Partial detect mode

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a touch sensitive system including a touch surface, a plurality of emitters that emit light, a plurality of detectors that detect the emitted light, a plurality of distributed controllers each can control operation of a segment of emitters and detectors, a main controller that can control the distributed controllers. The touch sensitive system can set in a partial detect mode in which mode a first of the distributed controllers can be active and control a first emitter to emit light in a partial region of the panel coincident with a partial area of the touch surface. The touch sensitive system can detect a predetermined gesture on the partial area of the touch surface, generate a gesture signal indicating the predetermined gesture, and activate a feature of the touch sensitive system in accordance with the predetermined gesture.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A touch sensitive system comprising:
 a touch sensitive panel defining a touch surface;   a plurality of emitters configured to emit light across the touch surface;   a plurality of detectors configured to detect the light;   a plurality of distributed controllers, wherein each of the plurality of distributed controllers is configured to control operation of a respective segment of the plurality of emitters and the plurality of detectors;   the plurality of distributed controllers forming pairs of distributed controllers configured to control operation of opposing segments of the plurality of emitters and the plurality of detectors; and   a main controller connected with the plurality of distributed controllers;   wherein during a partial detect mode, pairs of distributed controllers are sequentially activated to control emission of light across said touch surface between segments of the respective pair; and wherein the first distributed controller is further configured to:   detect a predetermined gesture on the touch surface;   generate a gesture signal indicating the predetermined gesture; and   activate all distributed controllers in response to receiving the gesture signal.   
     
     
         31 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein said main controller is configured to be set in a low power mode when the touch sensitive system is set in said partial detect mode. 
     
     
         32 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein each distributed controller comprises a processor and a computer readable storage medium. 
     
     
         33 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein the distributed controllers are grouped into at least one group. 
     
     
         34 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 33 , wherein the distributed controllers in each group are connected in series. 
     
     
         35 . The touch sensitive system to  claim 33 , wherein only one distributed controller in each group is operatively connected directly to the main controller. 
     
     
         36 . The touch sensitive system according to  claims 33 , wherein a second of the distributed controllers is configured to be active in the partial detect mode, wherein the first and the second distributed controllers are grouped into the same group. 
     
     
         37 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 36 , wherein the second distributed controller is configured to detect a predetermined gesture and to generate a gesture signal. 
     
     
         38 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein the first distributed controller is configured to detect a predetermined gesture and to generate a gesture signal. 
     
     
         39 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein the touch surface is rectangular and wherein the distributed controllers of each pair control operation of segments of the plurality of emitters and the plurality of detectors on opposite long edges of the touch surface. 
     
     
         40 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein the area between all pairs of respective segments of emitters and detectors matches the total touch surface area. 
     
     
         41 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein the first emitter is configured to emit light along a detection line being reflected in the partial area of the touch surface. 
     
     
         42 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein the first emitter is configured to emit light in a predetermined emission angle a adapted to a distance between the first emitter and the partial area such that the emitted light is reflected in a certain area of the partial area. 
     
     
         43 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein the first distributed controller is configured to control the first emitter to emit light with an energy adapted to the partial detect mode. 
     
     
         44 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein said predetermined gesture is characterized by a touch of a touching object at a partial area. 
     
     
         45 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein the main controller is configured to activate a feature of the touch sensitive system in response to receiving a gesture signal. 
     
     
         46 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 45 , wherein activate a feature comprises changing the mode of the touch sensitive system from said partial detect mode to a normal mode, wherein the main controller is configured to change mode from said power saving mode to a normal mode. 
     
     
         47 . The touch sensitive system according to  claim 30 , wherein said touch sensitive system is based on Frustrated Total Internal Reflection, FTIR. 
     
     
         48 . A method for activating a feature of a touch sensitive system comprising a plurality of distributed controllers connected with a main controller, the plurality of distributed controllers forming pairs of distributed controllers configured to control operation of opposing segments of the plurality of emitters and the plurality of detectors, the method comprising:
 emitting light from a plurality of emitters across a touch surface;   detecting the emitted light at a plurality of detectors;   controlling, with the plurality of distributed controllers, operation of the plurality of emitters and the plurality of detectors;   sequentially activating pairs of distributed controllers in a partial detect mode;   detecting, with a first distributed controller, a predetermined gesture on a partial area of said touch surface; and   generating, with the first distributed controller in the first subset, a gesture signal indicating the predetermined gesture;   wherein activating all distributed controllers in response to receiving the gesture signal.