Flexible touchpad sensor device and touchpad system using the same
US10082915B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 24, 2015 |
| Grant date | Sep 25, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 29, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2203/04103
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A touchpad system is disclosed herein that includes a touchpad sensor formed from a plurality of flexible materials and is at least partially integrated into host clothing or furniture such that the touchpad sensor is generally obscured from view. The touchpad sensor may be implemented as a resistive or capacitive touchpad, whereby user input is detected and converted into a proportional electrical signal. The touchpad sensor may include N layers of flexible materials configured to conduct electrical energy, and also conform to contours of a host object. At least one layer of the flexible materials may be heat sealed or otherwise adhered to an inner surface of the host object, such as beneath a shirt sleeve. Thus smart clothing/furniture may appear to be “normal” while also providing convenient user-access to a touchpad sensor that can robustly handle a wide variety of user-input to control operation of a remote computing device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.