Pointer detection apparatus and detection sensor
First Claim
1. A pointer detection apparatus capable of detecting a pointed position of and a pressure applied by a pointer, comprising:
- a detection sensor including a plurality of first conductors disposed in a first direction, a plurality of second conductors disposed in a second direction crossing with the first direction, and a pressure sensitive material disposed between the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors and having a variable resistance characteristic;
a signal supplying circuit configured to supply signals to the plurality of first conductors; and
a signal detection circuit configured to carry out signal detection based on reception signals received from the plurality of second conductors and based on a reference signal level defined as a reception signal level in case a pointer is not positioned in the proximity of the detection sensor, the signal detection circuit including a switch circuit configured to selectively couple the reception signals from the plurality of second conductors to the signal detection circuit operating in a capacitive touch detection mode, and to the signal detection circuit operating in a resistive touch detection mode;
wherein the switch circuit is configured to control the signal detection circuit to detect, in case the pointer is positioned in the proximity of said detection sensor or the pointer is in contact with said detection sensor, a level of the reception signal(s) received from the second conductor(s) that is decreased relative to said reference signal level to indicate variation in electrostatic capacity between the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors, and to detect, in case the pointer is pressed against said detection sensor, the level of the reception signal(s) received from the second conductor(s) that is increased, according to an amount of pressure applied by the pointer against said detection sensor, relative to said reference signal level to indicate variation in resistance characteristic between the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pointer detection apparatus is provided, which is capable of detecting a pointed position and a pressure applied by a pointer on a detection sensor. The detection sensor includes a plurality of first conductors disposed in a first direction, a plurality of second conductors disposed in a second direction crossing with the first direction, and a pressure sensitive material disposed between the first and second conductors and having a variable resistance characteristic. When a pointer is positioned in the proximity of (but not in contact with) the detection sensor or when a pressure applied to the detection sensor by the pointer in contact with the detection sensor is equal to or lower than a threshold, detection signals corresponding to variation in electrostatic capacity between the first and second conductors are supplied. When the pressure applied to the detection sensor is higher than the threshold, detection signals corresponding to variation in resistance characteristic of the pressure sensitive material are supplied.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A pointer detection apparatus capable of detecting a pointed position of and a pressure applied by a pointer, comprising:
-
a detection sensor including a plurality of first conductors disposed in a first direction, a plurality of second conductors disposed in a second direction crossing with the first direction, and a pressure sensitive material disposed between the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors and having a variable resistance characteristic; a signal supplying circuit configured to supply signals to the plurality of first conductors; and a signal detection circuit configured to carry out signal detection based on reception signals received from the plurality of second conductors and based on a reference signal level defined as a reception signal level in case a pointer is not positioned in the proximity of the detection sensor, the signal detection circuit including a switch circuit configured to selectively couple the reception signals from the plurality of second conductors to the signal detection circuit operating in a capacitive touch detection mode, and to the signal detection circuit operating in a resistive touch detection mode; wherein the switch circuit is configured to control the signal detection circuit to detect, in case the pointer is positioned in the proximity of said detection sensor or the pointer is in contact with said detection sensor, a level of the reception signal(s) received from the second conductor(s) that is decreased relative to said reference signal level to indicate variation in electrostatic capacity between the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors, and to detect, in case the pointer is pressed against said detection sensor, the level of the reception signal(s) received from the second conductor(s) that is increased, according to an amount of pressure applied by the pointer against said detection sensor, relative to said reference signal level to indicate variation in resistance characteristic between the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A detection sensor for obtaining a signal corresponding to a pointed position of and a pressure applied by a pointer on the detection sensor, comprising:
-
a plurality of first conductors disposed in a first direction and configured to receive signals; a plurality of second conductors disposed in a second direction crossing with the first direction; and a pressure sensitive material disposed between said plurality of first conductors and said plurality of second conductors and having a variable resistance characteristic; wherein the detection sensor is configured to output from said plurality of second conductors, when a pointer is positioned in the proximity of said detection sensor or the pointer is in contact with said detection sensor, signals whose level is decreased relative to a reference signal level defined as a detection signal level in case the pointer is not positioned in the proximity of the detection sensor, the decreased signal level corresponding to variation in electrostatic capacity between the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors, whereas said detection sensor is further configured to output from said plurality of second conductors, when the pointer is pressed against said detection sensor, signals whose level is increased according to an amount of pressure applied by the pointer against said detection sensor relative to said reference signal level, the increased signal level corresponding to variation in resistance characteristic between the plurality of first conductors and the plurality of second conductors.
-
-
18. A method of detecting a pointed position of and a pressure applied by a pointer on a detection sensor, wherein the detection sensor includes a plurality of first conductors disposed in a first direction, a plurality of second conductors disposed in a second direction crossing with the first direction, and a pressure sensitive material disposed between said plurality of first conductors and said plurality of second conductors and having a variable resistance characteristic, the method comprising:
-
supplying signals to the plurality of first conductors; detecting signals corresponding to variation in electrostatic capacity from said plurality of second conductors when a pointer is positioned in the proximity of said detection sensor or the pointer is in contact with said detection sensor, wherein a level of the detected signals is decreased relative to a reference signal level defined as a detected signal level in case the pointer is not positioned in the proximity of said detection sensor; and detecting signals corresponding to variation in resistance characteristic from said plurality of second conductors when the pointer is pressed against said detection sensor, wherein the level of the detected signals is increased according to an amount of pressure applied by the pointer against said detection sensor relative to said reference signal level. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification