PRESSURE-SENSITIVE MULTI-TOUCH DEVICE

• US 20120293448A1
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Dietz, Paul, Lutian, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,372,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04146 using pressure sensitive conductive elements delivering a boolean signal and located between crossing sensing lines, e.g. located between X and Y sensing line layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A pressure-sensitive multi-touch device is provided. The multi-touch device includes a matrix of pressure-sensitive cells, each pressure-sensitive cell configured to change a resistance of the cell inversely proportional to an amount of force applied to that cell. The multi-touch device further includes a force-spreading layer configured to diffuse a force of a touch input at a contact area to two or more pressure-sensitive cells within the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells.

Claims

1. A pressure-sensitive multi-touch device configured to detect one or more touch inputs, the multi-touch device comprising:

a matrix of pressure-sensitive cells, each pressure-sensitive cell configured to change a resistance of the cell inversely proportional to an amount of force applied to that cell; and

a force-spreading layer configured to diffuse a force of a touch input at a contact area to two or more pressure-sensitive cells within the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells.

2. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 1, wherein each pressure-sensitive cell is configured to decrease in resistance proportional to the amount of force applied to that cell.

3. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 2, wherein each pressure-sensitive cell comprises force-sensitive resistive material.

4. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 1, wherein the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells comprises:

a first layer comprising a plurality of column conductors; and

a second layer comprising a plurality of row conductors, the second layer opposing the first layer and each intersection of a column conductor and a row conductor establishing a pressure-sensitive cell within the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells.

5. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 4, wherein each pressure-sensitive cell further comprises force-sensitive resistive material between the column conductor and the row conductor at that intersection.

6. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 5, wherein the force-sensitive resistive material of each pressure-sensitive cell is configured to decrease in resistance proportional to the amount of force applied to that cell.

7. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spacers configured to electrically isolate and mechanically separate the first layer from the second layer at each pressure-sensitive cell when no force is applied to that cell or a neighboring pressure-sensitive cell.

8. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 4, wherein the force-spreading layer further comprises a plurality of bumps, each bump being sized and shaped to close a different pressure-sensitive cell responsive to a force applied to a contact area proximate to that bump.

9. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of bumps are aligned with cell locations of the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells.

10. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 1, wherein the force-spreading layer is configured to diffuse the force of the touch input to two or more pressure-sensitive cells proportional to an amount of the force of the touch input.

11. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 1, wherein the force-spreading layer is positioned proximal to a side of the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells configured to receive touch inputs.

12. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 1, wherein the force-spreading layer is positioned proximal to a side of the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells opposite of a side configured to receive touch inputs.

13. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 1, further comprising:

a logic subsystem configured to execute instructions; and

a data-holding subsystem holding instructions executable by the logic subsystem to interpolate a location of the contact area from a resistance measured at the two or more pressure-sensitive cells.

14. A pressure-sensitive multi-touch device configured to detect one or more touch inputs, the multi-touch device comprising:

a matrix of pressure-sensitive cells, comprising;

a first layer comprising a plurality of column conductors; and

a second layer comprising a plurality of row conductors, the second layer opposing the first layer; and

a pressure-sensitive cell at each intersection of a column conductor and a row conductor, each pressure-sensitive cell including;

force-sensitive resistive material between a portion of the column conductor and a portion of the row conductor intersecting at that pressure-sensitive cell, the force-sensitive resistive material configured to decrease in resistance proportional to an amount of force applied to that cell; and

one or more spacers configured to electrically isolate and mechanically separate the portion of the column conductor and the portion of the row conductor at the pressure-sensitive cell when no force is applied to the pressure-sensitive cell or a neighboring pressure-sensitive cell; and

a force-spreading layer configured to diffuse a force of a touch input at a contact area to two or more pressure-sensitive cells within the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells.

15. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 14, wherein the force-spreading layer further comprises a plurality of bumps, each bump being sized and shaped to close a different pressure-sensitive cell responsive to a force applied to a contact area proximate to that bump.

16. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 15, wherein the plurality of bumps are aligned with cell locations of the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells.

17. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 14, wherein the force-spreading layer is configured to diffuse the force of the touch input to two or more pressure-sensitive cells proportional to an amount of the force of the touch input.

18. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 17, wherein the force-spreading layer is configured to diffuse the force as a function of distance from the contact area.

19. The pressure-sensitive multi-touch device of claim 18, wherein the force-spreading layer is configured to diffuse more force to pressure-sensitive cells proximal to the contact area and to diffuse less force to pressure-sensitive cells farther from the contact area.

20. A pressure-sensitive multi-touch device configured to detect one or more touch inputs, the multi-touch device comprising:

a matrix of pressure-sensitive cells, comprising;

a first layer comprising a plurality of column conductors; and

a second layer comprising a plurality of row conductors, the second layer opposing the first layer; and

a pressure-sensitive cell at each intersection of a column conductor and a row conductor, each pressure-sensitive cell including;

force-sensitive resistive material between a portion of the column conductor and a portion of the row conductor intersecting at that pressure-sensitive cell, the force-sensitive resistive material configured to decrease in resistance proportional to an amount of force applied to that cell; and

one or more spacers configured to electrically isolate and mechanically separate the portion of the column conductor and the portion of the row conductor at the pressure-sensitive cell when no force is applied to the cell or a neighboring pressure-sensitive cell;

a force-spreading layer configured to diffuse a force of a touch input at a contact area to two or more pressure-sensitive cells within the matrix of pressure-sensitive cells;

a logic subsystem configured to execute instructions; and

a data-holding subsystem holding instructions executable by the logic subsystem to interpolate a location of the contact area from a resistance measured at the two or more pressure-sensitive cells.