Patent · US Active

Instrument detection with an optical touch sensitive device

US9965101B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 16, 2015
Grant dateMay 8, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 16, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2203/04109
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An optical touch-sensitive device detects touch events caused by instruments (e.g., pens, styluses) and distinguishes these events from touch events caused by fingers. In some embodiments, different instruments can also be distinguished. The optical touch-sensitive device includes multiple emitters and detectors. Each emitter produces optical beams which are received by the detectors. The optical beams preferably are multiplexed in a manner so that many optical beams can be received by a detector simultaneously. Touch events disturb the optical beams, for example due to frustrated total internal reflection. Information indicating which optical beams have been disturbed is analyzed to detect one or more touch events. The analysis also distinguishes instrument touch events from finger touch events.

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