FORMABLE INPUT KEYPAD AND DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20150034469A1
• Filed: 02/11/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Xue, Jiuzhi
• Application Number:
  US14/178,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20150034469A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/85 characterised by tactile feedback features

Abstract

A formable input keypad includes: an electroactive polymer (EAP) layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a first conductive electrode pattern defining outlines of user input keys at the first surface of the EAP layer; and a second conductive electrode pattern at the second surface of the EAP layer.

Claims

1. A formable input keypad comprising:

an electroactive polymer (EAP) layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a first conductive electrode pattern defining outlines of user input keys at the first surface of the EAP layer; and

a second conductive electrode pattern at the second surface of the EAP layer.

2. The formable input keypad of claim 1, wherein the EAP layer is adapted to contract at locations of the first conductive electrode pattern when a voltage is applied thereto such that the user input keys protrude.

3. The formable input keypad of claim 2, wherein the second conductive electrode pattern at the second surface of the EAP layer faces toward a display panel of a display device and substantially covers the second surface of the EAP layer.

4. The formable input keypad of claim 3, wherein the first conductive electrode pattern is coupled to ground.

5. The formable keypad of claim 3, further comprising a protective coating covering the first conductive electrode pattern.

6. The formable input keypad of claim 2, wherein the second electrode pattern is patterned to correspond to the outlines of the user input keys.

7. The formable input keypad of claim 2, wherein the first electrode pattern is patterned on substantially an entirety of the first surface of the EAP layer.

8. The formable input keypad of claim 7, wherein the first electrode pattern is divided into zones, each zone being configured to independently receive the voltage.

9. The formable keypad of claim 8, wherein one or more of the respective ones of the zones receive the voltage according to an orientation of the formable keypad.

10. The formable keypad of claim 2, wherein the voltage is about 1 kV.

11. A display device comprising:

a substrate;

a display panel on the substrate;

a formable input keypad on the display panel, the formable input keypad comprising;

an electroactive polymer (EAP) layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

a first conductive electrode pattern defining outlines of user input keys at the first surface of the EAP layer; and

a second conductive electrode pattern at the second surface of the EAP layer.

12. The formable input keypad of claim 11, wherein the EAP layer is adapted to contract at locations of the first conductive electrode pattern receiving a voltage such that the user input keys protrude.

13. The formable input keypad of claim 12, wherein the second conductive electrode pattern faces toward the display panel and substantially covers the second surface of the EAP layer.

14. The formable input keypad of claim 13, wherein the first conductive electrode pattern is coupled to ground.

15. The formable keypad of claim 13, further comprising a protective coating covering the first conductive electrode pattern.

16. The formable input keypad of claim 12, wherein the second electrode pattern is patterned to form the outlines of the user input keys.

17. The formable input keypad of claim 12, wherein the first electrode pattern is patterned on substantially an entirety of the first surface.

18. The formable input keypad of claim 17, wherein the first electrode pattern is divided into zones, each zone being configured to independently receive the voltage.

19. The formable keypad of claim 18, wherein the zones are configured to receive the voltage based on an orientation of the formable keypad.

20. The formable keypad of claim 12, wherein the voltage is about 1 kV.