297results about "Contact forms" patented technology

Input apparatus including at least one textile fabric carrier, at least one flexible, wire- and/or thread-like electrical conductor comprising at least one weft and/or warp thread of the fabric carrier, and at least one electrically conductive, flexible key device which is electrically connected to a key connection of the conductor, wherein the conductor is designed for the connection of an evaluation device.

A method of interfacing an electronic device to a manually operable fabric controller forming part of a personal item, such as an item of clothing or bag. A set of interface devices, each comprising a housing enclosing a processing circuit with analogue ports and control ports, and supporting a first physical interface connected to analogue ports and connectable to a fabric sensor and a second physical interface connected to control ports and connectable to a specific type of electronic device. In this way, it is possible for different electronic devices to be controlled by operation of the fabric sensor supported by the personal item. A method of establishing a music-enabled item of clothing or bag. The identification of an appropriate interface device is facilitated at locations where electronic devices or accessories are made available. The fabric sensor may be removable from the personal item.

The present disclosure is directed to electrical switches that utilize conductors that are woven onto loading fibers and a mating conductor that has a contact mating surface. Each conductor has at least one contact point. The loading fibers are capable of delivering a contact force at each contact point of the conductors. Electrical connections are established between the contact points of conductors and the contact mating surface of the mating conductor when the conductor-loading fiber weave is engaged with the mating conductor and the electrical connections are terminated when the conductor-loading fiber weave is disengaged from the mating conductor. In one embodiment, the portion of the contact mating surface of the mating conductor where arcing between the conductors and the mating conductor is expected to occur is plated with a conductive arc-tolerant material, such as silver, for example. In another embodiments, the portions of the conductors where arcing is expected to occur are plated with a conductive arc-tolerant material. In an alternate embodiment, the conductors are made thicker where arcing between the conductors and the mating conductor is expected to occur. The contact mating surface of the mating conductor can include a non-conductive portion that assists in guiding the conductor-loading fiber weave when its being engaged and disengaged from the mating conductor.

The present invention relates to a detector constructed from electrically conducting fabric and configured to present a varying electrical characteristic in response to a mechanical interaction. The detector comprises a first conducting layer (401) which is displaced from a second conducting layer (402) such that conduction between the layers results when the layers are mechanically forced together. In addition, the first of the layers has a plurality of lengths of conductive yarn and a plurality of lengths of non-conductive yarn machined therein, such that at least one length of conductive yarn is electrically isolated from another of the lengths of conductive yarn and the conducting yarns in the first of the layers are electrically grouped to define a plurality of identifiable rows. Each identifiable row has a respective electrical conductor; and define specific regions of the detector.

The present invention relates to a manually operable input apparatus (202) for a portable electronic processing device (102), such as a mobile phone or hand-held processor. The apparatus defines a plurality of regions (303, 304) each representing a respective data item and comprises a plurality of sheets configured to produce a response to a mechanical interaction. Furthermore, the sheets are configured to be wrapped around the device to provide a protective cover.

A sensing module and method for monitoring various physical parameters, and particularly environmental parameters to which a living body may be subjected, for example, impacts and shock wave pulses. The module at least one energy storage device and at least one set of electromechanical sensing elements contained in a housing. The sensing elements are responsive to an external environmental input, and each sensing element defines an open electrical path when not subjected to the input, is operable to define a closed electrical path that produces an output in response to the input if the input exceeds a threshold of the sensing element. The module generates data corresponding to the outputs of the sensing elements and records the data.

An improved hand-worn signaling device is disclosed that comprises at least one light-emitting assembly on the palmar side of the hand and at least one light-emitting assembly on the dorsal side of the hand; in one embodiment of the invention, the palmar light-emitting assembly is red and the dorsal light-emitting assembly is green. One embodiment of the device also comprises a controller that detects hand motions by the user and activates the appropriate light-emitting assembly in response. In another embodiment, the controller detects the angle of the user's wrist or knuckles, and activates the appropriate light-emitting assembly depending on the angle of the user's joints. In another embodiment, the controller detects the spatial orientation of the user's hand, and activates the appropriate light-emitting assembly depending on whether the user's hand is positioned vertically with the fingers pointing straight up (the “stop” position) or in any other orientation. An interlock switch that prevents inadvertent activation, and a feedback device that enables the user to tell which light-emitting assembly is on, are also disclosed.

A keypad device for a mobile telephone or other device utilizing a keypad or keyboard is comprised of a flexible substrate and a keypad cover. The flexible substrate includes a plurality of keys affixed to the surface as well as a plurality first conductive strips associated with each key. The keypad cover is attached to the flexible substrate. The keypad cover typically includes holes that permit the plurality of keys to protrude through the keypad cover. In addition, the keypad cover further includes a plurality of second conductive strips that selectively contact a corresponding first conductive strip on the flexible substrate. The plurality of first conductive strips is coupled to ground and the plurality of second conductive strips is coupled to logic circuitry. Or, in another embodiment, both sets of conductive strips are coupled with the logic circuitry. The default position of the keypad device has each of the first conductive strips in contact with each of the corresponding second conductive strips. This creates a short circuit condition that prevents key signals from being received by the logic circuitry. When a particular key is depressed to the point where the first conductive strip associated with that particular key is separated from the second conductive strip corresponding to the first conductive strip, the short circuit condition is removed. This allows a signal to be transmitted to and processed by the logic circuitry indicating that a particular key has been selected.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of assembling a folio case. The method comprises molding a set of molded key caps over a flexible fabric layer to form a fabric key cap layer, where the key caps do not pass through the flexible fabric layer. The method further comprises affixing a first portion of the flexible key cap layer opposite the set of molded key caps to an interior portion of a housing, and affixing an intermediate layer between the interior portion of the housing and a second portion of the fabric key cap layer corresponding to the set of molded key caps opposite the first portion. The method further comprises attaching a first portion of a holder to the first portion of the flexible key cap layer configured to receive a computing device, wherein a second portion of the holder is not fixedly attached to the flexible key cap layer.

A key input device is provided. The key input device includes a pressure key having a pressing surface, a pressure sensor formed on an opposite surface side of the pressing surface of the pressure key, a flexible member formed on a side portion of the pressure key, a vibration actuator attached to the flexible member, and a controller for controlling the vibration actuator according to a pressure detected by the pressure sensor, or includes a touch key having a touch surface, a touch sensor formed on an opposite surface side of the touch surface of the touch key, a flexible member formed on a side portion of the touch key, a vibration actuator attached to the flexible member, and a controller for controlling the vibration actuator according to a touch detected by the touch sensor.

A compact, thinned and water-tightened combined switch, is structured by a single switch comprising a front sheet having a domed projection which can be reversed to the back side and is provided at the back side with an electrode, an electric circuit body having an electric contact to contact with the electrode and a domed convex portion provided in the vicinity of the center of the domed projection. In operation process, firstly the projection is reversed and an electrode provided near the periphery of the convex portion contacts with the electric contact on the electric circuit body and secondly an electrode provided in the vicinity of the center of the domed convex portion contacts with the electric contact on the electric circuit body.