Abrégé

A method for determining a contour of at least one area having a given property on a matrix surface comprising sequentially scanned cells, comprises, for each scanned cell, the following steps: • detection (E1) of the activated or deactivated state of the currently scanned cell, • determining (E2) the activated or deactivated state of three previously scanned cells, adjacent to the currently scanned cell; • choosing (E3) a tracing instruction, on the basis of the state of the currently scanned cell and the three adjacent cells; • applying (E4) the tracing instruction; and • storing (E5) data from the tracing instruction, said data defining the contour during the sequential scanning of the cells of the matrix surface. Application to a touch-sensitive sensor comprising a matrix array of cells, and system for acquiring data from an associated touch-sensitive sensor.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction

Abrégé

A method of acquiring data of a matrix touch sensor comprising a matrix array of cells arranged according to a set of rows and columns, comprising the following steps: activating (S54) the cells arranged according to a column (C) of at least one subset of columns of the matrix touch sensor; taking an overall measurement (S55) of an overall electrical characteristic on all the rows of at least one subset of rows of the matrix touch sensor; taking a sequential measurement of an electrical characteristic successively on each row of said at least one subset of rows, if the overall electrical characteristic has a value representative of a contact on at least one of said cells arranged according to said column; and repeating the overall measurement and sequential measurement steps after activating the cells arranged according to another column of said at least one subset of columns of the matrix touch sensor.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G06F 1/32 - Moyens destinés à économiser de l'énergie
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs
• G06F 3/045 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant des éléments résistifs, p. ex. une seule surface uniforme ou deux surfaces parallèles mises en contact

Abrégé

Method of characterizing touch on a surface of a tactile sensor comprising the following steps of: updating at least one first characteristic value of a current zone of the surface of the tactile sensor to be characterized, said first characteristic value being associated with a type of touch on the surface of the tactile sensor, and determination of a state of characterization of said current zone to be characterized, as a function of said at least one first characteristic value updated, by a set of characteristic values associated with types of touch on the surface of the tactile sensor.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G06F 3/048 - Techniques d’interaction fondées sur les interfaces utilisateur graphiques [GUI]
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A transparent film (10) is made of a material of which the electrical resistance varies according to a pressure applied to the surface of said film (10). The disclosed transparent film comprises a mixture of quantum tunneling particles (11) in an electrically insulating polymer matrix (12), said quantum tunneling particles (11) being distributed in a column-type structure in a direction running perpendicular to the plane of the transparent film (10). The transparent film can be used in particular in a transparent array-type tactile sensor (20).

Classes IPC  ?

• H01C 10/10 - Résistances variables variables par pression ou force mécanique
• G06F 3/045 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant des éléments résistifs, p. ex. une seule surface uniforme ou deux surfaces parallèles mises en contact
• H01B 1/22 - Matériau conducteur dispersé dans un matériau organique non conducteur le matériau conducteur comportant des métaux ou des alliages
• H01C 17/28 - Appareils ou procédés spécialement adaptés à la fabrication de résistances adaptés pour appliquer les bornes

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for acquiring data from a multi-touch crossbar-network sensor including a crossbar network of cells, said method including the following steps: sequentially scanning (S32-S37, S41, S42) the cells of the crossbar network; measuring (S38) an electrical characteristic representing the weight (IRC) of each cell; comparing (S39) the weight (IRC) with one or more significant values; recording (S43) the data associated with the cell when the weight is within a range of significant values; verifying (S44) the existence of a data record associated with at least one adjacent cell; and updating (S45) an existing bounding box by recording, within the existing bounding box, data associated with the cell, if data associated with at least one adjacent cell belonging to the existing bounding box was recorded. The invention can be particularly used for a touch screen.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs
• G06F 3/048 - Techniques d’interaction fondées sur les interfaces utilisateur graphiques [GUI]

Abrégé

The invention relates to a multicontact tactile sensor including: an upper structure (11) comprising conducting tracks arranged in rows (14), a lower structure (12) comprising conducting tracks arranged in columns (16), gap spacers (17) positioned between the upper structure and the lower structure (12), and at least one intermediate layer (21) positioned on the conducting tracks (14) of at least one structure from the upper structure (11) and the lower structure (12). The intermediate layer (21) is a metal oxide semiconductor layer.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/045 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant des éléments résistifs, p. ex. une seule surface uniforme ou deux surfaces parallèles mises en contact
• G06F 3/047 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant un ensemble de fils conducteurs, p. ex. des fils conducteurs croisés

Abrégé

A tactile sensor comprises an insulating support (11) having a first face (11a) comprising a first series of parallel conducting tracks (12) and a second face (11b) comprising a second series of parallel conducting tracks (13), the insulating support (11) being folded and the second face (11b) being disposed opposite the first face (11a). The tactile sensor comprises an array of conducting tracks (22) extending in an edge zone intended to be folded, along fold lines (11e, 11f, 11g). Use in particular in a tactile control screen.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/045 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant des éléments résistifs, p. ex. une seule surface uniforme ou deux surfaces parallèles mises en contact

Abrégé

A tactile sensor (10) comprises a tactile detection zone (11) comprising a matrix array of conducting tracks constituting columns (C) on a first insulating layer and rows (R) on a second insulating layer, the first and second insulating layers being disposed opposite one another, and an array of conducting tracks (13, 14) adapted to the transfer of electrical signals between the rows (R) and columns (C) of the matrix array and an interface connector (12) for interfacing with a control system of the tactile sensor (10). The tactile sensor (10) comprises control circuits (CD, RD) associated respectively with the rows (R) and columns (C) of the matrix array of conducting tracks, the array of conducting tracks (13, 14) extending between the control circuits (CD, RD) and the interface connector (12). Use in particular in a tactile control screen.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/045 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant des éléments résistifs, p. ex. une seule surface uniforme ou deux surfaces parallèles mises en contact

Abrégé

The invention relates to a two-dimensional, multi-contact, tactile sensor comprising an upper layer (2) provided with longitudinal conductive elements (3) arranged according to an upper axis, and a lower layer (4) provided with longitudinal conductive elements (5) arranged according to a lower axis non-parallel to the upper axis. At least one of the longitudinal elements (3, 5) in said sensor has an incline on at least part of its edge, that is non-null in relation to its axis. The invention also relates to a display sensor provided with such a two-dimensional, multi-contact, tactile sensor.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/045 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant des éléments résistifs, p. ex. une seule surface uniforme ou deux surfaces parallèles mises en contact

Abrégé

The invention relates to a multi-contact, tactile sensor (1) comprising an upper layer (2) provided with strip conductors (3) arranged in lines, a lower layer (4) provided with strip conductors (5) arranged in columns, and spacer means (8) positioned between the upper layer (2) and the lower layer (4) in such a way as to insulate said upper layer (2) and lower layer (4). Said sensor comprises electromechanical means (10) arranged between the upper (2) and lower (4) layers such as to increase the electrical contact resistance during contact between at least one strip conductor (3) of the upper layer (2) and at least one strip conductor (5) of the lower layer (4).

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/045 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant des éléments résistifs, p. ex. une seule surface uniforme ou deux surfaces parallèles mises en contact

Abrégé

The invention relates to a device for controlling an electronic apparatus (1) by handling graphic objects (2,3a,3b,3c,3d). The device includes a visualisation screen (4), a transparent multi-contact touch sensor for acquiring multi-contact touch information generated by a plurality of pointing means (5, 6), and an electronic control circuit for generating control signals based on said touch information and for generating graphic objects (2,3a,3b,3c,3d) on said visualisation screen (4). Each of the graphic objects is associated with at least one specific processing rule. Each piece of touch information is subjected to a specific processing determined by the location thereof relative to the position of the graphic objects (2,3a,3b,3c,3d). The device is characterised in that said device comprises a first series of main graphic objects (2) and a second series of subordinate graphic objects (3a,3b,3c,3d) respectively having main and subordinate complementary functions associated respectively with at least one main specific processing rule and at least one subordinate specific processing rule. All the graphic objects (2,3a,3b,3c,3d) are arranged s that the first series is handled by a first set (5) of pointing means and s that the second series is handled by a second set (6) of pointing means different from the first set (5), the handling of at least one of said subordinate graphic objects (3a,3b,3c,3d) resulting in modifications of the properties of at least one of the main graphic objects (2).

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/048 - Techniques d’interaction fondées sur les interfaces utilisateur graphiques [GUI]

Abrégé

The invention relates to a multipoint sensor (1), including: an upper layer (3) made of conducting tracks arranged in lines; a lower layer (6) made of conducting tracks arranged in columns; spacers (4) provided between the upper layer and the lower layer so as to insulate the upper layer (3) and the lower layer (6), characterised in that the sensor further includes at least one resistive intermediate layer (5) provided between the spacers and at least one layer from among the upper conducting layer and the lower conducting layer.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/047 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant un ensemble de fils conducteurs, p. ex. des fils conducteurs croisés

Abrégé

The invention relates to a method for the acquisition and analysis of a multi-contact tactile sensor including a matrix of capture points and an electronic analysis circuit for controlling the acquisition and analysis of the matrix. The method comprises the following successive steps, namely a step (24, 25) comprising the acquisition of a sensor detection zone in order to determine the state of each of the contact points of the detection zone and a step (26) comprising the analysis of said detection zone in order to deliver information as a function of the activation state of the contact points. The acquisition step (24, 25) and the analysis step (26) are repeated iteratively. The acquisition step (24, 25) is performed on a detection zone containing the activated contact points determined during the preceding analysis step (26). The detection zone is smaller than the detection zone acquired during the preceding acquisition step (24, 25). The iteration is performed until a pre-determined spatial resolution is obtained (27). The invention also relates to an electronic acquisition and analysis circuit and a multi-contact tactile sensor implementing one such method.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction

Abrégé

The invention relates to a multi-contact tactile sensor including an elastically deformable interaction layer (10) and a supporting layer (11), the lower surface of the interaction layer (10) having an array of strip conductors (12) and the upper surface of the supporting layer (11) having an array of strip conductors (13) that are not parallel to the array of strip conductors (12) on the interaction layer (10). The interaction layer (10) and the supporting layer (11) are separated by a first series of rigid insulating spacers (14). A second series of conducting spacers (15) is placed in contact with at least one of the two arrays of strip conductors (12, 13). The impedance and the dimensions of the spacers (14) of the second series are determined so as to prevent contact at rest and to enable local contact during the deformation of the interaction layer (10) between the spacers (15) of the second series and the array of strip conductors of the layer opposite said spacers (15). The invention also relates to a controller for controlling one such sensor, a mult-contact tactile screen including one such sensor and a keyboard comprising a set of discrete keys, formed by one such sensor.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01H 13/785 - Interrupteurs ayant un organe moteur à mouvement rectiligne ou des organes adaptés pour pousser ou tirer dans une seule direction, p. ex. interrupteur à bouton-poussoir ayant une pluralité d'éléments moteurs associés à différents jeux de contacts, p. ex. claviers caractérisés par les contacts ou les sites de contact caractérisés par le matériau des contacts, p. ex. polymères conducteurs
• H01H 13/703 - Interrupteurs ayant un organe moteur à mouvement rectiligne ou des organes adaptés pour pousser ou tirer dans une seule direction, p. ex. interrupteur à bouton-poussoir ayant une pluralité d'éléments moteurs associés à différents jeux de contacts, p. ex. claviers avec des contacts portés par ou formés à partir de couches dans une structure multicouche, p. ex. interrupteurs à membrane caractérisés par des espaceurs entre les couches de support

Abrégé

The present invention relates to an electronic analysis circuit of a multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor (1) comprising electrical supply means for powering one of the two axes of the matrix, and means for detecting the electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at the intersections between the two axes, characterized in that the supply axis and the detection axis are alternated. The invention also relates to a multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor (1) comprising electrical supply means for powering one of the two axes of the matrix, and means for detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at the intersections between the two axes, said tactile sensor (2) also comprising such an electronic circuit.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/047 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant un ensemble de fils conducteurs, p. ex. des fils conducteurs croisés

Abrégé

The present invention relates to an electronic analysis circuit for a multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor (1) comprising electrical supply means for powering one of the two axes of the matrix, and means for detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at the nodes between the two axes, characterized in that at least one scanning characteristic is modulated locally or temporally. The present invention also relates to a multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor (1) furthermore comprising such an electronic analysis circuit.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/047 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant un ensemble de fils conducteurs, p. ex. des fils conducteurs croisés
• G06F 1/32 - Moyens destinés à économiser de l'énergie

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a multicontact transparent tactile sensor (1) comprising two at least partially conducting transparent layers, said layers being spaced apart by an insulating transparent material (15), characterized in that at least one of said layers consists of a transparent sheet on which is deposited an array of conducting tracks (23, 24) whose width is less than 80 microns.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

The present invention relates to an electronic analysis circuit for passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor (1) comprising electrical supply means for feeding one of the two axes of the matrix, and means for detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at the intersections between the two axes, characterized in that the electrical characteristic measured is alternately the capacitance and the resistance. The present invention also relates to a multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor (1) comprising electrical supply means for feeding one of the two axes of the matrix, and means for detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at the intersections between the two axes, said tactile sensor (1) also comprising such an electronic analysis circuit.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/047 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant un ensemble de fils conducteurs, p. ex. des fils conducteurs croisés
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs
• G06F 3/045 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant des éléments résistifs, p. ex. une seule surface uniforme ou deux surfaces parallèles mises en contact

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a multicontact tactile sensor (1) comprising a matrix formed of two transparent conducting layers, at least one exhibiting an array of fine conducting tracks, and a control circuit comprising a power supply for one of the layers and means for detecting the other layer, said sensor (1) having an operating mode of multicontact type (32) corresponding to a sweep of the supply to the lines of the corresponding layer, characterized in that it also comprises an operating mode of monocontact type (33) corresponding to a continuous and uniform supply over the whole of the sensor, each operating mode (32, 33) being activated as a function of the detection or nondetection of at least one contact.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction

Produits et services

Photographic, cinematographic, optical, and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; magnetic data carriers; gramophone records. Musical instruments; electronic musical instruments.

Abrégé

The invention relates to a transparent multi-tactile sensor including a transparent semi-conducting active layer provided between two transparent conducting layers arranged as an array of cells formed by the intersection of rows and columns, characterised in that it comprises a control circuit successively supplying each semi-conducting portion corresponding to a cell, said control circuit including a means for analysing the variation in the electrical characteristics due to the deformation of one or more sensor areas, each area including one or more cells, the semi-conducting characteristic of said intermediate layer making said cells independent from the measuring circuit.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/045 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant des éléments résistifs, p. ex. une seule surface uniforme ou deux surfaces parallèles mises en contact
• G06F 3/047 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction utilisant un ensemble de fils conducteurs, p. ex. des fils conducteurs croisés

Abrégé

The present invention relates to a multipoint touch sensor with active matrix comprising: - a matrix layer exhibiting NxM independent cells, each of the cells Px, y being linked to a row Lx and to a column Cy through a switching element, the rows Lx being common to all the cells Px, i, i lying between 1 and N, and the columns Cy being common to all the cells Pj, y, j lying between 1 and Q, Q being at most equal to M, an intermediate layer able to cause a local modification of the electrical properties of the cells situated under the tactile activation zone, said intermediate layer being placed between the active surface of the adjacent surface of the said Px, y, cells, - an upper activation layer allowing tactile interaction, - an electronic circuit sequentially controlling, for each set of cells Ca, b1-b2 with b2-b1 lying between 1 and Q, a first step of activating said cells Ca, b1-b2 followed by a second step of detecting the electrical properties of each cell Ca, b1-b2 individually so as to deliver an item of information representative of the zones activated by touch.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p. ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

Device and method for generating a pulsed output signal, in particular an ultra wide band signal, from a pulsed original signal containing digital data, in which: a multiplicity of parallel pathways (V1, V2, V3) respectively comprise an oscillator (O1, O2, O3) generating continuous periodic signals and a breaker (W1, W2, W3); a control circuit (4) is subjected to the pulsed original signal and delivering closure pulses (T1, T2, T3) to said breakers, the duration and the temporal position of which with respect to the pulsed original signal (T) are specific to each breaker; and a summation circuit (3) receives the signals emanating from parallel pathways and delivers the pulsed output signal so that the pulsed output signal exhibits a spectrum included in a spectral mask whose shape is determined by said durations and said temporal positions of said closure pulses.

Classes IPC  ?

• H03C 1/36 - Modulation d'amplitude au moyen d'un dispositif à semi-conducteurs ayant au moins trois électrodes
• H04L 27/04 - Circuits de modulationCircuits émetteurs