PIVOTING CAPACITIVE TOUCH SENSE ASSEMBLY

• US 20150084910A1
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Payne, David G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,496,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/98 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96066 Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with providing use input are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an apparatus may include a capacitive touch sense module having a center region and a plurality of arms extending away from the center region in a plurality of directions. The arms may include a first arm extending away from the center region in a first direction, and a second arm extending away from the center region in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The apparatus may further include one or more pairs of springs, including a first pair of springs disposed at respective edges of an undersurface of the first and second arms to allow the capacitive touch sense module to pivot between the first and second directions. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing user input, comprising:

a capacitive touch sense module having a center region and a plurality of arms extending away from the center region in a plurality of directions, including a first arm extending away from the center region in a first direction, and a second arm extending away from the center region in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and

one or more pairs of springs, including a first pair of springs disposed at respective edges of an undersurface of the first and second arms to allow the capacitive touch sense module to pivot between the first and second directions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stem extending from a center point of the center region in a direction orthogonal to an undersurface of the capacitive touch sense module.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a printed circuit board mated with the capacitive touch sense module, wherein the printed circuit board has a switch, and wherein the stem is configured to activate the switch, when the capacitive touch sense module is pressed towards the printed circuit board.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control, wherein the first and second arms are configured to pivot between the first and second directions to increase or decrease a volume of a media consumption device controlled by the remote control.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control, wherein the first and second arms are configured to pivot between the first and second directions to move up or move down a current channel of a media consumption device controlled by the remote control.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the capacitive touch sense module is cross shaped, wherein the plurality of arms further includes a third arm extending away from the center region in a third direction orthogonal to the first and second directions, and a fourth arm extending away from the center region in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and wherein the one or more pairs of springs further include a second pair of springs disposed at respective edges of an undersurface of the third and fourth arms to allow the capacitive touch sense module to pivot between the third and fourth directions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control, wherein the first and second arms are configured to pivot between the first and second directions to increase or decrease a volume of a media consumption device controlled by the remote control, and wherein the third and fourth arms are configured to pivot between the third and fourth directions to move up or move down a current channel of a media consumption device controlled by the remote control.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of snaps, including a first snap, a second snap, a third snap, and a fourth snap, wherein the first, second, third and fourth snaps are respectively disposed at a first corner where the first arm meets the third arm, a second corner where the first arm meets the fourth arm, a third corner where the second arm meets the third arm, and a fourth corner where the second arm meets the fourth arm.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of snaps are configured to mechanically attach the apparatus to a printed circuit board.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bonding pads disposed around a perimeter of the center region.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of bonding pads are configured to electrically attach the apparatus to a printed circuit board.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter coupled to the capacitive touch sense module, and configured to transmit a pivoted position of the capacitive touch sense module to a receiving device.

13. At least one storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions configured to cause an apparatus, in response to execution of the instruction by the apparatus, to:

receive a signal indicative of a pivoting capacitive touch sense module of the apparatus having been pressed;

in response to receipt of the signal, determine a pivoted position of the pivoting capacitive touch sense module; and

on determination of the pivoted position, output the pivoted position.

14. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control, and wherein output the pivoted position comprises transmission of the pivoted position to a media consumption device controlled by the remote control.

15. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control, and the pivoted position denotes an increase or decrease of a volume of a media consumption device controlled by the remote control.

16. The storage medium of claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control, and the pivoted position denotes a user command to move up or move down a current channel of a media consumption device controlled by the remote control.

17. A method for providing user input, comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of a pivoting capacitive touch sense module of a user input device having been pressed;

in response to receipt of the signal, determining a pivoted position of the pivoting capacitive touch sense module; and

on determination of the pivoted position, outputting the pivoted position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control, and wherein outputting comprises transmitting the pivoted position to a media consumption device controlled by the remote control.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control, and the pivoted position denotes an increase or decrease of a volume of a media consumption device controlled by the remote control.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises a remote control, and the pivoted position denotes a user command to move up or move down a current channel of a media consumption device controlled by the remote control.