Systems using variable resistance zones and stops for generating inputs to an electronic device

• US 20070271048A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AuthenTec Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Rogers, Michael, Martin, Timothy, Belford, Eric, Mandap, Archimedes, Feist, David, Jacques, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,684,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/65
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/12 by changing surface pressure between resistive masses or resistive and conductive masses, e.g. pile type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49082 Resistor making

Abstract

The present invention is directed to variable resistance zones for sensing input to an electronic device, as well as ministops for controlling deformation of the input components to ensure the accuracy of the inputs sensed. In one embodiment, a system in accordance with the present invention includes multiple variable resistors, an actuator, and a converter. The actuator overlies the multiple pressure-sensitive variable resistors and is configured to generate a pressure at a contact location on the multiple variable resistors. The converter is coupled to the multiple variable resistors and is programmed to map a pressure at the contact location to a pressure, location, or both along the surface of the actuator.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

multiple co-planar variable resistors;

an actuator overlying the multiple pressure-sensitive variable resistors, wherein the actuator is configured to transfer a pressure to contact locations on the multiple pressure-sensitive variable resistors; and

a converter coupled to the multiple variable resistors, wherein the converter is programmed to map a pressure at the contact location to a pressure and location along a surface of the actuator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple variable resistors comprise:

a substrate containing multiple conductive elements and multiple resistive members, wherein each of the multiple resistive members overlies and is spaced apart from a corresponding one of the multiple conductive elements; and

a voltage source coupled to each of the multiple resistive members, wherein each of the resistive members is deformable to thereby contact a corresponding one of the multiple conductive elements at a location on the conductive element, thereby generating a voltage differential at the resistive member corresponding to the location on the corresponding conductive element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the converter comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the converter is coupled to an electronic device programmed to receive information related to the location along the surface of the actuator.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electronic device is one of a computer gaming device, a digital audio player, a digital camera, a joystick, a mobile phone, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a remote control.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple resistive members comprises an elastomeric resistive rubber material.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the substrate further comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material that limits the pressure translated from the actuator to the multiple resistive members.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material comprises one of a polymer, silicone, silicone derivatives, derivatives, rubber, rubber derivatives, neoprene, neoprene derivatives, elastomers, elastomer derivatives, urethane, urethane derivatives, shape memory materials, and combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material has one of a conical surface, a spherical surface, and a flat surface.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material forms part of the multiple resistive members.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the converter comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

11. A method of fabricating a system having multiple variable resistors forming a variable resistance zone comprising:

forming multiple variable resistors in a substrate;

positioning an actuator over the multiple variable resistors, wherein the actuator is configured to generate a pressure at a contact location on the multiple pressure-sensitive variable resistors; and

coupling a converter to the multiple variable resistors, wherein the converter is programmed to map a pressure at the contact location to a pressure and location along a surface of the actuator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the multiple variable resistors comprise:

multiple conductive elements and multiple resistive members, wherein each of the multiple resistive members overlies and is spaced apart from a corresponding one of the multiple conductive elements.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising coupling a voltage source to each of the multiple resistive members, wherein each of the resistive members is deformable to thereby contact a corresponding one of the multiple conductive elements at a location on the conductive element, thereby generating a voltage differential at the resistive member corresponding to the location on the corresponding conductive element.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling the converter to an electronic device programmed to receive location information, pressure-related information, or both along the surface of the actuator.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is one of a computer gaming device, a digital audio player, a digital camera, a joystick, a mobile phone, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, and a remote control.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the multiple resistive members comprises an elastomeric resistive rubber material.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material that limits the pressure translated from the actuator to the multiple resistive members.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material comprises one of a polymer, silicone, silicone derivatives, derivatives, rubber, rubber derivatives, neoprene, neoprene derivatives, elastomers, elastomer derivatives, urethane, urethane derivatives, shape memory materials, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material has one of a conical surface, a spherical surface, and a flat surface.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the rigid or semi-rigid material forms part of the multiple resistive members.

22. A system for monitoring variable resistances comprising:

a surface for acquiring contact data using multiple variable resistance areas together forming a variable resistance zone; and

a processor for processing the contact data and generating an event corresponding to the contact data.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the event is one of a navigation pointing event and a haptic feedback event.