Reconfigurable tactile sensor input device
First Claim
1. A reconfigurable tactile input device comprising:
- a first electrode layer having a first electrical connection means, a flexible second electrode layer having a second electrical connection means, at least one of the first or second electrode layers comprising more than one electrode, a compressible dielectric structure separating said first electrode layer from said second electrode layer, and a control means connected to said first and said second electrical connection means and adapted to measure capacitance in real time between electrodes of said first and said second electrode layers, whereby when a change in capacitance of at least one of said electrodes is detected, it is measured and converted by said control means into contact position and force of compression over said input device, which is then transformed into a recognized user input command signal based on a current input device configuration;
said configuration being reconfigurable through said control means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable tactile input device includes a first rigid electrode layer, a compressible dielectric structure, and a second flexible electrode layer forming together a tactile sensor with appropriate electrode connection means to a control means. The control means may include a mixed-signal IC mounted next to the input device in a compact package and capable of measuring capacitance in real time. The dielectric structure may include a matrix of compressible geometric elements with voids therebetween optionally vented to atmosphere, making the entire assembly thin and facilitating its use for mobile phones and other small, portable electronic devices. Some embodiments provide the user wit tactile feedback upon compression of the electrodes. An optional flexible display may be mounted over the input device to indicate the present configuration to the user.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A reconfigurable tactile input device comprising:
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a first electrode layer having a first electrical connection means, a flexible second electrode layer having a second electrical connection means, at least one of the first or second electrode layers comprising more than one electrode, a compressible dielectric structure separating said first electrode layer from said second electrode layer, and a control means connected to said first and said second electrical connection means and adapted to measure capacitance in real time between electrodes of said first and said second electrode layers, whereby when a change in capacitance of at least one of said electrodes is detected, it is measured and converted by said control means into contact position and force of compression over said input device, which is then transformed into a recognized user input command signal based on a current input device configuration;
said configuration being reconfigurable through said control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A reconfigurable tactile input device comprising:
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a first electrode layer having a first electrical connection means, a flexible second electrode layer having a second electrical connection means, at least one of the first or second electrode layers comprising more than one electrodes, a compressible dielectric structure separating said first electrode layer from said second electrode layer, said structure comprising a plurality of geometric elements made of compressible dielectric material forming voids therebetween, and a control means connected to said first and said second electrical connection means and adapted to measure capacitance in real time between electrodes of said first and said second electrode layers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A reconfigurable tactile input device comprising:
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a first electrode layer having a first electrical connection means, a flexible second electrode layer having a second electrical connection means, at least one of the first or second electrode layers comprising more than one electrode, a compressible dielectric structure separating said first electrode layer from said second electrode layer, and a control means connected to said first and said second electrical connection means, said control means including an IC mounted in the vicinity of said electrode layers. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A reconfigurable tactile input device comprising:
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a first electrode layer, a flexible second electrode layer, at least one of the first or second electrode layers comprising more than one electrode, a compressible dielectric structure separating said first electrode layer from said second electrode layer, a flexible display mounted over at least a portion of said second electrode layer, and a control means connected to said first electrode layer, said second electrode layer, and said flexible display, said control means adapted to change the configuration of said flexible display to correspond to the change in operational mode configuration of said input device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification