The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing user input at a touchscreen. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to the provision of multiple user input devices optionally in the form of disc-like bodies each of which is associated with a unique ID. When a user locates a user input device on the touch panel of a touchscreen operation of that touchscreen is carried out responsive to the unique ID of the input device. User input can be further provided by subsequent movement of the device on the touch surface.

Many input devices are known which human operators can interact with to thereby provide an input. For example conventional input devices include mechanical input devices like mechanical buttons or keys or track balls or sliders. Other types of input devices like touchscreens or NFC readers are also known. Touchscreens in particular are increasingly popular and these allow a user to make selections and indicate choice by touching a surface of a touch panel in one or multiple locations with those locations being associated with regions displayed on an underlying display screen. By correlating detected touch positions in the plane of the touch panel with corresponding display positions in the plane of the underlying display a user can select one or more choices. Such selection can be used to indicate an instruction or for many other purposes.

Conventionally touchscreens include a touch panel, a controller and a software driver. A touch panel is a clear panel with a touch sensitive surface. The touch panel is positioned in front of a display so that the touch sensitive surface covers the viewable area of the display screen. The touch panel and associated screen together can be referred to as a touchscreen or display arrangement.

There are many different types of touchscreen technology available including resistive, capacitive, infrared and surface acoustic wave techniques.

Conventionally touchscreens have provided users with an agreeable user friendly way of showing a user preference or user input. Flowever to date such techniques for interacting with a touch sensitive surface of a touchscreen have been limited.

Furthermore conventionally if a user has desired a touchscreen to display a desired choice or imagery that user has conventionally been required to interact on multiple occasions with the touchscreen. For example a user has had to read through a pre staged index and then select one option from a predetermined list and then perhaps consecutively select options from further lists that are displayed. This has proved to be inconvenient at times.

It will also be appreciated that touchscreens are utilised in a wide range of scenarios. One such scenario is in a retail environment where many retail premises such as shops or sales showrooms show details of items for sale on touchscreens. Users have conventionally had a limited option when it comes to interacting with a touchscreen to request desired details of items for sale in that establishment. Furthermore in such situations the imagery and information displayed on the touchscreen is provided as“virtual” content. That is to say there has been a limited link between a tangible object such as a car or watch or mobile device and a human user. This has not helped during the sales transaction.

It will further be understood that often touchscreens in many environments have offered little opportunity for a user to arrive in the vicinity of the touchscreen and immediately and efficiently interact with the touchscreen to thereby stimulate the touchscreen to display data including imagery and information that a user is really interested in. Rather a user has needed to select from various lists. This is cumbersome and provides a user experience which is unsatisfactory.

It will still furthermore be understood that often touchscreens are used to display configurable imagery. For example touchscreens can be utilised to illustrate town planning based information including road layout, garden square layout, shopping precinct layouts and connecting road layouts. Often these have needed to be pre stored and thus offer little configurability in real time. As a result conventionally if a user has wanted to consider what the layout would look like if a particular building or region (for example a school or house) was moved in an area it has proved difficult to provide instructions to a touchscreen which would then be interpreted and used to display the impact of such a movement on an overall plan.

It is an aim of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a user input device which can be readily chosen and thereafter laid onto a touch surface of a touchscreen and which automatically indicates to the touchscreen controller one or more user preferences or at least data associated with the user input device allocated to that user.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a moveable user input device which can be slid over the surface of a touchscreen with content displayed via the display of the touchscreen moving and changing according to motion of the user input device.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for providing user input at a touchscreen.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method of displaying data via a touchscreen display.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a user input device which can thereafter be utilised on a touch surface of a touchscreen to enable a user to conveniently select desired information to be displayed and provide user selection indication.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for providing user input at a touchscreen, comprising:

a base plate member comprising a lower surface slidable over a touch sensitive surface of a touchscreen; and

a cover plate member comprising an electrically conductive edge region spaced apart from the base plate member; wherein

the base plate member comprises at least two reference elements spaced apart by a predetermined distance and at least one identifier element spaced apart from each reference element by a respective distance that is not equal to said predetermined distance.

Aptly the apparatus further comprises the reference elements each comprise a respective at least one reference conductive pad and the reference conductive pads are disposed in a spaced apart relationship on the base plate member;

each identifier element comprises a respective at least one ID conductive pad; and the reference and ID conductive pads are provided proximate to the lower surface of the base plate member. Aptly the apparatus further comprises a coating over the lower surface of the base plate member covering the reference and ID conductive pads.

Aptly the coating is formed from a friction reducing material.

Aptly at least a core portion of the base plate member is manufactured from an electrically insulating material.

Aptly the cover plate member comprises a layer of electrically conductive material.

Aptly the cover plate member comprises at least one copper layer.

Aptly the apparatus further comprises an electrically insulating coating over a central region at an upper surface of the cover plate member that leaves said edge region exposed.

Aptly the apparatus further comprises a plurality of electrical connectors that each bridge a gap between the cover plate member and base plate member wherein each electrical connector connects a respective at least one reference element or identifier element to the electrically conductive edge region.

Aptly the conductive edge region is spaced apart from the base plate member via a stand-off element and the stand-off element has a thickness of 3 mm or more.

Aptly the stand-off element has a thickness of 8 mm or more.

Aptly the stand-off element comprises an edge region that extends around and between an inner surface at an outer edge of the base plate member and an upper surface at an outer edge of the cover plate member.

Aptly the the stand-off element comprises at least one stiffening rib.

Aptly the stand-off element is manufactured from an electrically insulating material.

Aptly the base plate member, cover plate member and stand-off element are circular or rectangular in shape and/or the apparatus comprises a user input device. Aptly the apparatus further comprises a tether securing the cover plate member to a target object.

Aptly the target object comprises a portable object or a fixed securing element.

Aptly the portable object comprises an electronic device or non-electronic retail product.

Aptly the upper surface of the cover plate member comprises a 3D model and/or surface decoration associated with a target object.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for providing user input at a touchscreen, comprising:

a lower surface slidable over a touch sensitive surface of a touchscreen; and an electrically conductive edge region spaced apart from the lower surface; wherein the lower surface comprises at least two reference elements, electrically connected to the edge region and spaced apart by a predetermined distance, and at least one identifier element electrically connected to the edge region spaced apart from each reference element by a respective distance that is not equal to said predetermined distance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for providing user input at a touchscreen, comprising the steps off:

locating a selected one of a plurality of user input devices, each associated with a unique ID, on a touch sensitive surface of a touchscreen whereby at least two reference elements, spaced apart on a base plate member of a user input device by a predetermined distance, are located proximate to the touch sensitive surface; and

detecting the two reference elements thereby identifying that a user input device is on the touchscreen.

Aptly the method further comprises providing user input at the touchscreen by identifying the unique ID associated with the user input device on the touch sensitive surface of the touchscreen and determining corresponding data associated with the unique ID.

Aptly the method further comprises providing user input at the touchscreen by identifying movement of the user input device at the touchscreen, said movement indicating at least one user choice and/or instruction. Aptly the method further comprises sliding the user input device in a line or arc over the touch sensitive surface and/or rotating the user input device at a desired location over the touch sensitive surface to thereby provide user input.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of displaying data via a touchscreen display, comprising the steps of:

determining when a user has located a one of a plurality of possible user input devices, each associated with a unique ID, on a touch sensitive surface of a touchscreen; and

displaying on a display of the touchscreen a visible cue associated with said a one user input device on the touch sensitive surface.

Aptly the method further comprises determining the unique ID for the selected one user input device; and

displaying a visible cue and/or audible cue associated with the unique ID on the display of the touchscreen.

Aptly the method further comprises displaying the visible cue, via said a display, proximate to a location of the user input device on the touch sensitive surface.

Aptly the method further comprises displaying the visible cue surrounding the user input device that is on the touch sensitive surface.

Aptly the method further comprises displaying the visible cue to at least one side of the user input device that is on the touch sensitive surface.

Aptly the method further comprises as a user moves the user input device on the touch sensitive surface, simultaneously moving the visible cue displayed on the display.

Aptly the method further comprises as a user moves the user input device on the touch sensitive surface, simultaneously displaying at least one new visible cue.

Aptly the method further comprises displaying a common visible cue associated with all of the possible user input devices on said a display. Aptly the method further comprises said common visible cue comprises a plurality of user option icons positioned around a peripheral edge region of a user input device.

Aptly the method further comprises as a user at least partially rotates or slides the user input device on the touch sensitive surface, displaying a user aid to indicate which of the user option icons is currently indicated for a selection decision.

Aptly the user aid comprises an illuminated portion of a user option icon and/or an arrow like element pointing at a desired user option icon.

Aptly the method further comprises displaying a whole screen image associated with a predetermined topic on a display of the touchscreen when it is determined that a user has located a user input device on the touch sensitive surface of the touchscreen.

Aptly the method further comprises as a user at least partially rotates the user input device or slides the user input device in a line or arc on the touch sensitive surface, displaying changes to the displayed whole screen image responsive thereto.

Aptly said user input device is not a finger or pointer stylus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a user input device, comprising the steps of:

providing a base plate member comprising a planar base body having an upper and lower surface;

providing a cover plate member comprising an electrically conductive edge region and having an upper and lower surface;

providing a standoff between the upper surface of the base plate member and a lower surface of the cover plate member;

electrically connecting each of at least two reference elements on the base plate member to the edge region; and

electrically connecting a one of at least one identifier element on the base plate member to the edge region.

Aptly the step of providing a base plate member comprises providing reference elements a predetermined distance apart and providing the at least one identifier spaced apart from each reference element by a respective distance that is not equal to said predetermined distance.

Aptly said step of providing the base plate member comprises forming a conductive pad, thereby providing a respective reference element, proximate to a lower surface of the base plate member, for each of the reference elements; and

coating the formed conductive pads and remaining regions of the lower surface of the base body where no contact pad is formed with a coating.

Aptly the cover plate member comprises providing a sheet of electrically conductive material and coating a portion of the upper surface of the sheet with an electrically insulating material leaving at least an edge region of the sheet uncoated by electrically insulating material.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for providing user input at a touchscreen, comprising:

a lower surface slidable over a touch sensitive surface of a touchscreen;

an upper surface comprising an electrically conductive edge region spaced apart from the lower surface; and

at least two reference elements spaced apart by a predetermined distance and at least one identifier element spaced apart from each reference element by a respective distance that is not equal to said predetermined distance.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a user input device usable at a touchscreen and which can be conveniently located on a touch surface of the touchscreen via a user’s hand to indicate user preferences and/or data associated with the user input device allocated to or chosen by a user. Optionally the user device can thereafter be moved/slid in a rotatory or linear or curvilinear fashion over the touch surface to provide further user input.

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for providing user input at a touchscreen. The methodology includes a user selecting or being allocated a particular user input device associated with a unique ID. That unique ID can be determined by a touchscreen controller and thereafter utilised to decide what information is displayed and/or other operation of the touchscreen or of a computer device connected to the touchscreen. Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an opportunity for real tangible objects such as a watch or smart phone or the like to be more closely associated with imagery and data displayed on a touchscreen than has conventionally been possible.

Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a user input device;

Figure 2 illustrates the user input device shown in Figure 1 on a touch surface of a touchscreen;

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of a user input device;

Figure 4 illustrates a cross section through parts of a user input device;

Figure 5 illustrates a lower surface of a base plate of a user input device;

Figure 6 illustrates an upper surface of a base plate of a user input device;

Figure 7 illustrates a lower surface of a cover plate of a user input device;

Figure 8 illustrates electrical isolation of contact pads provided by regions of the cover plate’s lower surface shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 illustrates an upper surface of a cover plate of a user input device;

Figure 10 illustrates multiple user input devices simultaneously placed on a touchscreen; Figure 1 1 illustrates tangible objects associated with respective user input devices;

Figure 12 illustrates a touch controller for a touch panel;

Figure 13 illustrates a user input device having an upper surface that incorporates a tangible object on a touchscreen; Figure 14 illustrates an alternative user input device; and

Figure 15 illustrates an exploded view of the user input device shown in Figure 14.

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Figure 1 illustrates a user input device 100. This is a device that can be utilised by a user of a touchscreen to provide user input at that touchscreen. The device is a tangible object that can be readily grasped and manoeuvred by a person’s hand. The user input device can be used by a touchscreen user to provide user input merely by locating the device on a touch surface of a touchscreen. The location of the user input device on the touchscreen or the mere fact that a user input device of a particular type has been put on the touch surface of the touchscreen can provide user input. Optionally further user input can be provided to a touchscreen by subsequent voluntary motion of the user input device over the touch sensitive surface of the touchscreen by a user. Such movement can be linear motion and/or curvilinear motion and/or rotatory motion and any combination.

In Figure 1 the illustrated user input device 100 has a shape somewhat like an ice hockey “puck”. That is to say the overall shape has a circular cross section with a generally smooth upper and lower surface. In this sense the apparatus for providing user input at a touchscreen is a disc-like body. It will be appreciated that according to certain other embodiments of the present invention user input devices can have a multitude of possible shapes and sizes. Aptly the puck has an outer diameter of 70 mm to 1 10 mm. Aptly the puck has an outer diameter of about around 90 mm. Aptly the puck has an outer diameter of 20 mm or more.

As illustrated in Figure 1 the user input device 100 includes a base plate 1 10, a cover plate 120 and a spacer 130 that spaces the base plate away from the cover plate. The cover plate, spacer and base plate can themselves optionally be multilayer elements. The cover plate 120 has an upper surface 140 and the base plate 1 10 has a lower surface 150.

The upper surface 140 of the cover plate has an edge region 160 which defines an endless ring and this circular edge region 160 is electrically conductive. The cover plate 120 shown in Figure 1 has a central circular region 170 which is provided by an electrically insulated coating. For example this is a solder resist layer covered by a thin print layer. As an alternative a whole surface area of the upper surface 140 of the cover plate 120 may be left electrically conductive. Other shapes and materials for the coating area 170 could of course be utilised. In this way at least a part or parts of the top edge that can be grasped by a user’s hand are left electrically conductive.

The spacer 130 has an outer facing surface 180 which for the puck shown in Figure 1 is a generally cylindrical shaped surface. This generally cylindrical surface has a length w which helps define a standoff distance separating the lower surface of the cover plate, and thus the linked upper surface of the cover plate, to the upper surface of the base plate (and thus the lower surface of the base plate). Instead of being a separate element the spacer could be provided as an extension at the edge of the lower surface of the cover plate and/or the upper surface of the base plate.

In use the lower surface of the base plate presents a substantially smooth surface which can be duly located on a touch sensitive surface of a touch panel of a touchscreen by a user. This is achieved by the user picking up the puck with their hand whereby fingers and a thumb of a hand touch the electrically conductive edge on the upper surface of the cover plate. The user can thereby select the user input device from a collection of multiple input devices picking the device up and thereafter locating the puck on the touchscreen. Alternatively a user may be given a single puck intentionally or randomly prior to use of the touchscreen. For example this may be as part of a sales promotion. Thereafter the puck can be left in a stationery position or optionally, by a user continuing to hold and push or pull the puck, the puck can be moved in a linear and/or curvilinear and/or rotatory fashion. This movement/motion of the puck on the touch sensitive surface can be detected and utilised to provide user input at the touchscreen. Such input can be used to select different information being displayed on the touchscreen and/or can be utilised to indicate a user selection or to generate other commands from a controller of the touchscreen.

Figure 2 illustrates a touchscreen 200 which has an upper touch sensitive surface 210. In Figure 2 the apparatus for providing user input in the form of a“puck” 100 has been located by a hand 215 of a user on the touch sensitive surface. The touchscreen controller identifies a user input device on the touchscreen (in a manner discussed below) and likewise can identify a unique ID associated with that particular puck (again in a manner described herein below in more detail). As a result the controller controls imagery 220 provided by a touchscreen display under the touch sensitive surface, 210. As illustrated in Figure 2 the displayed information can be a wide variety of different images. For example as illustrated in Figure 2 a list including four options 230 _0, 1 , 2, 3 can be displayed with associated imagery 240 providing a visual cue in addition to the list details leading a touchscreen user’s attention from the puck to the displayed information. Other characteristics associated with operation of the touchscreen could of course be varied/determined responsive to the user input device ID and/or motion.

By moving the user input device 100 from position to position the touchscreen controller can identify locations in real time and automatically display associated information proximate to the puck. As an alternative information may be displayed distal to the puck or still furthermore information can be displayed both close to the puck and far away from the puck. As illustrated in Figure 2 optionally a list can be provided. A selected one of the possible user options in that list can thereafter be selected either by a user manually touching a particular region of that displayed list with a finger or alternatively by rotating the puck 100 with a rotation angle of the puck being utilised to indicate a selected one of the multiple options displayed on the display of the touchscreen 200.

The user input device in the form of a puck 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is an example of an object which can be placed on a touchscreen. Object recognition can be carried out by the touchscreen controller (or optionally by a host computer connected to a touch detection unit of the touchscreen) to determine firstly that a user input device (rather than an unknown object) has been located on a touchscreen together with an associated location. Furthermore subsequent movement of that recognised object can thereafter be likewise recognised and that motion utilised to make a determination as to how a display of the touchscreen (or other aspect) should operate. It will be appreciated that once a particular puck has been identified on a touchscreen that recognition can be utilised to stimulate other action in addition to or as an alternative to the mere selection of displayed information on a touchscreen.

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the puck 100 in more detail and better illustrates the component parts of the puck shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 helps illustrate how the circular base plate 1 10 and circular cover plate 120 are kept apart by a spacer 130 which helps provide a standoff between a lower surface 300 of the cover plate and an upper surface 310 of the base plate. As noted above the parts that provide a standoff distance could optionally be integrally formed as part of the cover plate and/or base plate. Aptly the spacer has a thickness of between 2 to 15 mm. Aptly the spacer has a thickness of between 4 to 12 mm. Figure 3 also helps illustrate how the top edge 160 of the cover plate is left revealed.

The spacer 130 is shown in more detail in Figure 3. This includes multiple ribs 320 which extend across the inside region of the spacer. The ribs are stiffening elements and, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, are interconnected to form a framework. The ribs shown include wall-like panels and optionally include tube-like panels 325 which help resist compressive forces that would otherwise collapse the cover plate onto the base plate. The stiffening elements could be integrally formed as part of the base plate and/or cover plate. The particular location and configuration of the stiffening collapse resistant walls are carefully selected so as to ensure that groups 330 of contact pads on the upper surface of the base plate and corresponding contact pads on the lower surface of the cover plate can be connected unhindered via respective connectors. The three connectors illustrated in Figure 3 are two part connectors with a first lower portion 340 of the electrical connectors being shown towards the bottom of Figure 3 and a further upper portion 350 of the electrical connectors being shown in the upper section of Figure 3. Single piece connectors could of course be utilised.

Figure 3 helps illustrate how the base plate 1 10 includes two spaced apart groups of contact pads towards a first end (the left hand side end in Figure 3) of the base plate. It will be appreciated that the groups may optionally be positioned in different locations over the whole cross sectional area of the base plate (and cover plate). Each grouping is used to make electrical connection to an underlying element that helps provide a respective reference element 360,365. In more detail each group of contact pads shown includes four contact pads and these groupings (rather than the pads in any group) are spaced apart by a distance d. That is to say for example that a common central point associated with the groups of contact pads are spaced apart by a predetermined distance d. This distance d is preselected and pre-known and is a distance that is only shared on any one puck between the two reference elements.

Figure 3 also helps illustrate how the upper surface of the base plate carries multiple further groups of contact pads. Each further grouping can be used to provide a respective identifier element 366 to help identify a unique ID for that puck from within a plurality of other pucks. Fourteen groups corresponding to fourteen potential unique identifiers of four contact pads are illustrated in Figure 3 although it will be appreciated that other numbers of groups of contact pads could be utilised. The distance between corresponding points (for example a centre point) of any of these groups of contact pads, which can be used as an identifier, are intentionally different from the distance between corresponding points for the two reference elements. Likewise the distance between any one reference element and any one identifier element is not the same as the predetermined distance between the two reference elements. In the user input device 100 shown in Figure 3 an electrical connection is made between the two groups of contact pads that help form the two reference elements and a single one of the groups of contact pads that help form the possible identifier elements and between the base plate and the cover plate. In a similar manner groups of contact pads on the lower surface of the cover plate are grouped to help provide the two reference elements and a selected one identifier element. These are connected by the respective connectors 350, 340.

Four groups of three vias 370 are shown illustrated in the cover plate 120 in Figure 3. Using one or more vias helps provide electrical connection through the cover plate 120 and this is seen more clearly in Figure 4. Other connection methods could of course be utilised. Figure 4 helps illustrate how the cover plate 120 is itself a planar element formed from multiple layers. Notably a central core substrate 400 is provided formed from an electrically insulating material. Aptly this is an FR4 substrate or the like. On a lower surface of the substrate 400 of the cover plate 120 is a copper layer 405. This is an electrically conductive layer. Other types of electrically conductive layer such as other types of metal layers could of course be utilised. Likewise the upper surface of the cover layer substrate 400 has a copper layer 410. This is an electrically conductive layer. Other materials such as other metals could of course be utilised. The groups of vias 370 provide a good electrical conduction path between the opposed spaced apart copper areas. The coating 170 which is a solder resist area for the user input device illustrated is shown on the upper surface of the upper copper layer and a tin plating on top of the upper copper layer around the body edge forms the electrically conductive edge 160.

Figure 4 helps illustrate how the base plate 1 10 is itself a multilayer member. The base plate has a central core substrate 420 which is an electrically insulating material. Aptly this is an FR4 substrate layer or the like. A solder resist layer 425 is provided on a lower surface of the substrate 420 of the base plate. A lower surface of the solder resist 425 forms the contact surface at the bottom of the user input device. This generally flat surface can be easily slid over the touch surface of a touchscreen. An upper surface of the substrate 420 of the base plate likewise includes a solder resist layer 430.

Copper pads 435 are provided on the lower surface of the substrate 420 of the base plate at a location corresponding to the two reference elements 360, 365 and each of the possible identifier elements. The copper pads are an example of an electrically conductive pad that when grounded by electrical connection with a user’s hand on the edge region, can be detected as an emulated touch. Aptly the copper pads 435 are circular with a diameter of 9 to 15 mm. Aptly the diameter is 1 1 to 13 mm. Aptly the diameter is about around 12 mm. The conductive pads 435 shown are circular but other shapes could be used. Vias 440 connect the lower copper pads 435 to respective contact pads 445 on the upper surface of the base plate. These contact pads 445 include square copper pads 450 and tin plating 455 on top of the copper pads. The tin plating 455 is used to help when soldering to a respective leg 460 of a lower part of a lower connector 340.

The lower connector 340 extends upwardly (in the orientation shown in Figure 4) into the space between the opposed spaced apart upper cover plate and lower base plate. The lower connector 340 has an elongate body 465 which is generally cube-like with four equally spaced apart apertures to receive respective connecting legs 470 from the upper connector 350 which extends downwardly (in the orientation shown in Figure 4). The four legs 470 of the upper connector 350 extend into a body 475 of the upper connector 350 and this body terminates in four upper connector legs 480 which are connected to copper pads and intervening tin plating 490. Securing the legs of the upper connector into apertures in the lower connector makes an effective electrical connection. Other mechanisms could of course be utilised to electrically connect a copper pad 435 on the bottom of the base plate to the electrically conductive region or regions on the cover plate top surface/edge

Figure 5 illustrate aspects of the lower surface 150 of the base plate 1 10 in more detail. Figure 5 illustrates how a solder resist layer 425 extends across a whole of the bottom surface of the base plate. This covers the respective circular lower copper pads 435. Two of the spaced apart copper pads 435 are each associated with a respective one reference element of the puck. Fourteen further copper pads (in addition to the two copper pads that provide two respective reference elements) are provided in the puck shown in Figure 5 with a selected only one of these being connected to the upper cover plate. The two reference element forming copper pads are at least 40 mm apart. Aptly they are 45 mm or more from each other. Figure 5 helps illustrate how five vias 440 (ends of which are illustrated by black dots in Figure 5) are spaced apart around the cross sectional area of the lower copper pads. Optionally multiple combinations of copper pads could be connected with the selected copper pads and their respective positions together being used to provide an identifier element.

Figure 6 illustrates the upper surface 310 of the base plate 1 10 in more detail. Figure 6 helps illustrate how a first reference element 360 is connected using a group of four contact pads each comprising four copper pads 450 topped by respective areas of tin plating 455. Figure 6 also illustrates how the five vias 440 (shown as black dots in Figure 6) extend upwards through the base plate from the lower surface shown in Figure 5 to the upper surface of the base plate where they are in electrical contact with the contact pads. In this way electrical connection can be made via an electrically conductive pathway from the ring on the edge of the upper surface of the cover plate to the two respective lower copper pads 435 that help form the reference elements on the lower surface of the puck.

Figure 6 also helps illustrate how each identifier element 366 is likewise formed by four respective contact pads and five respective vias connecting to an underlying conductive pad. Aptly in any one puck only a selected one of the possible groupings of contact pads is connected to the cover plate via respective contact pads. The selection of which one of the plurality of conductive pads is connected electrically to the cover plate via respective contact pads helps provide the user input device with its own unique ID. Fourteen possible unique IDs could thus be provided by a puck with the design shown in Figures 1 to 6. It will be appreciated that by providing more (or less) groupings of contact pads (or by using combinations) different numbers of possible unique IDs could be provided by any single puck-like body. Each configuration of two reference elements and a one identifier element can be uniquely determined by determining a distance between each reference element and the selected one indicator element together with possible angles established between centre points of any grouping. With a controller (or host computer) pre-programmed to know at least the predetermined distance between reference elements and distance between at least one reference element and an identifier element these parameters can be compared to a lookup table (or other possible selection mechanism) to identify a unique ID for the puck which may thereafter be associated with a respective one characteristic or characteristics for use to control operation of the touchscreen. Figure 7 helps illustrate how the lower surface of the cover plate 120 is provided by the copper layer 405. Figure 7 also helps illustrate how the four sets of three vias 370 extend through the cover plate from the top surface to the bottom surface where the vias are in electrical conductive connection to the copper layer 405.

Soldering connectors onto a solid copper layer could be used to connect conductive pads to the conductive edge. Flowever this can occasionally prove problematical as the full mass of the surrounding copper can act as a heat sink. Figures 7 and 8 helps illustrate how isolated relief areas 800 can be provided around remaining square regions 810. The square regions each provide respective square connection pads connected to the copper plane. Flowever there is a slight relief in the copper around each square to help with soldering the connector onto the square pads.

Figure 9 helps illustrate the upper surface of the cover plate 120 in more detail. Figure 9 helps illustrate how an upper edge of the top of the user input device is provided as an endless ring which is electrically conductive. As previously mentioned, rather than an endless ring only one limited region or multiple separated regions of the edge region could be alternatively utilised.

Figure 10 illustrates a touchscreen 1000 which has an upper touch sensitive surface 1010 in front of a display (not shown). Figure 10 illustrates how a first user input device 100i and a further user input device 100 ₂ in the form of previously described pucks can be located by one or more users at respective locations on the touchscreen. The touchscreen controller detects that a user input device has been duly located at each particular location as described below in more detail. Furthermore the unique ID associated with the two utilised pucks 100 _{1 5} 100 ₂ is utilised to display data associated with the unique IDs at positions on the touchscreen convenient to a user. For example the first user input device 10C shown on the left hand side of Figure 10 may have a unique ID which is associated in memory with a particular football club. For example Newcastle United. When this puck 100i is selected by a user and located on a touchscreen, a club badge 1020 associated with the football team Newcastle United, can be displayed together with further data 1030 listing one or more player details. The touch controller determines a location A on the touchscreen where the first user input device 100i is located and responsive to that position displays the club badge and player details accordingly. As illustrated in Figure 10 the further user input device 100 ₂ selected by a user (which may be the same or a different person to the first mentioned touchscreen user) is associated with a further football team. For example York City Football Club. That club’s badge 1040 is displayed accordingly as is further data 1050 such as data associated with one or more team players associated with the football club which is associated with the unique ID indicated by the puck 100 ₂ . The data 1040, 1050 displayed around the user input device 100 ₂ shown on the right hand side of Figure 10 is displayed in a slightly different arrangement due to the position B detected for the user input device 100 ₂ . It will be appreciated that the location of the displayed data associated with any one puck can be the same or different depending upon a position on a touchscreen where the user input device is located and/or a number of user input devices put on the touchscreen at any one time.

Figure 1 1 illustrates an alternative use of a user input device 1 100. As shown in Figure 1 1 a user input device in a form of a puck 1 100i, which has already been selected by a user, is located on a touchscreen 1 120. The touchscreen 1 120 includes a touch sensitive surface with underlying display (not shown). Four different pucks 1 100i _..4 are shown illustrated in Figure 1 1. Each puck 1 100 is tethered via a respective security tether 1 130 to a respective tangible object. A smartphone or laptop or PDA or other such mobile terminal could of course be utilised as could tangible objects of other types. For example in Figure 1 1 each puck 1 100 is tethered via a secure tether such as a flexible chain to a mobile telephone-type device. As such this is an example of use in a retail environment where a retail operator provides a touchscreen 1 120 in a shop and users interested in purchasing a particular type of object can examine the tangible object itself (for example by picking up a smart phone/mobile telephone) and then placing the object (mobile telephone) and associated puck of choice on the touchscreen 1 120. The puck 1 100 ₁₅ selected with a respective smart phone 1 140 and secured to that smart phone 1 140 via a tether 1 130 secured via a connector 1 150 to the smart phone 1 140, is identified on the touchscreen 1 120 at position C. Data corresponding to the particular smart phone 1 140 is displayed on the touchscreen. Optionally this can be displayed as a first grouping of data 1 160 which for example could include technical data associated with a particular smart phone together with other data 1 170 which can provide options for a user. Four options are illustrated as being offered in Figure 1 1. For example each option could be a particular price plan or data plan associated with the smart phone 1 140 offered by that retail establishment. A user can select a one of the multiple options offered by touching the region of the touch square associated with the illuminated option data or by rotating the puck 1 100i whilst in contact with the touch sensitive surface of the screen with the rotatory motion being detected by the touchscreen controller and an angle of rotation being utilised to determine which of the (in this case) four options are desired by a user. It will be appreciated that optionally each puck or object tethered to the puck could themselves be tethered to a fixed point for security purposes.

Figure 12 schematically illustrates a grid 1200 of electrodes for a touch panel of a touchscreen. The grid includes crossing points of sensor electrodes and drive electrodes providing respective capacitive nodes associated with a cell centre. GB2502601 , the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a suitable plotting technique for providing the electrode grid and aspects of a controller unit usable according to certain embodiments of the present invention. In more detail Figure 12 provides a schematic diagram illustrating components of a touch detector unit 1210. The touch detector unit 1210 is connected to a multi-touch sensing panel 1220 comprising X-plane and Y-plane insulated conducting wires via a flexi-tail connector (not shown in Figure 12).

The touch detector unit 1210 includes a level generation circuit 1225 that generates a voltage pulse signal which is input to a multiplexer 1230 connected, via the flexi-tail connector, to the X-plane insulated conducting wires of the multi-touch sensing panel 1220. The multiplexer 1230 selects one of the X-plane insulated conducting wires and sends the pulse signal generated by the level generation circuit 1225 to the selected X-plane insulated conducting wires. Energy from the voltage pulse signal is transferred to the Y-plane insulated conducting wires of the multi-touch sensing panel 1220 by capacitive coupling.

The Y-plane insulated conducting wires are connected via the flexi-tail connector to one of a number of multiplexes A, B, C in a multiplexer array 1235. Each multiplexer is connected to a respective receive circuit 1240A, 1240B, 1240C. On the transmission of a voltage pulse signal on an X-plane insulated conducting wire, each multiplexer of the multiplexer array 1235 is arranged to connect each Y-plane insulated conducting wire to which it is connected to the receive circuit 1240A, 1240B, 1240C to which it is connected. In this way a complete scan of the multi-touch sensing panel is performed.

As illustrated in Figure 12 in more detail each receive circuit 1240 comprises an amplifier 1245, a peak detector 1250, peak detector charge and discharge switches 1255, 1260 and an analogue to digital converter 1265. The process includes measuring the voltage pulse signal on each Y-plane insulated conducted wire and outputting as a digital value to the microprocessor 1270. Eventually a digital value is sent to the microprocessor 1270 for all of the intersection points of the multi-touch sensing panel 1220.

Once all the digital values corresponding to the voltage pulse on each Y-plane insulated conducting wire has been input to the microprocessor 1270 of the touch detector unit 1210, the microprocessor converts these values into a suitable format and then outputs multi-touch data corresponding to detected multiple user touches on the multi-touch sensing panel 1220 on an output line 1275.

Optionally the microprocessor performs further processing to refine the data received from the received circuits prior to outputting data to a host computer system. For example the microprocessor may have access to memory holding an up to date list of possible user input IDs for respective user input devices like the puck previously described. Aptly this list is set on manufacture. As an alternative the list data can be stored in the host computer system. The list can be updated from time to time automatically or via a service engineer visit. If the microprocessor determines that a touch pattern has been received having a pattern that indexes an ID currently listed in a stored list 1280 then the microcontroller determines that a user input device (in the example described, a puck) having a particular unique ID has been identified on the surface of the touchscreen. Subsequent to this determination operation of the touchscreen and connected system can be controlled accordingly. For example as previously described imagery somehow associated with the unique ID can be displayed by a display of the touchscreen.

Table 1 below illustrates an example of a look up table 1280 which can be saved in the memory of the microprocessor 1270 (or host computer system).

Table 1

The stored look up table thus provides an indexing technique whereby a distance between identified reference identifiers can be utilised to indicate that a user input device has been located on the touchscreen together with one or more further parameters associated with multi- touch events detected by the touch controller. For example a distance from one of the identified reference points to a third point associated with the identifier element, associated with the one of many possible conductive pads connected to the electrically conductive edge, can be determined. This distance can help the microprocessor decide not only that a user input device has been duly located by a user on the touchscreen but also the unique ID of that particular user input device. Likewise a further possible parameter to use is an angle between imaginary lines drawn between the identifier element touch point and the first reference element touch point and the second reference element touch point. It will be appreciated that the distances and angles shown in the look up table are given by way of example only and that various distances and angles and their combinations could be utilised according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

One possible marker detection algorithm is set out below;

If 3 new points have been detected in the last 3 seconds

{

If 2 points are (approx.)“baseLength” distance apart

{

Measure the angle and distance of the 3 point from the base points If angle and distance values match a defined shape in the database of known shapes {

Assign the point IDs to that shape

Determine the shape centre and orientation

Declare shape found event

}

}

}

As updates arrive for the touchIDs, update the associated shape

If a touchID is lost (lift-off)

{

If touchID assigned to a shape

{

Remove the touchID from the shape

If shape holds no points

{

Declare the shape lift-off event

}

}

}

If a new touchID is detected

{

Foreach shape which is missing a single point

{

If new point matches missing point location

{

Assign new point to that shape

}

}

}

If 2 new points are detected

{

Foreach shape which is missing 2 points

{

If new points matches missing point locations

{

Assign new points to that shape

}

}

} The touch detector unit thus identifies the user input device by virtue of detecting effective touch events on the touch panel of the touchscreen. Because a user grasps the electrically conductive edge of the user input device and because that edge is electrically connected to the conductive pads of the two reference elements and the conductive pad of the identifier element those conductive pads provide effective earths which are synonymous with touch events at the touch panel. The touch controller constantly looks for “touch events” associated with touch points a predetermined distance apart which corresponds to the distance by which conductive pads are set apart for those user input devices having their details stored in the memory of the touch controller. When touch events having that predetermined distance are identified this is indicative of a possible user input device touch event. The controller then looks for a third touch event. If this is detected then a distance between that third detected touch event position and one or more of the“reference touch points” is determined. Alternatively or additionally an angle between the third identifier element touch point and the previously detected two reference element associated touch points is determined.

By comparing data in the look up table the touch controller can determine if a user input device has been locating by a user on the touch sensitive surface of the touchscreen and what the unique ID is of that user input device. The look up table can also include control data associated with each unique ID. Alternatively such control data can be stored elsewhere that is accessible to the touch detection unit or host computer system. The control data can include a wide variety of data. For example the control data can provide instructions for specific items to be displayed on the display of the touchscreen. For example control data could include instructions to display the club badge of York City Football Club if user input device 007 is identified. Additionally or alternatively the control data associated with each unique ID could include further programme instructions to determine how data is thereafter displayed and to possibly enable user input to be further communicated by subsequent movement of the identified user input device.

Figure 13 illustrates an alternative touchscreen 1300 in which a user input device 1310 in the form of a puck having an upper surface that is not flat is utilised. For example the puck 1310 shown in Figure 13 has a model of a house 1320 supported on the puck. The mode provides a visual cue to a touchscreen user. The display of the touchscreen is used to display a layout 1330 of a proposed town to be constructed. That is to say the display displays a system of roads 1340 and blocks of flats 1350 and a hospital 1360. Such imagery can be useful to those engaged in town planning to see how a layout of a proposed construction site will look. A human user of the touchscreen can locate a puck associated with a particular dwelling or other feature to be included in a town planning scheme (such as a garden square or canal stretch or playing field) and this can be moved around on the touchscreen. The touch detector unit identifies the fact that the puck 1310 has been duly located on the touch surface of the touchscreen. This determination is made by determining touch events created by a user’s hand on the puck 1310 creating a ground path to the conductive pads proximate to the lowest surface of the base plate of the puck. These touch events which are emulation events of how a human user would touch the touchscreen are determined by the touch controller to be a predetermined distance apart. This distance matching the pre-stored distance in the look up table in the memory of the microprocessor thus indicating a possible user input device presence. Detection of the third emulated touch event caused by the grounding of a user touching the electrically conductive ring around the top of the puck which is connected to a one of the further conductive pads proximate to the lower surface of the puck can then be used in the look up table to determine distance and angle with respect to the two emulated touch points identified as being reference element touch points. This provides the microprocessor with confirmation that a user input device puck has been located on the touchscreen and the unique ID for that particular puck. That information provides access to the microprocessor of specified control data associated with that unique ID. For example such control data could instruct the microprocessor to cause a house (the modelled object on the top of the puck) to be displayed at a location where the puck is located. Alternatively the control data can include dimensions associated with that model house and/or other characteristics. For example one possible characteristic would be that no factory should be included in a town plan within 100 metres of a house. Thus the microprocessor (or host computer system) knows that the user of the touchscreen wants to consider how a town plan will look when a house is located at a particular position and plans the town plan and displays the planned town plan as the puck is moved around. The control data can thus include conditions for determining what data is displayed and how on the touchscreen. In this way as a user of the touchscreen moves the puck associated with a house over the surface of the touchscreen the host computer for the display can constantly regenerate a town plan satisfying all predetermined conditions associated with the control data thus indicating to a user what possible configurations of a town plan would be possible with the house in any one particular position. This helps a user visualise possible configurations in a very efficient and understandable manner. Figure 14 illustrates an alternative user input device 1400. This is a device that can be utilised by a user of a touchscreen to provide user input at that touchscreen. The user input device can be used by a touchscreen user to provide user input merely by locating the device on a touch surface of a touchscreen. The location of the user input device on the touchscreen or the mere fact that a user input device of a particular type has been put on the touch surface of the touchscreen can provide user input. Optionally further user input can be provided to a touchscreen by subsequent voluntary motion of the user input device over the touch sensitive surface of the touchscreen by a user. Such movement can be linear motion and/or curvilinear motion and/or rotatory motion and any combination.

In Figure 14 the illustrated user input device 1400 has a rectangular shape. That is to say the overall shape has a rectangular cross section with a generally smooth upper and lower surface. In this sense the apparatus for providing user input at a touchscreen is a plate-like body. It will be appreciated that according to certain other embodiments of the present invention user input devices can have a multitude of possible shapes and sizes. Aptly the rectangular body has a length of 1 10 to 125 mm and a width of 60 to 80 mm. Aptly the length is about around 1 18 mm and the width is about around 68 mm.

As illustrated in Figure 14 the user input device 1400 includes a base plate 1410, a cover plate 1420 and a spacer 1430 that spaces the base plate away from the cover plate. The cover plate, spacer and base plate can themselves optionally be multilayer elements. The cover plate 1420 has an upper surface 1440 and the base plate 1410 has a lower surface 1450.

The upper surface 1440 of the cover plate has an edge region 1460 which defines an endless ring (having a generally rectangular rather than circular shape) and this circular edge region 1460 is electrically conductive. The cover plate 1420 shown in Figure 14 has a central rectangular region 1470 which is provided by an electrically insulated coating. For example this is a solder resist layer covered by a thin print layer. As an alternative a whole surface area of the upper surface 1440 of the cover plate 1420 may be left electrically conductive. Other shapes and materials for the coating area 1470 could of course be utilised. In this way at least a part or parts of the top edge that can be grasped by a user’s hand are left electrically conductive. The spacer 1430 has an outer facing surface 1480 which for the rectangular plate-like body shown in Figure 14 is a generally rectangularly shaped surface. This generally rectangular surface has a length s which helps define a standoff distance separating the lower surface of the cover plate, and thus the linked upper surface of the cover plate, to the upper surface of the base plate (and thus the lower surface of the base plate). Instead of being a separate element the spacer could be provided as an extension at the edge of the lower surface of the cover plate and/or the upper surface of the base plate.

In use the lower surface of the base plate presents a substantially smooth surface which can be duly located on a touch sensitive surface of a touch panel of a touchscreen by a user. This is achieved by the user picking up the rectangular user input device with their hand whereby fingers and a thumb of a hand touch the electrically conductive edge on the upper surface of the cover plate. The user can thereby select the user input device from a collection of multiple input devices picking the device up and thereafter locating the plate-like body on the touchscreen. Alternatively a user may be given a single rectangular user input device intentionally or randomly prior to use of the touchscreen. For example this may be as part of a sales promotion. Thereafter the plate-like body can be left in a stationery position of optionally, by a user continuing to hold and push or pull the body, the body can be moved in a linear and/or curvilinear and/or rotatory fashion. This movement/motion of the body on the touch sensitive surface can be detected and utilised to provide user input at the touchscreen. Such input can be used to select different information being displayed on the touchscreen and/or can be utilised to indicate a user selection or to generate other commands from a controller of the touchscreen.

The apparatus for providing user input in the form of a plate-like body 1400 can be located by a hand 215 of a user on the touch sensitive surface. The touchscreen controller identifies a user input device on the touchscreen (in a manner discussed below) and likewise can identify a unique ID associated with that particular user input device (again in a manner described herein below in more detail). As a result the controller controls imagery 220 provided by a touchscreen display under the touch sensitive surface ,210. The displayed information can be a wide variety of different images. For example as illustrated in Figure 2 a list including four options 230 _{0, 1 , 2, 3} can be displayed with associated imagery 240 providing a visual cue in addition to the list details leading a touchscreen user’s attention from the user input device to the displayed information. Other characteristics associated with operation of the touchscreen could of course be varied/determined responsive to the user input device ID and/or motion.

By moving the user input device 1400 from position to position the touchscreen controller can identify locations in real time and automatically display associated information proximate to the plate-like body. As an alternative information my be displayed distal to the plate-like body or still furthermore information can be displayed both close to the plate-like body and far away from the plate-like body. Optionally a list can be provided. A selected one of the possible user options in that list can thereafter be selected either by a user manually touching a particular region of that displayed list with a finger or alternatively by rotating the rectangular body 1400 with a rotation angle being utilised to indicate a selected one of the multiple options displayed on the display on the touchscreen.

The user input device in the form of a rectangular low profile plate-like body 1400 shown in Figure 14 is an example of an object which can be placed on a touchscreen. Object recognition can be carried out by the touchscreen controller (or optionally by a host computer connected to a touch detection unit of the touchscreen) to determine firstly that a user input device (rather than an unknown object) has been located on a touchscreen together with an associated location. Furthermore subsequent movement of that recognised object can thereafter be likewise recognised and that motion utilised to make a determination as to how a display of the touchscreen (or other aspect) should operate. It will be appreciated that once a particular user input device has been identified on a touchscreen that recognition can be utilised to stimulate other action in addition to or as an alternative to the mere selection of displayed information on a touchscreen.

Figure 15 illustrates an exploded view of the rectangular body 1400 in more detail and better illustrates the component parts of the rectangular body shown in Figure 14. Figure 15 helps illustrate how the rectangular base plate 1410 and rectangular cover plate 1420 are kept apart by a spacer 1430 which helps provide a standoff between a lower surface 1500 of the cover plate and an upper surface 1510 of the base plate. As noted above the parts that provide a standoff distance could optionally be integrally formed as part of the cover plate and/or base plate. Aptly the spacer has a thickness of between 2 to 15 mm. Aptly the spacer has a thickness of between 4 to 12 mm. Figure 15 also helps illustrate how the top edge 1460 of the cover plate is left revealed. The spacer 1430 is shown in more detail in Figure 15. This includes multiple ribs 1520 which extend across the inside region of the spacer. The ribs are stiffening elements and, in the embodiment shown in Figure 15, are interconnected to form a framework. The ribs shown include wall-like panels which help resist compressive forces that would otherwise collapse the cover plate onto the base plate. The stiffening elements could be integrally formed as part of the base plate and/or cover plate. The particular location and configuration of the stiffening collapse resistant walls are carefully selected so as to ensure that groups 1530 of contact pads on the upper surface of the base plate and corresponding contact pads on the lower surface of the cover plate can be connected unhindered via respective connectors. The three connectors illustrated in Figure 15 are two part connectors with a first lower portion 1540 of the electrical connectors being shown towards the bottom of Figure 15 and a further upper portion 1550 of the electrical connectors being shown in the upper section of Figure 15. Single piece connectors could of course be utilised.

Figure 15 helps illustrate how the base plate 1410 includes two spaced apart groups of contact pads towards a first end (the left hand side end in Figure 15) of the base plate. It will be appreciated that the groups may optionally be positioned in different locations over the whole cross sectional area of the base plate (and cover plate). Each grouping is used to make electrical connection to an underlying element that helps provide a respective reference element 1560, 1565. In more detail each group of contact pads shown includes four contact pads and these groupings (rather than the pads in any group) are spaced apart by a distance d. That is to say for example that a common central point associated with the groups of contact pads are spaced apart by a predetermined distance d. This distance d is preselected and pre-known and is a distance that is only shared on any one rectangular body between the two reference elements.

Figure 15 also helps illustrate how the upper surface of the base plate carries multiple further groups of contact pads. Each further grouping can be used to provide a respective identifier element 1566 to help identify a unique ID for that rectangular body from within a plurality of other user input devices. Fourteen groups corresponding to fourteen potential unique identifiers of four contact pads are illustrated in Figure 15 although it will be appreciated that other numbers of groups of contact pads could be utilised. The distance between corresponding points (for example a centre point) of any of these groups of contact pads, which can be used as an identifier, are intentionally different from the distance between corresponding points for the two reference elements. Likewise the distance between any one reference element and any one identifier element is not the same as the predetermined distance between the two reference elements. In the user input device 1400 shown in Figure 15 an electrical connection is made between the two groups of contact pads that help form the two reference elements and a single one of the groups of contact pads that help form the possible identifier elements and between the base plate and the cover plate. In a similar manner groups of contact pads on the lower surface of the cover plate are grouped to help provide the two reference elements and a selected one identifier element. There are connected by the respective connectors 1550, 1540.

Four corner groups of two vias 1570 are shown illustrated in the cover plate 1420 in Figure 15. Using one or more vias helps provide electrical connection through the cover plate 1420. Four single vias 1575 are also provided to help bridge through the cover plate. Other connection methods could of course be utilised. Other combinations/locations of vias could likewise be used.

The rectangular shaped user input device can be utilised and detected as per the“puck” previously described.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean“including but not limited to” and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to any details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

The reader’s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.