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US 2010/0302153 A1Published application
Depressable touch sensor
AssigneeSynaptics Incorporated
InventorsJames Jung, Sang Chul Han
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An input device and a method for providing an input device are provided. The input device assembly includes a base, a sensor support, and a scissor mechanism attached to the base and the sensor support. The scissor mechanism allows for only substantially uniform translation of the sensor support towards the base in response to a force biasing the sensor support substantially towards the base.
Claims20
An input device assembly comprising:
- a base;
- a touch sensor;
- and
- a scissor mechanism positioned between the base and the touch sensor, the scissor mechanism comprising:
- a first arm comprising first and second end portions and first and second side portions interconnecting the first and second end portions, the first end portion of the first arm being rotatably mounted to one of the base and the touch sensor, the second end portion of the first arm being slidable relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, wherein the first and second end portions of the first arm are separated by a first distance;
- and
- a second arm rotatably coupled to and positioned between the first and second side portions of the first arm, the second arm comprising first and second end portions, the first end portion of the second arm being rotatably mounted to one of the base and the touch sensor, and the second end portion of the first arm being slidable relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, wherein the first and second end portions of the second arm are separated by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance,
- wherein deflection of the touch sensor causes the first end portion of the first arm to rotate relative to the one of the base and the touch sensor, the second end portion of the first arm to slide relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, the first end portion of the second arm to rotate relative to the one of the base and the touch sensor, the second end portion of the second arm to slide relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, and actuation of a switch.
5 more elements
An input device assembly comprising:
- a base;
- a touch sensor;
- a switch positioned between the base and the touch sensor;
- and
- a scissor mechanism positioned between the base and the touch sensor, the scissor mechanism comprising:
- a first arm comprising first and second end portions and first and second side portions interconnecting the first and second end portions, wherein the first end portion of the first arm is rotatably mounted to one of the base and the touch sensor, the second end portion of the first arm is slidable relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, and the first and second end portions of the first arm are separated by a first distance;
- and
- a second arm comprising first and second end portions and first and second side portions interconnecting the first and second end portions, wherein the first side portion of the second arm is rotatably coupled to the first side portion of the first arm, the second side portion of the second arm is rotatably coupled to the second side portion of the first arm, and the first and second side portions of the second arm are positioned between the first and second side portions of the first arm, and wherein the first end portion of the second arm is rotatably mounted to one of the base and the touch sensor, and the second end portion of the first arm is slidable relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, and wherein the first and second end portions of the second arm are separated by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance,
- wherein deflection of the touch sensor causes the first end portion of the first arm to rotate relative to the one of the base and the touch sensor, the second end portion of the first arm to slide relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, the first end portion of the second arm to rotate relative to the one of the base and the touch sensor, the second end portion of the second arm to slide relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, and actuation of the switch.
6 more elements
A method of providing an input device assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a base;
- providing a touch sensor;
- and
- interconnecting the base and the touch sensor with a scissor mechanism positioned between the base and the touch sensor, the scissor mechanism comprising:
- a first arm comprising first and second end portions and first and second side portions interconnecting the first and second end portions, the first end portion of the first arm being rotatably mounted to one of the base and the touch sensor, the second end portion of the first arm being slidable relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, wherein the first and second end portions of the first arm are separated by a first distance;
- and
- a second arm rotatably coupled to and positioned between the first and second side portions of the first arm, the second arm comprising first and second end portions, the first end portion of the second arm being rotatably mounted to one of the base and the touch sensor, and the second end portion of the first arm being slidable relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, wherein the first and second end portions of the second arm are separated by a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance,
- wherein deflection of the touch sensor causes the first end portion of the first arm to rotate relative to the one of the base and the touch sensor, the second end portion of the first arm to slide relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, the first end portion of the second arm to rotate relative to the one of the base and the touch sensor, the second end portion of the second arm to slide relative to the other of the base and the touch sensor, and actuation of a switch.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.