Solid state navigation device

• US 20080191715A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Day, Shawn P., Schediwy, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US11/706,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20080191715A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/663
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells

Abstract

A solid state navigation device comprises a solid state dielectric nub with an upper surface configured for being contacted by an object. The upper surface comprises an intervening dielectric layer. A plurality of conductor electrodes is disposed beneath at least a portion of the intervening dielectric layer. The plurality of conductor electrodes is configured to sense a change in capacitance coupling of the plurality of conductor electrodes to the object. The change in capacitance is caused by the object contacting and moving about the upper surface.

Claims

1. A solid state navigation device comprising:

a solid state dielectric nub with an upper surface configured for being contacted by an object, said upper surface comprising an intervening dielectric layer; and

a plurality of conductor electrodes disposed beneath at least a portion of said intervening dielectric layer, said plurality of conductor electrodes configured to sense a change in capacitance coupling of said plurality of conductor electrodes to said object, said change in capacitance caused by said object contacting and moving about said upper surface.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to use said change in capacitance coupling of said plurality of conductor electrodes to said object for determining a navigation signal corresponding to movement of said object about said upper surface of said solid state dielectric nub.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said controller further comprises:

a ballistics module configured for determining a dynamic zero-point associated with a location of initial contact between said object and said upper surface.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein said controller further comprises:

an absolute movement module configured for determining a change in said navigation signal in response to said change in capacitance coupling said plurality of conductor electrodes to said object.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said controller further comprises:

an velocity movement module configured for determining a change in said navigation signal in response to said change in capacitance coupling said plurality of conductor electrodes to said object.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein said controller further comprises:

a movement buffer configured for determining a dynamic dead-zone surrounding an initial location of contact between said object and said upper surface such that minute changes in said change in capacitance are beneath a threshold used for determining said navigation signal.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein said controller further comprises:

a gesture module configured for determining a change in said navigation signal in response to said change in capacitance coupling said plurality of conductor electrodes to said object.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of conductor electrodes comprises no more than four conductor electrodes.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said object comprises a finger.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said solid state dielectric nub comprises a convex shape.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said solid state dielectric nub comprises a hemi-cylindrical shape.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said solid state dielectric nub comprises a hemispherical shape.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the plurality of conductor electrodes disposed beneath at least a portion of said solid state dielectric nub are flat.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said solid state navigation device does not require a dedicated drive electrode.

15. A method of contact based navigation, said method comprising:

sensing a capacitance value when an object contacts an upper surface of a solid state dielectric nub and causes a capacitive coupling to change, said capacitive coupling being between said object and a plurality of conductor electrodes disposed beneath at least a portion of an intervening dielectric layer of said upper surface;

utilizing said plurality of conductor electrodes to sense a change in said capacitance value related to a movement of said object with respect to said upper surface; and

utilizing said change in capacitance value to determine a navigation signal from said movement of said object.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

determining a dynamic zero-point corresponding to an initial contact location where said object first contacts said upper surface.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

configuring a dead-zone surrounding an initial location of contact between said object and said upper surface.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said utilizing said change in capacitance value to determine a navigation signal from said movement of said object comprises:

utilizing a ballistics technique to determine said navigation signal.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said utilizing said change in capacitance value to determine a navigation signal from said movement of said object comprises:

determining a velocity-based position change in said navigation.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said utilizing said change in capacitance value to determine a navigation signal from said movement of said object comprises:

determining an absolute position change in said navigation signal.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said utilizing said plurality of conductor electrodes to sense a change in said capacitance value related to a movement of said object with respect to said upper surface comprises:

sensing a change in capacitance due to a rolling movement of said object upon said upper surface.

22. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said utilizing said plurality of conductor electrodes to sense a change in said capacitance value related to a movement of said object with respect to said upper surface comprises:

sensing a change in capacitance due to a stroking movement of said object upon said upper surface.

23. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said plurality of conductor electrodes comprises four conductor electrodes.

24. A method of contact based navigation:

sensing a first capacitance value caused by a coupling between an object and a plurality of conductor electrodes when said object contacts an intervening dielectric layer of a solid state navigation device, said intervening dielectric layer disposed above said plurality of conductor electrodes;

determining a dynamic zero-point based upon an initial touch location where said object first contacts said intervening dielectric layer of said solid state navigation device;

utilizing said plurality of conductor electrodes to sense a second capacitance value related to a movement of said object with respect to said solid state navigation device; and

utilizing said first capacitance value and said second capacitance value to determine a navigation signal from said movement of said object.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein a portion of said intervening dielectric layer comprises a protruding nub shaped surface configured for receiving said contact.

26. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said object comprises a finger.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said utilizing said first capacitance value and said second capacitance value to determine a navigation signal from said movement of said object comprises:

determining a velocity-based position change in said navigation signal.

28. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said utilizing said first capacitance value and said second capacitance value to determine a navigation signal from said movement of said object comprises:

determining an absolute position change in said navigation signal.

29. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said utilizing said plurality of conductor electrodes to sense a second capacitance value related to a movement of said object with respect to said solid state navigation device:

utilizing said plurality of conductor electrodes to sense a second capacitance value related to a rolling motion performed on said intervening dielectric layer by said object.

30. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said utilizing said plurality of conductor electrodes to sense a second capacitance value related to a movement of said object with respect to said solid state navigation device:

utilizing said plurality of conductor electrodes to sense a second capacitance value related to a stroking motion performed on said intervening dielectric layer by said object.

31. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said plurality of conductor electrodes comprises at most eight conducting electrodes.