Systems for dynamically illuminating touch sensors

• US 20060181521A1
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AuthenTec Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Atrua Technologies Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Perreault, George, Gioeli, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/400,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181521A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system for and method of illuminating a contact (or touch) device such as a fingerprint sensor are disclosed. In an exemplary system, a touch sensor system has a surface or contact area and comprises a substantially transparent molding positioned over the contact area and a dynamic illuminator positioned to show through the molding. The dynamic illuminator is for indicating a status of the touch sensor system, such as power on, standby, error, low power, an input mode for receiving user input, or a selected operating mode. The touch sensor system includes any one of a fingerprint sensor, a miniature joystick, a touch-sensitive navigation disc, a touch-sensing navigation pad, an N-way pressure-sensitive directional control, to name a few touch sensor devices. In one embodiment, when the touch sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor, the operating mode is for emulating an input device such as a scroll wheel, a push button, a steering wheel, a joy stick, a pressure button, and a mouse. The operating mode also includes an authentication mode for authenticating an identity of a user. Preferably, the dynamic illuminator includes light sources and multiple light channels, colored or not, that are configured to be illuminated in multiple configurations, where each configuration corresponds to a status of the touch sensor system.

Claims

1. A touch sensor system having a contact area and comprising:

a. a substantially transparent molding positioned over the surface; and

b. a dynamic illuminator positioned to show through the molding.

2. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic illuminator is for indicating a status of the touch sensor system.

3. The touch sensor system of claim 2, wherein the status is any one of power on, standby, error, and low power.

4. The touch sensor system of claim 2, wherein the status corresponds to an input mode for receiving user input.

5. The touch sensor system of claim 2, wherein the touch sensor system comprises any one of a joystick module, a touch-sensitive navigation disc, a touch sensing navigation pad, and a pressure-sensitive directional control.

6. The touch sensor system of claim 2, wherein the touch sensor system comprises a fingerprint sensor.

7. The touch sensor system of claim 6, wherein the status corresponds to an operating mode of the touch sensor system.

8. The touch sensor system of claim 7, wherein the operating mode is for emulating a selectable one of a scroll wheel, a push button, a steering wheel, a joy stick, a pressure button, and a mouse.

9. The touch sensor system of claim 7, wherein the operating mode comprises an authentication mode for authenticating an identity of a user.

10. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic illuminator comprises one or more light channels configured to be illuminated in multiple configurations, each configuration corresponding to a status of the touch sensor system.

11. The touch sensor system of claim 10, wherein each configuration from the multiple configurations corresponds to an intensity of one or more of the one or more light channels.

12. The touch sensor system of claim 10, wherein each configuration from the multiple configurations comprises an illumination of the one or more light channels in a corresponding predetermined sequence.

13. The touch sensor system of claim 10, wherein each configuration from the multiple configurations comprises an illumination of a corresponding predetermined combination of light channels from the one or more light channels.

14. The touch sensor system of claim 10, wherein each of the one or more light channels is a different color.

15. The touch sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a substrate having a metal surface disposed below the molding and for reflecting illumination from the dynamic illuminator to a user.

16. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic illuminator surrounds the contact area.

17. The touch sensor system of claim 1, wherein the molding comprises a light channel.

18. A system comprising:

a. a means for detecting contact to a surface of a contact device; and

b. a means for indicating a status of the contact device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for indicating a status comprises a visual display.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the visual display comprises any one or more of a light emitting diode, an illuminated optical fiber, and an illuminated optical ribbon.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for detecting contact comprises any one of a joystick module, a touch-sensitive navigation disc, a touch sensing navigation pad, and a pressure-sensitive directional control.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for detecting contact comprises a fingerprint sensor.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a fingerprint swipe sensor.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a fingerprint placement sensor.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the status is any one of power on, standby, error, and low power.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the status corresponds to an input mode in which the system awaits contact to the contact area.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the status corresponds to an emulation mode.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the status corresponds to an authentication mode.

29. A method of fabricating an electronic device comprising:

a. forming a touch sensor having a contact surface;

b. forming a dynamic illuminator for indicating a status of the touch sensor; and

c. forming a substantially transparent molding over the surface and the dynamic illuminator.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the touch sensor comprises any one of a joystick module, a touch-sensitive navigation disc, a touch-sensing navigation pad, and a pressure-sensitive directional control.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the touch sensor is a fingerprint sensor.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a fingerprint swipe sensor.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a fingerprint placement sensor.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the status is any one of power on, standby, error, and low power.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the status corresponds to an operating mode of the touch sensor.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the operating mode is an emulation mode for emulating any one of a scroll wheel, a push button, a steering wheel, a joy stick, a pressure button, a key pad, and a mouse.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the operating mode comprises an authentication mode.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the dynamic illuminator comprises one or more light channels configured to indicate a status of the touch sensor.

39. The method of claim 29, wherein the touch sensor is formed on a substrate, the method further comprising forming a metal surface below the molding for reflecting illumination from the dynamic illuminator to a user.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the molding comprises a light channel.