Sensor assembly and display including a sensor assembly

• US 8,120,588 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Klinghult, Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US12/503,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345168-173
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/803 characterised by the switching function thereof, e.g. normally closed contacts or consecutive operation of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/002 Fluid or inflatable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/01 Different switch sites under one actuator in same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes a coordinate input surface and, under a region thereof, a first and second switch assembly. Each assembly includes at least a first and second conductive element. When a force smaller than a first threshold is exerted on the surface, the first and second element of both assemblies are not in contact with each other. When a force larger than the first threshold and smaller than a second threshold is exerted, the first and second elements of the first assembly are in contact with each other, while the elements of the second assembly are not. When a force larger than the second threshold is exerted on the region, the elements of both assemblies are in contact with each other. A display including a sensor assembly is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Sensor assembly including a coordinate input surface and, under a region of the surface,

at least a first switch assembly and a second switch assembly, each including at least a first conductive element and a second conductive element, the second conductive element being movable relative to the first conductive element;

the first and second switch assemblies and their respective first and second conductive elements being arranged so that;

when no force is exerted on the region of the surface or when a force smaller than a first threshold force is exerted thereon, the first and second conductive elements of the first switch assembly are not in contact with each other and the first and second conductive elements of the second switch assembly are not in contact with each other;

when a force larger than the first threshold force and smaller than a second threshold force is exerted on the region, the first and second conductive elements of the first switch assembly are in contact with each other and the first and second conductive elements of the second switch assembly are not in contact with each other; and

when a force larger than the second threshold force is exerted on the region, the first and second conductive elements of the first switch assembly are in contact with each other and the first and second conductive elements of the second switch assembly are in contact with each other.

2. Sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the coordinate input surface is the surface of a touch screen.

3. Sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the second conductive element of the first switch assembly and the second conductive element of the second switch assembly are always electrically connected to each other.

4. Sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the first conductive element of the first switch assembly and the first conductive element of the second switch assembly are always electrically connected to each other.

5. Sensor assembly according to claim 1, further including a control unit configured for detecting at least

whether the first and second conductive elements of the first switch assembly are in contact with each other or not, and

whether the first and second conductive elements of the second switch assembly are in contact with each other or not, and

outputting a signal indicating the result of the detecting step.

6. Sensor assembly according to claim 1, further including a first layer and a second layer, the first layer being formed of a resilient material, wherein

the first conductive element of the first switch assembly is arranged on the second layer or on a spacer extending from the second layer;

the second conductive element of the first switch assembly is arranged on the first layer or on a spacer extending from the first layer;

the first conductive element of the second switch assembly is arranged on the second layer or on a spacer extending from the second layer;

the second conductive element of the second switch assembly is arranged on the first layer or on a spacer extending from the first layer;

when no force is exerted on the region of the surface, the distance between the first conductive element and second conductive element of the first switch assembly is smaller than the distance between the first conductive element and second conductive element of the second switch assembly.

7. Display including a sensor assembly according to claim 1.

8. Mobile terminal including a display of claim 7.