TACTILE TOUCH SCREEN FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090128501A1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: LADOUCEUR, Norman, GRIFFIN, Jason, LAZARIDIS, Mihal
• Granted Patent: US 9,058,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers

Abstract

An electronic device includes a base, a touch screen display, a pair of switches and operational components. The touch screen display is connected to the base, movable relative thereto and includes a display device and a touch-sensitive input surface overlying the display device. A pair of switches disposed between the base and the touch screen display and configured such that one of the switches is actuated in response to application of a force anywhere on the touch-sensitive input surface of the touch screen display and both of the switches are actuated in response to application of more than one force on the touch-sensitive input surface of the touch screen display. The operational components include a controller connected to the touch-sensitive input surface and a processor connected to the controller and the display.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a base;

a touch screen display connected to the base and movable relative thereto, the touch screen display including a display device and a touch-sensitive input surface overlying the display device;

a pair of switches disposed between the base and the touch screen display and configured such that one of the switches is actuated in response to application of a force anywhere on the touch-sensitive input surface of the touch screen display and both of the switches are actuated in response to application of more than one force on the touch-sensitive input surface of the touch screen display; and

operational components including a controller connected to the touch-sensitive input surface and a processor connected to the controller and the touch screen display.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen display comprises a display support for providing mechanical support to the display device and touch-sensitive input surface, the display device and the touch-sensitive input surface disposed on the display support.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, comprising an actuator disposed between the touch screen display and the base and extending between the pair of switches for actuating the one switch in response to application of the force on the touch-sensitive input surface of the touch screen display and actuating both switches in response to application of more than one force on the touch-sensitive input surface of the touch screen display.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a beam extending between the pair of switches.

5. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the one of the switches is located closer to a center of said touch screen display than an other of the switches.

6. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the display support comprises at least one projection proximal a center of the display support and extending towards the base for contacting the actuator for actuating the switches.

7. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a projection extending towards the display support for contacting with the display support, proximal a center thereof for actuating the switches.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, comprising a display stop between the base and the touch screen display for limiting the travel of the touch screen display toward the base.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the display stop comprises a step projecting from the base, proximal outer edges of the touch screen display.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of switches are mounted on an arm extending from the base.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the arm is flexible.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the arm is configured such that said one of the pair of switches is located closer to said touch screen display than an other of the pair of switches.

13. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the switches are located such that one of the switches is disposed between an other of the switches and the touch screen display.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein a minimum force required to actuate one of the switches is less than a minimum force required to actuate an other of the switches.

15. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the one of the switches is located closer to said touch screen display than an other of the switches.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the one of the switches includes an over-travel to allow for further depression after actuation.

17. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the switches are mechanical switches.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17, wherein the switches are dome-type switches.

19. The electronic device according to claim 1, comprising at least one biasing element for biasing the touch screen display away from the pair of switches.

20. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein an electrical signal is generated in response to actuation of any of the pair of switches and wherein the electrical signal is received at the processor as a further input in addition to input from the touch screen display.

21. The electronic device according to claim 1, comprising sidewalls and a frame framing the touch screen display and connected to the base by the sidewalls.

22. The electronic device according to claim 1, comprising flexible sidewalls extending between the base and the touch screen display.

23. The electronic device according to claim 22, wherein the flexible sidewalls are continuous and extend around the periphery of the touch screen display.

24. A touch screen display comprising:

a base;

a display device connected to the base and movable relative thereto;

a touch-sensitive input surface overlying the display device; and

a pair of switches disposed between the base and the display device and configured such that one of the switches is actuated in response to application of a force anywhere on the touch-sensitive input surface and both of the switches are actuated in response to application of more than one force on the touch-sensitive input surface.