Touch input device having interleaved scroll sensors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A touch input device comprising:
- a bottom substrate;
first and second resistors on the bottom substrate;
a first pair of drive lines electrically connected to respective ends of the first resistor for applying a first drive voltage across the length of the first resistor between the ends of the first resistor independent of any voltage applied to the second resistor;
a second pair of drive lines electrically connected to respective ends of the second resistor for applying a second drive voltage across the length of the second resistor between the ends of the second resistor independent of any voltage applied to the first resistor;
a plurality of electrically conductive first finger traces on the bottom substrate, the first finger traces electrically connected to and extending from the first resistor at discrete points along the length of the first resistor such that when the first drive voltage is applied across the length of the first resistor while the second resistor is in an open circuit each first finger trace carries a voltage corresponding to the first drive voltage and the position of the first finger trace along the length of the first resistor;
a plurality of electrically conductive second finger traces on the bottom substrate, the second finger traces electrically connected to and extending from the second resistor at discrete points along the length of the second resistor such that when the second drive voltage is applied across the length of the second resistor while the first resistor is in an open circuit each second finger trace carries a voltage corresponding to the second drive voltage and the position of the second finger trace all along the length of the second resistor;
a top substrate spaced above the bottom substrate, the top substrate having an electrically conductive sense layer; and
a sense line having an electrically contiguous set of electrically conductive sense finger traces on the bottom substrate, the sense finger traces being interdigitated with the first and second finger traces such that on the bottom substrate the sense finger traces are spaced apart and electrically disconnected from the first and second finger traces;
wherein some of the first traces, some of the second traces, and some of the sense traces extend into an interaction zone on the bottom substrate between the first and second resistors;
whereby pressure applied to either substrate adjacent the interaction zone towards the other substrate causes the conductive sense layer to contact one of the sense finger traces, one of the first finger traces, and one of the second finger traces in the interaction zone such that the contacted traces electrically connect via the sense layer;
wherein when the first drive voltage is applied across the length of the first resistor while the second resistor is in an open circuit and while the contacted traces are electrically connected, the sense line has a first sense voltage which is the voltage carried by the contacted first trace;
wherein when the second drive voltage is applied across the length of the second resistor while the first resistor is in an open circuit and while the contacted traces are electrically connected, the sense line has a second sense voltage which is the voltage carried by the contacted second trace;
wherein the position of the applied pressure is determinable as a function of the first and second sense voltages.
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Abstract
A touch input device includes two or more interleaved scroll sensors. A common area is interposed between two of the scroll sensors. A sense line snakes through the common area. Scrolling pressure applied to a sense layer causes the sense layer to contact and electrically connect the sense line to the scroll sensors thereby permitting the scrolling pressure position to be determined by measuring a voltage on the sense line. The scroll sensors are potentiometric and may be linear strip scroll sensors or rotary ring scroll sensors. The interleaved scroll sensors with the common area allow smooth scrolling action from one major leg to another major leg.
35 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A touch input device comprising:
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a bottom substrate; first and second resistors on the bottom substrate; a first pair of drive lines electrically connected to respective ends of the first resistor for applying a first drive voltage across the length of the first resistor between the ends of the first resistor independent of any voltage applied to the second resistor; a second pair of drive lines electrically connected to respective ends of the second resistor for applying a second drive voltage across the length of the second resistor between the ends of the second resistor independent of any voltage applied to the first resistor; a plurality of electrically conductive first finger traces on the bottom substrate, the first finger traces electrically connected to and extending from the first resistor at discrete points along the length of the first resistor such that when the first drive voltage is applied across the length of the first resistor while the second resistor is in an open circuit each first finger trace carries a voltage corresponding to the first drive voltage and the position of the first finger trace along the length of the first resistor; a plurality of electrically conductive second finger traces on the bottom substrate, the second finger traces electrically connected to and extending from the second resistor at discrete points along the length of the second resistor such that when the second drive voltage is applied across the length of the second resistor while the first resistor is in an open circuit each second finger trace carries a voltage corresponding to the second drive voltage and the position of the second finger trace all along the length of the second resistor; a top substrate spaced above the bottom substrate, the top substrate having an electrically conductive sense layer; and a sense line having an electrically contiguous set of electrically conductive sense finger traces on the bottom substrate, the sense finger traces being interdigitated with the first and second finger traces such that on the bottom substrate the sense finger traces are spaced apart and electrically disconnected from the first and second finger traces; wherein some of the first traces, some of the second traces, and some of the sense traces extend into an interaction zone on the bottom substrate between the first and second resistors; whereby pressure applied to either substrate adjacent the interaction zone towards the other substrate causes the conductive sense layer to contact one of the sense finger traces, one of the first finger traces, and one of the second finger traces in the interaction zone such that the contacted traces electrically connect via the sense layer; wherein when the first drive voltage is applied across the length of the first resistor while the second resistor is in an open circuit and while the contacted traces are electrically connected, the sense line has a first sense voltage which is the voltage carried by the contacted first trace; wherein when the second drive voltage is applied across the length of the second resistor while the first resistor is in an open circuit and while the contacted traces are electrically connected, the sense line has a second sense voltage which is the voltage carried by the contacted second trace; wherein the position of the applied pressure is determinable as a function of the first and second sense voltages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification