Suspension component for a haptic touch panel assembly
First Claim
1. A suspension component for coupling a touch panel to a substrate in a haptic touch panel assembly, at least a portion of the touch panel being spaced from the substrate in an axial direction, the suspension component comprising:
- a touch panel interface adapted for attachment to the touch panel and comprising an axially facing surface having an outer perimeter;
a substrate interface adapted for attachment to the substrate and comprising an annular axially facing surface having an inner perimeter radially spaced from the outer perimeter of the touch panel interface, the substrate interface being concentric with and parallel to the touch panel interface;
an annular flexible connector extending between a first end connected to the touch panel interface along the outer perimeter and a second end connected to the inner perimeter of the substrate interface, the first and second ends being radially spaced,wherein the flexible connector includes;
an axial side wall comprising a first end extending from the touch panel interface and around the outer perimeter thereof,an axially-facing concave section facing the touch panel interface and comprising a first end extending from a second end of the axial side wall, anda plurality of separately formed circumferentially spaced stabilizing portions, each stabilizing portion comprising a first end coupled with a second end of the concave section and spaced about the touch panel interface and a second end connected to the substrate interface,wherein a mobility gap is defined by the flexible connector and located between the axial sidewall and the substrate interface, whereby the flexible connector allows the touch panel to move with three or more degrees of freedom with respect to the substrate when coupled by the suspension component.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suspension component for coupling a touch panel to a substrate in a haptic touch panel assembly. The suspension component includes a flexible connector that extends between a first end adapted for attachment to the touch panel and a second end adapted for attachment to the substrate. The flexible connector includes a concave section, an axial side wall, and a mobility gap and is shaped to allow the touch panel to move with respect to the substrate with three or more degrees of freedom, thereby facilitating more accurate and dynamic haptic feedback.
42 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A suspension component for coupling a touch panel to a substrate in a haptic touch panel assembly, at least a portion of the touch panel being spaced from the substrate in an axial direction, the suspension component comprising:
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a touch panel interface adapted for attachment to the touch panel and comprising an axially facing surface having an outer perimeter; a substrate interface adapted for attachment to the substrate and comprising an annular axially facing surface having an inner perimeter radially spaced from the outer perimeter of the touch panel interface, the substrate interface being concentric with and parallel to the touch panel interface; an annular flexible connector extending between a first end connected to the touch panel interface along the outer perimeter and a second end connected to the inner perimeter of the substrate interface, the first and second ends being radially spaced, wherein the flexible connector includes; an axial side wall comprising a first end extending from the touch panel interface and around the outer perimeter thereof, an axially-facing concave section facing the touch panel interface and comprising a first end extending from a second end of the axial side wall, and a plurality of separately formed circumferentially spaced stabilizing portions, each stabilizing portion comprising a first end coupled with a second end of the concave section and spaced about the touch panel interface and a second end connected to the substrate interface, wherein a mobility gap is defined by the flexible connector and located between the axial sidewall and the substrate interface, whereby the flexible connector allows the touch panel to move with three or more degrees of freedom with respect to the substrate when coupled by the suspension component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A suspension component for coupling a touch panel to a substrate in a haptic touch panel assembly, at least a portion of the touch panel being spaced from the substrate in an axial direction, the suspension component comprising:
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a touch panel interface adapted for attachment to the touch panel and comprising an axially facing surface having an outer polygonal perimeter having a plurality of sides; a plurality of substrate interfaces adapted for attachment to the substrate and each comprising an axially facing surface having an inner side radially spaced from the outer perimeter of the touch panel interface, the substrate interfaces being parallel to the touch panel interface, equally spaced about the outer perimeter, and equally spaced radially from the outer perimeter; and a plurality of flexible connectors equally spaced about the perimeter of the touch panel interface, each flexible connector extending between one of the sides of the polygonal perimeter and one of the substrate interfaces, each flexible connector comprising; a first end connected to the perimeter of the touch panel interface; a second end spaced from the first end in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction and connected to the inner side of a respective one of the substrate interfaces; an axial side wall comprising a first end extending from the touch panel interface; an axially-facing concave section facing the touch panel interface and comprising a first end extending from a second end of the axial side wall; a radially outward portion comprising a first end extending from a second end of the concave section and a second end connected to the substrate interface; and a mobility gap defined between the axial sidewall and the respective substrate interface, whereby the plurality of flexible connectors together allow the touch panel to move with three or more degrees of freedom with respect to the substrate when coupled by the suspension component, wherein one of the degrees of freedom is a rotational degree of freedom about an axis that is perpendicular to the axial and transverse directions. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification