Carroll Touch Inc.

John K Carstedt

James E Garrett

Arthur B Carroll

Paul R Hunter

Timothy E Masters

Paul B Lucas

Stewart E Hough

Sam R Shaw

A touch input device which continuously samples and digitally stores ambient light readings and compares these with previously stored readings is taught. Briefly stated, a phototransistor is turned on before, during and after an LED emitter energization. An ambient value is calculated which is subtracted from the value obtained during LED firing so as to develop a signal indicative of the presence or absence of the LED pulse, irrespective of ambient light fluctuations. The ambient level is stored for comparison purposes during the next sampling of the associated phototransistor.

Touch input device having digital ambient light sampling

A touch entry system employing arrays of emitter and detector opto devices located around the periphery of an irradiated field detects intrusion of an opaque element such as a stylus within the field. The detector analog output is converted to a digital signal for input into a microprocessor. Digital signals input into the microprocessor can vary due to inconsistencies in conventional opto devices. A programmable amplifier responsive to the microprocessors preconditions the analog signals prior to analog to digital conversion to bring all digital signals corresponding to the unblocked emitter beam condition within a normalized range before input into the microprocessor.

Signal preconditioning for touch entry device

An opto-matrix touch input device which samples and compares beam readings is taught. Briefly stated, phototransistor readings which sample ambient light as well as light from an associated light emitting diode are compared with preset values. If the readings from the phototransistor are below a certain level, then the phototransistor/LED pair are flagged as bad. If the readings are within preset limits, yet below nominal values, then the phototransistor/LED pair are flagged as indicating a marginal beam. In this manner a trouble report may be generated for the purpose of repair or investigation as well as providing a vehicle for keeping a history of the opto-matrix frame condition and thereby a method of early fault detection.

Early fault detection in an opto-matrix touch input device

Growing community of inventors

Round Rock, TX, United States of America

John K Carstedt