Input interface, handheld electronic device and method of producing an input interface

• US 9,360,977 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2012
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: berg, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, VIET DAVID
• Application Number:
  US14/363,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20140362045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 Manufacturing circuit on or in base

Abstract

An input interface (3) comprises a display (23), a window (21) overlaid on the display (23), and a housing (13-15) supporting the window (21). A first sensor arrangement (31, 32) is configured to sense a position of a touch action on the window (21) in two dimensions. The first sensor arrangement (31, 32) comprises a first plurality of conductive traces (32). A second sensor arrangement (41-43) is configured to sense a magnitude of a force applied by the touch action onto the window (21). The second sensor arrangement (41-43) comprises a second plurality of conductive traces (41, 42) and a force sensing material (43). The first plurality of conductive traces (32) and the second plurality of conductive traces (41, 42) are positioned on an inner face (30) of the window (21) and attached to the inner face (30) of the window (21). The force sensing material (43) is attached to the inner face (30) of the window (21) such that the force sensing material (43) contacts the second plurality of conductive traces (41, 42).

Claims

1. An input interface, comprising:

a display;

a window overlaid on the display, the window having an inner face facing toward the display and an outer face;

a housing supporting the window;

a first sensor arrangement configured to sense a position of a touch action on the window in two dimensions, the first sensor arrangement comprising a first plurality of conductive traces;

a second sensor arrangement configured to sense a magnitude of a force applied by the touch action onto the window, the second sensor arrangement comprising a second plurality of conductive traces and a force sensing material, the force sensing material being resiliently deformable, the force sensing material having electrical characteristics varying as a function of deformation of the force sensing material, and the force sensing material having a first face coupled to a support area of the housing and a second face abutting on the inner face of the window; and

a layer of adhesive material that couples the force sensing material to the support area of the housing, a bulk modulus of the adhesive material being greater than a bulk modulus of the force sensing material,

wherein the first plurality of conductive traces and the second plurality of conductive traces are positioned on the inner face of the window and attached to the inner face of the window, and wherein the force sensing material is attached to the inner face of the window such that the force sensing material contacts the second plurality of conductive traces.

2. The input interface of claim 1,

wherein the first plurality of conductive traces and the second plurality of conductive traces are formed from the same material.

3. The input interface of claim 2,

wherein the first plurality of conductive traces and the second plurality of conductive traces are printed onto the inner face of the window.

4. The input interface of claim 2,

wherein the first plurality of conductive traces include a first plurality of silver wires, and the second plurality of conductive traces include a second plurality of silver wires.

5. The input interface of claim 2,

wherein the first plurality of conductive traces and the second plurality of conductive traces extend within the same plane.

6. The input interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible printed circuit which is attached to the window and electrically coupled to both the first sensor arrangement and the second sensor arrangement.

7. The input interface of claim 6,

the flexible printed circuit comprising a chip coupled to a conductive pattern of the first sensor arrangement by the first plurality of conductive traces, the chip being configured to determine the position of the touch action,

the chip being further coupled to the second plurality of conductive traces to determine the magnitude of the force.

8. The input interface of claim 7,

wherein the conductive pattern of the first sensor arrangement extends across a central area of the inner face of the window, and

wherein the second plurality of conductive traces of the second sensor arrangement is located in a peripheral area of the inner face which surrounds the central area and which is laterally offset from the display.

9. The input interface of claim 7,

wherein the conductive pattern is formed from a pattern material selected from indium tin oxide or graphene, the pattern material being directly applied on the inner face of the window.

10. The input interface of claim 7,

wherein the conductive pattern is provided on a touch sensor panel which is interposed between the inner face of the window and the display.

11. The input interface of claim 1,

wherein the layer of adhesive material is interposed between the support area and the first face of the force sensing material to couple the force sensing material to the support area.

12. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

the input interface of claim 1, and

a processing device coupled to the input interface and configured to control operation of the handheld electronic device as a function of both the position of the touch action and the magnitude of the force.

13. A method of producing an input interface, the method comprising:

forming a first plurality of conductive traces on a face of a window to provide a first sensor arrangement to sense a position of a touch action in two dimensions,

forming a second plurality of conductive traces on a peripheral area of the face of the window to provide a second sensor arrangement to sense a magnitude of a force applied by the touch action,

attaching a force sensing material to the face of the window such that the force sensing material contacts the second plurality of conductive traces, the force sensing material being resiliently deformable, the force sensing material having electrical characteristics varying as a function of deformation of the force sensing material,

attaching the window with the first and second sensor arrangements formed thereon to a housing of a handheld electronic device, and

attaching the force sensing material to a support area of the housing using a layer of adhesive material, a bulk modulus of the adhesive material being greater than a bulk modulus of the force sensing material.

14. The method of claim 13,

the first plurality of conductive traces and the second plurality of conductive traces being formed from the same material,

the first plurality of conductive traces and the second plurality of conductive traces being formed concurrently on the face of the window.