Touch panel systems and methods are disclosed that can distinguish
temporally overlapping touch inputs from single touch inputs so that
valid touch position coordinates can be determined. Touch panel systems
and methods of the present invention can distinguish overlapping touches
by comparing signal magnitudes to specified thresholds, by comparing the
rates of change of signal magnitudes or measured positions to determined
parameters, by locating the proximity a calculated location to icons or
other such active areas, and the like. Because touch panel systems and
methods of the present invention can discriminate single touches from
double touches, they can be used in multiple user applications such as
multiplayer games as well as in applications that may be subject to
rapidly successive or overlapping touch inputs.