Compact input device

• US 7,910,843 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kocalar, Erturk, Moolsintong, Jan, Fisher, Joseph, Sander, Wendell, Rothkopf, Fletcher
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US12/204,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 200/4, 200/5.R, 200/14, 200/6.A, 200/600, 341 20- 22, 341 33- 35, 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/184
• US Class Current: 200/5.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7006 comprising a separate movable contact element for each switch site, all other elements being integrated in layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/81 characterised by electrical connections to external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/004 Printed circuit tail
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/004 in different planes to increase density
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/032 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/042 Briefcase; Note-book
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/018 Ground conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96066 Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch

Abstract

Compact input devices formed on flexible substrates are disclosed. The input devices may be formed using three or more conducting layers. By including three or more conducting layers, the diameter of the input device may be minimized. In addition, to improve the flexibility of portions of the input device mounted, some portions of the input device may be made to have fewer layers than other portions of the input device.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a touch surface,

a first conducting layer comprising a sensor configured to detect the movement of an object on or near the touch surface,

a second conducting layer comprising a trace, and

a third conducting layer comprising grounding and a connection to a touch surface movement detector, wherein the trace is coupled to at least one of the sensor and the movement detector.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a plurality of sensors in a closed loop sensor arrangement.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the second conducting layer is located between the first conducting layer and the third conducting layer.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein at least one of the conducting layers is mounted on a flexible substrate.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a controller mounted on the flexible substrate.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the touch surface movement detector comprises a mechanical switch.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the trace is coupled to the sensor and the second layer comprises an additional trace coupled to the touch surface movement detector.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the input device comprises only two conducting layers.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the input device comprises only one conducting layer.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input device is configured to accept a rotational input.

12. An input device comprising:

a three conducting layer portion comprising a touch surface, a first conducting layer comprising a sensor configured to detect the movement of an object on or near the touch surface, a second conducting layer comprising a trace, and a third conducting layer comprising grounding and a connection to a touch surface movement detector, wherein the trace is coupled to at least one of the sensor and the movement detector, and

a two conducting layer portion, the two conducting layer portion being configured to flex or bend.

13. The input device of claim 12, wherein the third layer comprises at least one connection to at least one touch surface movement detector.

14. The input device of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.

15. A portable hand-held device comprising:

a housing,

an input device mounted to the housing, the input device comprising;

a touch surface,

a first conducting layer comprising a plurality of sensors configured to detect a movement of an object on or near the touch surface, wherein the sensors are configured to accept a rotational input,

a second conducting layer comprising a trace, and

a third conducting layer comprising grounding and a connection to a touch surface movement detector, wherein the trace is coupled to at least one of the plurality of sensors and the movement detector,

a battery inside the housing for powering the portable device, and

a memory inside the housing for storing media items for playback by the portable device, wherein the input device can be used to select one of said media items.

16. The portable hand-held of claim 15, wherein the sensors are circumferentially arranged relative to a sensor area.

17. The portable hand-held of claim 15, wherein the touch surface movement detector is one of a plurality of touch surface movement detectors circumferentially arranged relative to the touch surface.

18. The portable hand-held device of claim 16, comprising a sensor or a movement detector mounted to a center portion of the sensor area.

19. The portable hand-held device of claim 15, wherein the sensors are configured to accept a gesture or multi-touch input.

20. The portable device of claim 15, further comprising a screen inside the housing for viewing media content.