Pointing and data entry input device
First Claim
1. An input device comprising:
- an array of adjacent capacitive sensors arranged into rows and columns, each capacitive sensor exhibiting a capacitance characteristic when in proximity to a conductive element;
a plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms that are each deposited on and in contact with one of the capacitive sensors and configured to be actuated by a corresponding push button, each capacitive sensor discharging an electrical charge upon actuation of the corresponding mechanical hysteresis mechanism;
each mechanical hysteresis mechanism comprises a first portion is-coupled to a corresponding one of the capacitive sensors and a second portion spaced apart from the corresponding capacitive sensor, and a plurality of ground pads, each ground pad corresponding to one of the capacitive sensors and being positioned between the capacitive sensor and the second portion of the corresponding mechanical hysteresis mechanism coupled to the capacitive sensor, wherein actuation of each of the mechanical hysteresis mechanism causes the mechanical hysteresis mechanism to come into contact with the ground pad; and
an insulating overlay layer positioned over the array of capacitive sensors and the plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms to define each push button and to define a surface for accommodating the conductive element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An input device includes an array of adjacent capacitive sensors arranged into rows and columns. Each capacitive sensor exhibits a capacitance characteristic when in proximity to a conductive element. A plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms are each deposited on and in contact with each of the capacitive sensors and configured to be actuated by a corresponding push button. Each capacitive sensor exhibits an electrical characteristic upon actuation of the corresponding mechanical hysteresis mechanism. An insulating overlay layer positioned over the array of capacitive sensors and the plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms defines each push button and defines a surface for accommodating the conductive element.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An input device comprising:
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an array of adjacent capacitive sensors arranged into rows and columns, each capacitive sensor exhibiting a capacitance characteristic when in proximity to a conductive element; a plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms that are each deposited on and in contact with one of the capacitive sensors and configured to be actuated by a corresponding push button, each capacitive sensor discharging an electrical charge upon actuation of the corresponding mechanical hysteresis mechanism; each mechanical hysteresis mechanism comprises a first portion is-coupled to a corresponding one of the capacitive sensors and a second portion spaced apart from the corresponding capacitive sensor, and a plurality of ground pads, each ground pad corresponding to one of the capacitive sensors and being positioned between the capacitive sensor and the second portion of the corresponding mechanical hysteresis mechanism coupled to the capacitive sensor, wherein actuation of each of the mechanical hysteresis mechanism causes the mechanical hysteresis mechanism to come into contact with the ground pad; and an insulating overlay layer positioned over the array of capacitive sensors and the plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanisms to define each push button and to define a surface for accommodating the conductive element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of determining a position of a conductive element, the method comprising:
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providing an input pad including an array of adjacent capacitive sensors arranged into rows and columns, each capacitive sensor exhibiting an increase in capacitance when in proximity to the conductive element; providing mechanical hysteresis mechanism, each mechanical hysteresis mechanism corresponding to one of the capacitive sensors, each mechanical hysteresis mechanism having a first portion that is couple to the corresponding capacitive sensors, a second portion that is spaced apart from the corresponding capacitive sensor; providing ground pads, each ground pad corresponding to the capacitive sensors and being positioned between the corresponding capacitive sensor and the second portion of the mechanical hysteresis mechanism, each mechanical hysteresis mechanism coming into contact with the corresponding ground pad upon an actuation of the mechanical hysteresis mechanism, timing a to logic transition interval for each capacitive sensor representing a charge transition of the capacitive sensor from a first voltage representing a first logical value to a second voltage representing a second logical value;
generating capacitance values for each capacitive sensor abased on the logic transition interval of the capacitive sensor; and
deriving a position of the conductive element on the input pad based on the capacitance values of each sensor and a proportional contribution of each row and column of the array of adjacent capacitive sensors. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An input device comprising:
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an array of adjacent capacitive sensors arranged into rows and columns that provide capacitance information, each row and column including a corresponding weight such that a position of a conductive element is determined based on the capacitance information of the capacitive sensors and the corresponding weights; a plurality of push buttons that each corresponds to one of the capacitive sensors; a plurality of mechanical hysteresis mechanism, each mechanical hysteresis mechanism being deposited on and in contact with one of the capacitive sensors and configured to be actuated upon the actuation of one of the push button, each mechanical hysteresis mechanism having a first portion coupled to a corresponding one of the capacitive sensors and second portion spaced apart from the corresponding capacitive sensor; a plurality of ground pads that each corresponds to one of the push buttons, each ground pad being positioned between the corresponding capacitive sensor and the second portion of the corresponding mechanical hysteresis mechanism, each capacitive sensor providing electrical information upon actuating its corresponding push button to cause electrical coupling between the capacitive sensor and the corresponding ground pad to discharge an electrical charge from the capacitive sensor through the corresponding ground pad; and
an insulating overlay layer that defines each push button and defines a surface for accommodating the conductive element. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification