Capacitive touchpad integrated with a graphical input function

• US 20050259086A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Inventors: Chiu, Yen-Chang, Chien, Yung-Lieh
• Granted Patent: US 7,768,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A capacitive touchpad provides operational modes including key input, graphical input, handwriting input, and mouse control. The touchpad comprises a panel having several programmed regions thereon, several patterns in the regions are programmed for the operational modes, and a pattern on the panel is programmed as a mode switch to switch the touchpad between the operational modes. In the graphical input mode, the regions include a graphical input region for graphical input. In the key input mode, the patterns include ones for keys to simulate a keyboard. In the handwriting input mode, the regions include a handwriting region for handwriting input. In the mouse control mode, the regions include a cursor control region as well as horizontal and vertical scroll regions.

Claims

1. A capacitive touchpad comprising:

a panel;

a first pattern on the panel, programmed as a mode switch, for being operated to switch the capacitive touchpad to a graphical input mode or an another operational mode;

a plurality of regions programmed on the panel for the graphical input mode and the another operational mode; and

a plurality of second patterns in the plurality of regions, programmed for being operated in the graphical input mode and the another operational mode.

2. The touchpad of claim 1, wherein the another operational mode is a key input mode, a handwriting input mode, or a mouse control mode.

3. The touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying a data inputted on the panel or a current operational mode.

4. The touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a backlight source at a backside of the panel for illuminating the panel.

5. The touchpad of claim 1, further comprising a frontlight source at a frontside of the panel for illuminating the panel.

6. A mobile phone having a capacitive touchpad thereof, the capacitive touchpad comprising:

a panel;

a first pattern on the panel, programmed as a mode switch, for being operated to switch the capacitive touchpad to a graphical input mode or an another operational mode;

a plurality of regions programmed on the panel for the graphical input mode and the another operational mode; and

a plurality of second patterns in the plurality of regions, programmed for being operated in the graphical input mode and the another operational mode.

7. The mobile phone of claim 6, wherein the another operational mode is a key input mode, a handwriting input mode, or a mouse control mode.

8. The mobile phone of claim 6, further comprising a display for displaying a data inputted on the panel or a current operational mode.

9. The mobile phone of claim 6, further comprising a backlight source at a backside of the panel for illuminating the panel.

10. The mobile phone of claim 6, further comprising a frontlight source at a frontside of the panel for illuminating the panel.