Touch-sensitive display method and apparatus

• US 9,116,569 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Stacy, William, Lowles, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFFNER, LINH NGUYEN
• Application Number:
  US12/625,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20100128002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,100 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality

Abstract

A portable electronic device comprises at least one force sensor configured to generate a force signal based at least in part on a force applied to a touch-sensitive display and a processor configured to receive the force signal and to provide a feedback signal when the force exceeds a force threshold. The at least one force sensor may be integrated into the touch-sensitive display.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display including a layer, the layer comprising;

a touch sensor disposed on a substrate; and

a force sensor disposed on the substrate and configured to generate a force signal based at least in part on a force applied to the touch-sensitive display; and

a processor configured to receive the force signal and provide a feedback signal when the force exceeds a force threshold,

wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch sensor members and the force sensor is disposed in gaps between the touch sensor members.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising an actuator configured to provide tactile feedback in response to receiving the feedback signal.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the actuator is actuated to move the touch-sensitive display relative to a housing of the portable electronic device when the feedback signal is received.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor provides the feedback signal when a location of the touch on the touch-sensitive display is associated with a selectable feature displayed on the touch-sensitive display and the force signal exceeds the force threshold.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine a time duration of the touch and wherein the feedback signal is provided when the time duration is less than a specific length of time.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to provide a visual indicator associated with a location of the force when the force is below the force threshold.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the force sensor is distributed in a pattern within the layer of the touch-sensitive display.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the layer comprises a plurality of discrete force sensors disposed in the layer.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the force sensor comprises a continuous serpentine pattern.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to perform a function associated with a location of a touch on the touch-sensitive display when the force of the touch exceeds the force threshold.

11. A method comprising:

detecting via a touch sensor a touch at a location on a touch-sensitive display, the touch sensitive display having a layer comprising the touch sensor disposed on a substrate and a force sensor disposed on the substrate, by utilizing the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch sensor members and the force sensor is disposed in gaps between the touch sensor members;

determining a force of the touch in response to a signal from the force sensor; and

providing feedback to the touch-sensitive display when the force of the touch exceeds a force threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising providing a visual indicator associated with the location when the force is below the force threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the force of the touch and the location of the touch and sending a feedback signal to an actuator to provide the tactile feedback utilizing the touch-sensitive display.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein feedback is not provided when

the force is below the force threshold.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a time duration of the touch and providing the tactile feedback when the time duration is less than a specific length of time.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising performing a function associated with the location when the force of the touch exceeds the force threshold.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-readable code, which when executed by at least one processor of an electronic device, causes the electronic device to:

detect via a touch sensor a touch at a location on a touch-sensitive display, the touch sensitive display having a layer comprising the touch sensor disposed on a substrate and a force sensor disposed on the substrate, by utilizing the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch sensor members and the force sensor is disposed in gaps between the touch sensor members;

determine a force of the touch in response to a signal from the force sensor; and

provide feedback to the touch-sensitive display when the force of the touch exceeds a force threshold.

18. A touch-sensitive display comprising:

a display; and

a layer disposed on the touch-sensitive display, the layer comprising a touch sensor disposed on a substrate to detect a touch and determine a location of the touch on the touch-sensitive display, and a force sensor disposed on the substrate to generate a force feedback signal based on a force applied to the touch-sensitive display when the touch is detected,

wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch sensor members and the force sensor is disposed in gaps between the touch sensor members.

19. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18, wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor.

20. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18, wherein the touch sensor and the force sensor are formed during the same process.

21. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18, wherein the touch sensor and the force sensor are formed of the same material.

22. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18, wherein the force sensor comprises a continuous serpentine pattern.

23. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18, wherein a function associated with a location of a touch on the touch-sensitive display is performed when the force of the touch exceeds the force threshold.