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US 7,910,843 B2Granted
Compact input device
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsFletcher Rothkopf, Jan Moolsintong, Joseph Fisher, Wendell Sander, Erturk Kocalar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Compact input devices formed on flexible substrates are disclosed. The input devices may be formed using three or more conducting layers. By including three or more conducting layers, the diameter of the input device may be minimized. In addition, to improve the flexibility of portions of the input device mounted, some portions of the input device may be made to have fewer layers than other portions of the input device.
Claims20
An input device comprising:
- a touch surface,
- a first conducting layer comprising a sensor configured to detect the movement of an object on or near the touch surface,
- a second conducting layer comprising a trace, and
- a third conducting layer comprising grounding and a connection to a touch surface movement detector, wherein the trace is coupled to at least one of the sensor and the movement detector.
1 more element
An input device comprising:
- a three conducting layer portion comprising a touch surface, a first conducting layer comprising a sensor configured to detect the movement of an object on or near the touch surface, a second conducting layer comprising a trace, and a third conducting layer comprising grounding and a connection to a touch surface movement detector, wherein the trace is coupled to at least one of the sensor and the movement detector, and
- a two conducting layer portion, the two conducting layer portion being configured to flex or bend.
A portable hand-held device comprising:
- a housing,
- an input device mounted to the housing, the input device comprising:
- a touch surface,
- a first conducting layer comprising a plurality of sensors configured to detect a movement of an object on or near the touch surface, wherein the sensors are configured to accept a rotational input,
- a second conducting layer comprising a trace, and
- a third conducting layer comprising grounding and a connection to a touch surface movement detector, wherein the trace is coupled to at least one of the plurality of sensors and the movement detector,
- a battery inside the housing for powering the portable device, and
- a memory inside the housing for storing media items for playback by the portable device, wherein the input device can be used to select one of said media items.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.