IP Library Granted Patent US 12,164,722
Granted Patent B2
US 12,164,722 · App. 18/378,327 · Granted Dec 10, 2024

Multi-user multi-touch projected capacitance touch sensor with event initiation based on common touch entity detection

Inventors: Damien Berget (Sunnyvale, CA); Kenneth Andrew Feehan (Belmont, CA); Paul Leonard Futter (Cary, NC); David Samuel Hecht (San Diego, CA); Joel Christopher Kent (Fremont, CA); Robert William Kitchin (Los Gatos, CA); Kenneth John North (San Carlos, CA); James Roney (Fremont, CA); Kyu-Tak Son (Mountain View, CA); Jung Verheiden (San Francisco, CA); Forrest Kim Wunderlich (El Granada, CA)
Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
G06F3/04166G06F1/1643G06F3/04186G06F3/0446G06F3/0488G06F3/04883G06F2203/0338G06F2203/04104G06F2203/04106
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,164,722
App. No.
18/378,327
Granted
Dec 10, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques for providing multi-user multi-touch projected capacitive touch sensors are disclosed herein. Some embodiments may include a method that includes receiving a first sense signal from a first sensing array, the first sensing array configured to provide the first sense signal indicating a first touch on a first touch surface of a touch substrate as well as receiving a second sense signal from a second sensing array, the second sensing array configured to provide the second sense signal indicating a second touch on a second touch surface of a second touch substrate occurring concurrently to the first touch. The method may further include determining whether the first touch and the second touch share at least one anti-ghost. The method may also include associating the first touch and the second touch with a common touch entity in response to determining that the first touch and the second touch share the at least one anti-ghost.

Claims (40)

1. An interactive digital display for implementing a multi-user interaction program comprising:

a touch sensor;

a memory storing an application that is configured to cause the interactive digital display to operate in a multiple touch-entity interaction mode, wherein the multiple touch-entity interaction mode is configured to be initiated based on a failure to detect an anti-ghost between a first touch and a second touch, and wherein in the multiple touch-entity interaction mode, the application is configured to:

associate the first touch with a first user;

identify, via the touch sensor, a third touch from the first user;

perform a first predetermined action for display on the interactive digital display based on the first touch and the third touch;

associate the second touch with a second user;

identify, via the touch sensor, a fourth touch from the second user, wherein identifying the third touch from the first user is based on determining that the first touch and the third touch share a first anti-ghost and identifying the fourth touch from the second user is based on determining that the second touch and the fourth touch share a second anti-ghost; and

perform a second predetermined action for display on the interactive digital display based on the second touch and the fourth touch.

2. The interactive digital display of claim 1 , wherein the multi-user interaction program is a drawing program.

3. The interactive digital display of claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined action is performed via the third touch while the first touch remains in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

4. The interactive digital display of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined action is performed via the fourth touch while the second touch remains in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

5. The interactive digital display of claim 1 , wherein the application is further configured to detect that the first touch and the third touch are concurrently in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

6. The interactive digital display of claim 1 , wherein the application is further configured to detect that the first touch and the third touch are concurrently in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

7. A method for operating an application that is configured to cause an interactive digital display to operate in a multiple touch-entity interaction mode, wherein the multiple touch-entity interaction mode is configured to be initiated based on a failure to detect an anti-ghost between a first touch and a second touch, and wherein in the multiple touch-entity interaction mode, the method comprises:

associating the first touch with a first user;

identifying, via a touch sensor, a third touch from the first user;

performing a first predetermined action for display on the interactive digital display based on the first touch and the third touch;

associating the second touch with a second user;

identifying, via the touch sensor, a fourth touch from the second user, wherein identifying the third touch from the first user is based on determining that the first touch and the third touch share a first anti-ghost and identifying the fourth touch from the second user is based on determining that the second touch and the fourth touch share a second anti-ghost; and

performing a second predetermined action for display on the interactive digital display based on the second touch and the fourth touch.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the interactive digital display is configured to implement a multi-user interaction program, and wherein the multi-user interaction program is a drawing program.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first predetermined action is performed via the third touch while the first touch remains in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second predetermined action is performed via the fourth touch while the second touch remains in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application is further configured to detect that the first touch and the third touch are concurrently in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application is further configured to detect that the first touch and the third touch are concurrently in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to operate an application that is configured to cause an interactive digital display to operate in a multiple touch-entity interaction mode, wherein the multiple touch-entity interaction mode is configured to be initiated based on a failure to detect an anti-ghost between a first touch and a second touch, and wherein in the multiple touch-entity interaction mode, the processor performs operations comprising:

associating the first touch with a first user;

identifying, via a touch sensor, a third touch from the first user;

performing a first predetermined action for display on the interactive digital display based on the first touch and the third touch;

associating the second touch with a second user;

identifying, via the touch sensor, a fourth touch from the second user, wherein identifying the third touch from the first user is based on determining that the first touch and the third touch share a first anti-ghost and identifying the fourth touch from the second user is based on determining that the second touch and the fourth touch share a second anti-ghost; and

performing a second predetermined action for display on the interactive digital display based on the second touch and the fourth touch.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the interactive digital display is configured to implement a multi-user interaction program, and wherein the multi-user interaction program is a drawing program.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the first predetermined action is performed via the third touch while the first touch remains in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the second predetermined action is performed via the fourth touch while the second touch remains in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the application is further configured to detect that the first touch and the third touch are concurrently in electrical contact with the touch sensor.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the application is further configured to detect that the first touch and the third touch are concurrently in electrical contact with the touch sensor,

identify, via the touch sensor, a fourth touch from the second user, wherein identifying the third touch from the first user is based on determining that the first touch and the third touch share a first anti-ghost and identifying the fourth touch from the second user is based on determining that the second touch and the fourth touch share a second anti-ghost; and

perform a second predetermined action for display on the interactive digital display based on the second touch and the fourth touch.

Assignments (4)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 17, 2025
From: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 074005/0708 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 070666/FRAME 0540 Recorded Sep 30, 2025
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
To: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072982/0372 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2025
From: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 070666/0540 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2024
From: KENT, JOEL CHRISTOPHER; HECHT, DAVID SAMUEL; FUTTER, PAUL LEONARD; KITCHIN, ROBERT WILLIAM; SON, KYU-TAK; BERGET, DAMIEN; WUNDERLICH, FORREST KIM; RONEY, JAMES; NORTH, KENNETH; FEEHAN, KENNETH ANDREW; VERHEIDEN, JUNG
To: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068251/0518 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 18097813 · Jan 17, 2023
Continuation 17504827 · Oct 19, 2021
Continuation 16868932 · May 7, 2020
Continuation 16195212 · Nov 19, 2018
Continuation 15470040 · Mar 27, 2017
Continuation 15076100 · Mar 21, 2016
Continuation 14322605 · Jul 2, 2014
Provisional Application 61843850 · Jul 8, 2013
Related Publication 20240264696A1 · Aug 8, 2024