Apple IP on input devices

Note Apple's published application 20100328228, sole inventor John Elias, titled TOUCH SENSOR PANEL DESIGN with first claim

A method of forming a touch sensor panel, comprising:forming a plurality of drive lines by interconnecting a plurality of substantially transparent conductive sections having a first resistivity;forming a plurality of sense lines by interconnecting a plurality of substantially transparent conductive sections having the first resistivity; anddepositing a substantially transparent conductive material, having a second resistivity, over at least part of at least one of the plurality of substantially transparent conductive sections of at least one of the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines,wherein the second resistivity is lower than the first resistivity.


See also US 7,812,828 titled Ellipse fitting for multi-touch surfaces , inventors Westerman; Wayne (San Francisco, CA), Elias; John G. (Townsend, DE), issued October 12, 2010, with abstract:

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.

See also
Interesting Apple patent on pen input