Capacitive touchpad integrated with key and handwriting functions

• US 20040196270A1
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Shih-Chi, Yeh, Ting--Hao, Chiu, Yen-Chang, Chien, Yung-Lieh
• Granted Patent: US 7,274,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A capacitive touchpad integrated with key and handwriting functions is provided for operation in key, handwriting and mouse modes. Several regions are defined on the panel of the touchpad and have several patterns printed thereon for the operation modes thereby. In the key mode, the key patterns among the printed patterns simulate a keyboard. In the handwriting mode, the handwriting region among the defined regions serves to handwriting input. In the mouse mode, the defined regions provide a cursor moving region and a horizontal and vertical scroll bars for input operations.

Claims

1. A capacitive touchpad integrated with key and handwriting functions, comprising:

a panel for touch inputting;

a first pattern on said panel for representing a mode switch to switch said touchpad between a key mode and a handwriting mode;

a plurality of regions defined on said panel; and

a plurality of second patterns on said plurality of regions for operation in said key and handwriting modes.

2. A capacitive touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a mouse mode for switching thereto by touching said first pattern.

3. A capacitive touchpad of claim 1, further comprising an LCD for displaying an input from said panel.

4. A capacitive touchpad of claim 1, wherein said panel comprises:

a substrate selected from the group consisting of PCB, membrane and transparent plate;

a conductor wiring on said substrate; and

an insulator covered on said conductor wiring.

5. A capacitive touchpad of claim 4, wherein said conductor wiring comprises an ITO.

6. A capacitive touchpad of claim 4, wherein said insulator is transparent.

7. A capacitive touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a backlight for said panel.

8. A capacitive touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a recognition module for recognizing an input trace onto said panel in said handwriting mode.

9. A capacitive touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a judgment module for determining a number of fingers touching onto said panel.

10. A capacitive touchpad of claim 1, wherein said plurality of second patterns comprises a plurality of key patterns for performing a telephone keyboard.

34. A capacitive touchpad of claim 31, wherein said panel comprises:

a substrate selected from the group consisting of PCB, membrane and transparent plate;

a conductor wiring on said substrate; and

an insulator covered on said conductor wiring.

35. A capacitive touchpad of claim 34, wherein said conductor wiring comprises an ITO.

36. A capacitive touchpad of claim 34, wherein said insulator is transparent.

11. A mobile telephone characterized in a capacitive touchpad included thereon, said capacitive touchpad comprising:

a panel for touch inputting;

a first pattern on said panel for representing a mode switch to switch said touchpad between a key mode and a handwriting mode;

a plurality of regions defined on said panel; and

a plurality of second patterns on said plurality of regions for operation in said key and handwriting modes.

12. A mobile telephone of claim 11, wherein said capacitive touchpad further comprising a mouse mode for switching thereto by touching said first pattern.

13. A mobile telephone of claim 11, further comprising an LCD for displaying an input from said panel.

14. A mobile telephone of claim 11, wherein said panel comprises:

a substrate selected from the group consisting of PCB, membrane and transparent plate;

a conductor wiring on said substrate; and

an insulator covered on said conductor wiring.

15. A mobile telephone of claim 14, wherein said conductor wiring comprises an ITO.

16. A mobile telephone of claim 14, wherein said insulator is transparent.

17. A mobile telephone of claim 11, further comprising a backlight for said panel.

18. A mobile telephone of claim 11, further comprising a recognition module for recognizing an input trace onto said panel in said handwriting mode.

19. A mobile telephone of claim 11, further comprising a judgment module for determining a number of fingers touching onto said panel.

20. A mobile telephone of claim 11, wherein said plurality of second patterns comprises a plurality of key patterns for performing a telephone keyboard.

21. A capacitive touchpad integrated with key and mouse functions, comprising:

a panel for touch inputting;

a first pattern on said panel for representing a mode switch to switch said touchpad between a key mode and a mouse mode;

a plurality of regions defined on said panel; and

a plurality of second patterns on said plurality of regions for operation in said key and mouse modes.

22. A capacitive touchpad of claim 21, further comprising a handwriting mode for switching thereto by touching said first pattern.

23. A capacitive touchpad of claim 21, further comprising an LCD for displaying an input from said panel.

24. A capacitive touchpad of claim 21, wherein said panel comprises:

a substrate selected from the group consisting of PCB, membrane and transparent plate;

a conductor wiring on said substrate; and

an insulator covered on said conductor wiring.

25. A capacitive touchpad of claim 24, wherein said conductor wiring comprises an ITO.

26. A capacitive touchpad of claim 24, wherein said insulator is transparent.

27. A capacitive touchpad of claim 21, further comprising a backlight for said panel.

28. A capacitive touchpad of claim 22, further comprising a recognition module for recognizing an input trace onto said panel in said handwriting mode.

29. A capacitive touchpad of claim 21, further comprising a judgment module for determining a number of fingers touching onto said panel.

30. A capacitive touchpad of claim 21, wherein said plurality of second patterns comprises a plurality of key patterns for performing a telephone keyboard.

31. A capacitive touchpad integrated with mouse and handwriting functions, comprising:

a panel for touch inputting;

a first pattern on said panel for representing a mode switch to switch said touchpad between a mouse mode and a handwriting mode;

a plurality of regions defined on said panel; and

a plurality of second patterns on said plurality of regions for operation in said mouse and handwriting modes.

32. A capacitive touchpad of claim 31, further comprising a key mode for switching thereto by touching said first pattern.

33. A capacitive touchpad of claim 31, further comprising an LCD for displaying an input from said panel.

37. A capacitive touchpad of claim 31, further comprising a backlight for said panel.

38. A capacitive touchpad of claim 31, further comprising a recognition module for recognizing an input trace onto said panel in said handwriting mode.

39. A capacitive touchpad of claim 31, further comprising a judgment module for determining a number of fingers touching onto said panel.

40. A capacitive touchpad of claim 31, wherein said plurality of second patterns comprises a plurality of key patterns for performing a telephone keyboard.