FULLY CLICKABLE TRACKPAD

• US 20140139442A1
• Filed: 03/20/2012
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Clayton, Joseph Edward, Rivera, Felix Jose Alvarez, Han, Amy
• Granted Patent: US 9,069,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

According to one general aspect, an apparatus includes a trackpad that includes a cover member having a top surface and a switch coupled to the cover member. At least two spring members are coupled to the trackpad and are each disposed at a non-zero distance from each other and are each configured to collectively bias the trackpad in a first position in which the top surface of the cover member is in a first plane. The trackpad is movable to a second position in which the top surface of the cover member is in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane when an input force is exerted on the top surface of the cover member. The switch is configured to trigger an electrical signal within a computer when the trackpad is moved to its second position.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a trackpad including a cover member having a top surface configured to receive an input force and a switch coupled to the cover member; and

at least two spring members coupled to the trackpad, the at least two spring members each being disposed at a non-zero distance from each other and collectively configured to bias the trackpad in a first position in which the top surface of the cover member is disposed in a first plane,

the trackpad being movable to a second position in which the top surface of the cover member is disposed in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane when an input force is exerted on the top surface of the cover member, the switch configured to trigger an electrical signal within a computer when the trackpad is moved to its second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the cover member is bounded by a first side edge opposite a second side edge and a third side edge opposite a fourth side edge, the first side edge, the second side edge, the third side edge and the fourth side edge each move an equal distance when the trackpad is moved from its first position to its second position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least two spring members each have a first configuration in which the at least two spring members support the trackpad in its first position, the at least two spring members each being separately movable to a second configuration when the trackpad is moved to its second configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, the trackpad being slidably coupled to the housing, the trackpad including at least two pins configured to be slidably received within a corresponding at least two bushings coupled to the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, the trackpad being coupled to the housing, the top surface of the cover member having an outer perimeter,

the at least two spring members including a first end fixedly coupled to the housing and disposed outside the outer perimeter of the top surface of the cover member and a second end configured to support the trackpad in its first position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the cover member has an outer perimeter that defines a surface area of the top surface of the cover member, the trackpad configured to be moved to its second position when an input force is exerted on the top surface of the trackpad within the surface area of the top surface of the trackpad.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a trackpad coupled to the housing, the trackpad including a cover member having a top surface configured to receive an input force and a switch coupled to the cover member, the top surface of the cover member having an outer perimeter; and

at least two support members each having a first end coupled to the housing and disposed outside the outer perimeter of the top surface of the cover member and a second end contacting the trackpad, the second end of each of the at least two support members collectively configured to support the trackpad in a first position relative to the housing, the trackpad being movable to a second position relative to the housing when an input force is exerted on the top surface of the cover member, the switch configured to be actuated when the trackpad is moved to its second position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the switch is coupled to the cover member such that the switch moves with the cover member when the trackpad is moved between its first position and its second position.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the top surface of the cover member is disposed in a first plane when the trackpad is in its first position, the top surface of the cover member being disposed in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane when trackpad is in its second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the trackpad includes at least one alignment pin configured to be slidably received within a corresponding at least one bushing coupled to the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the trackpad includes at least one alignment pin configured to be slidably received within a corresponding at least one opening defined by the housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least two support members are each a spring member.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the top surface of the cover member is bounded by a first side edge opposite a second side edge and a third side edge opposite a fourth side edge, the first side edge, the second side edge, the third side edge and the fourth side edge each move an equal distance when the trackpad is moved from its first position to its second position.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a trackpad coupled to the housing, the trackpad including a cover member having a top surface configured to receive an input force and a switch coupled to the cover member, the trackpad including at least two pins configured to be slidably coupled to the housing to allow slidable movement of the trackpad relative to the housing; and

at least two support members coupled to the trackpad, the at least two support members collectively configured to bias the trackpad in a first position in which the top surface of the cover member is disposed in a first plane, the trackpad being slidably movable in a substantially vertical direction relative to the housing to a second position in which the top surface of the cover member is disposed in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane when an input force is exerted on the top surface of the trackpad, the switch configured to trigger an electrical signal within a computer when the trackpad is moved to its second position

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the switch is configured to move with the trackpad when the trackpad is moved between its first position and its second position, the switch configured to be actuated when the trackpad is moved to its second position.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least two pins are configured to be slidably received within corresponding at least two openings defined in the housing.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least two pins are configured to be slidably received within corresponding at least two bushings coupled to the housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the top surface of the trackpad is bounded by a first side edge opposite a second side edge and a third side edge opposite a fourth side edge, the first side edge, the second side edge, the third side edge and the fourth side edge each configured to move an equal distance when the trackpad is moved from its first position to its second position.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least two support members are at least two spring members, the at least two spring members having a first configuration in which the at least two spring members collectively bias the trackpad in its first position.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the top surface of the trackpad has an outer perimeter, the at least two support members each have a first end fixedly coupled to the housing and disposed outside the outer perimeter of the top surface of the trackpad, and a second end configured to support the trackpad in its first position.