Tactile Device with Force Sensitive Touch Input Surface

• US 20090243817A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wisetouch Co, Ltd
• Original Assignee: Pressure Profile Systems Inc. (PPS U.K. Limited)
• Inventors: Son, Jae
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment

Abstract

A tactile device includes a touch input surface in any number of forms including a force sensitive touch screen. In this embodiment a cover captures a transparent screen located on capacitive sensors. Touching the screen produces signals from each sensor that can be combined to identify the location of the touch and the force exerted by that touch.

Claims

1. A force-sensitive touch-responsive input device comprising:

A) reference means for defining a reference surface,

B) input means for having a force applied thereto,

C) flexure attachment means for enabling said input means to respond to the application of force thereto by flexing with respect to said reference means,

D) capacitive sensing means for sensing the motion of said input means relative to said reference means and including;

i) first electrode means for moving with said input means relative to said reference means,

ii) second electrode means attached to said reference means and spaced from said first electrode means, and

E) signal processing means connected to said first and second electrode means for generating a signal that is proportional to the force applied to said input means in response to the flexure of said input means relative to the reference surface.

2. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second electrode means form a plurality of discrete sensors at predetermined locations about the peripheries of said reference and input means.

3. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 2 wherein said input means comprises a rigid glass plate supported by said flexure attachment means.

4. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 3 wherein said flexure attachment means comprises a plurality of flexures that are intermediate said reference means and said glass plate.

5. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 4 wherein said flexures comprise compliant structures.

6. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 5 wherein said compliant structures comprise molded silicone structures.

7. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 5 wherein said compliant structures comprise compression springs.

8. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 5 wherein said compliant structures comprise leaf springs.

9. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 2 wherein said capacitive sensing means comprises additional first and second electrode means disposed intermediate said reference and input means thereby defining an array of sensor locations, said signal processing means being connected to said electrode means in said array for generating a signal indicative of the location of any touch on and the total force applied to the input said input means.

10. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 7 wherein said input means includes a plate.

11. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 8 wherein said reference means includes an enclosure with a planar support for said plate and said flexure means includes a plurality of flexures positioned about the periphery of said reference means.

12. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 10 wherein said flexure plurality is four.

13. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 10 wherein said plate includes an electrical shield and said first electrodes are formed by said electrical shield and said second electrodes are attached to planar support.

14. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 12 wherein said planar support comprises a printed circuit board.

15. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 12 wherein said plate is deformable and said signal processing means generates a signal representing multiple touches of said plate.

16. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 12 wherein said input means includes an LCD display.

17. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 12 wherein said input means includes an e-paper display.

18. The force-sensitive touch-responsive input device as recited in claim 12 wherein said input means includes an organic LED display.