TOUCH SYSTEM CONFIGURED ON METAL SURFACE WITH X-Y AND FORCE DETECTION

• US 20140253503A1
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bang & Olufsen A/S
• Original Assignee: Bang & Olufsen A/S
• Inventors: EJLERSEN, Finn
• Application Number:
  US14/197,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20140253503A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/142 using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0038 applying a pushing force
• 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 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells

Abstract

A sensitive precision detector to sense user given control input in terms of activation on a cover plate by moving the finger with an easy touch, or with a force vertically or with a force in circular or elliptical movements on the surface of the cover plate.

The precision detector is configured as a structure having the cover plate made in a conducting material.

A first member constitutes the cover plate which is pre-processed to have a certain ability to be depressed along the Z-axis upon activation from a finger touch.

The first member constitutes the one electrode of a capacitor and having the second member as the other electrode of the capacitor.

Change in the capacitance is detected upon activation with a force provided on the cover plate.

Claims

1. A detection device for sensing user given control commands in terms of activation on a cover plate with the finger by a single touch, or by a force on the cover plate or along the plane of the cover plate, where said detection device is connected via capacitance to digital converter means to a micro-processor where said device is characterised by:

Said cover plate having a plane in a XY plane and a thickness along a Z-axis, substantially perpendicular to said XY plane

a first member being the cover plate being made from a conductive material, the cover plate has a certain ability to be depressed along the Z-axis upon activation from a finger; and

the first member being configured to act as one electrode of a capacitor; and

a second member being made from a conductive material and configured to act as the other electrode of a capacitor; and

where the first member is electrically isolated from the second member; and

the first member and the second member is assembled in a manner so the assembly constitutes an electrical capacitor having as electrodes, the first and the second members; and

where the second member is divided into 3 or more sensing pads, each sensing pad detecting separate inputs.

2. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the device is having a 4 pad sensor, the position of the user given control command is defined as a touch position (x,y) and the force (z) is calculated as:

3. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the device is having a 3 pad sensor, the position of the user given control command is defined as a touch position (x,y) and the force (z) is calculated as:

4. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein proportional changes detected may be used to provide a control function that act with a speed according to the applied force.

5. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the second member may be mounted directly on a printed circuit board.

6. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the second member may be mounted on a nonconductive carrier.

7. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the distance along the Z-axis between the first and the second member is obtained by placing a spacing member between said first and second members outside the area of the sensing pads.

8. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the distance along the Z-axis between the first and the second member is obtained by milling, grinding or etching a recess into the first member, said recess facing the sensing pads.

9. A detection device according to claim 1, wherein a touch sensor detects the changes in capacity by means of a capacity to digital converter measurement principle.

10. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first member is a recess extruded cover plate.

11. The detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first member has one or more recess milled or etched on the backside of the cover plate.

12. An interactive media player having integrated the detection device according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate of the detection device is located fully visible on the media player when this is in the mode of normal operation.