Movable touch pad with added functionality

• US 8,749,493 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Zadesky, Stephen Paul, Lynch, Stephen Brian, Degner, Brett William
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holton, Steven
• Application Number:
  US11/882,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20070273671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,507 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 178 1801- 1811
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• 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 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

An input device is disclosed. The input device includes a movable touch pad capable of detecting an object in close proximity thereto so as to generate a first control signal. The input device also includes a movement indicator capable of detecting the movements of the movable touch pad so as to generate one or more distinct second control signals. The control signals being used to perform actions in an electronic device operatively coupled to the input device.

Claims

1. A portable media device comprising:

a housing comprising a wall,

a touchpad comprising multiple layers including a touch sensitive surface, a platform and multiple button zones, wherein the touchpad is configured to move relative to the housing, generate tracking signals associated with rotational movement of a finger, contact the wall of the housing at multiple points of contact between the touchpad and the wall of the housing, pivot about the multiple points of contact between the touchpad and the wall of the housing and flex relative to the housing when depressed, wherein the touchpad pivots about a first point of contact between the platform and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a first zone located on a side of the touchpad opposite the first point, and the touchpad pivots about a second point of contact between the platform and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a second zone located on a side of the touchpad opposite the second point, and

a plurality of movement indicators located beneath the touchpad, such that when a substantial force is applied to the touchpad, at least a portion of the touchpad is depressed, thereby generating one or more button signals.

2. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the portable media device comprises a media player.

3. The portable media device of claim 2, wherein the button signals are associated with functionalities comprising accessing a menu on a display screen, seek forward through a list of songs, fast forward through a song, seek backward through a list of songs, fast rearward through a song, pause or stop.

4. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the touchpad is circular.

5. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein an input surface of the touchpad is substantially co-planer with an external surface of the housing.

6. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the touchpad is configured to provide both tracking signals and button signals at the same time.

7. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the touchpad is configured to only provide button signals when the touchpad is depressed and tracking signals when the touchpad is upright.

8. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the button signals are associated with functionalities comprising making selections or issuing commands associated with operating an electronic device.

9. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the button signals are associated with functionalities comprising selecting an item on a screen, opening a file, executing instructions, starting a program or viewing a menu.

10. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the button signals are associated with functionalities comprising zoom, scroll, opening menus, homing an input pointer, enter, delete, insert, page up or page down.

11. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive surface comprises an electrode layer and a protective layer.

12. The portable media device of claim 11, wherein the platform includes a circuit board.

13. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the first and second points of contact are movable.

14. The portable media device of claim 1, wherein the touchpad pivots about a third point of contact between the platform and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a third zone located on the side of the touchpad opposite the first point.

15. A portable media device comprising:

a housing comprising a wall,

a touchpad comprising multiple button zones, wherein the touchpad is capable of moving relative to the housing while being constrained thereto to enable the touchpad to float relative to the housing, generate tracking signals associated with rotational movement of a finger, contact the wall of the housing at multiple points of contact between the touchpad and the wall, pivot about multiple points of contact between the touchpad and the wall of the housing and flex relative to the housing when depressed, wherein the touchpad pivots about a first floating point of contact between the touchpad and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a first zone located on a side of the touchpad opposite the first point, and the touchpad pivots about a second floating point of contact between the touchpad and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a second zone located on a side of the touchpad opposite the second point, and

a plurality of movement indicators located beneath the touchpad, such that when a substantial force is applied to the touchpad, at least a portion of the touchpad is depressed, thereby generating one or more button signals.

16. A portable media device, comprising:

a housing comprising a wall,

an input device comprising a touchpad that is capable of moving relative to the housing while being constrained thereto to enable the touchpad to float relative to the housing and move perpendicular relative to a surface of the housing when an touch sensitive surface of the touchpad is parallel to the surface of the housing, wherein the touchpad pivots about a first floating point of contact between the touchpad and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a first area located on a side of the touchpad opposite the first point, and the touchpad pivots about a second floating point of contact between the touchpad and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a second area located on a side of the touchpad opposite the second point, and

a plurality of actuators located beneath the touchpad, such that when a substantial force is applied to the touchpad, at least a portion of the touchpad is depressed, thereby generating one or more button signals.

17. A portable media device comprising:

a housing comprising a wall,

a touchpad configured to float in space relative to the housing while being constrained thereto and comprising multiple layers including a platform and a touch sensitive surface,

the platform includes a circuit board that pivots about a first point of contact between the platform and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a first area located on a side of the touchpad opposite the first point, and the touchpad pivots about a second point of contact between the platform and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a second area located on a side of the touchpad opposite the second point, where the first and second points of contact are configured to move, and

the touch sensitive surface includes an electrode layer and a protective layer, and is configured track finger movements.

18. A portable media device comprising:

a housing comprising a wall,

a touchpad comprising multiple button zones, wherein the touchpad is configured to move perpendicular relative to a surface of the housing when an input surface of the touchpad is parallel to the surface of the housing while being constrained thereto to enable the touchpad to pivot about a first contact point between the touchpad and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a first zone located on a side of the touchpad opposite the first point, and the touchpad pivots about a second point of contact between the touchpad and the wall of the housing after the touchpad has moved parallel to the surface of the housing and a force is applied to the touchpad in the first zone, and

a plurality of actuators located beneath the touchpad, such that at least a portion of the touchpad is depressed when a substantial force is applied to the touchpad to generate one or more button signals.

19. A portable media device comprising:

a housing comprising a wall,

a touchpad configured to float in a space relative to the housing while being constrained thereto and comprising multiple button zones, wherein the touchpad is configured to tilt relative to the surface of the touchpad that is parallel to the surface of the housing to enable the touchpad to pivot about a movable point of contact between the touchpad and the wall of the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a zone located on a side of the touchpad opposite the movable point of contact, and

a plurality of actuators only affixed to the touchpad, such that at least a portion of the touchpad is depressed when a force is applied to the touchpad to generate button signals.

20. A portable media device comprising:

a housing,

a touchpad comprising multiple button zones, wherein the touchpad is configured to move relative to the housing while being constrained thereto to enable the touchpad to pivot about a first point of contact between the touchpad and the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a first zone located on a side of the touchpad opposite the first point of contact, the touchpad pivots about a second point of contact between the touchpad and the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a second zone located on a side of the touchpad opposite the second point of contact and the touchpad pivots about a third point between the touchpad and the housing when a force is applied to the touchpad in a third zone, wherein the first and third points of contact are different, and

a plurality of actuators affixed beneath the touchpad, such that at least a portion of the touchpad is depressed when a force is applied to the touchpad to generate button signals.