Multiple region vibration-sensing touch sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A touch sensor, comprising:
- a touch plate;
a first set of vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a first touch region;
a second set of vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a second touch region different from the first touch region; and
an acoustic damper disposed between the first touch region and the second touch region,wherein the vibration sensors of the first set and the second set are capable of sensing vibrations propagating in the touch plate indicative of a touch input to the touch plate and are configured to communicate signals representing sensed vibrations to controller electronics for determining information related to the touch input.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a multiple region vibration-sensing touch sensor that incorporates at least two sets of vibration sensors on a single touch plate, each set of vibration sensors defining distinct touch regions. The vibration sensors detect vibrations indicative of a touch to the touch plate, and are configured to communicate signals representing the detected vibrations to controller electronics for determining information related to the touch input. Touches within each touch region can be distinguished.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A touch sensor, comprising:
-
a touch plate; a first set of vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a first touch region; a second set of vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a second touch region different from the first touch region; and an acoustic damper disposed between the first touch region and the second touch region, wherein the vibration sensors of the first set and the second set are capable of sensing vibrations propagating in the touch plate indicative of a touch input to the touch plate and are configured to communicate signals representing sensed vibrations to controller electronics for determining information related to the touch input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for making a touch sensor comprising:
-
providing a touch plate capable of supporting vibrations indicative of a touch input to the touch plate; mechanically coupling a first set of vibration sensors to the touch plate, the first set of vibration sensors defining a first touch region; mechanically coupling a second set of vibration sensors to the touch plate, the second set of vibration sensors defining a second touch region distinct from the first touch region; arranging an acoustic damper between the first touch region and the second touch region; and electrically coupling the first and second sets of vibrations sensors to one or more controller electronics configured to determine information relating to the touch input from signals representing vibrations detected by the vibration sensors.
-
-
19. A touch sensor, comprising:
-
a touch plate; a first set of bending wave vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a first touch region; and a second set of bending wave vibration sensors mechanically coupled to the touch plate and defining a second touch region different from the first touch region, wherein the bending wave vibration sensors of the first set and the second set are capable of sensing bending wave vibrations propagating in the touch plate indicative of a touch input to the touch plate and are configured to communicate signals representing sensed bending wave vibrations to controller electronics for determining information related to the touch input; and further comprising an acoustic damper disposed between the first touch region and the second touch region.
-
Specification