WO1999035745A1 - Sensor device - Google Patents
Sensor device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1999035745A1 WO1999035745A1 PCT/AU1998/001075 AU9801075W WO9935745A1 WO 1999035745 A1 WO1999035745 A1 WO 1999035745A1 AU 9801075 W AU9801075 W AU 9801075W WO 9935745 A1 WO9935745 A1 WO 9935745A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- sensor device
- transducers
- user
- outer layer
- transducer
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/043—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means using propagating acoustic waves
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/0414—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means using force sensing means to determine a position
- G06F3/04142—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means using force sensing means to determine a position the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate
Definitions
- the invention relates to a sensor device which relies on transducers which are capable of being activated by, for example, sound, thermal conditions, light or chemicals.
- Conventional touch sensitive technology is limited to highly electrically insulated areas of sensitivity (ie in terms of electrical resistance or capacitance) between adjacent touch sensitive areas. These insulated areas are required to prevent touch sensitive areas from being activated from an area adjacent to that area being touched.
- the touch pad is fabricated by providing a number of layers of plastic in predetermined areas. This arrangement of layers ensures that adjacent touch sensitive areas are not inadvertently activated.
- a sensor device which comprises:
- transducers located on or in, the interface medium and spaced from the outer layer, and each adapted to generate a signal in response to interaction by the user;
- a processor to receive the signal and determine the location on the outer layer at which the user has interacted with the outer layer.
- the transducers are sound, thermal, light and/or chemically activated.
- the location of the interaction determined by the processing means is achieved by differential sensing of the transducers.
- One way of doing this is by digital (including computational software), analogue or both, signal conditioning which provides an absolute "sensed" position on or in that outer layer.
- Such type of sensor device permits the transducers to be used in an array (depending on the thickness of the interface medium) or a multi dimensional array, thereby providing discrete "spatial" sensitive areas as well as conventional two dimension applications.
- the sensing device is able to discriminate between adjacent transducers through a structurally rigid monolithic plate (in the key pad example). When the transducers) are activated, this state maybe determined through electrical signal conditioning circuits, such as an amplifier and/or appropriate computer software (eg digital sequence programming). In another example, the sensing device may be used on urinal wall plates to activate flushing systems.
- the processor is a microcomputer.
- the sensor device may include a "touch hold function". This function is used when continual interaction by the user with the sensor device is needed over a predetermined time to achieve a desired effect. For ex-ample, if the sensor device is to be used to allow dimming of lights or adjustment of volume etc.
- This touch hold function may be implemented by the "unique characteristic" that a user, whilst interacting with the interface medium, will always generate a signal of predictable (and therefore) filterable amplitude(s) over a determined time duration, no matter how still the user may think they are interacting with the interface medium.
- the software filter could set the initial detection threshold at the interface medium quite high, until the user interaction is detected (eg. user touches the interface medium), and then after a certain validation period, the detection threshold is lowered into the domain where continued interaction (ie without the user removing his interaction with the interface medium) by the user, can still be detected until such time when the user terminates such interaction with the interface.
- Piezo electric based transducers have "electro mechanical” and “mechanical electrical” characteristics, meaning that they may produce a physical displacement of a mechanically coupled resonator plate by way of the application of pulse/s of voltage across its connection plates or the generation of a voltage pulse when a dynamic physical application of mechanical force is applied to one of the connection plates relatively to the other plate.
- the pressure wave activated transducers may be either in the form of "discrete devices" or alternatively, the pressure wave activated transducers may be fabricated directly onto or into either the interface medium.
- transducer is any PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) type material, which displays characterisitcs which are both piezoelectric and pyroelectric sensitive. (Either or both characteristics are applicable to this invention)
- PVDF Polyvinylidene fluoride
- the sensor device of the invention may be a sensor array for a monolithic interface plate provided with discretely sensitive (but invisible) areas.
- the simple (visual and mechanically) interface lends itself to use in "unfriendly" environments where conventional complex "touch switch” technologies cannot be easily implemented, such as oil saturated environments e.g. an NC machine workshop.
- high discrimination between adjacent sensors as well as ambient noise can be achieved by either the utilisation of active and or passive differential sensing techniques.
- Figure 1 is a conceptual view of a passive differential sensing device
- Figure 2 is a conceptual view of a sensing device which uses a multiplexed sampling technique
- Figure 3 is a conceptual view of a sensing device which uses a linear control type technique
- Figure 4 is a conceptual view of a sensing device which uses an alternate linear control type technique
- Figure 5 is a conceptual view of a sensing device which uses a further alternate linear control type technique.
- Embodiment A Passive Differential Sensing - Figure 1
- differential sensing may be a passive technique where a separate ambient noise transducer 1 is connected in anti phase to the main transducer 2, thereby cancelling out common noise picked up by both of the transducer at the same moment in time.
- the back of the main transducer 2 is attached to the front of the noise transducer 1 and vice versa.
- Embodiment B Multiplexed Sampling Techniques - Figure 2
- the transducer which is to be actually sensed is transducer 4. Therefore the electronic switch 5 is changed to position "B" at which point the "noise” level is detected and stored temporarily in memory. The electronic switch 5 is now changed to position "A” and another reading is taken from the transducer 4. When comparison of the two readings is undertaken and a result is found that the second reading is significantly higher, then it is apparent that transducer 4 has been activated. Obviously, the same technique may be followed when transducer 6 is the transducer which is to be actually sensed at another point in time. This is an example of multiplexed sampling technique. However, there are many other ways this technique can be implemented.
- Embodiment C Linear Control Type Applications - Figures 3, 4 & 5
- sensors may be arranged in triangulated or other patterns. In this way absolute position information is provided by use of signal level or frequency (via Doppler shift measurements) differentiation between the transducers to determine the position being sensed.
- the interface plate between the user and the transducer may need a predetermined pattern embedded or etched into its' surface to aid detection of the sensed point depending on the type of transducers utilised.
- a number of "virtual" transducers can be implemented by measuring the differences in the outputs of the tr-ansducers 7 and thus determining the position of a point being touched on the sensing area 8.
- the number of such "virtual" transducers is limited by the resolution of the differentiation hardware and software as well as ambient noise.
- the sensing areas can be used to detect the linear position of a point being stimulated on the plate, using the differential sensing technique.
- another variation is depicted in figure 5. It requires a local resonating device or excitor 11 attached to the interface plate . The excitor 11 sets up an excitation stimuli through the sensing area 12. The output of both transducers 13 are then measured .and stored in electronic memory when no external activation of the interface plate by an external force (eg touch) is present. Readings from the transducers are then continually measured and compared with the prior readings to determine if any interaction with the plate has been made by an external event and appropriate action is then undertaken as required by analogue, digital, computational or a combination of such, analysis.
- Tactile feedback may be an import.ant requirement by users of sensing devices of the invention. This may be implemented via the sensing transducers. However, this is only applicable if one transducer is utilised for each sensed position on the interface plate. In this arrangement, feedback is given to the user by providing a drive signal to the transducer upon activation of the transducer which gives some form of notification to the user.
- conventional type "dome” and malleable membrane's can be positioned over the surface of the interface plate to provide tactile feedback, yet maintaining a fully sealed and electrically isolated unit.
- the sensor device according to the invention may be used in any environment where it is desirable to have differential monitoring of interaction on or in the interface medium.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU17437/99A AU758425B2 (en) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-12-23 | Sensor device |
US09/582,818 US6507772B1 (en) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-12-23 | Sensor device |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AUPP1198A AUPP119898A0 (en) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-01-02 | Improved sensor device |
AUPP1198 | 1998-01-02 | ||
AUPP4149A AUPP414998A0 (en) | 1998-06-17 | 1998-06-17 | Sensor device |
AUPP4149 | 1998-06-17 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1999035745A1 true WO1999035745A1 (en) | 1999-07-15 |
Family
ID=25645691
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/AU1998/001075 WO1999035745A1 (en) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-12-23 | Sensor device |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
WO (1) | WO1999035745A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2007123404A1 (en) * | 2006-04-25 | 2007-11-01 | D-Switch B.V. | Switch unit comprising a touch panel being part of a front plate extending over a full face of a device and corresponding device |
WO2011036486A1 (en) * | 2009-09-23 | 2011-03-31 | Elliptic Laboratories As | Acoustic motion determination |
WO2011042749A1 (en) * | 2009-10-07 | 2011-04-14 | Elliptic Laboratories As | User interfaces |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4564928A (en) * | 1982-09-30 | 1986-01-14 | New York Institute Of Technology | Graphical data apparatus |
US4644100A (en) * | 1985-03-22 | 1987-02-17 | Zenith Electronics Corporation | Surface acoustic wave touch panel system |
US4786764A (en) * | 1987-03-20 | 1988-11-22 | Summagraphics Corporation | Digitizer stylus with pressure transducer |
-
1998
- 1998-12-23 WO PCT/AU1998/001075 patent/WO1999035745A1/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4564928A (en) * | 1982-09-30 | 1986-01-14 | New York Institute Of Technology | Graphical data apparatus |
US4644100A (en) * | 1985-03-22 | 1987-02-17 | Zenith Electronics Corporation | Surface acoustic wave touch panel system |
US4786764A (en) * | 1987-03-20 | 1988-11-22 | Summagraphics Corporation | Digitizer stylus with pressure transducer |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2007123404A1 (en) * | 2006-04-25 | 2007-11-01 | D-Switch B.V. | Switch unit comprising a touch panel being part of a front plate extending over a full face of a device and corresponding device |
WO2011036486A1 (en) * | 2009-09-23 | 2011-03-31 | Elliptic Laboratories As | Acoustic motion determination |
US9152276B2 (en) | 2009-09-23 | 2015-10-06 | Elliptic Laboratories As | Acoustic motion determination |
WO2011042749A1 (en) * | 2009-10-07 | 2011-04-14 | Elliptic Laboratories As | User interfaces |
US9329728B2 (en) | 2009-10-07 | 2016-05-03 | Elliptic Laboratories As | User interfaces |
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