Patent Publication Number: US-2016246440-A1

Title: Electrical actuator for touch screen emulation

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/119,692, entitled “ELECTRICAL ACTUATOR FOR TOUCH-SCREEN EMULATION,” filed Feb. 23, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The subject technology relates to systems and methods for emulating touch on a touch-screen, and in particular, for porting display and touch-functionality of a capacitive touch-screen to a secondary display device. 
     2. Introduction 
     As the ubiquity of mobile device use increases, so does the demand for protective cases and connectivity accessories, for example, to facilitate the projecting and/or transferring/transmitting of mobile device displays. In some conventional solutions, Universal Serial Bus (USB), or display port cables are used to transfer a display from a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone or tablet computer), to a secondary device, such as an extended monitor. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     In some aspects, the disclosed subject matter relates to a touch-screen actuation pad configured to emulate an interaction with a touch-screen surface, the touch-screen actuation pad including an actuation layer including a matrix of transistors, and a conductive layer comprising a plurality of conductive pads, wherein each conductive pad is electrically coupled with a respective transistor on the actuation layer, and wherein the conductive layer is configured for provide an engagement between the plurality of conductive pads and the touch-screen surface. In some implementations, each transistor can be configured to transmit a driving signal to a corresponding conductive pad of the conductive layer to emulate an engagement with the touch-screen surface. 
     In another aspect, the disclosed subject matter relates to a method for emulating a user&#39;s interaction with a target touch-screen surface, the method including steps for actuating one or more transistors in an actuator comprising a matrix of transistors, wherein actuation of the one or more transistors causes transmission of a driving signal to one or more conductive pads located on a target touch-screen surface for emulating a user&#39;s interaction with the target touch-screen surface at a corresponding location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It is understood that other configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. The subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various respects without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the detailed description and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive in nature. 
       Certain features of the subject technology are set forth below. However, the accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding, illustrate disclosed aspects and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the subject technology. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a touch-screen actuation pad  100  in an active embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example schematic diagram of an interconnection between transistors  102  of actuation layer  110  and conductive pad  108  of conductive layer  112 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example method of driving conductive pads of touch-screen actuation pad  100  in an active embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a touch-screen actuation pad  100  with multiple digitizing layers in an active embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example exploded view of an actuation substrate layer or receiving (Rx) substrate layer  500  in a passive embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example exploded view of a foldable conductive substrate layer or transmitting (Tx) substrate layer  600  in a passive embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an example of the Rx substrate layer of  FIG. 5  in a passive embodiment that has been folded for coupling with a touch-screen of a mobile computing device; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example folded configuration of actuation substrate layer and conductive substrate layer in a passive embodiment and example cut-away perspective view of the folded configuration; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example implementation of a touch-screen actuation pad, as used in conjunction with a converter tablet (CT); 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an example implementation of a touch-screen actuation device detecting touchless gestures and emulating the detected contactless gestures onto the smaller mobile computing device through example CT device  902 ; 
         FIGS. 11A &amp; 11B  illustrate example system embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology can be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a more thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be clear and apparent that the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and may be practiced without these details. In some instances, structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology. 
     Aspects of the subject technology provide systems and methods for emulating touch on a touch-screen (such as a capacitive touch-screen), using a touch-screen actuation pad. As discussed in further detail below, aspects of the subject technology also include systems and methods for emulating a first touch-screen of a first mobile computing device on a secondary touch-screen of a second mobile computing device. In such implementations, a display of the first touch-screen can be reproduced on a second touch-screen, whereas signaling (e.g. capacitive signaling) received on the second touch-screen device is conveyed to the first touch-screen. As discussed in further detail below, a touch-screen actuation pad (also “actuation pad”) can be used to emulate the touch-screen of a mobile device on a larger touch-based display, such that touch functionality seamlessly transfers between a source mobile device and a secondary (emulated) display. 
     In certain aspects, a touch-screen actuation pad can be placed over the surface of a touch-screen, such as that of a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone/tablet computer display). By altering the electrical properties of the touch-screen actuation pad, capacitive changes can be induced in the underlying touch-screen, simulating conventional user contact with the display surface. As such, an actuation pad can be used in conjunction with a secondary capacitive touch screen, for example, to convey signaling produced by user interaction with the secondary touch-screen to a touch-screen of the mobile device, via the actuation pad. 
     In some implementations, the touch-screen actuation pad can be used to facilitate the emulation of the display and touch-screen input of a mobile device touch-screen, for example, as part of a converter tablet (CT) device. In such implementations, the CT device may be configured to retain a smaller device containing a touch-screen (e.g., a smartphone or tablet computer). Using an actuator pad that contacts the touch-screen of the smaller device, the CT device can project touch-functionality onto a larger screen (e.g., an outer screen of the CT device). Similarly, a video output of the touch-screen of the mobile device can be projected and/or transferred onto the larger outer screen of the CT device. As such, display and touch-functionality may be transferred from the mobile device to the retaining CT device. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a touch-screen actuation pad  100  in an active embodiment. Touch-screen actuation pad can include multiple layers. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the touch-screen actuation pad  100  can include actuation layer  110 , routing layers  104  and  106  and conductive layer  112 , which includes one or more conductive pads  108 . Although the example of  FIG. 1  illustrates an implementation with two routing layers, a greater (or fewer) number of routing layers may be implemented, without departing from the scope of the technology. 
     As illustrated, actuation layer  102  can include a plurality of transistors  102  ( 102   1 ,  102   2 ,  102   3 , . . . ,  102   N ). In some embodiments transistors  102  can be laid out in a matrix formation, e.g., where each transistor is addressed at a predetermined row/column. 
     It is understood that a variety of transistor types may be implemented, so long as each transistor is configured to transmit a driving signal to a respective conductive pad, e.g., on conductive layer  112 . For example, each transistor in the matrix of transistors can be a MOSFET, FET, or BJT transistor. Routing layer  104  and  106  both house routing lines configured to transmit the driving signal from actuation layer  102  to conductive layer  108 . Conductive layer  112  includes conductive pads  108  (e.g.,  108   1 ,  108   2 ,  108   3 , . . . ,  108   N ). It is understood that conductive pads  108  can include one or more of a variety of conductive materials (e.g. copper, aluminum, etc.). A material composition of the conductive pad may be chosen based on the corresponding driving signal. That is, an impedance of the conductive pad may be matched with the driving signal so that receipt of the driving signal induces capacitive changes in the pad that are similar to capacitive changes induced in a capacitive touch-screen display resulting from user interaction. 
     In operation, each transistor  102  in actuation layer  110  is electrically connected to a corresponding conductive pad  108  in conductive layer  112 , through routing layers  104  and  106 . In turn, conductive layer  112  is engaged with touch screen  114  (e.g. a capacitive touch-screen) of a computing device. Each conductive pad  108  engages touch-screen  114  at a corresponding location on the surface of touch-screen  114 . As noted above, transistors  102  on actuation layer  110  can be arranged in a grid or matrix formation (rows and columns). As such, each transistor  102  is electrically connected to a corresponding conductive pad  108 , conductive pads  108  can be similarly laid out in the same grid formation as each transistor  102 . Furthermore, each conductive pad  108  can be similarly engaged with touch-screen  114  in a similar grid formation as transistor  102 . 
     In some embodiments, touch-screen actuation pad  100  can be placed over the surface of a touch-screen of a mobile computing device (e.g. a smartphone/tablet computer display) and used to emulate a user&#39;s touch/interaction with the touch-screen. For instance, actuation layer  110  can be configured to receive a signal from a second device (e.g. another touch-screen or smartphone/tablet/desktop/laptop, etc.) and drive a signal through routing layers  104  and  106  to change the capacitance of conductive layer  112 . The capacitive change in conductive layer  112  effectively emulates a user&#39;s touch onto touch-screen  114 . 
     By way of further example, transistor  102   1  is electrically coupled to corresponding conductive pad  108   1 , e.g., through routing layers  104  and  106 . Additionally, conductive pad  108   1  engages with touch-screen  114  at a specific location of touch-screen  114 . When transistor  102   1  is actuated (e.g., by a second device or control system), transistor  102   1  drives a signal to routing layers  104  and  106 . As a result changes the capacitance of conductive pad  108   1 . Since  108   1  engages touch-screen  114  at a specific location, the change in capacitance of conductive pad  108   1  simulates a user&#39;s touch/interaction at that specific location of touch-screen  114 . 
     In some embodiments, using the above described principles, the touch-screen actuation pad can be used to emulate a user&#39;s interaction with a first touch screen (e.g., of a first mobile computing device) onto a second touch-screen, e.g., of a second mobile computing device. Additionally, in such implementations, with the aid of the touch-screen actuation pad, the first touch-screen can also reproduce the display of the second touch-screen to convey signaling (e.g. capacitive signaling) received on the second touch-screen device on the first touch-screen. This can be achieved with an electronic connection between the first mobile computing device and the second mobile computing device, either through or independent from the touch-screen actuation pad. 
     In other embodiments, touch-screen actuation pad  100  can include a microcontroller or processor configured to monitor and control transistors  102  of actuation layer  110 . For example, a microcontroller or processor (not illustrated)can be electrically connected to transistors  102  of actuation layer  110  in order to control which transistor  102  of actuation layer  110  is activated. As discussed in further detail below, touch-screen actuation pad  100  can be controlled and monitored remotely. For example, the microcontroller or processor can be electronically coupled to an antenna e.g. a near field communication (NFC) antenna. As such, a touch-screen mobile computing device (e.g. a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop, etc.) can remotely monitor and control the matrix of transistors  102  of touch-screen actuation pad  100  through the antenna, thereby emulating a user&#39;s engagement with a corresponding touch screen. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example schematic diagram of an interconnection between transistors  102  of actuation layer  110  and conductive pad  108  of conductive layer  112 . In the example schematic  200 , transistors  204  ( 204   1 ,  204   2 ,  204   3 ,  204   4 ,  204   5 ,  204   6 ) correspond to transistors  102  of  FIG. 1 . Additionally, conductive pads  202  ( 202   1 ,  202   2 ,  202   3 ,  202   4 ,  202   5 ,  202   6 ) correspond with conductive pads  108  of  FIG. 1 . 
     In some embodiments, each transistor  204  can have its source connected to ground, its gate connected to an input line (e.g.  214 ,  216 , or  218 ) and its drain connected to a corresponding conductive pad  202 . Input lines  214 ,  216  and  218  receive signals to activate a specific transistor-conductive pad combination (e.g. transistor  204   3  and corresponding conductive pad  202   3 ). 
     As described above, each transistor of the actuation layer can be electronically connected to a corresponding conductive pad of the conductive layer in a grid formation. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , transistors  204  and corresponding conductive pads are configured to be in a grid formation. For instance, transistor  204   3  is located at the first row (T R1 ) and first column (T C1 ) and the corresponding conductive pad  202   3  is also located at the first row and first column (P 1,1 ). 
     In some aspects, grounding the source of a transistor of the actuation layer while the gate of the transistor is active can drive the corresponding conductive pad of conductive layer. As such, when the signal is received by the actuation pad, the gates of transistors  204  are activated. 
     An example method of driving conductive pads (e.g.  202 ) of the conductive layer is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Example method  300  begins at step  302 , where the gate of a transistor receives a signal. For example, the gate of transistor  204   3  receives a capacitance signal at line  216 . At step  304 , the received signal activates the gate of the transistor. Activating the gate of the transistor can be achieved when the voltage of the signal is larger than the gate threshold voltage of the transistor. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the gate of transistor  204   3  is activated when the voltage of the signal is larger than voltage threshold of the gate of transistor  204   3 . 
     In some embodiments, instead of activating the gate of the transistor, modulation of the gate of the transistor can drive the corresponding conductive pad. Various modulation schemes may be used, without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example, a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme may be used to activate a particular pad at an address corresponding with a touch-screen location where simulated touch is desired. 
     At step  306 , activating the gate causes the transistor to drive a signal to a corresponding conductive pad and in turn, at step  308  changes the capacitance of the conductive pad. In turn, the change in capacitance of the conductive pad can emulate the user&#39;s touch on the underlying touch-screen. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , activating the gate of transistor  204   3  causes conductive pad  202   3  to become electrically grounded. This change in capacitance can be detected by an underlying touch-screen and therefore the user&#39;s touch/interaction can be emulated on the underlying touch-screen. Depending on where conductive pad  202   3  engages with the underlying touch-screen, conductive pad  202   3  simulates a touch of a user at the corresponding location of the touch-screen of a mobile computing device. 
     As noted above, in some embodiments, there can be one or more routing layers between the actuation layer and the conductive layer. As such in some embodiments, the transistor is electronically connected to the corresponding conductive pad through one or more routing layers (e.g. routing layers  104  and  106 ). Thus, the transmitted driving signal can cause a change in conductance of the routing lines of the routing layers. The transmitted driving signal can cause a change in conductance of the routing layers. In turn, the change in conductance of routing layers can cause capacitive changes of conductive layer. 
     In another active configuration, touch-screen actuation pad  100  can include multiple digitizing layers instead of a matrix of transistors and corresponding conductive pads. Each digitizing layer having either a receiving (“Rx”) digitizer lines or transmitting (“Tx”) digitizer lines. For example,  FIG. 4  illustrates a touch-screen actuation pad  100  with multiple digitizing layers in an active embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the actuation pad includes receiving (or actuation) layer  402  and transmitting (or conductive) layer  404 . Environment  400  also includes a mobile device&#39;s touch screen layers  406  and  408 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , transmitting layer  402  and touch-screen layer  406  include transmit digitizing lines, and receiving layer  404  and touch-screen layer  408  include receive digitizing lines. 
     The receiving and transmitting layers  402  and  404  are electromagnetically (EM) coupled with the Tx touch-screen layer  406  via electromagnetic field  410 . Furthermore, the digitizing lines of touch-screen actuating pad ( 402  and  404 ) the touch-screen layers ( 406  and  408 ) are aligned. 
     In this configuration, receiving layer  402  and transmitting layer  404  can be configured similar to actuation layer  110  and conducting layer  112  of  FIG. 1 . For instance, the Rx lines of receiving layer  404  and Tx lines of transmitting layer  406  can be actively controlled. For example, a signal from a microcontroller or processor (e.g., System on a Chip) can be received by receiving layer  404 . In turn the received signal can alter the capacitive properties (e.g. current changes of EM field  410 ) of various Rx/Tx lines between receiving layer  402  and transmitting layer  404 . As such, by changing the capacitive properties between the Rx/Tx lines a user&#39;s touch on the underlying touch-screen can be simulated at a location where corresponding Rx/Tx lines intersect, e.g., touch-screen layers  406  and  408 . That is, a simulated touch can be induced onto a surface of an underlying touch-screen, at a corresponding location via an electromagnetic coupling formed between Rx/Tx lines of touch-screen actuation pad  100  (receiving layer  402  and transmitting layer  404 ) and corresponding Rx/Tx lines that form the touch-screen (touch-screen layers  406  and  406 ) of an underlying mobile computing device. 
     In other implementations, the touch-screen actuating pad made up of multiple foldable substrate layers that can passively (i.e. without the use of microcontrollers and/or processors for actively altering the Rx lines of one layer and the Tx lines of the other layer) emulate a user&#39;s touch on an underlying touch-screen of a mobile computing device. The foldable touch-screen actuation pad  100  can then be placed on top of a touch-screen of a mobile computing device. Thus, using the above described techniques, user interactions with the passive actuation pad are communicated to a corresponding location on the surface of the underlying capacitive-touch screen. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate an example construct of foldable substrate layers that make up a touch-screen actuation pad in a passive embodiment.  FIG. 5  illustrates an example exploded view of an actuation substrate layer or receiving (Rx) substrate layer  500  in a passive embodiment. Actuation substrate layer or Rx substrate layer  500  includes multiple Rx lines  502  ( 502   1 ,  502   2 ,  502   3 ,  502   4 , . . . ,  502   N ), for example, embedded in a transparent and flexible substrate. In some configurations, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , Rx substrate layer  500  can accommodate a touch-screen of a smaller mobile computing device and a touch-screen of a larger mobile computing device. For example Rx substrate layer  500  includes portion  510  configured to engage a touch-screen of a larger mobile computing device, portion  520  configured to engage a touch-screen of a smaller mobile computing device and portion  515  configured to connected portion  510  and portion  520 . For instance, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , on one end, Rx substrate layer  500  can accommodate the length and width of the touch screen of a smaller mobile computing device. On the other end, Rx substrate  500  can accommodate the length and width of the touch-screen of a larger mobile computing device. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example exploded view of a foldable conductive substrate layer or transmitting (Tx) substrate layer  600  in a passive embodiment. Conductive layer or Tx substrate layer  600  includes multiple transparent Tx lines  602  ( 602   1 ,  602   2 ,  602   3 ,  602   4 , . . . ,  602   N ). In some configurations, Tx substrate layer  600  can accommodate a touch-screen of a smaller mobile computing device and a touch-screen of a larger mobile computing device. For example Rx substrate layer  600  includes portion  610  configured to engage a touch-screen of a larger mobile computing device, portion  620  configured to engage a touch-screen of a smaller mobile computing device and portion  615  configured to connected portion  610  and portion  620 . For instance, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , on one end, Tx substrate layer  600  can accommodate the length and width of the touch-screen of a smaller mobile computing device. On the other end, Rx substrate  600  can accommodate the length and width of the touch-screen of a larger mobile computing device. 
     Each actuation substrate layer and conductive substrate layer (e.g. Rx substrate layer and Tx substrate layer of  FIG. 5  and) can be folded for cooperation over a touch-screen for which a user&#39;s touch can be emulated (e.g. by engaging the Tx layer of the foldable touch-screen actuation pad  100  to the touch-screen of a computing device). The Rx digitizing lines of the Rx substrate layer and Tx digitizing lines of the Tx substrate layer may be comprised of a conductive material (e.g. copper wire). As such, the Tx and Rx substrate layer can facilitate an EM coupling between active Rx/Tx lines of an underlying capacitive touch screen. It is through the EM coupling, that any capacitive changes induced in the actuation pad Rx and Tx lines (e.g., through touch by a user), are communicated to the surface of the touch-screen of a computing device. Thus, user interactions with the passive touch-screen actuation pad  100  are communicated to a corresponding location on the surface of the underlying touch screen of a mobile computing device. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an example of the Rx substrate layer of  FIG. 5  in a passive embodiment that has been folded for coupling with a touch-screen of a mobile computing device. Rx substrate layer  500  is foldable and includes portion  510  and portion  520 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , Rx substrate layer  500  has portion  510  configured to engage the touch-screen of a larger mobile computing device. Additionally, Rx substrate layer  500  has portion  520  configured to engage the touch-screen of a smaller device—here shown as touch-screen  700 . In such a configuration, the user can emulate their interaction with the touch-screen of a larger mobile computing device onto the touch-screen of a smaller mobile computing device, while being able to view the results of their interaction on the touch-screen of the larger mobile computing device. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example folded configuration of an actuation substrate layer and conductive substrate layer in a passive embodiment and example cut-away perspective view of the folded configuration. Example configuration  800  illustrates Rx substrate illustrated in  FIG. 5  and Tx substrate layer illustrated in  FIG. 6  folded together. Cut-away perspective  810  illustrates a cut-away perspective of example configuration  800  when Tx substrate layer  600  and Rx substrate layer  500  engage a touch-screen of a larger mobile computing device and a touch-screen of a smaller mobile computing device. For instance as illustrate in  FIG. 8 , portion  510  of Rx substrate layer  500  engages with portion  610  of Tx substrate layer  600 , which in turn engages with touch-screen  802  of a larger mobile computing device. Additionally, portion  520  of Rx substrate layer  500  engages with portion  620  of Tx substrate layer  600 , which in turn engages with touch-screen  804  of a smaller mobile computing device. In some embodiments, Rx substrate layer  500  and Rx substrate layer  600  are transparent. As such a user can interact with and view touch-screen  802  of a larger mobile computing device, such that, using the above described techniques, all user interactions can be conveyed to touch-screen  804  of the smaller mobile computing device. 
     In some embodiments, using the above describe techniques, a user can emulate their interaction with touch screen  802  of the larger mobile computing device to touch screen  804  of the smaller mobile computing device. In such implementations, a display of touch screen  804  of the smaller mobile computing device can be reproduced on touch-screen  802  of the larger mobile computing device. Additionally, signaling (e.g. capacitive signaling) received on touch-screen  802  of the larger mobile computing device can then be conveyed to touch screen  804  of the smaller mobile computing device. As discussed above, a touch-screen actuation pad  100  can be used to emulate touch screen  804  of the smaller mobile computing device on touch-screen  802  of the larger mobile computing device, such that touch functionality seamlessly transfers between the smaller mobile computing device (or source device) and the larger mobile computing device (or secondary/emulated display) 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an example active implementation of a touch-screen actuation pad, as used in conjunction with a converter tablet (CT). In the example of  FIG. 9 , CT device  902  is configured to house mobile computing device  906  (e.g., the smartphone) in slot  904 . Slot  904  includes an example of multiple protective and functional layers within slot  904 . An example of the cut-away perspective of when mobile computing device  906  is inserted into slot  904  is illustrated with cutaway perspective  928 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , cutaway perspective  928  of slot  904  includes glass layer  908 , CT touch digitizer layer  910 , CT LCD layer  912  actuation layer  914 , and CT back body layer  926 . Additionally cut-away perspective  928  also illustrates the layers of inserted mobile computing device  906  with respect to the multiple protective and functional layers (mobile computing device glass layer  916 , mobile computing device touch digitizer layer  918 , mobile computing device LCD layer  920 , mobile computing device circuitry layer  922 , and mobile computing device back body layer  924 ). 
     Using the above described techniques, CT device  902  can provide a mechanical and/or electromagnetic coupling between a touch-screen actuation pad  100  of CT device  902  and mobile computing device  906 . For instance, when mobile computing device  906  is inserted into slot  904 , actuation layer  914  engages with the mobile computing device glass layer  916  and can EM couple with mobile computing device touch digitizer layer  918 . 
     In some implementations, using the above describe techniques, a CT device can be used to facilitate the emulation of the display and touch-screen input of a touch-screen mobile computing device. For example, when actuation layer  914  of CT device  902  engages with the inserted mobile computing device  906  in slot  904 , CT device  902  can project touch-functionality onto the screen of CT device  902 . Similarly, a video output of the touch-screen of mobile device  906  can be projected and/or transferred onto the larger outer screen of CT device  902 . As such, display and touch-functionality may be transferred from mobile computing device  906  to CT device  902 . 
     In some embodiments, CT touch digitizer layer  912  and actuator  914  can implemented passively. For example, instead of the active configuration illustrated in cutaway perspective  928 , the actuation layer  914  includes multiple substrate layers folded together (e.g. similar to Rx substrate and Tx substrate layers illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 6 and 8 ). 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an example implementation of a touch-screen actuation device configured for detecting user gestures and emulating a user&#39;s interaction with a touch-screen of a mobile computing device via a CT device  902 . Example environment  1000  includes projector CT device  902  with slot  904  and mobile computing device  906 . Projector CT device  902  can include gesture detection device  1004  (e.g. one or more cameras, infra-red (IR) sensors, microwave sensor, ultrasonic sensor, radio-wave sensor, etc.) and a projector. Gesture detection device  902  can be configured to detect contactless gestures (e.g. swipe left, swipe right, swipe up, swipe down, pumping, clapping, etc. . . ). For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a user can swipe left (moving their hand left to right or from position  1004  to position  1006 ) and as such, the contactless gesture can be detected by gesture detection device  902 . The projector of projector CT device  902 , is configured to project the display of the small mobile computing device  906  and any interactions conveyed to small mobile computing device  906  from CT device  902 . 
     In this example implementation and using the above describe techniques, gestures or commands (e.g. swipe left) can be detected by gesture detection device  1002 . The detected gestures can then be conveyed into electrical signaling. CT device  902  through actuator layer  914  (not shown in  FIG. 10 ) can emulate the user&#39;s gestures onto the touch screen of mobile computing device  906 . Furthermore, the projector of CT device  902  can project the display of small mobile computing device  906  and emulate a user&#39;s gestures on the projected display (captured by the gesture detection device  1002 ) to the small mobile computing device  906 . As such the user can interact with small computing device  906  through the projected display. 
       FIG. 11A  and  FIG. 11B  illustrate example system embodiments. The more appropriate embodiment will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when practicing the present technology. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will also readily appreciate that other system embodiments are possible. 
       FIG. 11A  illustrates a conventional system bus computing system architecture  1100  wherein the components of the system are in electrical communication with each other using a bus  1105 . Exemplary system  1100  includes a processing unit (CPU or processor)  1110  and a system bus  1105  that couples various system components including the system memory  1115 , such as read only memory (ROM)  1170  and random access memory (RAM)  1175 , to the processor  1110 . The system  1100  can include a cache of high-speed memory connected directly with, in close proximity to, or integrated as part of the processor  1110 . The system  1100  can copy data from the memory  1115  and/or the storage device  1130  to the cache  1112  for quick access by the processor  1110 . In this way, the cache can provide a performance boost that avoids processor  1110  delays while waiting for data. These and other modules can control or be configured to control the processor  1110  to perform various actions. Other system memory  1115  may be available for use as well. The memory  1115  can include multiple different types of memory with different performance characteristics. The processor  1110  can include any general purpose processor and a hardware module or software module, such as module  1   1137 , module  2   1134 , and module  3   1136  stored in storage device  1130 , configured to control the processor  1110  as well as a special-purpose processor where software instructions are incorporated into the actual processor design. The processor  1110  may essentially be a completely self-contained computing system, containing multiple cores or processors, a bus, memory controller, cache, etc. A multi-core processor may be symmetric or asymmetric. 
     To enable user interaction with the computing device  1100 , an input device  1145  can represent any number of input mechanisms, such as a microphone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphical input, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech and so forth. An output device  1135  can also be one or more of a number of output mechanisms known to those of skill in the art. In some instances, multimodal systems can enable a user to provide multiple types of input to communicate with the computing device  1100 . The communications interface  1140  can generally govern and manage the user input and system output. There is no restriction on operating on any particular hardware arrangement and therefore the basic features here may easily be substituted for improved hardware or firmware arrangements as they are developed. 
     Storage device  1130  is a non-volatile memory and can be a hard disk or other types of computer readable media which can store data that are accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, solid state memory devices, digital versatile disks, cartridges, random access memories (RAMs)  1175 , read only memory (ROM)  1180 , and hybrids thereof. 
     The storage device  1130  can include software modules  1138 ,  1134 ,  1136  for controlling the processor  1110 . Other hardware or software modules are contemplated. The storage device  1130  can be connected to the system bus  1105 . In one aspect, a hardware module that performs a particular function can include the software component stored in a computer-readable medium in connection with the necessary hardware components, such as the processor  1110 , bus  1105 , display  1135 , and so forth, to carry out the function. 
       FIG. 11B  illustrates an example computer system  1150  having a chipset architecture that can be used in executing the described method and generating and displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). Computer system  1150  is an example of computer hardware, software, and firmware that can be used to implement the disclosed technology. System  1150  can include a processor  1155 , representative of any number of physically and/or logically distinct resources capable of executing software, firmware, and hardware configured to perform identified computations. Processor  1155  can communicate with a chipset  1160  that can control input to and output from processor  1155 . In this example, chipset  1160  outputs information to output  1165 , such as a display, and can read and write information to storage device  1170 , which can include magnetic media, and solid state media, for example. Chipset  1160  can also read data from and write data to RAM  1175 . A bridge  1180  for interfacing with a variety of user interface components  1185  can be provided for interfacing with chipset  1160 . Such user interface components  1185  can include a keyboard, a microphone, touch detection and processing circuitry, a pointing device, such as a mouse, and so on. In general, inputs to system  1150  can come from any of a variety of sources, machine generated and/or human generated. 
     Chipset  1160  can also interface with one or more communication interfaces  1190  that can have different physical interfaces. Such communication interfaces can include interfaces for wired and wireless local area networks, for broadband wireless networks, as well as personal area networks. Some applications of the methods for generating, displaying, and using the GUI disclosed herein can include receiving ordered datasets over the physical interface or be generated by the machine itself by processor  1155  analyzing data stored in storage  1170  or  1175 . Further, the machine can receive inputs from a user via user interface components  1185  and execute appropriate functions, such as browsing functions by interpreting these inputs using processor  1155 . It can be appreciated that example systems  1100  and  1150  can have more than one processor  1110  or be part of a group or cluster of computing devices networked together to provide greater processing capability. 
     For clarity of explanation, in some instances the present technology may be presented as including individual functional blocks including functional blocks comprising devices, device components, steps or routines in a method embodied in software, or combinations of hardware and software. 
     In some embodiments the computer-readable storage devices, mediums, and memories can include a cable or wireless signal containing a bit stream and the like. However, when mentioned, non-transitory computer-readable storage media expressly exclude media such as energy, carrier signals, electromagnetic waves, and signals per se. 
     Methods according to the above-described examples can be implemented using computer-executable instructions that are stored or otherwise available from computer readable media. Such instructions can comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause or otherwise configure a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Portions of computer resources used can be accessible over a network. The computer executable instructions may be, for example, binaries, intermediate format instructions such as assembly language, firmware, or source code. Examples of computer-readable media that may be used to store instructions, information used, and/or information created during methods according to described examples include magnetic or optical disks, flash memory, USB devices provided with non-volatile memory, networked storage devices, and so on. 
     Devices implementing methods according to these disclosures can comprise hardware, firmware and/or software, and can take any of a variety of form factors. Typical examples of such form factors include laptops, smart phones, small form factor personal computers, personal digital assistants, rackmount devices, standalone devices, and so on. Functionality described herein also can be embodied in peripherals or add-in cards. Such functionality can also be implemented on a circuit board among different chips or different processes executing in a single device, by way of further example. 
     The instructions, media for conveying such instructions, computing resources for executing them, and other structures for supporting such computing resources are means for providing the functions described in these disclosures. 
     Although a variety of examples and other information was used to explain aspects within the scope of the appended claims, no limitation of the claims should be implied based on particular features or arrangements in such examples, as one of ordinary skill would be able to use these examples to derive a wide variety of implementations. Further and although some subject matter may have been described in language specific to examples of structural features and/or method steps, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to these described features or acts. For example, such functionality can be distributed differently or performed in components other than those identified herein. Rather, the described features and steps are disclosed as examples of components of systems and methods within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, claim language reciting “at least one of” a set indicates that one member of the set or multiple members of the set satisfy the claim.