Dual function input device and method

• US 6,762,752 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 07/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: N-Trig Ltd (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Perski, Haim, Morag, Meir
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osorio, Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US10/270,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20030098858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173-179, 178/18-1-, 178/19-1-
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• 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

Abstract

Apparatus for user input to a digital system, comprising a first sensing system for sensing a user interaction of a first type, co-located with a second sensing system for sensing a user interaction of a second type. The first system may detect styluses and like objects using EM radiation and the second system may detect touch pressure.

Claims

1. Apparatus for user input to a digital system, comprising a first sensing system having first sensors for sensing a user interaction of a first kind using a sensing method of a first type, and a second sensing system having second sensors for sensing a user interaction of a second kind using a sensing method of a second type, said first and said second kind of interaction being mutually independent, and at least some of said first and at least some of said second sensors being patterned onto and co-located on a sensing layer of a first single foil in an interleaved manner.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said co-located sensing systems are constructed as a foil-based sensing arrangement.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said foil-based sensing arrangement further comprises at least a second patterned transparent foil having a second sensing surface comprising sensors of said first type co-located with sensors of said second type.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least some of said sensors comprise organic conductive material.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first single foil is a patterned transparent foil.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said pattern is etched onto said foil, thereby to form said sensors of said first kind in co-location with said sensors of said second kind.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said pattern is printed on said foil, thereby to form said sensors of said first kind in co-location with said sensors of said second kind.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said pattern is introduced by passivation.

9. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said foil-based sensing arrangement comprises at least two superimposed transparent foils.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein sensors of said first sensing system are embedded in each of said at least two superimposed transparent foils.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein sensors of said second sensing system are embedded in each of said at least two superimposed transparent foils.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein sensors of said first and said second sensing systems are interleaved in said first of said at least two superimposed transparent foils.

13. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein sensors of said second sensing system are embedded in each of said at least two superimposed transparent foils.

14. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein sensors of said first and said second sensing systems respectively are interleaved in said foil-based sensing arrangement.

15. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each sensing system has a set of sensors located within said foil-based sensing arrangement, and wherein each set of sensors is arranged substantially as a grid.