 ▼

A combined finger touch and stylus detection system is disclosed for use on the viewing surface of the visual display device. Transparent conductors arranged in horizontal and vertical grid are supported on a flexible, transparent overlay membrane which is adaptable to a variety of displays. A uniqu

A combined finger touch and stylus detection system is disclosed for use on the viewing surface of the visual display device. Transparent conductors arranged in horizontal and vertical grid are supported on a flexible, transparent overlay membrane which is adaptable to a variety of displays. A unique interconnection pattern is provided between the transparent conductors in the array and buses which interconnect the conductors with the supporting electronics, whereby a minimum number of bus wires can be employed to service the array conductors and yet both unique finger touch location sensing and unique stylus location sensing can be accomplished. The system includes a control processor which operates on stored program instructions which, in a first embodiment provides for the alternate detection of either finger touch location or stylus location and, in a second embodiment, provides for the simultaneous detection of both finger touch location and stylus location. The resulting system provides the unique function of combined finger touch and stylus detection, is adaptable to a variety of display surfaces, is provided with a structure which is easily manufacturable, and which has an inherent long-term reliability.

대표청구항 ▼

A combined finger touch and stylus detection system for use on the viewing surface of a visual device, comprising: an array of horizontal and vertical conductors arranged on the viewing surface of the visual display device, having an I/O terminal coupled thereto, for conducting electrical signals be

A combined finger touch and stylus detection system for use on the viewing surface of a visual device, comprising: an array of horizontal and vertical conductors arranged on the viewing surface of the visual display device, having an I/O terminal coupled thereto, for conducting electrical signals between said terminal and the vicinity of said viewing surface; a radiative pickup stylus, having an output terminal, for receiving electromagnetic signals radiated from said array; a selection means having a switchable path connected to said I/O terminal of said array and having a control input, for connecting selected patterns of a plurality of said horizontal and vertical conductors to said switchable path in response to control signals applied to said control input; a capacitance measuring means having an input coupled to said switchable path of said selection means, for measuring the capacitance of selected ones of said conductors in said array, in response to said control signals applied to said control inputs; a radiative signal source having an output coupled to said switchable path of said selection means, for driving selected ones of said conductors in said array, in response to said control signals applied to said control input; a radiative signal measuring means coupled to said radiative pickup stylus, for measuring said electromagnetic signals received by said stylus; a control processor connected to said control input of said selection means, for executing a sequence of stored program instructions to sequentially output said control signals to said selection means; said control processor connected to said capacitance measuring means, for receiving measured capacitance values of said conductors when said selection means, in response to said control signals, has connected a first pattern of a plurality of said conductors in said array to said capacitance measuring means, to detect the location of a finger touch with respect to said viewing surface of said display device; said control processor connected to said radiative signal measuring means, for receiving measured radiative signal values when said selection means, in response to said control signals, has connected a second pattern of a plurality of said conductors in said array to said radiative signal source, to detect the location of said stylus with respect to said viewing surface of said display device; whereby, both finger touch location and stylus location with respect to said viewing surface of said display, can be detected.