Integrated Touchpad Merging Pressure Detection to Reduce Thickness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touchpads with fixed operating spaces fail to meet user demands for diversified and intuitive input and feedback, especially with the trend towards larger, thinner designs in notebook computers.
Innovation Solution
A touchpad device incorporating a touch circuit board with pressure detecting elements and a control unit to generate touch coordinate and pressure information, along with feedback mechanisms like actuators, sound, or light-emitting elements, to provide multi-region input and feedback capabilities while reducing overall thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If large-sized touchpads are provided to increase operating space, then the touchpad area is improved, but the device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensing function and pressure detection function into a single integrated touchpad structure. The touch circuit board integrates both touch coordinate detection and pressure signal detection, eliminating the need for separate mechanical button structures and reducing overall device thickness while maintaining large touchpad area.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchpad is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it detects touch coordinates for cursor control and detects pressure signals for button simulation and input diversification. This multi-functional design allows a single large-area component to replace multiple separate components, reducing thickness while providing diverse input methods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional touchpads are used with fixed operating space, then the device structure is simple, but user input diversity and intuitiveness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The touchpad transitions from a static, single-function device to a dynamic, multi-functional input device. By detecting both touch position and pressure magnitude, the system adapts to different input scenarios (clicking, pressing, long-pressing) and provides differentiated feedback, enhancing input diversity without requiring multiple physical buttons or complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pressure as an additional detection parameter beyond touch position. By measuring the magnitude of pressure applied by the user, the system creates diverse input modes (light press vs. heavy press, short press vs. long press), significantly increasing input versatility while maintaining a simple flat touchpad structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pressure detecting elements are added to enable pressure sensitivity, then input diversification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure detecting elements are integrated with the touch circuit board in a unified structure. The same conductive layer and electrode arrangements serve both touch coordinate detection and pressure signal detection functions, eliminating the need for separate component assemblies and minimizing structural complexity while enabling pressure-sensitive input capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a more intuitive and diversified input experience with press feedback, accommodating larger touchpad sizes and reducing the device's thickness, thus meeting user requirements and enhancing usability.
Implementation Method 1
at least two pressure detecting elements, located below the touch circuit board and corresponding to at least one pressure sensitive input region in the touchable zone
Data Source
AI summary
A touchpad device is provided in the disclosure. The touchpad device includes a touch circuit board, at least two pressure detecting elements, a touch control unit, and a pressure control unit. The touch circuit board includes a touchable zone. The at least two pressure detecting elements are located below the touch circuit board and correspond to at least one pressure sensitive input region in the touchable zone. The touch control unit is electrically connected to the touch circuit board and is configured to receive and process a touch signal from the touch circuit board to generate touch coordinate information. The pressure control unit is electrically connected to the pressure detecting elements and is configured to receive and process a pressure signal detected by the pressure detecting elements in the pressure sensitive input region to generate touch pressure information.