Controller, System and Method for Identifying a Number of Interactions with a Computer Input Area

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for identifying a number of interactions with a computer input area defined by at least first and second intersecting sets of detection paths. First, indications of which of the detection paths are affected by the interactions are received. Then, for each of the detection path sets, the set's indications of affected detection paths are parsed to identify up to N extents of adjacent, affected detection paths (N≧2). A controller having logic to implement the method, and a system incorporating a control system that implements the method, are also disclosed.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A touch pad comprising:
 a first pair of light emitters configured to project a first pair of light beams in a first direction towards a corresponding first pair of light detectors;   a first pair of registers coupled to the first pair of light detectors, wherein each of the registers in the first pair of registers is configured to store a logic level indicative of light incident upon the corresponding light detector, with a first pair of coincident logic levels indicating a first touch that affects a first detection path oriented in the first direction;   a second pair of light emitters configured to project a second pair of light beams in a second direction towards a corresponding second pair of light detectors, the second direction intersecting the first direction;   a second pair of registers coupled to the second pair of light detectors, wherein each of the registers in the second pair of registers is configured to store a logic level indicative of light incident upon the corresponding light detector, with a second pair of coincident logic levels indicating that the first touch additionally affects a second detection path oriented in the second direction;   a first uniquely identifiable area of the touch pad, the first uniquely identifiable area being defined at the intersection of the first and the second pairs of light beams, with the combination of the first and the second pairs of coincident logic levels confirming the first touch upon the first uniquely identifiable area of the touch pad;   a third pair of light emitters configured to project a third pair of light beams in the first direction towards a corresponding third pair of light detectors;   a third pair of registers coupled to the third pair of light detectors, wherein each register of the third pair of registers is configured to store a logic level corresponding to light incident upon each of the third air of light detectors, with a third pair of coincident logic levels indicating a second touch that affects a third detection path oriented in the first direction;   a fourth pair of light emitters configured to project a fourth pair of light beams in the second direction towards a corresponding fourth pair of light detectors;   a fourth pair of registers coupled to the fourth pair of light detectors, wherein each register of the fourth pair of registers is configured to store a logic level corresponding to light incident upon each of the fourth pair of light detectors, with the fourth pair of coincident logic levels indicating that the second touch additionally affects a fourth detection path oriented in the second direction, and   a second uniquely identifiable area of the touch pad, the second uniquely identifiable area defined at the intersection of the third and the fourth pairs of light beams.   
     
     
         22 . the touch pad of  claim 21 , wherein the second direction intersects the first direction orthogonally. 
     
     
         23 . the touch pad of  claim 21 , wherein the touch pad is a numeric touch pad and the first uniquely identifiable area corresponds to a key of the numeric touch pad. 
     
     
         24 . The touch pad of  claim 21 , wherein a liquid crystal display (LCD) is disposed beneath the touch pad. 
     
     
         25 . The touch pad of  claim 24 , wherein the touch pad is a numeric touch pad, the first uniquely identifiable area corresponds to a first key of the numeric touch pad, and the second uniquely identifiable area corresponds to a second key of the numeric touch pad. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . (canceled)