Sentons Inc.

Stanislav Maximov

Lapoe E Lynn

Shirish A Altekar

Samuel W Sheng

Shih-Ming Shih

Yenyu Hsieh

Techniques for detecting touch inputs are described. A system for detecting touch inputs includes force sensors, touch sensors, one or more processors and one or more memories coupled to the processor(s) and configured to provide the processor(s) with instructions. The processor(s) receive force measurements from the force sensor(s) and receive imputed force measurements from the touch sensor(s). Based on at least the imputed force measurements, the processor(s) identify touch inputs. One or more touch input criteria are calibrated based upon the force measurements and the imputed force measurements.

Touch input calibration

A propagating signal transmitted through a propagating medium is received where a detected disturbance to a signal property of the propagating signal is analyzed to detect whether a touch input has been provided. It is determined whether the detected disturbance matches a signature and in the event it is determined that the detected disturbance matches the signature, it is determined that the detected disturbance does not correspond to the touch input.

Detection of non-touch inputs using a signature

A touch input is detected. From a plurality of transmitters coupled to a propagating medium, propagating signals are emitted through the propagating medium. At a plurality of receivers coupled to the propagating medium, one or more of the propagating signals that have been disturbed by the touch input are received. The plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers are coupled to the propagating medium on an internal side of a device sidewall. One or more detected propagating signals that have been disturbed by the touch input are analyzed to identify the touch input on an external surface of the device sidewall.

Touch input detection along device sidewall

A touch input to a propagating medium is identified based on one or more of the following: (1) a determination that a third propagating signal (from a second transmitter to a first receiver) was interfered with while a first propagating signal (from a first transmitter to the first receiver) was not interfered with or (2) a determination that the second propagating signal (from a first transmitter to a second receiver) was interfered with while the fourth propagating signal (from the second transmitter to the second receiver) was not interfered with. In response to the touch input to the propagating medium being identified, a system which includes the first transmitter, the second transmitter, the first receiver, and the second receiver updates.

Touch input detection with shared receivers

At a receiver associated with a transmitter-receiver pair, a propagating signal transmitted by a transmitter associated with the pair is received. A detected disturbance to a signal property of the propagating signal is analyzed with respect to reference data associated with the pair to detect whether a touch input has been provided. If the detected disturbance meets a criteria then the reference data associated with the pair is updated using the received propagating signal.

Update of reference data for touch input detection

A first transmitter transmits a first propagating signal to a receiver through a first region of a touch input medium corresponding. A second transmitter transmits a second propagating signal to the receiver through a second region where the second region is a subset of the first region. At least the first propagating signal and the second propagating signal are analyzed to identify, based on a determination that the first signal path was disturbed by a touch input while the second signal path was not disturbed by the touch input, the touch input on a part of the first region that is not part of the second region.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Stanislav Maximov