FLOATING PLANE TOUCH INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20120038577A1
• Filed: 08/15/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FloatingTouch, LLC
• Original Assignee: FloatingTouch, LLC
• Inventors: BROWN, Daniel, MALINIAK, Krystyna, CAPONE, Frank N.
• Application Number:
  US13/210,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20120038577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A touch input device and method for manufacturing a touch input device are described. Each embodiment includes a touch surface, a mounting fixture, a sensing-suspension system, and a locating system. The touch surface may be an integral component of a host system, such as a display, which would result in a touch screen, or a touchpad input device. The touch surface is a floating plane, where the suspension positions, attaches and motion-enables the touch surface within the host system, and where the force exerted on the touch surface causes displacement of the touch surface, which motion is interpreted to calculate a touch location.

Claims

1. A sensing-mount for use on a touch input device comprising:

at least one suspension member; and

one or more conductive members coupled to the suspension member, wherein an electromagnetic sensor is formed.

2. The sensing-mount of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic sensor comprises any of a capacitive sensor, inductive sensor, a Hall effect sensor, optical sensor, and thermal sensor.

3. The sensing-mount of claim 1 wherein at least two conductive members are adhesively coupled to the suspension member.

4. The sensing-mount of claim 1 wherein the at least one suspension member allows for floating a touch surface within a host device in a fluidic manner and redirects the sheer force vectors into the Z-axis.

5. The sensing-mount of claim 1 includes flow characteristics that conform to irregularities, and/or planar deficiencies.

6. The sensing-mount of claim 1 wherein at least two conductive members are formed from copper or aluminum.

7. A touch input device comprising:

a touch plane;

a mounting fixture;

a suspension system attached between the touch plane and mounting fixture; and

a means to detect a touch location on the touch plane from movement of the touch plane relative to the mounting fixture.

8. The touch input device of claim 7, where the suspension system includes an array of sensing-mounts.

9. The touch input device of claim 7 wherein each of the array of sensing-mounts comprises:

at least one suspension member; and

one or more conductive members coupled to the suspension member;

wherein an electromagnetic sensor is formed.

10. The touch input device of claim 9 wherein the one or more conductive members are adhesively coupled to the suspension member.

11. The touch input device of claim 9 wherein the at least one suspension member allows for floating a touch surface within a host device in a fluidic manner, and redirects the sheer force vectors into the Z-axis.

12. The touch input device of claim 9 wherein the suspension member includes flow characteristics that conforms to irregularities, and/or planar deficiencies.

13. The touch input device of claim 9 wherein at least two conductors are formed from a conductive metal.

14. The touch input device of claim 9 wherein at least two conductors are circuit traces.

15. The touch input device of claim 9 wherein at least two conductors are stenciled with conductive ink onto the suspension member.

16. The touch input device of claim 10, where the sensing-mounts are disposed at a plurality of locations on the suspension system.

17. The touch input device of claim 10, where the sensing-mounts are disposed randomly at a plurality of locations on the suspension system.

18. The touch input device of claim 10, where the sensing-mounts are disposed in a predetermined pattern at a plurality of locations on the suspension system.

19. The touch input device of claim 9 wherein one touch pressure gestures are utilized.

20. The touch input device of claim 19 wherein the one touch pressure gestures can be provided by the touching of any object to the touch plane.

21. A suspension system comprising:

an array of sensing-mounts, wherein the array of sensing-mounts comprises;

at least one suspension member; and

one or more conductive members coupled to the suspension member;

wherein an electromagnetic sensor is formed.

22. The suspension system of claim 21 wherein the one or more conductive members are adhesively coupled to the suspension member.

23. The suspension system of claim 21 wherein the at least one suspension member allows for floating a touch surface within a host device in a fluidic manner, minimizes lateral touch friction (X-Y sheer-force vectors) and redirects the sheer force vectors into the Z-axis.

25. The suspension system of claim 21 wherein at least two conductors are formed from a conductive metal.

26. The suspension system of claim 21 wherein at least two conductors are circuit traces.

27. The suspension system of claim 21 wherein at least two conductors are stenciled with conductive ink onto the suspension member.

28. The suspension system of claim 21, where the sensing-mounts are disposed at a plurality of locations on the suspension system.

29. The suspension system of claim 21, where the sensing-mounts are disposed randomly at a plurality of locations on the suspension system.

30. The suspension system of claim 21, where the sensing-mounts are disposed in a predetermined pattern at a plurality of locations on the suspension system.

24. The suspension system of 21 wherein the suspension member includes flow characteristics that conforms to irregularities, and/or planar deficiencies.