TOUCH SENSITIVE DEVICE

• US 20100033354A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bang & Olufsen a/s
• Original Assignee: Bang & Olufsen a/s
• Inventors: Ejlersen, Finn
• Application Number:
  US12/448,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20100033354A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/98 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

A sensitive precision detector to sense user given control input in terms of activation on a cover plate by moving the finger with an easy touch, or with a force vertically or with a force in circular or elliptical movements on the surface of the cover plate. The precision detector is configured as a structure having the cover plate made in a conducting material. A first member constitutes the cover plate which is pre-processed to have a certain ability to be depressed along the Z-axis upon activation from a finger touch. The first member constitutes the one electrode of a capacitor and having the second member as the other electrode of the capacitor. Change in the capacitance is detected upon activation with a force provided on the cover plate.

Claims

1. Apparatus including a front panel, where input to the apparatus is performed via the front panel, where at least the side of the front panel opposite to the apparatus front side is provided with an electrically conductive material or the front panel itself is made from a conductive material and that a detection device for sensing user given control commands in terms of activation on said front panel is provided, where said front panel has an extend in a first plane defined by an X and Y axis, where the activation is performed with a the finger by a force along a Z-axis substantially perpendicular to the X-Y plane of said front panel said device comprising:

a first member being the front panel which is pre-processed to have a certain ability to be depressed along the Z-axis upon activation from a finger; and

;

said first member being configured to act as one electrode of a capacitor; and

;

a second member being made from a conductive material and configured to act as the other electrode of a capacitor;

where the first member electrode being electrical isolated from the second member electrode; and

where the pre-processing of the first member is superposed the second member, and the first member and the second member are assembled such that the assembly constitutes an electrical capacitor having as electrodes, the electrodes of the first and the second members.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of pre-processed sections are arranged in an array or circular configuration, superposed a corresponding array or circular configuration of second members, whereby a force along the horizontal plane of the front panel will generate a dynamic input, such that the relative movement of the force along the array or circle generates the input.

3. A detection device according to claim 1, where the force activated in the Z-axis direction is detected as a magnitude of force with proportional changes in the capacity of the capacitor that is constituted by the first member electrode and the second member electrode.

4. A detection device according to claim 1, where the proportional changes detected may be used to provide a control function that act with a speed according to the applied force.

5. A detection device according to claim 1, where the second member may be mounted directly on a PC board.

6. A detection device according to claim 1, where the second member may be mounted on a nonconductive carrier.

7. A detection device according to claim 1 where the physical distance between the first and the second member is obtained fully or partly as part of the support material of the assembly.

8. A detection device according to claim 1 where a touch sensor detects the changes in capacity by means of a capacity to digital converter measurement principle.

9. A detection device according to claim 1 where the first member is a recess extruded in or with the cover plate.

10. A detection device according to claim 1 where the first member has one or more recess milled or etched on the backside of the cover plate.

11. An interactive media player having integrated a front panel with a detection device according to claim 1, where the cover plate of the detection device is located fully visible on the media player when this is in the mode of normal operation.

12. An interactive game controller having integrated a front panel with a detection device according to claim 1, where the cover plate of the detection device is located fully visible on the game controller when this is in the mode of normal operation.