TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY WITH OPTICAL SENSOR AND METHOD

• US 20120071206A1
• Filed: 09/17/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Inventors: Pemberton-Pigott, Nigel Patrick
• Application Number:
  US12/884,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20120071206A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

An electronic device includes a touch-sensitive display and a sensor configured to detect a force that results in depression of the touch-sensitive display. The sensor includes an optical device that receives a reflection of a pattern on a surface of the touch-sensitive display, wherein the force affects the reflection.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a sensor configured to detect a force that results in depression of the touch-sensitive display, wherein the sensor comprises an optical device that receives a reflection of a pattern on a surface of the touch-sensitive display, wherein the force affects the reflection.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the optical device comprises an optical receiver and an optical emitter.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the optical device emits an optical signal directed toward the pattern.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pattern includes a reflective area and an area that is less-reflective.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the optical device detects a movement of the pattern.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the force causes the movement of the reflection of the pattern.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the force sensor comprises a plurality of optical receivers.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a backlight emits an optical signal toward the pattern.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the optical device comprises a first optical receiver that receives a first reflection from a first pattern and a second optical receiver that receives a second reflection from a second pattern.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display is depressible.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the force sensor is disposed near an external surface of the touch-sensitive display.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pattern is part of a material disposed on the surface.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pattern is etched on the surface.

14. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the optical device detects the force by detecting movement of the reflection of the pattern relative to the sensor.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the reflection of the pattern has a first characteristic when the force does not meet a threshold, and wherein the reflection of the pattern has a second characteristic when the force meets the threshold.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the first characteristic is a reflection of a first part of the pattern, and wherein the second characteristic is a reflection of a second part of the pattern that is different than the first part.

17. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a force sensor operable with the touch-sensitive display to detect a force exerted on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the force sensor comprises an optical device that receives a reflection of a pattern on a surface of the touch-sensitive display, wherein the reflection is affected by the force exerted on the touch-sensitive display;

an optical emitter arranged to provide optical signals from which the reflection results;

a processor configured to receive signals from the optical receiver and evaluate the signals to detect a variation related to the force.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the optical receiver and the optical emitter are integrated into a single component.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, configured to provide an indication of a selection of a selection option displayed on the touch-sensitive display when the variation meets a threshold.

20. A method comprising:

receiving a reflection of a pattern on a surface of a touch-sensitive display;

detecting a change in the reflection, wherein the change in the reflection is caused by movement of the reflection of the pattern;

providing an indication of depression of the touch-sensitive display when the change is detected.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising comparing the change in reflection to a threshold, wherein the indication is provided when the change exceeds the threshold.