Annular potentiometric touch sensor
First Claim
1. An annular touch sensor comprising:
- a bottom substrate;
an annular pattern of resistive material traversing a portion of a top surface of the bottom substrate;
a plurality of conductive drive lines, each conductive drive line radially traversing the top surface of the bottom substrate so as to be electrically coupled with the annular pattern of resistive material;
a plurality of fixed potential conductive traces, each fixed potential conductive trace radially traversing the top surface of the bottom substrate and electrically coupled with the annular pattern of resistive material;
a conductive sense line having a plurality of conductive sense traces, each sense trace electrically decoupled from the annular pattern of resistive material, the fixed potential conductive traces, and the drive lines when the sensor is untouched, and each sense trace radially traversing the top surface of the bottom substrate;
a top substrate spaced above the top surface of the bottom substrate; and
a conductive layer on a bottom surface of the top substrate, the conductive layer positioned above one or more of the annular pattern, the fixed potential conductive traces, and the conductive sense traces;
wherein a pressure applied to at least one of the top substrate and the bottom substrate electrically couples a portion of one or more of the conductive sense traces to a portion of at least one of the annular pattern and one or more of the fixed potential conductive traces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention determines angular position using a potentiometric touch sensor. The sensor has an annular pattern of resistive material on a portion of a bottom substrate top surface. Conductive drive lines and fixed potential conductive traces radially traverse the bottom substrate top surface and are electrically coupled to the resistive material. Conductive sense traces radially traverse the bottom substrate top surface. A conductive layer on a bottom surface of a top substrate is positioned above the bottom substrate top surface. A pressure applied to the top substrate and/or the bottom substrate electrically couples a portion of a conductive sense trace to a portion of the annular pattern and/or a fixed potential conductive trace. The angular position of the applied pressure is determined by measuring at least one electrical parameter between a conductive drive line and a conductive sense line having the conductive sense traces.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An annular touch sensor comprising:
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a bottom substrate;
an annular pattern of resistive material traversing a portion of a top surface of the bottom substrate;
a plurality of conductive drive lines, each conductive drive line radially traversing the top surface of the bottom substrate so as to be electrically coupled with the annular pattern of resistive material;
a plurality of fixed potential conductive traces, each fixed potential conductive trace radially traversing the top surface of the bottom substrate and electrically coupled with the annular pattern of resistive material;
a conductive sense line having a plurality of conductive sense traces, each sense trace electrically decoupled from the annular pattern of resistive material, the fixed potential conductive traces, and the drive lines when the sensor is untouched, and each sense trace radially traversing the top surface of the bottom substrate;
a top substrate spaced above the top surface of the bottom substrate; and
a conductive layer on a bottom surface of the top substrate, the conductive layer positioned above one or more of the annular pattern, the fixed potential conductive traces, and the conductive sense traces;
wherein a pressure applied to at least one of the top substrate and the bottom substrate electrically couples a portion of one or more of the conductive sense traces to a portion of at least one of the annular pattern and one or more of the fixed potential conductive traces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. The annular touch sensor of clam 1 further comprising a processor in electrical communication with the conductive sense line and the plurality of conductive drive lines, wherein the processor is operative to:
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measure a first voltage between the conductive sense line and a first conductive drive line;
measure a second voltage between the conductive sense line and a second conductive drive line;
measure a third voltage between the conductive sense line and a third conductive drive line; and
determine a conductive drive line closest to the pressure, wherein the conductive drive line closest to the pressure is determined using the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage, and wherein the conductive drive line closest to the pressure is selected from a group consisting of the first conductive drive line, the second conductive drive line, and the third conductive drive line.
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12. The annular touch sensor of clam 11 wherein the processor is further operative to:
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electronically disconnect the conductive line closest to the pressure;
apply a potential across a first remote conductive drive line and a second remote conductive drive line wherein the first and second remote conductive drive lines are selected from the group consisting of the first conductive drive line, the second conductive drive line, and the third conductive drive line;
measure a sense voltage between the conductive sense line and one of the first and second remote conductive drive lines; and
determine an angular position of the pressure about the annular touch sensor using the sense voltage.
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13. The annular touch sensor of clam 12 wherein the sense voltage is measured using an Analogue to Digital Converter.
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14. A method of determining an angular position of an applied pressure on a touch sensor having a top substrate including a conductive layer, and a bottom substrate including an annular pattern of resistive material, a plurality of fixed potential conductive traces electronically coupled to the annular pattern of resistive material, a plurality of conductive drive lines intersecting the annular pattern of resistive material, and a conductive sense line having a plurality of conductive sense traces, the method comprising:
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determining a conductive drive line closest to the applied pressure;
applying a potential across a first remote conductive drive line and a second remote conductive drive line wherein the first and second remote conductive drive lines are electronically distinct from the conductive drive line closest to the applied pressure;
measuring a sense voltage between the conductive sense line and one of the first and second remote conductive drive lines; and
determining an angular position of the applied pressure about the touch sensor using the sense voltage. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of determining an angular position of an applied pressure on an annular touch sensor having a top substrate including a conductive layer, and a bottom substrate including an annular pattern of resistive material, a plurality of fixed potential conductive traces electronically coupled to the annular pattern of resistive material, a plurality of conductive drive lines intersecting the annular pattern of resistive material, and a conductive sense line having a plurality of conductive sense traces, the method comprising:
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measuring a first voltage between the conductive sense line and a first conductive drive line;
measuring a second voltage between the conductive sense line and a second conductive drive line;
measuring a third voltage between the conductive sense line and a third conductive drive line;
determining a conductive drive line closest to the applied pressure, wherein the conductive drive line closest to the applied pressure is determined using the first voltage, the second voltage and the third voltage, and wherein the conductive drive line closest to the applied pressure is selected from a group consisting of the first conductive drive line, the second conductive drive line, and the third conductive drive line;
electronically disconnecting the conductive drive line closest to the applied pressure;
applying a potential across a first remote conductive drive line and a second remote conductive drive line wherein the first and second remote conductive drive lines are selected from the group consisting of the first conductive drive line, the second conductive drive line, and the third conductive drive line;
measuring a sense voltage between the conductive sense line and one of the first and second remote conductive drive lines; and
determining an angular position of the applied pressure about the annular touch sensor using the sense voltage. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification