Force-based input device
First Claim
1. An input device suitable for determining at least a location of an applied force, the input device comprising:
- a base support having a periphery and a plurality of apertures formed near the periphery and extending completely through the base support to define inner and outer portions, the inner portion being movable relative to the outer portion;
an input pad associated with the inner portion and adapted to receive the applied force;
a plurality of isolated beam segments defined by the plurality of apertures operable to receive resultant forces as distributed to the isolated beam segments by the displacement of the input pad and the inner portion,wherein each isolated beam segment comprises at least one sensor that measures the strain within the respective isolated beam segment occurring as a result of the displacement of the input pad and the inner portion in response to the applied force, the at least one sensor also being configured to output a signal corresponding to the applied force and the measured strain to be used to determine a location of the applied force.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an input device comprising (a) a base support, having a periphery and a plurality of apertures formed therein to define a circumscribed or circumscribing input pad configured to displace under the applied force; (b) a plurality of isolated beam segments, defined by the plurality of apertures, and operable to receive resultant forces distributed to the isolated beam segments by the displacement of the input pad; (c) at least two sensors, disposed along each isolated beam segment, and configured to measure the forces transmitted from the input pad to the periphery and to output a signal corresponding to the applied force. One or more processing means operable with the plurality of sensors may be utilized to receive the signal and to determine at least one of a location and/or magnitude of the applied force acting on the input pad.
306 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An input device suitable for determining at least a location of an applied force, the input device comprising:
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a base support having a periphery and a plurality of apertures formed near the periphery and extending completely through the base support to define inner and outer portions, the inner portion being movable relative to the outer portion; an input pad associated with the inner portion and adapted to receive the applied force; a plurality of isolated beam segments defined by the plurality of apertures operable to receive resultant forces as distributed to the isolated beam segments by the displacement of the input pad and the inner portion, wherein each isolated beam segment comprises at least one sensor that measures the strain within the respective isolated beam segment occurring as a result of the displacement of the input pad and the inner portion in response to the applied force, the at least one sensor also being configured to output a signal corresponding to the applied force and the measured strain to be used to determine a location of the applied force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An input device configured to receive an applied force, the input device comprising:
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a first structural element supported in a fixed position; a second structural element operable with the first structural element, and dynamically supported to be movable with respect to the first structural element under the applied force; an input pad associated with the movable second structural element and adapted to receive the applied force; a plurality of isolated beam segments joining said first and second structural elements, the isolated beam segments being operable to transfer forces between the first and second structural elements, and to receive resultant forces distributed to the isolated beam segments upon the displacement of the input pad, wherein each isolated beam segment comprises at least one sensor that measures the strain within the respective isolated beam segment occurring as a result of various stresses transmitted to the isolated beam segments by the displacement of the input pad in response to the applied force, each of the sensors also being configured to output a signal corresponding to the applied force and the measured strain to be used to determine a location of the applied force, wherein the first and second structural elements and the isolated beam segments make up a common base support, and are each defined by a plurality of apertures that extend completely through the base support. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method for making a touch pad device, comprising the steps of:
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providing a base support capable of receiving an applied force; forming apertures near peripheral locations of the base support that extend completely through the base support to define an outer portion, and an inner portion that is movable relative to the outer portion, and a plurality of isolated beam segments; providing an input pad to be associated with the inner portion, and configured to displace with the inner portion in response to an applied force; and configuring each of the isolated beam segments to comprise at least one sensor that measures a strain within the plurality of isolated beam segments occurring as a result of the displacement of the input pad and the inner portion in response to the applied force, and to output a signal corresponding to the applied force to be used to determine the location of the applied force. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method for determining at least one of location and magnitude of a force applied to an input pad, the method comprising:
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providing a base support having; a periphery; a plurality of apertures extending completely through the base support near the periphery that define an outer portion, an inner portion movable relative to the outer portion, and a plurality of isolated beam segments, wherein each isolated beam segment comprises at least one sensor; and an input pad associated with the inner portion and configured to displace in response to the force; measuring the strain within the plurality of isolated beam segments, which strain occurs as a result of various stresses created by the displacement of the input pad and the inner portion in response to the force as applied thereto; generating an output signal corresponding to the measured strain; and processing the output signal to determine the location of the force applied to the input pad. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method for determining at least one of location and magnitude of a force applied to an input pad, the method comprising:
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providing a first fixed structural element; providing a second structural element operable with the first structural element and being movable relative to the first structural element, wherein the first and second structural elements are joined by a plurality of isolated beam segments operable to transfer forces between the first and second structural elements, and to receive resultant forces distributed to the isolated beam segments by the displacement of the second structural element, wherein each isolated beam segment comprises at least one sensor, and wherein the first and second structural elements and the isolated beam segments make up a common base support, and are each defined by a plurality of apertures that extend completely through the base support; providing an input pad associated with the movable second structural element to receive the applied force; measuring the strain within the plurality of isolated beam segments, which strain occurs as a result of various stresses transmitted to the isolated beam segments by the displacement of the input pad and second structural element in response to the applied force; generating an output signal corresponding to the measured strain; and processing the output signal to determine the location of the force applied to the input pad. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. An input device suitable for determining at least a location of an applied force, the input device comprising:
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a base support having a periphery and a plurality of apertures formed near the periphery that extend completely through the base support to define inner and outer portions, the inner portion being movable relative to the outer portion; an input pad associated with the inner portion and configured to receive an applied force; a plurality of deflecting beam segments isolated from the periphery and the input pad and formed by respective overlapping end segments of the plurality of apertures, the beam segments having a periphery juncture connecting the outer portion and an inner juncture connecting the inner portion, the inner and periphery junctures bending in opposing directions upon deflection of the isolated beam segments, the isolated beam segments being operable to receive resultant forces as distributed to the isolated beam segments by the displacement of the input pad and the inner portion, wherein each isolated beam segment comprises at least one sensor that measures the strain within the respective isolated beam segment occurring as a result of the displacement of the input pad and the inner portion in response to the applied force, the at least one sensor also being configured to output a signal corresponding to the applied force and the measured strain to be used to determine a location of the applied force.
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Specification