Movable track pad with added functionality

• US 8,441,450 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Degner, Brett William, Ligtenberg, Chris A., Wilson, Thomas W. Jr., Andre, Bartley K., Casebolt, Matthew P., Kessler, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Sanjiv D
• Application Number:
  US12/241,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 3404071-4072
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

An input device is disclosed. The input device includes a movable touch-sensitive track pad capable of detecting an object in close proximity thereto so as to generate a tracking control signal. The input device also includes a movement indicator capable of detecting the movements of the movable track pad so as to generate one or more other control signals (e.g., button signals). The control signals can be used to perform actions in an electronic device operatively coupled to the input device.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a frame;

a touch sensitive track pad, the touch sensitive track pad providing a first type control signal when the touch sensitive track pad moves with respect to the frame, comprising;

an outer touch-sensitive track surface configured for tracking object movements relative to the track surface and providing a corresponding second type control signal independent of the first type control signal,

a stiffener disposed beneath the outer touch-sensitive track surface configured to stiffen the outer touch-sensitive track surface in order to facilitate providing the second type control signal by the outer touch-sensitive track surface; and

a flexure hinge independent of the stiffener and configured to pivotally connect the track pad to the frame to allow the movement of the track pad relative to the frame that provides the first type control signal independent of the second type control signal, wherein the flexure hinge is a resilient plate extending between the frame and only one side of the track pad, wherein the flexure hinge has one end connected to the one side of the track pad and an opposite, cantilevered end extending from the frame, wherein the flexure hinge constrains the track pad to move substantially about only one axis defined by the flexure hinge, wherein the flexure hinge is configured to allow displacement of the track pad from a neutral position to an active position when a force is applied to substantially any portion of the track surface, and to bias the track pad towards the neutral position from the active position.

2. The input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexure hinge comprises a plurality of flexure hinges having one end connected to the one side of the track pad and an opposite, cantilevered end extending from the frame.

3. The input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first type control signal is a button signal and the second type control signal is a tracking signal.

4. The input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the cantilevered end is unitary with the frame.

5. The input device as recited in claim 4, wherein the cantilevered end is attached to the frame in an opening in the frame.

6. The input device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a movement indicator for sensing movement of the track pad, wherein the movement indicator is disposed on a bottom of the track pad at a side of the track pad opposite from the side to which is connected the flexure hinge, wherein the first type control signal is based on movements of the track pad sensed by the movement indicator.

7. The input device as recited in claim 6, wherein the movement indicator is a tactile switch which is depressed when the track pad is in the active position.

8. The input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the track pad includes a touch sensor arrangement comprising an electrical layer disposed between the outer touch-sensitive layer and the stiffener, the electrical layer configured to respond to object movements along the outer touch-sensitive track surface by providing the second type control signal.

9. The input device as recited in claim 8, wherein the touch sensor arrangement includes a capacitive sensor.

10. The input device as recited in claim 9, wherein the electrical layer is electrically connected to an integrated circuit configured to displace with the track pad between the neutral and the active positions.

11. The input device as recited in claim 10, wherein the electrical layer has a cantilevered end which forms the cantilevered end of the flexure hinge.

12. The input device as recited in claim 10, wherein the track surface is made of a dielectric material.

13. The input device as recited in claim 12, wherein the dielectric material is glass.

14. The input device as recited in claim 10, further comprising the stiffener is connected to the electrode layer.

15. The input device as recited in claim 14, wherein the stiffener has a cantilevered end which forms the cantilevered end of the flexure hinge.

16. The input device as recited in claim 4, wherein the frame has a shoulder configured to keep the track surface substantially flush with an adjacent surface of the frame when the track pad is at the neutral position.

17. The input device as recited in claim 16, further comprising a shock absorber connected to the shoulder.

18. The input device as recited in claim 1, wherein a distance between the neutral position and the active position is adjustable.

19. The input device as recited in claim 13, wherein the track pad is delineated into zones.

20. The input device as recited in claim 19, wherein the zones are user-selectable and include a track zone and a pick zone.

21. The input device as recited in claim 19, further comprising means for separating the zones.

22. The input device as recited in claim 19, wherein the means for separating the zones is formed by a textured glass surface with light emitting diode side lighting, infrared ink with light emitting diode side lighting, electroluminescence, magnetic ink, or two-tone rolling wire.

23. The input device as recited in claim 13, wherein the track surface is an active matrix display.

24. The input device as recited in claim 23, wherein the active matrix display includes electronic paper.

25. The input device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a magnet connected to the track pad to bias the track pad to the neutral position.