ENHANCED MULTI-TOUCH DETECTION

1 . (canceled)

2 . A touch detection device comprising:

a projector configured to project an application interface onto a region of a surface;

a plurality of emitters configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, wherein:

the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plurality of emitters defines a layer substantially parallel with the surface; and

the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plurality of emitters fans out from a central point;

a sensor configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation that reflects off of an object that enters the defined layer of electromagnetic radiation; and

an interface configured to output data indicating a position of the object based on the electromagnetic radiation detected by the sensor.

3 . The touch detection device of claim 2 , wherein the layer of electromagnetic radiation has a thickness of less than half an inch in the center of a region of the surface onto which the application interface is projected.

4 . The touch detection device of claim 2 , wherein the layer of electromagnetic radiation has a thickness of less than one inch overlapping any part of the region of the surface onto which the application interface is projected.

5 . The touch detection device of claim 2 , wherein the application interlace is projected through the layer of electromagnetic radiation onto the region of the surface.

6 . The touch detection device of claim 2 , wherein the layer of electromagnetic radiation defines a plane.

7 . The touch detection device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of emitters are arranged in a semicircle.

8 . The touch detection device of claim 7 , wherein each emitter of the plurality of emitters is aimed at the center point of the semicircle.

9 . The touch detection device of claim 8 , wherein a difference in angle between adjacent emitters of the plurality of emitters is less than or equal to a minimum angle of half intensity.

10 . The touch detection device of claim 7 , further comprising:

a plate defining a slot, the slot limiting a vertical spread of the electromagnetic radiation collectively emitted by the array of emitters.

11 . The touch detection device of claim 2 , further comprising:

a processor configured to:

perform a calibration process to identify a second object obstructing the defined layer; and

subsequent to the calibration process, ignore the identified second object when detecting the electromagnetic radiation, that reflects off of the object that enters the defined layer.

12 . The touch detection device of claim 2 , further comprising:

a processor configured to:

determine the position of the object with respect to the region of the surface onto which the graphical user interface is projected based on the detected electromagnetic radiation; and

output data to the application associated with the application interface based on the determined position.

13 . The touch detection device of claim 2 , wherein:

the region comprises a rectangular region measuring at least 60 inches diagonal; and

the plurality of emitters emit the electromagnetic radiation at a horizontal angle of 170° or greater and a vertical angle of 1° or less.

14 . The touch detection device of claim 2 , wherein the surface is a table or a floor.

15 . A method for touch detection, the method comprising:

projecting an application interface onto a region of a surface;

emitting electromagnetic radiation, wherein:

the emitted electromagnetic radiation defines a layer substantially parallel with the surface; and

the emitted electromagnetic radiation fans out from a central point;

detecting the electromagnetic radiation that reflects off of an object that enters the defined layer of electromagnetic radiation; and

outputting data indicating a position of the object based on the electromagnetic radiation detected by the sensor.

16 . The method for touch detection of claim 15 , wherein the layer of electromagnetic radiation has a thickness of less than half an inch in the center of a region of the surface onto which the application interface is projected.

17 . The method for touch detection of claim 15 , wherein the layer of electromagnetic radiation has a thickness of less than one inch overlapping any part of the region of the surface onto which the application interface is projected.

18 . The method for touch detection of claim 15 , wherein the application interface is projected through the layer of electromagnetic radiation onto the region of the surface.

19 . The method for touch detection of claim 15 , wherein the layer of electromagnetic radiation defines a plane.

20 . The method for touch detection of claim 15 , wherein the emitted electromagnetic radiation is emitted by an array of emitters arranged in a semicircle.

21 . The method for touch detection of claim 20 , wherein each emitter of the array of emitters is aimed at the center point of the semicircle.

22 . The method for touch detection of claim 21 , wherein a difference in angle between adjacent emitters of the array of emitters is less than or equal to a minimum angle of half intensity.

23 . The method for touch detection of claim 20 , further comprising:

limiting a vertical spread of the electromagnetic radiation collectively emitted by the array of emitters.

24 . The method for touch detection of claim 15 , further comprising:

performing a calibration process to identify a second object obstructing the defined layer; and

subsequent to the calibration process, ignoring the identified second object when detecting the electromagnetic radiation that reflects off of the object that enters the defined layer.

25 . The method for touch detection of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining the position of the object with respect to the region of the surface onto which the graphical user interface is projected based on the detected electromagnetic radiation; and

outputting data to the application associated with the application interface based on the determined position.

26 . The method for touch detection of claim 15 , wherein:

the region comprises a rectangular region measuring at least 60 inches diagonal; and

the electromagnetic radiation is emitted at a horizontal angle of 170° or greater and a vertical angle of 1° or less.

27 . The method for touch detection of claim 15 , wherein the surface is a table or a floor.

28 . A computer program product residing on a non-transitory processor-readable medium for performing touch detection, the computer program product comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

cause an application interface to be projected onto a region of a surface;

cause electromagnetic radiation to be detected that reflects off of an object that enters the defined layer of electromagnetic radiation, wherein

the electromagnetic radiation is emitted by a plurality of emitters defines a layer substantially parallel with the surface; and

the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the plurality of emitters fans out from a central point; and

output data indicating a position of the object based on the electromagnetic radiation detected by the sensor.

29 . The computer program product for performing touch detection of claim 28 , wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise processor-readable destructions configured to cause the processor to:

perform a calibration process to identify a second object obstructing the defined layer; and

subsequent to the calibration process, ignore the identified second object when detecting the electromagnetic radiation that reflects off of the object that enters the defined layer.

30 . The computer program product for performing touch detection of claim 28 , wherein the processor-readable instructions further comprise processor-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to:

determine the position of the object with respect to the region of the surface onto which the graphical user interface is projected based on the detected electromagnetic radiation; and

output data to the application associated with the application interface based on the determined position.

31 . An apparatus for touch detection, the apparatus comprising:

means for projecting an application interface onto a region of a surface;

means for emitting electromagnetic radiation, wherein:

emitted electromagnetic radiation from the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation defines a layer substantially parallel with the surface; and

the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation causes the emitted electromagnetic radiation to fan out from a central point;

means for detecting the electromagnetic radiation that reflects off of an object that enters the defined layer of electromagnetic radiation; and

means for outputting data indicating a position of the object based on the electromagnetic radiation detected by the sensor.

32 . The apparatus for touch detection of claim 31 , wherein the layer of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation has a thickness of less than half an inch in the center of a region of the surface onto which the application interface is projected.

33 . The apparatus for touch detection of claim 31 , wherein the layer of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the means for emitting electromagnetic radiation has a thickness of less than one inch overlapping any part of the region of the surface onto which the application interface is projected.