COMPACT INPUT DEVICE

• US 20110169667A1
• Filed: 03/18/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kocalar, Erturk, Moolsintong, Jan, Fisher, Joseph, ROTHKOPF, Fletcher, Sander, Wendell
• Granted Patent: US 8,330,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7006 comprising a separate movable contact element for each switch site, all other elements being integrated in layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/81 characterised by electrical connections to external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/004 Printed circuit tail
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/004 in different planes to increase density
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/032 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/042 Briefcase; Note-book
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/018 Ground conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96066 Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch

Abstract

Compact input devices formed on flexible substrates are disclosed. The input devices may be formed using three or more conducting layers. By including three or more conducting layers, the diameter of the input device may be minimized. In addition, to improve the flexibility of portions of the input device mounted, some portions of the input device may be made to have fewer layers than other portions of the input device.

Claims

1. A flexible substrate comprising:

a first portion comprising a first set of layers; and

a second portion comprising a second set of layers,

the first set of layers and the second set of layers being different.

2. The flexible substrate of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a first sensor area of an input device and the second portion comprises a second sensor area of the input device.

3. The flexible substrate of claim 2, wherein the first sensor area comprises a central sensor area of the input device, and the second sensor area is circumferentially arranged relative to the first sensor area.

4. The flexible substrate of claim 3, wherein the first set of layers has a lesser number of layers than the second set of layers.

5. The flexible substrate of claim 3, wherein the first set of layers has a lesser number of conducting layers than the second set of layers.

6. The flexible substrate of claim 5, wherein

the first set of layers comprises a conducting layer comprising a sensor and a conducting layer comprising a trace, and

the second set of layers comprises a conducting layer comprising a sensor, a conducting layer comprising a trace, and a conducting layer comprising grounding.

7. The flexible substrate of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a sensor area of an input device and the second portion comprises an area of the input device between the sensor area and a controller area of the input device.

8. The flexible substrate of claim 7, wherein the first set of layers has a greater number of layers than the second set of layers.

9. The flexible substrate of claim 7, wherein the first set of layers has a greater number of conducting layers than the second set of layers.

10. The flexible substrate of claim 9, wherein

the first set of layers comprises a conducting layer comprising a sensor, a conducting layer comprising a trace, and a conducting layer comprising grounding, and

the second set of layers comprises a conducting layer comprising a trace and a conducting layer comprising grounding.

11. The flexible substrate of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a controller area of an input device and the second portion comprises an area of the input device between the controller area and a connector area of the input device.

12. The flexible substrate of claim 11, wherein the first set of layers has a greater number of layers than the second set of layers.

13. The flexible substrate of claim 11, wherein the first set of layers has a greater number of conducting layers than the second set of layers.

14. A flexible substrate comprising:

a first portion comprising a first flexibility; and

a second portion comprising a second flexibility,

the first flexibility and the second flexibility being different due to a difference in a number of layers of the first portion and the second portion.

15. The flexible substrate of claim 14, wherein the first portion comprises a first sensor area of an input device and the second portion comprises a second sensor area of the input device.

16. The flexible substrate of claim 14, wherein the first portion comprises a sensor area of an input device and the second portion comprises an area of the input device between the sensor area and a controller area of the input device.

17. The flexible substrate of claim 14, wherein the first portion comprises a controller area of an input device and the second portion comprises an area of the input device between the controller area and a connector area of the input device.

21. The input device of claim 14, wherein the dome switch comprises a center button-type sensor element of the input device.

18. An input device comprising:

a substrate;

a dome switch comprising a dome configured to collapse against the substrate during activation; and

a hole in the substrate underneath the dome configured to allow air to pass through the substrate when the dome is collapsed.

19. The input device of claim 18, further comprising a coating on the dome configured to prevent electrostatic discharge.

20. The input device of claim 19, wherein the dome comprises a hole and the coating seals the hole in the dome.

22. An input device comprising:

a substrate;

a dome switch comprising a dome mounted on the substrate;

a laminate covering the dome; and

a hole in the substrate underneath the dome.

23. The input device of claim 22, wherein the dome comprises a hole.

24. The input device of claim 22, wherein the dome switch comprises a center button-type sensor element of the input device.