94results about "Spacers" patented technology

A capacitive touchpad with physical key function comprises a soft flexible first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; and a soft flexible insulator layer disposed between the first and the second conductive layers. The insulator layer has at least a through hole for the first conductive layer to connect to the second conductive layer while the touchpad is pressed and cause the voltages on the first or the second conductive layers to change and thus to trigger a predetermined key function.

A very low touch force keyboard, employing soft conductors, preferably conductive fabric, disposed in a keyboard grid. The grid rests upon a soft substrate, and has soft spacers separating the two axes of the grid, arranged to allow conducting portions of the grid to contact each other when soft, fabric-like keys are pushed. The grid conductors are electrically connected to a keyboard controller.

Sensor fusion algorithm techniques are described. In one or more embodiments, behaviors of a host device and accessory devices are controlled based upon an orientation of the host device and accessory devices, relative to one another. A combined spatial position and / or orientation for the host device may be obtained based on raw measurements that are obtained from at least two different types of sensors. In addition, a spatial position and / or orientation for an accessory device is ascertained using one or more sensors of the accessory device. An orientation (or position) of the accessory device relative to the host computing device may then be computed based on the combined spatial position / orientation for the host computing device and the ascertained spatial position / orientation for the accessory device. The relative orientation that is computed may then be used in various ways to control behaviors of the host computing device and / or accessory device.

A device (100, 2604) includes a controllable skin texture surface (2602), a sensor (2700), and control logic (200). The sensor senses a plurality of points of interest (2804, 2806) of a user surface (2800). The control logic controls a plurality of portions (2900) of the controllable skin texture surface to protrude at locations with respect to the plurality of points of interest in response to the sensor sensing the plurality of points of interest. In one example, the control logic periodically adjusts the plurality of portions protruding from the controllable skin texture surface in response to movement between the user surface and the controllable skin texture surface.

There are provided a design sheet attached to the surface of an upper electrode film of a touch panel such that the design sheet is protruded at its periphery from the touch panel and a touch-panel-unit casing which is integrally molded with the design sheet such that the casing is covered at its surface with the design sheet and surrounds the side surfaces of the touch panel.

There are provided a design sheet (5) attached to the surface of an upper electrode film (1) of a touch panel (4) such that the design sheet is protruded at its periphery from the touch panel (4) and a touch-panel-unit casing (6) which is integrally molded with the design sheet (5) such that the casing is covered at its surface with the design sheet (5) and surrounds the side surfaces of the touch panel (4).

Mobile phones are in a trend of having thinner configuration due to emphasis on the design. Thus, in order to meet this demand, the present invention aims to thin the key sheet portion as much as possible. A thin key sheet and a thin key unit incorporating the thin key sheet are configured by providing on its surface a key top 2 made of a metal or a resin with indications such as letters, symbols, graphics or the like indicating the functions of keys are formed on the front surface or the back surface thereof, and switch elements 4 for turning ON / OFF of an electric circuit by the pressing of the key top, together with a printed circuit board 5 on which a circuit pattern involved therewith is formed; and by adhering and fixing the key top 2 and the printed circuit board 5 together via a cushion gasket 3 having appropriate elasticity and a filler layer 14 disposed between the key top and the printed circuit board.

A touch screen comprising: a) a substrate; b) a first conductive layer located on the substrate; c) a flexible sheet comprising a substantially planar surface and integral compressible spacer dots formed thereon, each integral compressible spacer dot having a base closest to the substantially planar surface and a peak furthest from the substantially planar surface; and d) a second conductive layer located on the substantially planar surface of the flexible sheet, the peaks of the integral compressible spacer dots extending beyond the second conductive layer located on the substantially planar surface; wherein the first and second conductive layers are positioned towards each other and separated by the integral compressible spacer dots. Undercuts are formed around each integral compressible spacer dot, and the second conductive layer is electrically isolated from any conductive layer material deposited on the peaks of the spacer dots while depositing the conductive layer material on the substantially planar surface.

A thin film switch is disclosed, which comprises: a first thin film, having a first conductor unit mounted on a surface thereof; and a second thin film, having a second conductor unit mounted on a surface thereof facing toward the first thin film; wherein, the first conductor unit is composed of a plurality of first electric conductors, and the second conductor is composed of at least one second electric conductor; and the first conductor unit and the second conductor unit are arranged at positions corresponding to each other while being spaced from each other by a specific interval; the at least one second electric conductor is enabled to engage with one of the plural first electric conductors for constructing an electrical conduction when the thin film switch is subjected to a load for forcing the first and the second thin films to move toward each other.

A touch screen comprising: a) a substrate; b) a first conductive layer located on the substrate; c) a flexible sheet comprising a substantially planar surface and integral compressible spacer dots formed thereon, each integral compressible spacer dot having a base closest to the substantially planar surface and a peak furthest from the substantially planar surface; and d) a second conductive layer located on the substantially planar surface of the flexible sheet, the peaks of the integral compressible spacer dots extending beyond the second conductive layer located on the substantially planar surface; wherein the first and second conductive layers are positioned towards each other and separated by the integral compressible spacer dots. The integral compressible spacer dots are sized and positioned in a pattern that establishes at least one of differentiated minimum required activation forces and differentiated durability for selected areas of the touch screen.

An input device having a data entry section and a controller. The data entry section has a layered structure of “keyboard”-equipped printed input portion, EL device, and touch panel. The controller controls the EL device and the touch panel. Since the printed input portion has keyboard layout, users can input data with ease. Furthermore, the surface lighting of EL device can provide the input device with uniform lighting, increasing visibility of the entire device.

An input device configured to communicate with a computing device includes at least one keycap, a support mechanism operably connected to the keycap and configured to move the keycap from a first position to a second position, a feature plate operably connected to the support mechanism, and a sensing member. The sensing member is configured to detect at least one of a change of position of the at least one keycap, a speed of the at least one keycap, an amount of force applied to the at least one keycap, or a location of a finger. The sensing member may be a capacitive sensor. In some embodiments, the input device may not include the support mechanism and the sensing member may be configured to detect the location of a finger regardless whether or not the keycap moves.

A membrane keyboard is provided with transparent keys each including a bottom key shaft; a key housing including openings for receiving the keys, and downward extending stems; a membrane circuit board below the key housing and including elastic members and a light blocking layer; scissor-shaped structures each including a central opening, two first slide axles, two second slide axles below the first slide axles, a first pivot shaft opposing the first slide axles, and a second pivot shaft opposing the second slide axles and below the first pivot shaft wherein the first slide axles and the first pivot shaft are pivotably secured to the key bottom; a transparent light emitting and guiding plate below and electrically connected to the membrane circuit board; and an aluminum plate below the light emitting and guiding plate and including retaining members for pivotably receiving the second slide axles and the second pivot shaft.

A vehicle seat suspension mat (12) comprises suspension springs (14) for supporting a seat cushion (16) and a pressure sensor module (18) arranged on the springs for being applied against a bottom surface of the seat cushion. The pressure sensor module produces an electrical signal responsive to pressure acting on it. The pressure sensor module comprises a base plate (20) and a film-type pressure sensor (22) arranged on the base plate. The pressure sensor includes a pressure-sensitive cell (36). The base plate comprises a frame (26) and an actuator (28) that is linked to the frame in such a way that it is capable of movement relative to the frame. The actuator is arranged against the pressure-sensitive cell of the film-type pressure sensor and comprises a fixation element (48) fixing the base plate to the springs. The fixation element provides a spacing between the base plate and the springs.

A membrane switch is disclosed which comprises an upper sheet, a lower sheet disposed in an opposed relation to the upper sheet, and an insulating resist layer for pasting both upper and lower sheets with each other. The upper and lower sheets are respectively formed with plural contact portions and plural mounting holes in such a manner that the contact portions formed on the upper sheet side and the contact portions formed on the lower sheet side are opposed to each other and so are the mounting holes. The insulating resist layer comprises a first insulating resist layer formed on at least one of the upper and lower sheets except the portions where the contact portions are positioned and a second insulating resist layer formed on the first insulating resist layer at each of positions near the mounting holes so as to surround the whole circumference of each mounting hole. The insulating resist layer in the area where the second resist layer is formed is made thicker than in the other area.

Mobile phones are in a trend of having thinner configuration due to emphasis on the design. Thus, in order to meet this demand, the present invention aims to thin the key sheet portion as much as possible. A thin key sheet and a thin key unit incorporating the thin key sheet are configured by providing on its surface a key top 2 made of a metal or a resin with indications such as letters, symbols, graphics or the like indicating the functions of keys are formed on the front surface or the back surface thereof, and switch elements 4 for turning ON / OFF of an electric circuit by the pressing of the key top, together with a printed circuit board 5 on which a circuit pattern involved therewith is formed; and by adhering and fixing the key top 2 and the printed circuit board 5 together via a cushion gasket 3 having appropriate elasticity and a filler layer 14 disposed between the key top and the printed circuit board.

A mobile communication terminal includes at least one function key which demonstrates improved resistance to vibration. This is achieved by positioning a spacer between the function key and an associated switch, which in the case of a mobile terminal may be a tact switch. The spacer may be made from an elastic material which compresses when inserted between the switch and function key. Alternatively, the spacer may be made from a rigid material. Also, the spacer may extend from one or more layers of a keypad and may be made to bend into proper orientation adjacent a side button on the terminal. By eliminating the clearance gap between the function key and switch, undesirable noise is prevented and improved stability to vibration is demonstrated. Also, a better feel to as user is achieved as a result of the reduction or elimination of this clearance gap.

A keyboard device formed of a generally planar interaction module having first and second sides, comprising a plurality of input indicia displayed on a first side, a matrix of micro-switchers coupled to the second side of the interaction module formed of a generally planar first electrode sheet having a first plurality of generally parallel conductive traces each separated by one of a first plurality of insulation traces on a first side of the first generally planar electrode sheet, and a generally planar second electrode sheet having a second plurality of generally parallel conductive traces each separated by one of a second plurality of insulation traces on a first side of the second generally planar electrode sheet, and a generally planar piezo sheet having a first side coupled to the first side of the generally planar first electrode sheet and a second side coupled to the first side of the generally planar second electrode sheet.

The present invention comprises a signal generator for sending an electrical signal from an expandable, flexible layer of material, the signal generator comprising an upper layer of flexible, resilient material and a lower layer of flexible, resilient material which between them define a cavity for enclosing an expandable material such as a cellular foam or gas, whereupon localized distortion of one of the layers of flexible material, effects a signal generation within the structure, which is transmissible through a proper circuit to an outside electrical device. A circuit may be arranged adjacent a plurality of said keys which senses when several of said keys are depressed in a skewed or sideways manner, so as to effect movement of a cursor or pointer on a monitor in communication with a processing unit and said keyboard.

A thin film switch is disclosed, which comprises: a first thin film, having a first conductor unit mounted on a surface thereof; and a second thin film, having a second conductor unit mounted on a surface thereof facing toward the first thin film; wherein, the first conductor unit is composed of a plurality of first electric conductors, and the second conductor is composed of at least one second electric conductor; and the first conductor unit and the second conductor unit are arranged at positions corresponding to each other while being spaced from each other by a specific interval; the at least one second electric conductor is enabled to engage with one of the plural first electric conductors for constructing an electrical conduction when the thin film switch is subjected to a load for forcing the first and the second thin films to move toward each other.

A keyboard includes plural keys, a membrane key switch module and plural diodes. The plural diodes are disposed on the membrane key switch module, and electrically connected with plural upper contacts or plural lower contacts of the membrane key switch module. Consequently, the keyboard has the function of avoiding the ghosting problem.

A touch screen comprising: a) a substrate; b) a first conductive layer located on the substrate; c) a flexible sheet comprising a substantially planar surface and integral compressible spacer dots formed thereon, each integral compressible spacer dot having a base closest to the substantially planar surface and a peak furthest from the substantially planar surface; and d) a second conductive layer located on the substantially planar surface of the flexible sheet, the peaks of the integral compressible spacer dots extending beyond the second conductive layer located on the substantially planar surface; wherein the first and second conductive layers are positioned towards each other and separated by the integral compressible spacer dots. Undercuts are formed around each integral compressible spacer dot, and the second conductive layer is electrically isolated from any conductive layer material deposited on the peaks of the spacer dots while depositing the conductive layer material on the substantially planar surface.

Sensor fusion algorithm techniques are described. In one or more embodiments, behaviors of a host device and accessory devices are controlled based upon an orientation of the host device and accessory devices, relative to one another. A combined spatial position and / or orientation for the host device may be obtained based on raw measurements that are obtained from at least two different types of sensors. In addition, a spatial position and / or orientation for an accessory device is ascertained using one or more sensors of the accessory device. An orientation (or position) of the accessory device relative to the host computing device may then be computed based on the combined spatial position / orientation for the host computing device and the ascertained spatial position / orientation for the accessory device. The relative orientation that is computed may then be used in various ways to control behaviors of the host computing device and / or accessory device.

A cable switch comprising a first base member of a band shape provided with a conductor on an inner surface and a second base member facing the first base member, and including a flat positive electrode and a negative electrode, the positive electrode being provided on one side of an inner surface thereof and the negative electrode being provided on another side of the inner surface, a gap being formed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode for separating and insulating the positive electrode and the negative electrode from each other.