Shared electrode pattern field effect sensor and joystick therewith

A navigational control device for transmitting direction information to an associated microprocessor operably associated with a display, comprising:

• a base formed from a dielectric material;
• a plurality of spaced inner electrodes disposed on said base and arranged in a circular configuration, each of said inner electrodes having a primary portion and at least one side portion, said side portions of at least two of said inner electrodes adjacently disposed;
• a plurality of spaced outer electrodes disposed on said base, each of said outer electrodes associated with one of said inner electrodes, said outer electrode proximate said primary portion;
• a signal line for providing electrical signals to each of said inner and outer electrodes, wherein an electric field is generated from each of said inner and outer electrodes in response to the signals provided thereto, said inner and outer electrodes arranged such that the presence of an object proximate said primary portion affects the electric field of the corresponding one inner electrode, and an object proximate said adjacent side portions affects the electric fields of the corresponding at least two inner electrodes;
• a plurality of detection circuits disposed on said base, each of said detection circuits electrically coupled to a corresponding associated inner and outer electrodes, wherein one of said detection circuits is activated when the electric field from said primary portion is affected and at least two of said detection circuits are activated when the electric field from said adjacent side portions is affected;
• and
• a controller in communication with said detection circuits, said controller sensing activation of said detection circuits and generating a control signal in response to the sensed activation, said controller having an output for transmitting the control signal to the associated microprocessor.

A method of processing touch sensor field effect signals, comprising the steps of:

• providing a dielectric substrate;
• providing at least first and second spaced sense electrode patterns disposed on the substrate, each of the patterns having an inner electrode and an outer electrode, the inner electrode including a primary portion defining a primary sense area and at least one secondary portion, the secondary portions of the first and second patterns adjacently disposed and defining a secondary sense area;
• applying a signal to each of the inner and outer electrodes such that an electric field emanates from each of the electrodes;
• and
• positioning a stimulus proximate the secondary sense area and thereby simultaneously altering the electric fields associated with the first and second patterns.

A shared electrode pattern field effect touch sensor apparatus, comprising:

• a dielectric substrate;
• at least first and second spaced electrode patterns disposed on said substrate, each of said patterns having an inner electrode and an outer electrode, each of said inner electrodes of said first and second patterns defining a primary sense area and adjacent portions of said inner electrodes of said first and second patterns defining a first secondary sense area;
• at least first and second integrated control circuits (ICCs) disposed on said substrate, each of said ICCs electrically coupled to a corresponding one of said patterns, said inner and outer electrodes arranged such that the presence of an object proximate one of said primary sense areas causes the corresponding one of said ICCs to output a touch signal, and the presence of an object proximate said secondary sense area causes each of said ICCs to output a touch signal;
• and
• a controller in communication with said first and second ICCs, said controller adapted to receive said touch signals and to output a control signal indicative of the presence at said controller of a touch signal output by said first ICC, a touch signal output by said second ICC or touch signals output by each of said first and second ICCs.