Control and Data Entry Apparatus
First Claim
1. A mutual capacitance control and data entry apparatus, comprising:
- a tiltable member configured for tilting by a user or a mechanism;
an electrically conductive member attached to the tiltable member;
a substrate spaced apart from the electrically conductive member by a gap and having a plurality of mutually isolated electrically conductive sense electrodes disposed thereon;
a drive signal circuit configured to provide an electrical drive signal to the electrically conductive member and operably connected thereto;
a capacitance measurement circuit operably coupled to the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes, the circuit being configured to detect changes in capacitance occurring between the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes when the tiltable member is tilted towards the sense electrodes, anda plurality of switches, each such switch being operably connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sense electrodes and being configured to connect such sense electrode to ground upon being actuated or closed by a user;
wherein tilting of the tiltable member by the user or the mechanism effects a first function in the device, and closing of one of the plurality of switches by the user effects a second function in the device.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control and data entry device adapted for use in for electronic devices such as portable computers, PDA'"'"'s, cell phones, MP3 players and the like. The control and data entry device includes a tiltable member or similar structure carrying an electrically conductive member spaced from multiple sense electrodes disposed on a circuit substrate. In one embodiment, capacitances between the electrically conductive member and the electrodes are measured to provide information concerning the tiltable member'"'"'s orientation relative to the sense electrodes. The tiltable member may be manipulated by a users finger to tilt such member slightly and thereby effect scrolling functionality, thereby simulating the operation of circular capacitive touch pads known in the art. Switches may also be included, responsive to greater tilting of the tiltable member, thereby to effect clicking functionality. In some embodiments, a rotatable knob may be used to effect scrolling functionality.
122 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A mutual capacitance control and data entry apparatus, comprising:
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a tiltable member configured for tilting by a user or a mechanism; an electrically conductive member attached to the tiltable member; a substrate spaced apart from the electrically conductive member by a gap and having a plurality of mutually isolated electrically conductive sense electrodes disposed thereon; a drive signal circuit configured to provide an electrical drive signal to the electrically conductive member and operably connected thereto; a capacitance measurement circuit operably coupled to the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes, the circuit being configured to detect changes in capacitance occurring between the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes when the tiltable member is tilted towards the sense electrodes, and a plurality of switches, each such switch being operably connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sense electrodes and being configured to connect such sense electrode to ground upon being actuated or closed by a user; wherein tilting of the tiltable member by the user or the mechanism effects a first function in the device, and closing of one of the plurality of switches by the user effects a second function in the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A mutual capacitance control and data entry apparatus, comprising:
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a rotatable knob mechanism configured for rotation by a user or a mechanism; an electrically conductive member disposed substantially in a second plane and embedded within the rotatable knob mechanism; a substrate disposed substantially in a second plane and spaced apart from the electrically conductive member, the substrate having a plurality of mutually isolated electrically conductive sense electrodes disposed thereon, the second plane being non-parallel and tilted in respect of the first plane, the electrically conductive member being positioned closest to the substrate at a tilted portion thereof; a drive signal circuit configured to provide an electrical drive signal to the electrically conductive member and operably connected thereto, and a capacitance measurement circuit operably coupled to the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes; wherein rotation of the rotatable knob mechanism by the user or the mechanism causes the tilted portion sequentially to come into proximity with the sense electrodes as the knob is rotated, the circuit being configured to detect changes in capacitance occurring between the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes as the tilted portion sweeps across the sense electrodes, at least a first function being effected by the apparatus in response to the changes in capacitance being sensed by the capacitance measurement circuit.
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23. A mutual capacitance control and data entry apparatus, comprising:
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a rotatable knob mechanism configured for rotation by a user or a mechanism; an electrically conductive member disposed substantially in a second plane and attached to a lower surface of the rotatable knob mechanism; a substrate disposed substantially in a second plane and spaced apart from the electrically conductive member, the substrate having a plurality of mutually isolated electrically conductive sense electrodes disposed thereon, the second plane being non-parallel and tilted in respect of the first plane, the electrically conductive member being positioned closest to the substrate at a tilted portion thereof; a drive signal circuit configured to provide an electrical drive signal to the electrically conductive member and operably connected thereto, and a capacitance measurement circuit operably coupled to the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes; wherein rotation of the rotatable knob mechanism by the user or the mechanism causes the tilted portion sequentially to come into proximity with the sense electrodes as the knob is rotated, the circuit being configured to detect changes in capacitance occurring between the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes as the tilted portion sweeps across the sense electrodes, at least a first function being effected by the apparatus in response to the changes in capacitance being sensed by the capacitance measurement circuit.
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24. A Hall effect control and data entry apparatus, comprising:
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a tiltable member configured for tilting by a user or a mechanism; a plurality of magnets attached to, or disposed within or on, the tiltable member; a substrate spaced apart from the plurality of magnets by a gap and having a plurality of Hall effect sensors disposed thereon, each Hall effect sensor being located beneath a corresponding magnet disposed thereabove; a Hall effect sensing circuit or microcontroller operably coupled to each of the Hall effect sensors, the circuit or microcontroller and the Hall effect sensors being configured to detect changes in magnetism occurring between the Hall effect sensors and the magnets when the tiltable member is tilted towards the Hall effect sensors; a keyboard controller, and a plurality of switches disposed beneath the tiltable member and operably connected to the keyboard controller, each such switch being configured for closing by the tiltable member when the tiltable member is pressed downwardly thereupon; wherein tilting of the tiltable member by the user or the mechanism effects a first function in the device, and closing of one of the plurality of switches by the user effects a second function in the device.
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25. A method of making a mutual capacitance control and data entry apparatus, comprising:
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providing a tiltable member configured for tilting by a user or a mechanism; providing an electrically conductive member attached to the tiltable member; providing a substrate spaced apart from the electrically conductive member by a gap and having a plurality of mutually isolated electrically conductive sense electrodes disposed thereon; providing a drive signal circuit configured to provide an electrical drive signal to the electrically conductive member and operably connected thereto; providing a capacitance measurement circuit operably coupled to the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes, the circuit being configured to detect changes in capacitance occurring between the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes when the tiltable member is tilted towards the sense electrodes, and providing a plurality of switches, each such switch being operably connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sense electrodes and being configured to connect such sense electrode to ground upon being actuated or closed by a user; wherein the resulting apparatus is configured such that tilting of the tiltable member by the user or the mechanism such effects a first function in the device, and closing of one of the plurality of switches by the user effects a second function in the device.
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Specification