HIGH PARAMETER-COUNT TOUCHPAD CONTROLLER
First Claim
1. A tactile input system for controlling a second system, said input system comprising:
- at least one null/contact touch pad for generating at least two outgoing signals responsive to and in combination uniquely associated with the effective location where pressure is applied to the touchpad, at least one velocity sensing element in mechanical communication with the touchpad, the velocity sensing element for generating at least a third outgoing control signal responsive to the degree of impact at the point of touch, wherein said three outgoing control signals are used to provide control of said second system through interpretation of the position and impact of contact with the touchpad
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Touchpad user interfaces for controlling external systems such as computers, machinery, and process environments via at least three independent control signals. The touchpad may be operated by hand, other parts of the body, or inanimate objects. Such an interface affords a wide range of uses in computer applications, machine and process control, and assistance to the disabled. In one embodiment simple contact position-sensing touchpads, producing control signals responsive to a contact region, are enhanced to provide several independent control signals. Enhancements may include velocity sensors, pressure sensors, and electronic configurations measuring contact region widths. Touch-screens positioned over visual displays may be adapted. According to other aspects pressure-sensor array touchpads are combined with image processing to responsively calculate parameters from contact regions. Six independent control parameters can be derived from each region of contact. These may be easily manipulated by a user. In one implementation, smaller pressure-sensor arrays are combined with data acquisition and processing into a chip that can be tiled in an array.
234 Citations
1 Claim
-
1. A tactile input system for controlling a second system, said input system comprising:
-
at least one null/contact touch pad for generating at least two outgoing signals responsive to and in combination uniquely associated with the effective location where pressure is applied to the touchpad, at least one velocity sensing element in mechanical communication with the touchpad, the velocity sensing element for generating at least a third outgoing control signal responsive to the degree of impact at the point of touch, wherein said three outgoing control signals are used to provide control of said second system through interpretation of the position and impact of contact with the touchpad
-
Specification