Stantum Granted Key Patents on Its Multi-Touch Technology

(Business News & Technology News, 3 Jun 2009)

Stantum, a developer of multi-touch solutions and systems since 2002, announced today that both the European Patent Office and the China Patent & Trademark Office have granted patents (EP1719047 and CN100447723C, respectively) to Stantum on its multi-touch technology.

In 2004, under its former name, JazzMutant, Stantum became the “first” company ever to develop and bring to market a multi-touch electronic device – the Lemur remote controller for creative professionals. The recently granted European and Chinese patents extend the original patent filed in France in February 2004.

The patents describe a method and a system for controlling electronic devices by manipulating graphic objects on a transparent multi-contact touch panel. Beyond the process enabling the detection and tracking of an unlimited number of simultaneous contact points on a touch screen, the patents disclose various multi-touch interaction techniques, such as applying specific behavior to graphic objects according to finger gestures.

“The patents reward our research-and-development efforts since 2002, allowing new, intuitive interactions with devices for users, who have been limited to the keyboard and mouse for more than 40 years,” said Pascal Joguet, Stantum’s chief technical officer and co-founder.

Stantum’s multi-touch solution is well-suited for such devices as mobile phones, notebooks, netbooks, personal navigation systems, gaming consoles, and personal media players, which require the best quality user experience at a competitive cost.

”The patents granted in Europe and China are further acknowledgement of Stantum’s pioneering position in the field of multi-touch technologies,” said Etienne Paillard, Stantum CEO. “Moreover, they strengthen our intellectual property rights in geographic areas that account for about 40 percent of the global gross domestic product.”