IP Library Granted Patent US 9,569,055
Granted Patent B2
US 9,569,055 · App. 14/458,110 · Granted Feb 14, 2017

Interaction sensing

Inventors: Ernest Rehmi Post (San Jose, CA); Olivier Bau (San Francisco, CA); Iliya Tsekov (East Palo Alto, CA); Sajid Sadi (San Jose, CA); Mike Digman (Mountain View, CA); Vatche Attarian (San Jose, CA); Sergi Consul (San Jose, CA); Cody Wortham (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd.
G06F3/046G06F3/041G06F3/044G06F3/0416G06F3/0418G06F2203/04106
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,569,055
App. No.
14/458,110
Granted
Feb 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

The touch sensor is a touch sensor that senses changes in characteristics of the electromagnetic signal in an environment in order to detect the contact or the proximity.

Claims (44)

1. A method comprising:

receiving from an electrode of a touch sensor an electromagnetic interference signal transmitted from an object that is external to the touch sensor;

analyzing the electromagnetic interference signal, wherein analyzing the electromagnetic interference signal comprises characterizing the electromagnetic signal into one or more frequency bands; and

detecting a contact or proximity input to the touch sensor;

wherein the touch sensor senses changes in characteristics of the electromagnetic interference signal in an environment in order to detect the contact or the proximity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the changes in characteristics of the electromagnetic interference signal in the environment is continuously sensed in order to detect a context of a user.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting one of the frequency bands; and

based at least in part on the selected one of the frequency bands, determining whether to reject further processing of the signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a current context by comparing the characterization of the signal to one or more stored noise profiles associated with one or more pre-determined contexts.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is a continuous-sheet electrode.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is part of an electrode array.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a location of the contact or proximity input.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising linearizing the location of the contact or proximity input as determined.

9. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

receive from an electrode of a touch sensor an electromagnetic interference signal transmitted from an object that is external to the touch sensor;

analyze the electromagnetic interference signal, wherein analyzing the electromagnetic interference signal comprises characterizing the electromagnetic signal into one or more frequency bands; and

detect a contact or proximity input to the touch sensor;

wherein the touch sensor is operable to sense changes in characteristics of the electromagnetic interference signal in the environment in order to detect the contact or the proximity.

10. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the changes in characteristics of the electromagnetic interference signal in the environment is continuously sensed in order to detect a context of a user.

11. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

select one of the frequency bands; and

based at least in part on the selected one of the frequency bands, determine whether to reject further processing of the signal.

12. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to determine a current context by comparing the characterization of the signal to one or more stored noise profiles associated with one or more pre-determined contexts.

13. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the electrode is a continuous-sheet electrode.

14. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the electrode is part of an electrode array.

15. The medium of claim 9 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to determine a location of the contact or proximity input.

16. The medium of claim 15 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to linearize the location of the contact or proximity input as determined.

17. An apparatus comprising:

an electrode of a touch sensor; and

a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

receive from an electrode of a touch sensor an electromagnetic interference signal transmitted from an object that is external to the touch sensor;

analyze the electromagnetic interference signal, wherein analyzing the electromagnetic interference signal comprises characterizing the electromagnetic signal into one or more frequency bands; and

detect a contact or proximity input to the touch sensor;

wherein the touch sensor is operable to sense changes in characteristics of the electromagnetic interference signal in the environment in order to detect the contact or the proximity.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the changes in characteristics of the electromagnetic interference signal in the environment is continuously sensed in order to detect a context of a user.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

select one of the frequency bands; and

based at least in part on the selected one of the frequency bands, determine whether to reject further processing of the signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to determine a current context by comparing the characterization of the signal to one or more stored noise profiles associated with one or more pre-determined contexts.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the electrode is a continuous-sheet electrode.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the electrode is part of an electrode array.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to determine a location of the contact or proximity input.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the logic is further operable when executed to linearize the location of the contact or proximity input as determined.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2016
From: POST, ERNEST REHMI; BAU, OLIVIER; TSEKOV, ILIYA; SADI, SAJID; DIGMAN, MIKE; ATTARIAN, VATCHE; CONSUL, SERGI; WORTHAM, CODY
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY, LTD.
Reel/Frame 037563/0239 →
Continuity (11)
Provisional Application 61865448 · Aug 13, 2013
Provisional Application 61924558 · Jan 7, 2014
Provisional Application 61924604 · Jan 7, 2014
Provisional Application 61924625 · Jan 7, 2014
Provisional Application 61924637 · Jan 7, 2014
Provisional Application 61969544 · Mar 24, 2014
Provisional Application 61969558 · Mar 24, 2014
Provisional Application 61969590 · Mar 24, 2014
Provisional Application 61969612 · Mar 24, 2014
Provisional Application 62000429 · May 19, 2014
Related Publication 20150049034A1 · Feb 19, 2015