Single-layer touchpad and methods of use

• US 20050035953A1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cirque Corporation (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Cirque Corporation (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Layton, Michael D., Taylor, Brian, Taylor, David, Woolley, Richard
• Application Number:
  US10/871,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035953A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A single-layer touchpad comprised of a relatively clear substrate, a first electrode disposed thereon, and a sense electrode disposed thereon, wherein the first electrode and the sense electrode are comprised of a conductive material, wherein the first electrode in combination with the sense electrode are used to detect the presence of a pointing object in a zone, or the simultaneous presence of multiple pointing objects in multiple zones, and wherein the first electrode and/or the sense electrode are made such that a pattern is visually detectable on the display screen.

Claims

1. A single-layer touchpad for use with a display screen, said single-layer touchpad comprised of:

a single layer of substrate;

a first electrode disposed on a first side of the single layer of substrate;

a sense electrode disposed on the first side of the single layer substrate; and

a display screen, wherein the first side of the single layer of substrate is disposed against a top surface of the display screen such that the single layer of substrate is a protective barrier over the first electrode and the sense electrode.

2. The single-layer touchpad as defined in claim 1 wherein the first electrode is comprised of a conductive material that can be modified so as to be visually detectable.

3. The single-layer touchpad as defined in claim 2 wherein the sense electrode is comprised of a conductive material that can be modified so as to be visually detectable.

4. The single-layer touchpad as defined in claim 3 wherein the conductive material is modified to be visually detectable by modifying the width, thickness, color content, or transparency of the conductive material.

5. The single-layer touchpad as defined in claim 4 wherein the transparency of the conductive material is modified by adding material to the conductive object that increases opacity of the conductive material.

6. The single-layer touchpad as defined in claim 3 wherein the first electrode is disposed so as to form a desired pattern that is visually detectable when looking at the display screen.

7. The single-layer touchpad as defined in claim 6 wherein the sense electrode is disposed so as to form a desired pattern that is visually detectable when looking at the display screen.

8. The single-layer touchpad as defined in claim 7 wherein the desired pattern is selected from the group of desired patterns comprised of logos, visual designs, trademarks, service marks, and words.

9. A single-layer touchpad for use with a display screen, said single-layer touchpad comprised of:

a single layer of substrate;

a first electrode disposed on a first side of the single layer of substrate;

a sense electrode disposed on the first side of the single layer substrate; and

a display screen, wherein the first side of the single layer of substrate is disposed against a bottom surface of the display screen.

10. The single-layer touchpad as defined in claim 9 wherein the single-layer touchpad is further comprised of a liquid crystal display disposed against a second side of the single-layer substrate.

12. The single-layer touchpad as defined in claim 9 wherein the single-layer touchpad is further comprised of a liquid crystal display disposed against the first side of the single-layer substrate.

11. A single-layer touchpad for use with a display screen, said single-layer touchpad comprised of:

a single layer of substrate;

a first electrode disposed on a first side of the single layer of substrate;

a sense electrode disposed on the first side of the single layer substrate; and

a display screen, wherein a second side of the single layer of substrate is disposed against a bottom surface of the display screen.

13. A single-layer touchpad for use with a display screen, said single-layer touchpad comprised of:

a protective screen over a display;

a first electrode disposed on a first side of the protective screen; and

a sense electrode disposed on the first side of the single layer substrate.

14. A single-layer touchpad for use with a display screen, said single-layer touchpad comprised of:

a display;

a protective screen over the display;

a first electrode disposed between the protective screen and the display; and

a sense electrode disposed between the protective screen and the display.

15. A single-layer touchpad for use with a display screen, said single-layer touchpad comprised of:

a display;

a protective screen over the display;

a single-layer substrate disposed under the display;

a first electrode disposed on the single-layer substrate; and

a sense electrode disposed on the single-layer substrate.

16. A single-layer touchpad for use with a display screen, said single-layer touchpad comprised of:

a display;

a protective screen over the display;

a single-layer substrate disposed under the display;

a first electrode disposed between the single-layer substrate and the display; and

a sense electrode disposed between the single-layer substrate and the display.