Touch sensitive navigation surfaces for mobile telecommunication systems

• US 6,873,863 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hiltunen, Kari
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHATTACHARYA, SAM
• Application Number:
  US09/812,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20020132634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/566, 455/575.1, 455/350, 455/410, 455/411
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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 2201/00 Contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/018 Indication of switch sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/046 Multi-colour or double shot injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/047 Preformed layer in mould
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A touch sensitive navigational surface functions as a user interface to a communication device such as a cellular telephone. An electromechanical dielectric (EMD) film coextensive with at least a portion of the surface of the cover of the device selectively functions as a sensor, microphone or speaker. The EMD film is placed behind a display to provide a user interface touch sensitive screen capable of sensing the direction of touching. At least a portion of the EMD film functions as a fingerprint recognition system to provide security means for controlling access and limiting call completion to an authorized user.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing a touch sensitive navigational surface for a communication device of the type having a cover for carrying the appropriate circuitry to carry out the intended functions of the communication device wherein the cover includes an outer wall surface portion for carrying a user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electromechanical dielectric (EMD) film for activating a corresponding desired user interface operational function to be carried out by the communication device;

providing injection molding apparatus having one or more component molds to carry out an injection molding process for molding the cover;

molding the cover using a suitable injection molding process;

locating and placing the EMD film in an orientation and position in the mold on the outer surface portion of the molded cover such that the EMD film outer surface and the outer wall surface of the molded cover form a substantially continuous surface across the molded cover outer wall surface, and

molding the outer wall surface portion of the molded cover and the EMD film outer surface with a thin flexible protective polymer layer thereby forming and defining an integral unit.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein placement of the EMD film corresponds to the associated user interface operational function location on the communication device.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of molding the cover with a continuous support surface for the EMD film.

4. The method as defined in claim 3 whereby the EMD film is responsive to a touching contact force made by a user on the surface of the flexible protective polymer layer in the region covering the EMD film.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of molding the cover such that only a portion of the EMD film is located on a support surface and a portion is located on an unsupported surface whereby the unsupported portion of the EMD film is free to move with unobstructed motion.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 further including the step of providing a display screen between the EMD film and the flexible protective polymer layer.

7. A communication device having a touch sensitive navigational surface, the communication device having cover for carrying the appropriate electronic circuitry to carry out the intended functions of the communication device, said cover having an outer wall surface portion for carrying a user interface, said device comprising:

an electromechanical dielectric (EMD) film electrically connected to the appropriate electronic circuitry for activating a corresponding desired user interface operational function to be carried out by the communication device;

said cover being an injection molded cover;

said EMD film being oriented and positioned on the outer wall surface portion of the cover for injection molding with the cover whereby the EMD film forms a substantially continuous surface with at least a portion of the outer wall surface of the cover, and

a thin flexible polymer layer molded over the outer wall surface of the cover and the EMD film thereby forming and defining an integral unit.

8. The communication device as defined in claim 7 wherein said injection molded cover is molded with a continuous support surface for said EMD film.

9. The communication device as defined in claim 8 wherein the location and placement of said EMD film on said outer surface of said cover corresponds to the associated user interface operational function location on said communication device.

10. The communication device as defined in claim 9 wherein said EMD film functions as a keypad.

11. The communication device as defined in claim 7 further comprising a display screen located between said flexible polymer layer and said EMD film thereby forming and defining a further integral unit.

12. The communication device as defined in claim 11 wherein said injection molded cover is molded with a continuous support surface for said EMD film in the region of said display screen whereby the EMD film is responsive to a touching contact force made by a user on the surface of said thin flexible polymer layer in the region over said display screen.

13. The communication device as defined in claim 7 wherein said injection molded cover is molded such that only a portion of said EMD film is located on a support surface and a portion is located over an unsupported surface whereby said unsupported portion of said EMD film is free to move with unobstructed motion.

14. The communication device as defined in claim 13 wherein said EMD film functions as a speaker.

15. The communication device as defined in claim 13 wherein said EMD film functions as a microphone.

16. A touch sensitive navigational surface for a communication device of the type have a cover for carrying the appropriate electronic circuitry to carry out the intended functions of the communication device, said cover having an outer wall surface portion, said touch sensitive navigational surface comprising:

an electromechanical dielectric (EMD) film oriented and positioned on the outer wall surface portion of the cover for injection molding with the cover, said EMD film forming a part of at least a portion of the outer wall surface defining an injection molded cover;

a thin flexible polymer layer molded over the outer wall surface and said EMD film defining said injection molded cover thereby forming and defining an integral units, and

said EMD film being electrically connected to the appropriate electronic circuitry for activating a corresponding function of the communication device in response to a touching contact made by a user along the surface of said flexible polymer layer in the region covering said EMD film.

17. The touch sensitive navigational surface as defined in claim 16 wherein said EMD film functions as a keypad.

18. The touch sensitive navigational surface as defined in claim 16 wherein said EMD film functions as an actuator.

19. The touch sensitive navigational surface as defined in claim 16 wherein said EMD film functions as a user interface with the communication device.

20. Method for manufacturing a communication device having a touch sensitive navigational surface, the communication device having a cover for carrying appropriate circuitry to carry out the intended functions of the communication device, said cover having an outer wall surface portion, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an electromechanical dielectric (EMD) film;

orienting and positioning the EMD film in a mold for the cover;

injection molding the cover and the EMD film such that the EMD film outer surface and the outer wall surface portion of the molded cover form a substantially continuous surface, and

molding a thin flexible polymer layer over the injection molded EMD film and outer wall surface portion thereby forming and defining an integral unit.

21. The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the step of orienting and positioning the EMD film includes orienting and positioning the EMD film in a location corresponding to the associated intended function location on the communication device.

22. The method as defined in claim 20 further including the step of molding the cover such that only a portion of the EMD film is located on a support surface and a portion is located on an unsupported surface whereby the unsupported portion of the EMD film is free to move with unobstructed motion wherein the EMD film functions as a microphone.

23. The method as defined in claim 20 further including the step of molding the cover such that only a portion of the EMD film is located on a support surface and a portion is located on an unsupported surface whereby the unsupported portion of the EMD film is free to move with unobstructed motion wherein the EMD film functions as a speaker.

24. The method as defined in claim 20 further including the step of providing a display screen between the EMD film and the thin flexible polymer layer.