Touch sensing device having conductive nodes
First Claim
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1. A touch sensing device comprising:
- a first structure having a touchable surface and an opposite surface;
multiple conductive electrodes associated with the opposite surface of the first structure;
a second structure having a surface;
multiple force sensors associated with the surface of the second structure andmultiple conductive nodes distinct from the multiple force sensors and associated with the surface of the second structure,the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure being proximate to each other, and the conductive electrodes and the conductive nodes configured to form capacitive elements between the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure to sense a touch at the touchable surface, the force sensors and the conductive nodes being coplanar with each other and being cofacially centered with the conductive electrodes.
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Abstract
A touch sensing device having conductive nodes is disclosed. The device can include a first structure having one or more conductive electrodes disposed on a surface opposite the structure'"'"'s touchable surface and a second structure having one or more conductive nodes disposed on a surface. The two surfaces can be placed with the conductive electrodes and conductive nodes facing each other in close proximity so that the electrodes and the nodes can form capacitive elements for sensing a touch on the touchable surface. Separately disposing the conductive nodes from the touchable surface structure can make the touch sensing device thin. An example touch sensing device can be a click wheel.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A touch sensing device comprising:
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a first structure having a touchable surface and an opposite surface; multiple conductive electrodes associated with the opposite surface of the first structure; a second structure having a surface; multiple force sensors associated with the surface of the second structure and multiple conductive nodes distinct from the multiple force sensors and associated with the surface of the second structure, the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure being proximate to each other, and the conductive electrodes and the conductive nodes configured to form capacitive elements between the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure to sense a touch at the touchable surface, the force sensors and the conductive nodes being coplanar with each other and being cofacially centered with the conductive electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A touch sensing device comprising:
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a first element comprising multiple conductive touch sensitive electrodes; a second element comprising multiple conductive force sensitive switches, the switches associated with a first group of the electrodes; and the second element comprising multiple conductive nodes, the nodes associated with a second group of the electrodes, the switches and the nodes being coplanar with each other and being cofacially centered with the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A touch sensing device comprising:
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a cover configured to move in response to a force applied to the cover and to receive a touch at the cover, the cover comprising at least one conductive electrode; and a flexible circuit proximate to the cover, the flexible circuit configured to sense a force applied to the cover and a touch received at the cover, the flexible circuit comprising at least one conductive force sensitive switch and at least one conductive node proximate to the conductive electrode, the conductive electrode and the conductive node disposed between the cover and the flexible circuit, the conductive force sensitive switch and the at least one conductive node being coplanar with each other and being cofacially centered with the conductive electrode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A click wheel comprising:
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a movable cover having a touchable surface and an opposite surface with multiple conductive electrodes associated with the opposite surface; and a flexible circuit having a surface with multiple deformable conductive nodes and multiple conductive switches associated with the surface, the conductive electrodes configured to align with the deformable conductive nodes and the conductive switches to form capacitive sensors for sensing a touch at the touchable surface, and the conductive switches configured to form force sensors for sensing a force applied to the touchable surface, the conductive switches and the conductive nodes being coplanar with each other and being cofacially centered with the conductive electrodes.
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23. A method comprising:
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providing a device having a movable structure and a stationary structure; providing a flexible circuit on the stationary structure; disposing multiple deformable conductive nodes on the flexible circuit; disposing multiple conductive switches on the flexible circuit; disposing multiple conductive electrodes on the movable structure; and positioning the deformable conductive nodes on the flexible circuit close to the conductive electrodes on the movable structure so that the provided device is thin, positioning the conductive switches and the conductive nodes to be coplanar with each other and cofacially centered with the conductive electrodes.
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Specification