Tactex Controls TCIMTCEXP100 Touchpad Input Device User Manual Multi Touch Manual

Tactex Controls Inc. Touchpad Input Device Multi Touch Manual

Contents

Users Manual part 1

ContentsPART 1 – OWNER’S GUIDE..............................................1-1Welcome! ...........................................................................................1-1What’s inside.....................................................................................1-1Register me! ................................................................................1-1Minimum System Requirements .....................................................1-1Macintosh ....................................................................................1-1PC................................................................................................1-1Demo Connection .............................................................................1-2Windows 95/98 - Serial Connection ............................................1-2Macintosh - Serial Connection ....................................................1-3Normalization Procedure .................................................................1-4Why Normalize? ..........................................................................1-4Demo Operation................................................................................1-5Menu Commands ........................................................................1-5Opcode Max components for MACINTOSH ...................................1-7Opcode Max component installation ...........................................1-7Tactex External Overview............................................................1-7MTCentroid External Overview....................................................1-9Using Accessories..........................................................................1-11Using Graphic Overlays.............................................................1-11Using A Stylus............................................................................1-11Care and Maintenance....................................................................1-12Wear surface care and maintenance ........................................1-12Cleaning the Wear Surface .......................................................1-12Customer Support ..........................................................................1-12PART 2 – MTC EXPRESS DEVELOPER’S GUIDE...2-1Introduction.......................................................................................2-1What’s an API?............................................................................2-1Who should read this?.................................................................2-1Overview of the API ..........................................................................2-1Requirements ..............................................................................2-2Which Files Do I Need?...............................................................2-2Basics ................................................................................................2-3Gathering data from the MTC Express .......................................2-3Establishing a Connection to the MTC Express..........................2-4Getting touch pad configuration data ..........................................2-6Getting Data from the MTC Express ...........................................2-7MTC ExpressA
Processing the Pressure Data.....................................................2-9Closing a connection to the MTC Express..................................2-9A Complete Example...................................................................2-9Pad Configuration (Mapping) ..........................................................2-9The Mapping File.........................................................................2-9Where are the taxels? ...............................................................2-10Calibration (Normalization)............................................................2-12Normalizing the MTC Express...................................................2-12PART 3 – API REFERENCE...............................................3-1API Data Structures ..........................................................................3-1API Function Descriptions...............................................................3-2APPENDIX A – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.........iAPPENDIX B – FORMAT OF THE MAPPING FILE....iiAPPENDIX C – FORMAT OF THENORMALIZATION FILE...........................................................iiiAPPENDIX D – THE FINE PRINT......................................ivMTC ExpressB
Part 1 – Owner’s GuideWelcome! Thank you for purchasing your MTC Express. Your MTC Expresspackage includes all of the necessary hardware and software to get youstarted in the development of new multi-touch applications for PC andMacintosh operating platforms, as well as components necessary toexplore Opcode's MAX® graphical music programming environment.What’s insideThe MTC Express includes all of the following:1 - MTC Express controller1 - Attached 6’ Cable With Serial Connector1 - Attached 6 V DC (500 mA) Power Supply1 - RS232/Macintosh serial Conversion cable1 - CD-ROM (Includes Software, Documentation)1 - Warranty Card1 - Owner’s and Developer’s Guide (this booklet)Please take a moment to make sure that you have received all thecomponents and that they are undamaged.Register me! Please be sure to validate your warranty by filling out and posting theenclosed Warranty Registration Card.Minimum System RequirementsAlthough your MTC should function satisfactorily with many commonhardware/software configurations, for optimal performance werecommend the following:Macintosh• Power PC (G3 recommended)• Standard serial port• 3 MB of hard drive space for the required software• 32 MB of RAM• MAC OS 8.6PC• Pentium II 233 MHz• RS232 serial port• 3 MB of hard drive space for the required software• 32 MB of RAM• Windows 9XMTC Express1-1
Demo ConnectionBoth applications are identical in performance settings; the onlydifference is in how the serial port is selected:Windows 95/98 - Serial Connectiona) Quit any open applications, and disable any programs whichuse the serial ports (such as HotSync for Palm PDA).b) Connect the MTC Express to an available serial port.c) Plug the power adapter into an AC outlet.d) Place the CD labeled "MTC Express" into a CD drive.e) Access the CD ROM and double click on the Demo.exeapplication.f) If the MTC Express is connected to an available serial port, amessage box will appear stating "Found 1 MTC unit". Clickthe OK button. If you see a message stating "Unable to finda connection to any MTC units" then ensure your MTCExpress power adapter is plugged in. Select "Connect" fromthe "Connect" menu. If it still does not connect try a differentserial port.g) A window providing some information about your MTCExpress will be displayed. Click the OK button. The demoprogram will automatically start receiving data from the MTCExpress unit.h) Touching the MTC Express surface will produce an image onthe demo program.MTC Express1-2
Macintosh - Serial Connectiona) Quit any open applications, and disable AppleTalk and anyprograms which use the serial ports (such as HotSync forPalm PDA).b) Connect the MTC Express to an available serial port. Usethe serial to USB adapter if you are using USB.c) Plug the power adapter into an AC outlet.d) Place the CD labeled "MTC Express" into a CD drive.e) Access the CD ROM and double click on "Run this Demo"alias.f) Select the serial port in use from the Connection menu – ifyou do not know which to choose, try them all until oneworks.g) The MTC Express firmware version will be displayed. Thedemo program will automatically start receiving data fromthe MTC Express unit.h) Touching the MTC Express surface will produce an image onthe demo program.Successful connection will generate a view like this when you pressdown with all 5 fingers.MTC Express1-3
Normalization ProcedureWhy Normalize?Your MTC Express consists of an embedded array of optical fibers thatare used to sense pressure. These pressure sensors are referred to astaxels. The active area of your MTC contains a grid of 72 such taxels,spaced approximately one centimetre apart. Normalization of your MTCis necessary to eliminate the effect on the MTC's performance of anyindividual variability in taxel response. Once normalized, the pressureresponse from all taxels is set to the same level range— from 0 to 1023.Select Start Normalization from the pull down menu The screen willgenerate an image like this.Now, run your fingers lightly over the entire pad surface as shown - notethat as you press down the area under your fingers will brighten thenremain dark after your finger has passed.Continue until all light areas disappear and the screen looks completelydark. Select Stop and Save Normalization. This writes a file callednormal.txt to your drive in the same locations the demo app. Copy thisnormal.txt file, re-name it MTCnormal.txt, and place it in the Maxapplication folder. Experimentation with different hand pressure willresult in different sensitivity ranges for the MTC Express. Harderpressure results in a less sensitive touch surface whereas lighterpressure results in a more sensitive touch surface. Note that very lightpressure can result in spurious centroid generation that may not beacceptable in any given application.MTC Express1-4
Demo OperationMenu CommandsThe Menu commands are the same for both Windows and Macintoshapplications and generate displays as shown.Display taxels row colDisplay taxels x yDisplay interpolated pressureDisplay pointers MTC Express1-5
Display pointers and pressureShow text (numbers pointers)Display pointersShow pointer trailsMTC Express1-6
Opcode Max components for MACINTOSHOpcode Max component installationThe following items are provided on the CD:Be sure to place the tactex and MTCentroid external objects into yourMAX/Externals folder and place the mapping and manual files into thesame directory level as your Opcode MAX application - as shown in listview of the CD ROM contents.Tactex External OverviewThe tactex external provides a means to interpret the data stream fromthe MTC in the Opcode Max Environment. The following sectionprovides an overview of the tactex Max external object inlets andoutlets.Inputbang In left inlet: Causes the external object to retrieve a sample from the MTC Express and sends the resulting data through the leftoutlet as a list. Typically the "metro" object is used with an integer argument between 5-1000 that set the sampling period in ms (milliseconds).connect In left inlet: Connects the external object to the MTC Express unit.disconnect In left inlet: Disconnects the external object from the MTC Express unit.MTC Express1-7
start In left inlet: Begins sampling data from the MTC Express unit. The argument is an integer between 1-200 that set the pad sample rate in Hz.stop In left inlet: Stop sampling data from the MTC Express unit.getinfo In left inlet: Reports the number of taxels, columns, rows and stragglers through the right outlet as a list.samplerate In left inlet: Reports the current sample through the right outlet.startnormalize In left inlet: This initiates the normalization process.stopnormalize In left inlet: This message stops the normalization process and saves its parameters to the MTCnormal.txt file in the Max folder.Arguments symbol Specify the serial port to connect to the MTC Express unit. eg: Serial port .Ain is specified as A.OutputLeft outlet An array of taxel information from the current MTC Express sample.Right outlet Configuration information (numtaxels, nrows, ncols, stragglers)MTC Express1-8
MTCentriod External OverviewMTCentroid finds 1 to 5 centroids from MTC Express, counts how manythere are, reports this int and sends a list of x, y, z, (as floats) and age(as an int) for each centroid found.Inputstart In left inlet: connects as per the connectmessage if not already connected and sends the outputs at a regular interval. The interval defaults to 5 ms.stop In left inlet: stops output from MTCentroid. It does not disconnect, and MTCentroid continues to function even though data is not sent through outlets.bang In left inlet: causes MTCentroid to report a single set of outputs. You can bang the MTCentroid even when it is stopped provided it is connected. bang does nothingif it is not connected.connect In left inlet: connects MTCentroid to the MTC Express unit and begins sampling data from the MTC Express at 200Hz, but does not send outputs.disconnect In left inlet: stops outputs if required, and disconnects the external object from the MTC Express unit.int In middle inlet: number of centroids (default 3, minimum 1, maximum 5). int In right inlet: pressure threshold for centroid tracking (default 64, minimum 1).Arguments symbol Select serial port to connect to the MTC Express unit. eg: Serial port .Ain is specifiedas Aint (optional) number of centroids (default 3, maximum 5) int (optional) pressure threshold for centroid tracking (default 64).MTC Express1-9
symbol (optional) name of the normalization file to use (default MTCnormal.txt)OutputNote: Values are output each interval (see start input) or on abang in left inletint Out right outlet: the number of centroids detected above the threshold, from 0 to 5.list Each outlet described below sends a list of: x (float - in millimetres (mm), range from 0.0to 145.0), y (float - mm, range from 0.0 to 95.0), z (float - range from 0.0 to 1023.0), age (int – in milliseconds) from each centroid if pressure is found above the threshold value.Out left outlet: centroid 5 if foundOut 2nd outlet: centroid 4 if foundOut 3rd outlet: centroid 3 if foundOut 4th outlet: centroid 2 if foundOut 5th outlet: centroid 1 if foundMTC Express1-10
Using AccessoriesUsing Graphic OverlaysFor some applications, you may wish to develop custom graphicoverlays to identify functions assigned to a given area on the MTC'sactive area (such graphic overlays will also reduce the wear and tear onthe wear surface). A variety of materials can be used for the overlay. Forexample, an acetate sheet could be printed with the desired layout, andthen cut to fit inside the opening of the active area. We do notrecommend gluing or using adhesives to secure the overlay to the wearsurface. Instead we suggest taping the edge of the overlay to the edgeof the MTC's metal housing.It is important to keep in mind when selecting an overlay material thatplacing it on the surface of the MTC will have an effect on the MTC'sperformance. The effect will be dictated by the characteristic of theindividual overlay material, but generally, the effect will be to reduce thesensitivity of the MTC, and to spread out the spatial imprint of anindentor (e.g., a finger or stylus) over a larger area.Using A StylusIn addition to using your fingers, you can also use various other types ofindentors such as a stylus on your MTC. We suggest that you use astylus with a smooth, blunt end such that it will not damage the MTC'swear surface.MTC Express1-11
Care and MaintenanceWear surface care and maintenanceYour MTC should not require any maintenance other than normalizationand routine cleaning of the wear surface. Under no circumstancesshould you detach the metal housing from the MTC's base plate as thiscould damage either the electronic components or the fibre opticsthemselves. !!THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDETHE MTC EXPRESS!!Cleaning the Wear SurfaceThe top surface of your MTC is designed as a wear surface. If at anytime you discover that this surface has been damaged (e.g., punctured,torn) you should contact Tactex Controls to make arrangements for yourMTC to be returned to the factory to have the wear surface replaced.You may find that with use, the wear surface covering the MTC's activearea may become soiled. Although the active area of the MTC is notaffected by moisture, the electronic components could be damaged bymoisture or liquids spilled on the wear surface. For cleaning, werecommend that you use a damp, lint-free cloth to gently wipe thesurface clean. Regular cleaning with this method should maximize theuseful life of the wear surface, and prevent damaging the MTC'selectronic components.Customer SupportTechnical Support will be available to you by contacting Tactex at:Tactex Controls Inc.Ph:250.480.1132Fx:250.480.1142E-mail: support@tactex.comHours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (Pacific Time)Please note that you must register your MTC Express with the suppliedwarranty card, and you will be required to provide your unique MTCSerial Number located on the bottom of the device (and also on youroriginal invoice) with any correspondence. Should you encounter anyproblems using your MTC that necessitates returning it to the factory(e.g., wear surface replacement, damage to the MTC's electronics etc.),you should contact Tactex to make the necessary arrangements.MTC Express1-12

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