Movable track pad with added functionality

• US 9,612,674 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wilson, Jr., Thomas W., Degner, Brett William, Kessler, Patrick, Ligtenberg, Christiaan A., Andre, Bartley K., Casebolt, Matthew P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Sanjiv D
• Application Number:
  US14/660,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20150193038A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic 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: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

An input device is disclosed. The input device includes a movable touch-sensitive track pad capable of detecting an object in close proximity thereto so as to generate a tracking control signal. The input device also includes a movement indicator capable of detecting the movements of the movable track pad so as to generate one or more other control signals (e.g., button signals). The control signals can be used to perform actions in an electronic device operatively coupled to the input device.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a frame;

an input surface positioned within the frame and configured to detect a user touch and a location of the user touch on the input surface;

a movement indicator coupled to the input surface configured to detect a depression of the input surface along an axis in response to a user touch; and

an adjustable limiter coupled to the frame defining a selected distance of depression required for the movement indicator to detect the depression.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input surface comprises a multi-touch input surface.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the movement indicator comprises a switch.

4. The input device of claim 3, wherein the adjustable limiter comprises a set screw positioned below the dome switch.

5. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder portion coupled to the frame configured to maintain a substantially flush relationship between the input surface and an external surface of a housing coupled to the frame in the absence of a depression of the input surface.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the input surface is configured to send a first signal to an electronic device of the location of the user touch; and

the movement indicator is configured to send a second signal to the electronic device upon a detected depression.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the first and second signals are sent substantially simultaneously.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable limiter may be periodically adjusted to selectably redefine the selected distance.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input surface is configured pivot about a pivot point.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the movement indicator and adjustable limiter are positioned a selected distance from the pivot point.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein the movement indicator comprises one of the group consisting of a force sensor, a proximity sensor, and a pressure sensor.

12. The input device of claim 1, the input surface comprising:

a glass layer;

an ink layer disposed below the glass layer; and

a stiffener disposed below the ink layer.

13. The input device of claim 12, wherein the ink layer comprises an electronic ink layer.

14. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input surface further comprises a backlight.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a housing comprising an aperture; and

an input element positioned at least partially within the aperture comprising;

a frame;

an input surface positioned within the frame and configured to detect a user touch and a location of the user touch on the input surface;

a movement indicator coupled to the input surface configured to detect a depression of the input surface along an axis in response to a user touch; and

an adjustable limiter coupled to the frame defining a selected distance of depression required for the movement indicator to detect the depression;

wherein the frame is coupled to an interior surface of the housing.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the input surface comprises a multi-touch input surface.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the movement indicator comprises one of the group consisting of a switch, a force sensor, a proximity sensor, and a pressure sensor.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the adjustable limiter comprises a set screw.

19. The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising a shoulder portion coupled to the frame configured to maintain a substantially flush relationship between the input surface and an external surface of the housing in the absence of a depression of the input surface.

20. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

the input surface is configured to send a first signal to the electronic device of the location of the user touch; and

the movement indicator is configured to send a second signal to the electronic device upon a detected depression;

wherein the first and second signals are sent substantially simultaneously.

21. The electronic device of claim 15, the input surface comprising:

a glass layer;

an ink layer disposed below the glass layer; and

a stiffener disposed below the ink layer.

22. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the ink layer comprises an electronic ink layer.

23. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the input surface further comprises a backlight.