Two dimensional solid state capacitive sensor array
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for providing an output signal for selectively controlling movement of visual pointer on a display screen, comprising:
- a plurality of solid state capacitive fingertip sensor switches including a center switch surrounded by a plurality of peripheral switches, each switch actuable to an on/off state in response to detection of a user'"'"'s fingertip; and
a control unit responsive to changes in the on/off state of one or more of the peripheral switches of the plurality of solid state capacitive fingertip sensor switches for generating the output signal designating a direction of movement of the visual pointer and further responsive to the on/off state of the center switch of the plurality of solid state capacitive fingertip sensor switches for generating the output signal designating a centering of the visual pointer as with a joystick.
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Abstract
An apparatus for providing an output signal for selectively controlling movement of a visual pointer on a display screen is disclosed. A plurality of solid state capacitive sensor switches are arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each of the switches is actuable in response to the positioning of a finger of a user to an on/off state. A control unit responsive to the on/off state of each of the plurality of solid state capacitive sensors generates an output signal that selectively controls the movement of the visual pointer.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing an output signal for selectively controlling movement of visual pointer on a display screen, comprising:
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a plurality of solid state capacitive fingertip sensor switches including a center switch surrounded by a plurality of peripheral switches, each switch actuable to an on/off state in response to detection of a user'"'"'s fingertip; and
a control unit responsive to changes in the on/off state of one or more of the peripheral switches of the plurality of solid state capacitive fingertip sensor switches for generating the output signal designating a direction of movement of the visual pointer and further responsive to the on/off state of the center switch of the plurality of solid state capacitive fingertip sensor switches for generating the output signal designating a centering of the visual pointer as with a joystick. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus, comprising:
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an array of capacitive sensors for detecting presence of a user fingertip, each generating a signal in response thereto, the array including a center sensor and a plurality of peripheral sensors; and
a control unit coupled to the array of capacitive sensors and adapted to receive the signals and generate an output signal indicative of cursor centering as with a joystick in response to receipt of the center sensor signal and further indicative of cursor movement in response to receipt of one or more of the peripheral sensors signals, the indicated movement being in a direction designated by which one or ones of the peripheral sensors detect fingertip presence. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A visual pointer controller, comprising:
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a capacitive fingertip sensor array comprising a center sensor and a plurality of peripheral sensors surrounding the center sensor; and
a controller circuit connected to the array and operative responsive to array detection of a user'"'"'s fingertip to move the visual pointer in a direction indicated by peripheral sensor detection of the user'"'"'s fingertip and center the visual pointer as with a joystick in response to center sensor detection of the user'"'"'s fingertip.
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Specification