{
  "patent_number": "US 20210117042",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Devices Detect Touch Using Heat Signatures",
  "original_title": "Method and Device for Detecting a Touch Between a First Object and a Second Object",
  "summary": "This patent describes a system that uses a thermal camera to detect when two objects, like a finger and a screen, touch by looking for a specific temperature change at their contact point.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes a system that uses a thermal camera to detect when a \"first object\" (like a finger) touches a \"second object\" (like a display). The system first takes a thermal image of both objects and determines their individual temperatures. A touch is detected when the system finds pixels in the thermal image that show a \"third temperature\" exactly where the two objects meet (Claim 31). This \"third temperature\" is different from the individual object temperatures, indicating contact. For example, if a warm hand touches a cooler display, the system would identify a distinct warm spot on the display in the thermal image. The system then uses this detected touch and its position on the display to provide user input, such as interacting with an application (Claim 31).",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover touch detection methods that do not rely on thermal imaging.",
    "Does not cover systems that detect touch without identifying a distinct \"third temperature\" at the contact point (Claim 31).",
    "Does not cover touch detection where the two objects have the same temperature, as the method relies on a temperature difference.",
    "Does not cover touchscreens that use electrical capacitance, pressure sensors, or optical sensors to detect contact.",
    "Does not cover systems that only detect the presence of an object without specifically identifying a touch based on a temperature change."
  ],
  "filed": "2020-12-23",
  "granted": null,
  "expires": "2040-12-23",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Apple",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/apple",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Daniel Kurz",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/daniel-kurz"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 1,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "software",
    "telecommunications",
    "augmented_reality",
    "human_computer_interaction"
  ],
  "abstract": "The present disclosure is related to a method and device for detecting a touch between at least part of a first object and at least part of a second object, wherein the at least part of the first object has a different temperature than the at least part of the second object. The method includes providing at least one thermal image of a portion of the second object, determining in at least part of the at least one thermal image a pattern which is indicative of a particular value or range of temperature or a particular value or range of temperature change, and using the determined pattern for detecting a touch between the at least part of the first object and the at least part of the second object.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20210117042/method-and-device-for-detecting-a-touch-between-a-first-object-and-a-second-obje",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20210117042/method-and-device-for-detecting-a-touch-between-a-first-object-and-a-second-obje/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US20210117042",
  "relatedPatents": []
}