Device for detecting the presence of at least one human finger on surface, and a method of using the device in the user interface of a machine, a device (in particular a portable device), or a system
First Claim
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1. A device (1) for detecting the presence of at least one human finger on a surface (10), comprising:
- at least one element (22) having piezoelectric characteristics andcomprising a layer (28) of piezoelectric material on a metallic base plate (25) arranged between a lower conductive layer (18) and an upper conductive layer (14);
being located under a unitary surface (10), to which the element (22) has been attached by an adhesive layer (12) and which is visible and extends laterally beyond the layer (28) of piezoelectric material and the base plate (29); and
arranged in the device (1) in such a manner that a force (F) when exerted on the surface (10), such as when the surface (10) is pressed by finger, is transferred to mechanical stress of the element (22), the element (22) then producing a voltage output (V) in response to the mechanical stress, wherein the lower conductive layer (18) encompasses a hole (27) or recess, providing enough room for part of the element (22) to give way when under mechanical stress while the region (30) lower conductive layer (18) directly limiting to the edge of the hole (27) or recess acts as a support surface for the ends (29) of the element (22);
means (R2, R3, C3, IC1) for measuring the voltage output (V) in a predefined time period; and
means (IC1) for determining the degree of stability of the measured voltage output (V), configured to indicate that;
i) if the degree of stability shows that the measured voltage output is stable, a physical contact between a human finger and the surface (10) does not exist; and
ii) if the degree of stability shows that the measured voltage output is not stable but contains vibrations characteristic to a human finger, a physical contact between a human finger and the surface (10) does exist.
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Abstract
A device for detecting the likelihood of the presence of at least one human finger on a surface, and a method of using the device in the user interface of a machine, device or system. The device comprises at least one element having piezoelectric characteristics, located under a surface, the element arranged in the device in such a manner that a force when exerted on the surface, such as when the surface is pressed by finger, is transferred to mechanical stress of the element, the element then producing a voltage output in response to the mechanical stress. Also included are means for measuring the voltage output in a predefined time period and means for determining the degree of stability of the measured voltage output, and configured to indicate whether or not the degree of stability shows that the measured voltage output is likely to be a human finger or not.
10 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A device (1) for detecting the presence of at least one human finger on a surface (10), comprising:
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at least one element (22) having piezoelectric characteristics and comprising a layer (28) of piezoelectric material on a metallic base plate (25) arranged between a lower conductive layer (18) and an upper conductive layer (14); being located under a unitary surface (10), to which the element (22) has been attached by an adhesive layer (12) and which is visible and extends laterally beyond the layer (28) of piezoelectric material and the base plate (29); and arranged in the device (1) in such a manner that a force (F) when exerted on the surface (10), such as when the surface (10) is pressed by finger, is transferred to mechanical stress of the element (22), the element (22) then producing a voltage output (V) in response to the mechanical stress, wherein the lower conductive layer (18) encompasses a hole (27) or recess, providing enough room for part of the element (22) to give way when under mechanical stress while the region (30) lower conductive layer (18) directly limiting to the edge of the hole (27) or recess acts as a support surface for the ends (29) of the element (22); means (R2, R3, C3, IC1) for measuring the voltage output (V) in a predefined time period; and means (IC1) for determining the degree of stability of the measured voltage output (V), configured to indicate that; i) if the degree of stability shows that the measured voltage output is stable, a physical contact between a human finger and the surface (10) does not exist; and ii) if the degree of stability shows that the measured voltage output is not stable but contains vibrations characteristic to a human finger, a physical contact between a human finger and the surface (10) does exist. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device (1) for detecting the presence of at least one human finger on a surface (10), comprising:
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at least one element (22) having piezoelectric characteristics and comprising a layer (28) of piezoelectric material on a metallic base plate (25) arranged between a lower conductive layer (18) and an upper conductive layer (14); being located under a unitary surface (10), to which the element (22) has been attached by an adhesive layer (12) and which is visible and extends laterally beyond the layer (28) of piezoelectric material and the base plate (29); and arranged in the device (1) in such a manner that a force (F) when exerted on the surface (10), such as when the surface (10) is pressed by finger, is transferred to mechanical stress of the element (22), the element (22) then producing a voltage output (V) in response to the mechanical stress; wherein the device (1) comprises a dot (26) that is configured to pretension the layer (28) of piezoelectric material; means (R2, R3, C3, IC1) for measuring the voltage output (V) in a predefined time period; and means (IC1) for determining the degree of stability of the measured voltage output (V), configured to indicate that; i) if the degree of stability shows that the measured voltage output is stable, a physical contact between a human finger and the surface (10) does not exist; and ii) if the degree of stability shows that the measured voltage output is not stable but contains vibrations characteristic to a human finger, a physical contact between a human finger and the surface (10) does exist. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeAito BV
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Original AssigneeAito BV
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InventorsTanhua, Sakari, Rnning, Kasper, Laitinen, Pauli
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Primary Examiner(s)Caputo, Lisa
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Assistant Examiner(s)WILLIAMS, JAMEL E
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Application NumberUS13/703,709Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,357 DaysField of Search738/625.41US Class Current73/862.541CPC Class CodesG01L 1/16 using properties of piezoel...
