TOUCH SENSING DEVICE HAVING CONDUCTIVE NODES
First Claim
1. A touch sensing device comprising:
- a first structure having a touchable surface and an opposite surface;
multiple conductive electrodes associated with the opposite surface of the first structure;
a second structure having a surface; and
multiple conductive nodes associated with the surface of the second structure, the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure being proximate to each other, and the conductive electrodes and the conductive nodes configured to form capacitive elements between the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure to sense a touch at the touchable surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch sensing device having conductive nodes is disclosed. The device can include a first structure having one or more conductive electrodes disposed on a surface opposite the structure'"'"'s touchable surface and a second structure having one or more conductive nodes disposed on a surface. The two surfaces can be placed with the conductive electrodes and conductive nodes facing each other in close proximity so that the electrodes and the nodes can form capacitive elements for sensing a touch on the touchable surface. Separately disposing the conductive nodes from the touchable surface structure can make the touch sensing device thin. An example touch sensing device can be a click wheel.
196 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A touch sensing device comprising:
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a first structure having a touchable surface and an opposite surface; multiple conductive electrodes associated with the opposite surface of the first structure; a second structure having a surface; and multiple conductive nodes associated with the surface of the second structure, the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure being proximate to each other, and the conductive electrodes and the conductive nodes configured to form capacitive elements between the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure to sense a touch at the touchable surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A touch sensing device comprising:
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multiple conductive touch sensitive electrodes; multiple conductive force sensitive switches, the switches associated with a first group of the electrodes; and multiple conductive nodes, the nodes associated with a second group of the electrodes, the switches and the nodes being coplanar with each other and being cofacial with the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A touch sensing device comprising:
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a cover configured to move in response to a force applied to the cover and to receive a touch at the cover, the cover comprising at least one conductive electrode; and a flexible circuit proximate to the cover, the flexible circuit configured to sense a force applied to the cover and a touch received at the cover, the flexible circuit comprising at least one conductive node proximate to the conductive electrode, the conductive electrode and the conductive node disposed between the cover and the flexible circuit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A click wheel comprising:
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a movable cover having a touchable surface and an opposite surface with multiple conductive electrodes associated with the opposite surface; and a flexible circuit having a surface with multiple conductive nodes and multiple conductive switches associated with the surface, the conductive electrodes configured to align with the conductive nodes and the conductive switches to form capacitive sensors for sensing a touch at the touchable surface, and the conductive switches configured to form force sensors for sensing a force applied to the touchable surface.
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25. A method comprising:
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providing a device having a movable structure and a stationary structure; providing a flexible circuit on the stationary structure; disposing multiple conductive nodes on the flexible circuit; disposing multiple conductive electrodes on the movable structure; and positioning the conductive nodes on the flexible circuit close to the conductive electrodes on the movable structure so that the provided device is thin.
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Specification