TOUCH DEVICE

• US 20110122072A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sentelic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sentelic Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Jao-Ching, Chu, Linabel, Lee, Wen-Ting
• Granted Patent: US 8,314,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/98 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback

Abstract

A touch device includes a base and a touch pad. The base has an accommodating region and at least one first conductor. The touch pad is received in the accommodating region and subjected to a force to generate a changeable position relative to the base. The touch pad has a touch surface consist of a plurality of capacitive sensors and at least one second conductor conducted with at least one of the capacitive sensors. The second conductor is electrically conducted with the first conductor as the change of relative position between the touch pad and the base. Capacitances measured from the capacitive sensors are substantially different between the touch surface touched with a conductive object and the second conductor conducted with the first conductor, which is conducted to a fixed voltage, current or a ground. Therefore, a control unit connected to the capacitive sensors can generate different control signals from the connecting state between the first conductor and the second conductor.

Claims

1. A touch device, including:

a base having an accommodating region and at least one first conductor; and

a touch pad received in the accommodating region, the touch pad having a touch surface and at least one second conductor, the touch surface being arranged with a plurality of capacitive sensors, the second conductor being electrically connected to the capacitive sensors.

2. The touch device according to claim 1, wherein the touch device further has a position recovering means provided between the touch pad and the base.

3. The touch device according to claim 2, wherein the base includes at least one side wall, the position recovering means is provided between the touch pad and the side wall.

4. The touch device according to claim 1, wherein the touch device further has a position fixing means provided between the touch pad and the base.

5. The touch device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor is electrically connected to a constant voltage source.

6. The touch device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor is electrically connected to a constant current source.

7. The touch device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor is grounded.

8. The touch device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit electrically connected to the plurality of capacitive sensors.

9. The touch device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to generate at least one first control signal when at least one conductive object touches the touch surface and the first conductor is not electrically conducted with the second conductor.

10. The touch device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to generate at least one second control signal when at least one conductive object touches the touch surface and the first conductor is electrically conducted with the second conductor.

11. The touch device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to generate at least one third control signal when the first conductor is electrically conducted with the second conductor and no conductive object touches the touch surface.

12. The touch device according to claim 1, wherein the second conductor is opposite to the first conductor.

13. The touch device according to claim 1, wherein the base further comprises at least one side structure for restricting a moving range of the touch pad.

14. The touch device according to claim 13, wherein the side structure has at least one first stopper and at least one second stopper, the touch pad is mounted between the first stopper and the second stopper to restrict the moving range of the touch pad.

15. The touch device according to claim 14, wherein the first conductor is mounted on the first stopper, where faces the second conductor on the touch pad.

16. The touch device according to claim 14, wherein the first conductor is mounted on the second stopper, where faces the second conductor on the touch pad.