Heterogeneous tactile sensing via multiple sensor types using spatial information processing

Abstract

This invention relates to sensor arrangements and signal processing architectures for touch-based user interfaces comprising multiple sensor types and other arrangements so as to create user interface output signals responsive to the touch of at least one human finger. Sensor types and other arrangements can include capacitive tactile sensor arrays, optical tactile sensor arrays, proximity sensor arrays, pressure sensor arrays, and video cameras. At least one software algorithm comprises at least one of a functional partition (wherein some user interface output signals are derived only from a pre-specified sensor), decision-based selection (wherein some user interface output signals are selectively derived from a selected sensor), or spatial information processing (wherein user interface output signals are obtained from threshold testing, conditional testing, vector quantization, algorithms employing parameterized calculations, algorithms employing compensation calculations and operations, artificial neural networks, etc.).