Instruments, Touch Sensors for Instruments, and Methods or Making the Same

• US 20090033635A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kwong Yuen Wai
• Original Assignee: Kwong Yuen Wai
• Inventors: WAI, Kwong Yuen
• Application Number:
  US11/829,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20090033635A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94094 Wired transmission, e.g. via bus connection or similar
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches

Abstract

A touch sensor module for an instrument may comprise a touch sensor panel including a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of sensor regions on the touch sensor panel. Each sensor region has an electric field defined by the electrodes and a ground surrounding the electrodes. A processor may be configured to monitor the electric field and to determine that a sensor region of the touch sensor panel is being touched by a user when the electric field associated with that region is altered.

Claims

1. A touch sensor module for an instrument, comprising:

a touch sensor panel including a plurality of electrodes;

a plurality of sensor regions on the touch sensor panel, each sensor region having an electric field defined by the electrodes and a ground surrounding the electrodes; and

a processor configured to monitor the electric field and to determine that a sensor region of the touch sensor panel is being touched by a user when the electric field associated with that region is altered.

2. The touch sensor module of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor panel comprises at least one of a metal foil, a printed circuit board, and a plastic.

3. The touch sensor module of claim 2, wherein the plastic comprises transparent plastic.

4. The touch sensor module of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor panel comprises a metal foil spaced from a printed circuit board.

5. The touch sensor module of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor panel is coupled to the printed circuit board by one of a metal contact and a spring.

6. The touch sensor module of claim 1, wherein the processor is instructed to determine that a touch of a sensor region comprises a single button press.

7. The touch sensor module of claim 1, wherein the processor is instructed to determine that touches of a plurality of sensor regions comprise a scrolling function.

8. The touch sensor module of claim 1, wherein the instrument comprises a timepiece.

9. An instrument comprising:

a touch sensor panel including a plurality of electrodes;

a plurality of sensor regions on the touch sensor panel, each sensor region having an electric field defined by the electrodes and a ground surrounding the electrodes; and

a processor configured to monitor the electric field and to determine that a sensor region of the touch sensor panel is being touched by a user when the electric field associated with that region is altered.

10. The instrument of claim 9, wherein the touch sensor panel comprises at least one of a metal foil, a printed circuit board, and a plastic.

11. The instrument of claim 10, wherein the plastic comprises transparent plastic.

12. The instrument of claim 9, wherein the touch sensor panel comprises a metal foil spaced from a printed circuit board.

13. The instrument of claim 9, wherein the touch sensor panel is coupled to the printed circuit board by one of a metal contact and a spring.

14. The instrument of claim 9, wherein the processor is instructed to determine that a touch of a sensor region comprises a single button press.

15. The instrument of claim 9, wherein the processor is instructed to determine that touches of a plurality of sensor regions comprise a scrolling function.

16. The instrument of claim 9, wherein the instrument comprises a timepiece.

17. A method of making a touch sensor panel for an instrument, the method comprising:

plating a plurality of electrodes on a touch sensor panel to define a plurality of sensor regions on the touch sensor panel, each sensor region having an electric field defined by the electrodes and a ground surrounding the electrodes;

instructing a processor to monitor the electric field; and

instructing the processor to determine that a sensor region of the touch sensor panel is being touched by a user when the electric field associated with that region is altered.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising instructing the processor to determine that a touch of a sensor region comprises a single button press.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising instructing the processor to determine that touches of a plurality of sensor regions comprise a scrolling function.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the instrument comprises a timepiece.