Jerry T Roberts

US Patent:

7102621, Sep 5, 2006

Filed:

Sep 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/882338

Inventors:

Jerry B. Roberts - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345173, 345156, 738657, 702 41, 702 98

Abstract:

A method and apparatus is disclosed, particularly, though by no means exclusively, useful in touch-screen computer CRT display systems and the like, and more generally in other force and/or torque measurement systems, as in weighing and the like, in which (1) lineal and/or rotational acceleration of the system is sensed in response to inertial interference effects such as tilt or movement that introduce errors into the force and/or torque measurements, and/or (2) inertial error correction from the force data itself is obtained, such as derivative order corrections; and such data is used to correct the force and/or torque measurements. A novel calibration technique for deriving appropriately descriptive coefficients to the particular system for the correcting data, is also disclosed.

US Patent:

7158122, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

May 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/147604

Inventors:

Jerry B. Roberts - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G09G 5/00
G06K 11/06

US Classification:

345173, 178 1802

Abstract:

A method and system are provided to correct inaccuracies in touch location determination associated with mechanical distortion of the touch screen. Calibration parameters are provided for a touch screen characterizing an error in an expected touch signal associated with mechanical distortion of the touch screen. A force responsive touch signal having the error is detected and the touch location determined using the calibration parameters to correct the error in the touch signal. The calibration parameters are determined by applying mechanical distortion to the touch screen and characterizing the touch signal error associated with the mechanical distortion. The calibration parameters are produced using the characterization of the touch signal error.

US Patent:

7176897, Feb 13, 2007

Filed:

May 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/150704

Inventors:

Jerry B. Roberts - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345173, 178 1801

Abstract:

A method and system are provided to correct one or more sensor signals having errors induced by a viscoelastic effect. The errors may be characterized using a combination of linear or non linear functions. The characterization of the errors may be used to reduce the errors from the sensor signals. In one aspect of the invention, the errors associated with a viscoelastic effect are reduced from the sensor signals by filtering the sensor signals, scaling the output of the filter circuit to produce correction factors and subtracting the correction factors from the sensor signals. Corrected sensor signals may be used to determine the location of a touch on a touch screen with improved accuracy.

US Patent:

7183948, Feb 27, 2007

Filed:

Apr 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/835049

Inventors:

Jerry B. Roberts - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

H03M 11/00

US Classification:

341 34, 345173

Abstract:

Various techniques are provided for reducing the impact of tangential forces on touch location in a touch location device. For example, in one aspect, shunt connections are provided that impede lateral motion of the touch surface structure at the level of the touch plane, thereby reducing to insignificant magnitude reactions to tangential force passing through the sensing connections. In another aspect, sensing connections incorporate elastic means so adjusted as to turn that connection's reaction to tangential touch force perpendicular to its axis of sensitivity. In another aspect, sensing connections incorporate sensing means so adjusted as to turn that connection's axis of sensitivity perpendicular to its reaction to tangential force.

US Patent:

7190350, Mar 13, 2007

Filed:

Apr 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/121516

Inventors:

Jerry B. Roberts - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345173, 178 1801

Abstract:

A touch screen uses one or more force sensors to determine location of the touch on the screen. Bending or twisting of the touch screen overlay, or of the support structure upon which the touch screen is mounted, may result in the detection of undesirable forces by force sensors. These undesirable forces may distort the measurement of the location of the touch on the screen. The force sensor is arranged to reduce the effects of flexure on the determination of the location of the touch. For example, a rotational softener, such as a rotational bearing or a pliable material may be included with the force sensor.

US Patent:

7196694, Mar 27, 2007

Filed:

Apr 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/121507

Inventors:

Jerry B. Roberts - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345173, 178 1801

Abstract:

A touch screen uses one or more force sensors to determine location of the touch on the screen. The force sensor has an accurately determined direction of sensitivity and, therefore, has reduced sensitivity to forces that are non-perpendicular to the screen. The sensor is thin in relation to the area of the active force-sensing element, allowing low profile force touch screens to have a better combination of mechanical integrity, accuracy, sensitivity, and high signal to noise ratio than has heretofore been achieved. The sensor may also be rotationally soft, so that it is effective at preventing twisting motions of the overlay or the support surface from affecting the sensed force.

US Patent:

7499039, Mar 3, 2009

Filed:

Jan 10, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/032572

Inventors:

Jerry B. Roberts - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - Saint Paul MN

International Classification:

G06F 3/043

US Classification:

345177, 345156, 345173, 178 1801, 178 1803, 178 1804

Abstract:

A touch sensitive device uses an iterative method for determining the location of a touch on a touch sensitive surface. The touch sensitive device includes a touch plate and a plurality of sensors configured to sense vibrations propagating in the touch plate. Signals responsive to the vibrations caused by the touch are generated. The touch location is approximated and the signals are adjusted using the approximate touch location. The touch location is determined using the adjusted signals.

US Patent:

7532202, May 12, 2009

Filed:

May 8, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/142118

Inventors:

Jerry B. Roberts - Arlington MA, US

Assignee:

3M Innovative Properties Company - Saint Paul MN

International Classification:

G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345173, 178 1801

Abstract:

In connection with establishing a touch location on a touch screen, a number of reference levels are developed. One or more of the reference levels may be used to determine a differential change in the touch signal between a zero touch force condition and a touch event. In one approach, one or more reference levels are selected to compensate for various conditions affecting the touch screen at the time a touch is applied. Using one or more reference levels to compensate for conditions affecting the touch signal at the time touch location information is obtained can provide improved accuracy in determining touch location.