Patent · US Expired

Touch control system for controllable apparatus

US4791416A · kind A · utility

119Cited by
20References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 12, 1985
Grant dateDec 13, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 12, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0436
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system for recognizing touch positions along an axis on a surface associated with a touch control apparatus comprises a substrate having a surface capable of propagating surface acoustic waves and so characterized that a touch on that surface causes a perturbation of a surface wave passing through the region of touch. An input surface wave transducer coupled to the substrate surface launches a burst of surface waves on the surface. An output surface wave transducer coupled to the substrate detects received surface waves. Wave redirecting gratings derive wave components from the launched wave and redirect them across the substrate surface to the output transducer. The wave components are caused to traverse the axis along a progression of paths associated with different touch positions along the axis. Circuitry coupled to the input and output transducers initiates surface wave bursts across the substrate surface and detects touch-induced perturbations of the received waves indicative of the location of a touch along the axis.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.