Touch sensing device having conductive nodes

• US 8,872,771 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steven Porter, Zadesky, Stephen Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sniezek, Andrew L
• Application Number:
  US12/499,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20110005845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A touch sensing device having conductive nodes is disclosed. The device can include a first structure having one or more conductive electrodes disposed on a surface opposite the structure'"'"'s touchable surface and a second structure having one or more conductive nodes disposed on a surface. The two surfaces can be placed with the conductive electrodes and conductive nodes facing each other in close proximity so that the electrodes and the nodes can form capacitive elements for sensing a touch on the touchable surface. Separately disposing the conductive nodes from the touchable surface structure can make the touch sensing device thin. An example touch sensing device can be a click wheel.

Claims

1. A touch sensing device comprising:

a first structure having a touchable surface and an opposite surface;

multiple conductive electrodes associated with the opposite surface of the first structure;

a second structure having a surface;

multiple force sensors associated with the surface of the second structure and

multiple conductive nodes distinct from the multiple force sensors and associated with the surface of the second structure,

the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure being proximate to each other, and the conductive electrodes and the conductive nodes configured to form capacitive elements between the opposite surface of the first structure and the surface of the second structure to sense a touch at the touchable surface, the force sensors and the conductive nodes being coplanar with each other and being cofacially centered with the conductive electrodes.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive electrodes and the conductive nodes capacitively couple with each other to form the capacitive elements.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive nodes are configured to extend away from the surface of the second structure to be proximate to the conductive electrodes.

4. The device of claim 1, comprising a conductive ring, wherein the conductive nodes form extensions from the conductive ring.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the conductive ring comprises high dielectric material and the conductive nodes comprise conductive material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the conductive nodes are deformable.

7. The device of claim 1 incorporated into at least one of a digital media player, a mobile telephone, or a personal computer.

8. A touch sensing device comprising:

a first element comprising multiple conductive touch sensitive electrodes;

a second element comprising multiple conductive force sensitive switches, the switches associated with a first group of the electrodes; and

the second element comprising multiple conductive nodes, the nodes associated with a second group of the electrodes,

the switches and the nodes being coplanar with each other and being cofacially centered with the electrodes.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the switches are dome switches.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the switches are deformable in order to sense a force applied to the device.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the switches and the first group of the electrodes form capacitive sensors to sense a touch at the device.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the nodes and the second group of the electrodes form capacitive sensors to sense a touch at the device.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the switches and the nodes are of equal length and form similar capacitive coupling with the electrodes.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the switches and the second group of the electrodes are of equal length and provide similar capacitive coupling between the switches and the first group of the electrodes and between the second group of the electrodes and the nodes.

15. A touch sensing device comprising:

a cover configured to move in response to a force applied to the cover and to receive a touch at the cover, the cover comprising at least one conductive electrode; and

a flexible circuit proximate to the cover, the flexible circuit configured to sense a force applied to the cover and a touch received at the cover, the flexible circuit comprising at least one conductive force sensitive switch and at least one conductive node proximate to the conductive electrode,

the conductive electrode and the conductive node disposed between the cover and the flexible circuit,

the conductive force sensitive switch and the at least one conductive node being coplanar with each other and being cofacially centered with the conductive electrode.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the cover comprises:

a center button; and

an outer portion surrounding the center button.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the center button is configured to move in response to the applied force so that a function associated with the device executes.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the outer portion is configured to move in response to the applied force so that a function associated with the device executes.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the flexible circuit is configured to be stationary.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the cover and the flexible circuit are in electrical contact during operation.

21. The device of claim 15, comprising an insulating layer between the cover and the at least one conductive electrode, wherein the cover and the flexible circuit are electrically isolated from each other during operation.

22. A click wheel comprising:

a movable cover having a touchable surface and an opposite surface with multiple conductive electrodes associated with the opposite surface; and

a flexible circuit having a surface with multiple deformable conductive nodes and multiple conductive switches associated with the surface,

the conductive electrodes configured to align with the deformable conductive nodes and the conductive switches to form capacitive sensors for sensing a touch at the touchable surface, and

the conductive switches configured to form force sensors for sensing a force applied to the touchable surface,

the conductive switches and the conductive nodes being coplanar with each other and being cofacially centered with the conductive electrodes.

23. A method comprising:

providing a device having a movable structure and a stationary structure;

providing a flexible circuit on the stationary structure;

disposing multiple deformable conductive nodes on the flexible circuit;

disposing multiple conductive switches on the flexible circuit;

disposing multiple conductive electrodes on the movable structure; and

positioning the deformable conductive nodes on the flexible circuit close to the conductive electrodes on the movable structure so that the provided device is thin, positioning the conductive switches and the conductive nodes to be coplanar with each other and cofacially centered with the conductive electrodes.