Position Detection

• US 20080289886A1
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Peratech Limited
• Inventors: Burkitt, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.03
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

Apparatus for detecting the position of the mechanical interaction is disclosed. A first fabric conducting layer (601) has electrically conducting fibres, electrically conducting tracks (602, 603) and terminals (604) connectable to a circuit. A second fabric layer (605) has conducting fibres and insulating fibres. A third separating layer (608) is constructed from an insulator with openings to allow conduction to occur. A forth fabric conducting layer (609) also has electrically conducting fibres, electrically conducting tracks (610, 611) and terminals connectable to a circuit. The second fabric (605) is a knitted fabric having a substantially smooth back (606) and an irregular front (607). The knitted fabric is positioned such that the irregular surface is in contact with the first conducting layer and the smooth surface is in contact with the separating layer (608).

Claims

1. Apparatus for detecting the position of a mechanical interaction, comprising

a first fabric conducting layer having electrically conducting fibres, electrically conducting tracks and terminals connectable to a circuit;

a second fabric layer having conducting fibres and insulating fibres;

a third separating layer constructed from an insulator with openings therein to allow conduction to occur between said openings when pressure is applied; and

a fourth fabric conducting layer having electrically conducting fibres, electrically conducting tracks and terminals connectable to a circuit;

wherein;

said second fabric is a knitted fabric having a substantially smooth back and an irregular front; and

said knitted fabric is positioned such that said irregular surface is in contact with said first conducting layer and said smooth surface is in contact with said separating layer.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical interaction occurs due to a finger being pressed against the apparatus.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said finger press occurs in order to control an electronic device or to supply data to an electronic device.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said electronic device is a computer, a hand-held computer, a mobile telephone, an audio player, a video player or a digital camera, et cetera.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, forming part of an item of clothing (jacket, trousers etc) or an item of personal apparel, such as a hand bag, computer bag or rucksack.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said apparatus controls an electronic device supported by said item of clothing or said item of apparel via a removable interface device.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrically conducting fibres include carbon or metallic (e.g. gold, silver or copper) constituents.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third separating layer is a knitted layer of insulating material.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said knitted fabric is produced by a process of warp knitting.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductive fibres in the conductive elements are conductive monofilaments.

11. A method of detecting the position of a mechanical interaction, in which pressure is applied to an apparatus constructed substantially from fabric, said method, comprising the steps of:

applying manual pressure to a detector; and

measuring currents in response to applied voltages to determine the position of said mechanical interaction, wherein

said mechanical interaction forces a plurality of fabric layers in to close contact to thereby facilitate the transmission of said electrical current, wherein said layers consist of a first fabric conducting layer having electrically conducting fibres, a second fabric layer having conducting fibres and insulating fibres, a third separating layer constructed from an insulator with openings therein to allow conduction to occur, and a fourth fabric conducting layer having electrically conducting fibres, wherein

said second fabric layer is a knitted fabric having a substantially smooth back and an irregular front, and

said knitted fabric is positioned such that said irregular surface is in contact with said first conducting layer and said smooth surface is in contact with said separating layer.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said mechanical interaction occurs due to a finger being pressed against the apparatus.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said finger press occurs in order to control an electronic device or to supply data to an electronic device.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said electronic device is a computer, a hand-held computer, a mobile telephone, an audio player, a video player or a digital camera.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein said electronic device is a computer, a hand-held computer, a mobile telephone, an audio player, a video player or a digital camera etc.

16. A method of constructing apparatus for detecting the position of a mechanical interaction, comprising the steps of:

locating a first fabric conducting layer having electrically conducting fibres, electrically conducting tracks and terminals connectable to a circuit;

positioning a second fabric layer having conducting fibres and insulating fibres over said first fabric conducting layer;

applying a third separating layer constructed from an insulator with openings therein over said second fabric layer;

arranging a forth fabric conducting layer having electrically conducting fibres over said third separating layer, wherein

said second positioned fabric is a knitted fabric having a substantially smooth back and an irregular front in which said positioning occurs such that said irregular surface is in contact with said first located layer and said smooth surface is in contact with said third applied layer.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of attaching said apparatus to an item of clothing (a jacket or trousers etc) or an item of personal apparel, such as a hand bag, computer bag or rucksack.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein an electronic device is supported by said item of clothing or said item of apparel and the apparatus is used to control said electronic device.

19. A method according to claim 16, wherein said electrically conducting fibres include carbon or metallic (e.g. gold, silver or copper) constituents.

20. A method according to claim 16, wherein the third separating layer is a knitted layer of insulating material.

21. A method according to claim 16, wherein said knitted fabric is produced by a process or warp knitting.

22. A method according to claim 16, wherein said conductive fibres in the conductive elements are conductive monofilaments.