Warning system for breaking touch screen or display

• US 20100123592A1
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Nurmi, Juha Harri-Pekka
• Granted Patent: US 8,106,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/665
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

Disclosed herein are apparatus, method, and computer program whereby a signal generated by a touch screen device is received in response to a tactile input from a user on an input surface of the touch screen panel. In response, presenting information to a user, the information comprising a warning that the user is exerting an excessive amount of force on a surface of the touch screen panel.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a signal generated by a touch screen device in response to a tactile input from a user on an input surface of the touch screen device; and

in response, presenting information to a user, the information comprising a warning that the user is exerting an excessive amount of force on a surface of the touch screen device.

2. The method as in claim 1, where the information is presented by at least one of mechanical, visual, or audible output.

3. The method as in claim 1, where the signal generated by a touch screen device is the result of contact between conductive parts formed on a first layer and a second layer in the touch screen device.

4. The method as in claim 3, where the conductive parts are of varying lengths within an area between the first layer and the second layer.

5. The method as in claim 4, where the varying lengths of the conductive parts are divided into one of a touch screen function and a warning function, and where the signal generated is for only contact amongst conductive parts and a bottom layer that are of the warning function.

6. The method as in claim 4 where the conductive parts are implemented in a display integrated touch screen panel with conductive switch matrix.

7. The method as in claim 3 where the conductive parts are implemented in an optical sensor based touch screen panel.

8. The method as in claim 3 where the conductive parts are implemented in a capacitive based touch screen panel.

9. The method as in claim 1 where the surface of the touch screen device comprises a stacked touch screen.

10. The method as in claim 4, where the lengths of the conductive parts are greatest around a periphery of the area.

11. A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program executable by a processor to perform actions comprising:

receiving a signal generated by a touch screen device in response to a tactile input from a user on an input surface of the touch screen device; and

in response, presenting information to a user, the information comprising a warning that the user is exerting an excessive amount of force on a surface of the touch screen device.

12. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 11, where the information is presented by at least one of mechanical, visual, or audible output.

13. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 11, where the signal generated by a touch screen device is the result of contact between conductive parts formed on a first layer and a second layer in the touch screen device.

14. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 13, where the conductive parts are of varying lengths within an area between the first layer and the second layer.

15. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 14, where the varying lengths of the conductive parts are divided into one of a touch screen function and a warning function, and where the signal generated is for only contact amongst conductive parts and a bottom layer that are of the warning function.

16. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 14, where the conductive parts are implemented in a display integrated touch screen panel with conductive switch matrix.

17. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 13, where the conductive parts are implemented in an optical sensor based touch screen panel.

18. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 13, where the conductive parts are implemented in a capacitive based touch screen panel.

19. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 11, where the surface of the touch screen device comprises a stacked touch screen.

20. The computer readable medium encoded with a computer program of claim 14, where the lengths of the conductive parts are greatest around a periphery of the area.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

an input surface configured to generate a signal in response to tactile input from a user; and

an output configured to provide an output signal when the user is exerting an excessive amount of force on the input surface.

22. The apparatus as in claim 21, where the input surface comprises a touch screen panel and where the touch screen panel is integrated into a display panel.

23. The apparatus as in claim 22, where the tactile input comprises conductive parts.

24. The apparatus as in claim 23, where the conductive parts are of varying lengths within an area of the input surface.

25. The apparatus as in claim 24, where the varying lengths of the conductive parts are divided into one of a touch screen function and a warning function, and where the signal is output only for contact amongst conductive parts that are of the warning function and a bottom layer of the tactile input.

26. The apparatus as in claim 21 implemented as a display integrated touch screen panel with conductive switch matrix.

27. The apparatus as in claim 21 implemented as an optical sensor based touch screen panel.

28. The apparatus as in claim 21 implemented as a capacitive based touch screen panel.

29. The apparatus as in claim 21 implemented as a stacked touch screen.

30. The apparatus as in claim 24 where the lengths of the conductive parts are greatest around a periphery of the area.