Integrated pressure sensitive lens assembly
US8269731B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 2007 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2250/22
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A touch screen assembly for an electronic device such as a cell phone or PDA. The touch screen assembly generally comprises a floating lens suspended over the display and, optionally, the keypad to allow a degree of freedom. An underlying thin connecting layer such as a flex film is attached beneath the floating lens, and a plurality (for example, four) differentially-mounted pressure sensors are mounted beneath the floating lens and are electrically connected to the electronic device via the flex film. The pressure sensors are differentially positioned along an x- and y-axis for registering a pressure z from a touch to the lens at each of the four positions, to provide four data sets (x1-4, y1-4, z1-4). Control software then interprets the exact touch-coordinate from the four data sets and generates a control signal. An optional haptic response generator and/or motion sensor are also contemplated. When used in a smaller electronics device such as a cell phone or PDA the touch screen sensor technology of the present invention is exceedingly thin and is capable of modular assembly for more-or-less “snap-in” construction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.