Force Imaging Input Device and System
First Claim
1. A force imaging touch pad, comprising:
- a first layer having a first plurality of conductive traces oriented in a first direction on a first surface thereof;
a second layer having a second plurality of conductive traces oriented in a second direction on a first surface thereof; and
a deformable dielectric membrane juxtaposed between the first and second layers, wherein the first and second plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a capacitance image when a force is applied to the first layer, the capacitance image indicative of an intensity of the applied force.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A force imaging touch pad includes first and second sets of conductive traces separated by a spring membrane. When a force is applied, the spring membrane deforms moving the two sets of traces closer together. The resulting change in mutual capacitance is used to generate an image indicative of the amount or intensity of the applied force. A combined location and force imaging touch pad includes two sets of drive traces, one set of sense traces and a spring membrane. In operation, one of the drive traces is used in combination with the set of sense traces to generate an image of where one or more objects touch the touch pad. The second set of drive traces is used in combination with the sense traces and spring membrane to generate an image of the applied force'"'"'s strength or intensity.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A force imaging touch pad, comprising:
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a first layer having a first plurality of conductive traces oriented in a first direction on a first surface thereof;
a second layer having a second plurality of conductive traces oriented in a second direction on a first surface thereof; and
a deformable dielectric membrane juxtaposed between the first and second layers, wherein the first and second plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a capacitance image when a force is applied to the first layer, the capacitance image indicative of an intensity of the applied force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A force and location imaging touch pad, comprising:
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a first layer having a first plurality of conductive traces oriented in a first direction on a first surface thereof and a second plurality of conductive traces oriented in a second direction on a second surface thereof;
a second layer having a third plurality of conductive traces oriented in substantially the first direction;
a base layer;
a first deformable membrane juxtaposed between the first and second layers; and
a second deformable membrane juxtaposed between the second layer and the base layer, wherein the first and second plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a first capacitance image when one or more objects come into close proximity to the first surface, the first capacitance image indicative of where the one or more objects are located relative to the first surface, wherein the second and third plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a second capacitance image when a force is applied to the first layer, the second capacitance image indicative of an intensity of the applied force. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A force and location imaging touch pad, comprising:
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a first surface having a first plurality of conductive traces oriented in a first direction;
a second surface having a second plurality of conductive traces oriented in a second direction, the first and second surfaces juxtaposed to and electrically isolated from one another;
a third surface having a third plurality of conductive traces oriented in substantially the first direction; and
a deformable membrane between the second and third layers, wherein the first and second plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a first capacitance image when one or more objects come into close proximity to the first surface, the first capacitance image indicative of where the one or more objects are located relative to the first surface, wherein the second and third plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a second capacitance image when a force is applied to the first surface, the second capacitance image indicative of an intensity of the applied force. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A force imaging touch pad, comprising:
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a first layer having a first plurality of conductive traces oriented in a first direction on a first surface thereof; and
a deformable dielectric membrane having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface juxtaposed to the first layer and the second surface having a second plurality of conductive traces oriented in a second direction;
wherein the first and second plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a capacitance image when a force is applied to the first layer, the capacitance image indicative of an intensity of the applied force. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A force and location imaging touch pad, comprising:
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a first layer having a first plurality of conductive traces oriented in a first direction on a first surface and a second plurality of conductive traces oriented in a second direction on a second surface;
a deformable dielectric membrane having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface juxtaposed to the first layer and the second surface having a third plurality of conductive traces oriented in substantially the first direction; and
a base layer juxtaposed to the second surface of the deformable dielectric membrane, wherein the first and second plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a first capacitance image when one or more objects come into close proximity to the first surface, the first capacitance image indicative of where the one or more objects are located relative to the first surface, wherein the second and third plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a second capacitance image when a force is applied to the first layer, the second capacitance image indicative of an intensity of the applied force. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A force imaging display, comprising:
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a display element;
a first layer having a first plurality of substantially transparent conductive traces oriented in a first direction on a first surface thereof, the first layer adjacent to a first surface of the display element;
a second layer having a second plurality of substantially transparent conductive traces oriented in a second direction on a first surface thereof, the first layer juxtaposed between the second layer and the display element; and
a deformable substantially transparent dielectric membrane juxtaposed between the first and second layers, wherein the first and second plurality of conductive traces are adapted to create a capacitance image when a force is applied to the second layer, the capacitance image indicative of an intensity of the applied force. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification