Integrated touch sensor and solar assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An integrated solar cell panel and touch sensor comprising:
- a solar panel comprising an electrode pattern and a solar energy collection medium; and
switching circuitry configured to switch the electrode pattern between a touch sensing mode and a solar energy collection mode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Integrated touch sensor and solar panel configurations that may be used on portable devices, particularly handheld portable devices such as a media player or phone are disclosed. The integrated touch sensor array and solar cell stack-ups may include electrodes that are used both for collecting solar energy and for sensing on a touch sensor array. By integrating both the touch sensors and the solar cell layers into the same stack-up, surface area on the portable device may be conserved. In addition to being used for capacitive sensing, the integrated touch sensor and solar panel configurations may also be used for optical sensing.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An integrated solar cell panel and touch sensor comprising:
-
a solar panel comprising an electrode pattern and a solar energy collection medium; and switching circuitry configured to switch the electrode pattern between a touch sensing mode and a solar energy collection mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A solar cell panel and touch sensor comprising:
-
a solar panel, the solar panel operative for power production; an electrode pattern comprising a capacitance sensor array; and circuitry configured to optically detect an incoming object based on a change in voltage or current produced by the solar panel, and configured to capacitively sense the position of the object utilizing the electrode pattern; wherein the electrode pattern is part of the solar panel; and wherein the circuitry is configured to switch the electrode pattern between a touch sensing mode and a solar energy collection mode based on the optical detection. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of collecting solar energy and detecting an objects position comprising:
-
collecting solar energy using a solar panel, the solar panel operative for power production; optically detecting an incoming object by a change in voltage or current produced by the solar panel; and capacitively sensing the position of the object utilizing an electrode pattern; wherein the electrode pattern is part of the solar panel; and
wherein the method further comprises;switching the electrode pattern between a touch sensing mode and a solar energy collection mode based on the optical detection. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A portable electronic device comprising:
-
a housing; and an integrated solar cell panel and touch sensor comprising a solar panel comprising an electrode pattern and a solar energy collection medium within a front surface of the housing, and switching circuitry configured to switch the electrode pattern between a touch sensing mode and a solar energy collection mode. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A solar cell panel comprising:
-
a solar panel having an electrode pattern, the solar panel operative for power production; and circuitry configured to optically detect an incoming object based on a change in voltage or current produced by the solar panel and for switching the electrode pattern between a touch sensing mode and a solar energy collection mode; wherein the circuitry is configured in the solar energy collection mode to simultaneously operate the solar panel for power production and for optical detection.
-
-
24. A solar cell panel and touch sensor comprising:
-
a solar panel having an electrode pattern, the solar panel operative for power production; the electrode pattern comprising a capacitance sensor array; and circuitry configured to optically detect an incoming object based on a change in voltage or current produced by the solar panel, and configured to capacitively sense the position of the object utilizing the electrode pattern; wherein the circuitry is configured to control the solar panel for simultaneous operation for power production and for optical detection; and
wherein the circuitry is configured to switch the electrode pattern between a touch sensing mode and a solar collection mode based on the optical detection. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
-
27. A method of collecting solar energy and detecting an object'"'"'s position comprising:
-
collecting solar energy using a solar panel having an electrode pattern, the solar panel operative for power production; optically detecting an incoming object by a change in voltage or current produced by the solar panel; capacitively sensing the position of the object utilizing the electrode pattern; simultaneously collecting the solar energy for power production and for optically detecting; and
switching the electrode pattern between a touch sensing mode and a solar energy collection mode based on the optical detection. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
-
Specification