Input device

• US 6,639,162 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Electrotextiles Company Limited (Peratech Limited)
• Inventors: Deakin, Andrew, Walkington, Stuart Mark, Chapman, Christopher, Sandbach, David Lee, Burkitt, John
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/980,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20020162732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A, 200/512-517
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/0085 Layered switches integrated into garment, clothes or textile
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/01 Woven wire screen
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/016 Protection layer, e.g. for legend, anti-scratch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/008 Part of substrate or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/046 convertible
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/052 reductible in size, e.g. for transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/00 Manufacturing

Abstract

A tactile feedback simulating fabrication for use with an input device provides flexible mouldings (801) locatable above detection positions. Flexible mouldings (801) provide tactile feedback simulating a key-press. Each of the mouldings (801) defines a top portion (802) and a flexible side wall (803). A flexible fabric layer (804) is attached to the flexible mouldings thereby significantly enhancing the durability of these mouldings.

Claims

1. A flexible manual input device arranged to supply input data to a processing device in response to manual operation, comprising

position detection means arranged to identify a contact position;

and

flexible means positioned above said position detection means, wherein

said flexible means has a plurality of flexible mouldings such that each of said mouldings defines a top portion and flexible side wall,

said flexible side walls are configured to deform on application of manual pressure during a key-press, and

a flexible outer fabric layer is attached to the top portions of a plurality of said mouldings.

2. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible outer fabric layer is knitted.

3. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said processing device is a hand-held computer.

4. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said processing device is a mobile cellular telephone.

5. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said position detection means comprises a plurality of fabric layers having conductive fibres.

6. An input device according to claim 1, wherein said flexible means is a sheet of moulded elastomeric silicon.

7. An input device according to claim 6, wherein said moulded sheet defines substantially flat regions between said mouldings.

8. An input device according to claim 7, wherein said flexible outer layer is attached to said flat regions.

9. An input device according to claim 6, wherein said flexible outer layer is attached during the curing of said elastomeric silicon.

11. A method according to claim 1 said fabric is knitted or wherein said fabric is woven.

10. A method of fabricating a flexible tactile feedback simulating flexible means for operation with a position detector, comprising the steps of

applying a layer of mouldable material to a flexible fabric cover;

and

moulding said mouldable material to form a plurality of flexible mouldings with said flexible fabric cover attached thereto, wherein

said flexible mouldings have a flexible side wall configured to deform on application of manual pressure.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein said tactile feedback simulating flexible means is attached to a keyboard and said keyboard is interfaced to a hand-held computer or a mobile cellular telephone.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said tactile feedback simulating flexible means is attached to a position detector having a plurality of fabric layers with conductive fibres.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein said tactile feedback simulating means is attached to a flexi-circuit having a plurality of conductive fibres arranged in a switch matrix.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein said layer of mouldable material is elastomeric silicon.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein said flexible mouldings have substantially flat regions therebetween and said flexible cover is attached to both said flexible mouldings and to said flat regions.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said flexible cover is attached during the curing of said elastomeric silicon.