A gesture recognition method includes detecting multiple pointers in close proximity to a touch surface to determine if the multiple pointers are being used to perform a known gesture. When the multiple pointers are being used to perform a known gesture, executing a command associated with the gesture. A touch system incorporating the gesture recognition method is also provided.

Gesture recognition method and touch system incorporating the same

A passive touch system includes a passive touch surface and at least two cameras associated with the touch surface. The at least two cameras acquire images of the touch surface from different locations and have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

Passive touch system and method of detecting user input

A touch sensitive user interface of the type having a display screen for displaying an image; control logic responsive to the touch sensitive user interface for determining the contact position of a probe, such as a finger, thereon; a display menu of operating features, represented by a plurality of images on the display screen, so that a user may make touch selections on the images corresponding to operating features desired; a system controller for identifying a contact zone of a predetermined size with respect to the display screen, the control logic actuating the feature within the system represented by a displayed image in response to user touch within a corresponding contact zone, the system controller enlarging the contact zone of a selected feature upon selection thereof, to a size accommodating a probe tip, without overlapping on adjacent areas and upon completion of option selection, returning the expanded contact areas to said predetermined size.

Touch screen user interface with expanding touch locations for a reprographic machine

In order to measure a scanning light cut-off region, an output of a light receiving element and a threshold value set by an MPU are compared by a comparator and a region where the former is smaller than the latter is measured as the scanning light cut-off region. During one cycle of optical scanning, this threshold value is switched in a plurality of stages according to the scanning angle. By accurately measuring the scanning light cut-off region, the correct position and size of an indicator such as a finger or pen are calculated.

Optical scanning-type touch panel

A touch screen system that can approximate tracking and dragging states regardless of the user's orientation and without reliance on direct sensing of touch pressure or area. A first detector generates a signal representing a first image of an object interacting with the touch screen. A second detector generates a signal representing a second image of the object. A signal processor processes the first signal to determine approximated coordinates of a first pair of outer edges of the object and processes the second signal to determine approximated coordinates of a second pair of outer edges of the object. The signal processor then calculates an approximated touch area based on the approximated coordinates of the first pair of outer edges and the approximated coordinates of the second pair of outer edges of the object. If the approximated touch area is less than or equal to a threshold touch area, the signal processor determines that the object interacting with the touch screen indicates a tracking state. If the approximated touch area is greater than the threshold touch area, the signal processor determines that the object interacting with the touch screen indicates a selection state. The threshold touch area may be established by calibrating the touch screen system when the object interacting with the touch screen is known to indicate the tracking state.

Touch screen system with hover and click input methods

A dynamic level shifter for photoelectric touch panels incorporating a plurality of photoelectric transducers periodically senses the ambient light level, immediately before the interval when each transducer can receive a pulse of radiant energy during normal operation of the panel. The output of the phototransducer during the such interval is compared with the output during the previous ambient interval, to develop a signal indicative of the presence or absence of the pulse, irrespective of ambient light fluctuations.

Touch panel with ambient light sampling

A photoelectric touch input panel has a plurality of crossed light beams which are broken by an object, the position coordinates of which are identified as outputs. Two spaced apart beam surfaces are provided, and the interrelationship between the beams in the two planes is employed to distinguish between interrupting objects on the basis of their size, attitude, and velocity characteristics. The number of beams broken in any beam plane is counted to determine the relative size of the object, or to determine the center line of the interrupting object. The beams in any beam plane are selected in accordance with the relative significance of the various beams, and interrupted beams are pulsed more rapidly than non-interrupted beams. The light-emitting devices of the various beam planes are constructed as an integral unit. The control system of the touch input panel is adapted for use in monitoring the size, shape, and activity of objects within a space defined by plural beam planes, independently of the touch input panel.

Photoelectric input apparatus

A photoelectric touch input panel has a plurality of crossed light beams which are broken by an object, the position coordinates of which are identified as outputs. Two spaced apart beam surfaces are provided, and the interrelationship between the beams in the two planes is employed to distinguish between interrupting objects on the basis of their size, attitude, and velocity characteristics. The number of beams broken in any beam plane is counted to determine the relative size of the object, or to determine the center line of the interrupting object. The beams in any beam plane are selected in accordance with the relative significance of the various beams, and interrupted beams are pulsed more rapidly than non-interrupted beams. The light-emitting devices of the various beam planes are constructed as an integral unit. The control system of the touch input panel is adapted for use in monitoring the size, shape, and activity of objects within a space defined by plural beam planes, independently of the touch input level.

Vladeta D. Lazarevich

Papers

Touch panel with ambient light sampling

Photoelectric input apparatus

Three-dimensional protective interlock apparatus