US 6,313,731 B1 · Pressure sensitive direction switches

Abstract

Pressure sensitive direction devices are provided which may facilitate assembly and provide higher tolerance for variation in alignment of components while still providing for pressure sensitive direction detection. The devices of the present invention may be particularly advantageous when integrated into devices, such as cellular radiotelephones, to provide a user interface to facilitate user navigation through increasingly complex menu structures. In various embodiments, the present invention may detect pressure in addition to two and, preferably, at least four directions. In particular embodiments, the devices of the present invention provides a switching device having a plurality of trace grid areas located, for example, on a printed circuit board and actuated responsive to pressure applied by a user through a poly-dome layer where increase pressure results in contact with a greater number of the traces in respective grids. Alternative embodiments include trace patterns which are substantially circumferentially arranged in patterns configured to detect user input. A select switch is included in various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A pressure sensitive direction device comprising:

a first member including a plurality of contact regions, each of the contact regions including trace lines, the trace lines being formed from one of a conductive and a resistive material;
a second member positioned adjacent the first member, the second member including a plurality of deformable switch regions, the plurality of deformable switch regions being positioned adjacent the plurality of contact regions, the deformable switch regions having an inner surface on a side adjacent the first member, the deformable switch regions including a connection layer on the inner surface thereof;
and
an actuator having contact regions positioned adjacent an outer surface of the deformable switch regions;
and
wherein the contact regions of the actuator deform the switch regions responsive to pressure on the actuator in the vicinity of the contact regions of the actuator to compress at least one of the deformable regions so as to bring the connection layer into contact with a number of trace lines of the contact regions of the first member, the number of trace lines being proportionate to the pressure on the actuator.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pressure sensitive direction switches

Life of this patent

Pressure sensitive direction switches

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34