Floating capacitive couplers used to enhance signal coupling in a capacitive touchpad
First Claim
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1. A method for increasing the effect of a pointing object that influences the coupling of a signal between electrodes of a capacitive sensor used in a touchpad, said method comprising:
- 1) providing at least one drive electrode for generating a signal and at least one sense electrode for measuring a portion of the signal that is coupled to the at least one sense electrode;
2) providing at least one permanently electrically floating capacitive coupler that is disposed so as to be in a fixed position relative to and adjacent to the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode, the floating capacitive coupler being disposed in a same plane and between the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode; and
3) introducing a pointing object so as to be in proximity of the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode, wherein a presence of the pointing object is sufficient to cause a change in coupling of a signal between the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode, wherein the at least one electrically floating capacitive coupler enhances the effect of the change in coupling of the signal whenever a low impedance path created between the at least one electrically floating capacitive coupler and the pointing object.
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Abstract
A capacitive touchpad comprised of drive electrodes and at least one sense electrodes disposed on or within an insulating substrate material, wherein an electrically floating capacitive coupler is disposed adjacent to both the drive electrodes and the sense electrode to thereby enhance signal coupling between the drive electrodes and the sense electrode caused by introduction of a pointing object.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for increasing the effect of a pointing object that influences the coupling of a signal between electrodes of a capacitive sensor used in a touchpad, said method comprising:
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1) providing at least one drive electrode for generating a signal and at least one sense electrode for measuring a portion of the signal that is coupled to the at least one sense electrode; 2) providing at least one permanently electrically floating capacitive coupler that is disposed so as to be in a fixed position relative to and adjacent to the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode, the floating capacitive coupler being disposed in a same plane and between the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode; and 3) introducing a pointing object so as to be in proximity of the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode, wherein a presence of the pointing object is sufficient to cause a change in coupling of a signal between the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode, wherein the at least one electrically floating capacitive coupler enhances the effect of the change in coupling of the signal whenever a low impedance path created between the at least one electrically floating capacitive coupler and the pointing object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for increasing the effect of a pointing object that influences the coupling of a signal between electrodes of a capacitive sensor in a touchpad, said system comprised of:
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at least one drive electrode and means for generating a signal; at least one sense electrode and means for measuring a portion of the signal that is coupled to the at least one sense electrode; and at least one permanently electrically floating capacitive coupler that is in a fixed position relative to and disposed so as to be adjacent to the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode, the floating capacitive coupler being disposed in a same plane and between the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode such that when the pointing object is in proximity of the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode, the presence of the pointing object is sufficient to cause a change in coupling of a signal between the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode whenever a low impedance path is created between the at least one electrically floating capacitive coupler and the pointing object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification