Illuminated touchpad

Abstract

The present invention pertains to improved feedback mechanisms for touch pads. One aspect relates to devices capable of illuminating the touch sensitive surface of the touch pad. Another aspect relates to methods for providing visual feedback at the touch pad.

1 . An illuminated input device, the illuminated input device comprising: 
 an object sensing mechanism capable of sensing a user input over an input surface; and    a visual feedback system configured to illuminate the input surface in association with a user input.    
   
   
       2 . The input device as recited in  claim 1  further including a controller that is operatively coupled to the object sensing mechanism and the visual feedback system, the controller monitoring signals generated at the object sensing mechanism, the controller selectively controlling the illumination provided by the visual feedback system  
   
   
       3 . The input device as recited in  claim 1  wherein the object sensing mechanism includes a touch panel capable of sensing touches in localized areas of the input surface, and wherein the visual feedback system includes a light panel capable of emitting light in localized areas of the input surface.  
   
   
       4 . The input device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the touch panel is optically transmissive, and wherein the optically transmissive touch panel is disposed over the light panel.  
   
   
       5 . The input device as recited in  claim 4  wherein the optically transmissive touch panel is a touch screen.  
   
   
       6 . The input device as recited in  claim 5  wherein the light panel includes a plurality of light sources and a light distribution panel for distributing the light from the light sources to localized areas of the input surface.  
   
   
       7 . The input device as recited in  claim 5  wherein the light panel includes pixilated light emitting points that are dispersed across the input surface.  
   
   
       8 . The input device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the touch panel is disposed underneath the light panel, the light panel allowing touch sensing to occur therethrough.  
   
   
       9 . The input device as recited in  claim 8  wherein the touch panel includes a plurality of spatially separated electrodes positioned on a printed circuit board.  
   
   
       10 . The input device as recited in  claim 9  wherein the light panel includes pixilated light emitting points that are dispersed across the input surface.  
   
   
       11 . The input device as recited in  claim 9  wherein the light panel includes a plurality of light sources and a light distribution panel for distributing the light from the light sources to localized areas of the input surface.  
   
   
       12 . The input device as recited in  claim 11  wherein the light panel includes a plurality of side mounted light sources and a light distribution panel for distributing the light from the side mounted light sources to localized areas of the input surface, the side mounted light sources being disposed around the side of the light distribution panel and configured to direct light into different portions of the light distribution panel, the light distribution panel being configured to redirect the light made incident thereon to the input surface.  
   
   
       13 . The input device as recited in  claim 12  wherein the light distribution panel is broken up into a plurality of nodes, each node including its own side mounted light source.  
   
   
       14 . The input device as recited in  claim 13  wherein the light distribution panel is circular and wherein the nodes are embodied as distinct angular and radial segments.  
   
   
       15 . The input device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the light panel comprises: 
 a diffuser panel configured to diffuse light;    one or more light multiplexers configured to illuminate the diffuser panel in a controlled manner; and    a controller operatively coupled to the one or more light multiplexers.    
   
   
       16 . The input device as recited in  claim 3  wherein the touch panel is based on capacitance.  
   
   
       17 . The input device as recited in  claim 3  further including a light diffuser configured to diffuse the light being emitted by the light panel.  
   
   
       18 . The input device as recited in  claim 1  further including an illuminated button located at the center of the input surface.  
   
   
       19 . A method of operating an input device, comprising: 
 sensing an object over an input surface; and    illuminating at least a portion of the input surface when an object is sensed.    
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein a localized area of the input surface is illuminated proximate the location of the object.  
   
   
       21 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein the localized area is a segmented region of the input surface, the illuminated segmented region being the segmented region closest to the object.  
   
   
       22 . The method as recited in  claim 20  wherein the localized area are a collection of illumination points that at least surround the object.  
   
   
       23 . The method as recited in  claim 20  further comprising: 
 sensing a second object over the input surface at the same as the first object;    illuminating a second localized area of the input surface proximate the location of the second object, the first and second localized areas being illuminated at the same time.    
   
   
       24 . The method as recited in  claim 20  further comprising: 
 determining whether or not the object is moving across the input surface;    determining motion characteristics of the moving object; and    adjusting the illumination based on one or more motion characteristics.    
   
   
       25 . The method as recited in  claim 24  wherein the localized area moves in accordance with the moving object.  
   
   
       26 . The method as recited in  claim 25  further including providing indicators associated with the motion characteristics.  
   
   
       27 . The method as recited in  claim 25  wherein the indicators include directional indicators.  
   
   
       28 . The method as recited in  claim 25  wherein the localized area includes a leading edge, a body and a trailing edge.  
   
   
       29 . The method as recited in  claim 25  wherein the localized area includes a body and a tail.  
   
   
       30 . The method as recited in  claim 20  further comprising: 
 detecting a rotational user input over the input surface; and    rotating the localized area in accordance with the rotational user input.    
   
   
       31 . The method as recited in  claim 19  further comprising: 
 terminating the illumination when an object is no longer sensed;    
   
   
       32 . The method as recited in  claim 19  further comprising: 
 if the sensed object is stationary, providing a first illumination;    if the sensed object is moving, providing a second illumination; and    if the object is no longer sensed, maintaining the illumination in the last sensed location for a predetermined amount of time.    
   
   
       33 . The method as recited in  claim 19  further comprising: 
 determining z characteristics of the object; and    adjusting the illumination based on the z characteristics.    
   
   
       34 . The method as recited in  claim 33  wherein the intensity of the illumination is increased when the object is moved towards the input surface, and wherein the intensity of the illumination is decreased when the object is moved away from the input surface.  
   
   
       35 . The method as recited in  claim 19  wherein the entire input surface is illuminated.  
   
   
       36 . A method of operating an input device, comprising: 
 detecting a user input over the input surface;    determining an input state of the input device based on the user input;    illuminating the input surface based on the input state of the input device, each input state having a different illumination profile.    
   
   
       37 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein said determining includes analyzing the user input for characteristics indicative of tracking or gesturing and categorizing the user input as a tracking or gesture input.  
   
   
       38 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein the input device is placed in a tracking state when a single object is detected, and wherein the input device is placed in a gesture state when multiple objects are detected.  
   
   
       39 . The method as recited in  claim 38  wherein the input device is illuminated with a first illumination profile when the input device is placed in the tracking state, and wherein the input device is illuminated with a second illumination profile when the input device is placed in the gesturing state.  
   
   
       40 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein the entire input surface is illuminated.  
   
   
       41 . The method as recited in  claim 36  wherein only a localized area of the input surface is illuminated.  
   
   
       42 . A method of operating an input device, comprising: 
 illuminating at least a portion of an input surface when an object is detected over the input surface; and    adjusting the illumination when the object is moved over the input surface.    
   
   
       43 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein the illumination is varied based on the acceleration of the object.  
   
   
       44 . The method as recited in  claim 43  wherein the illumination intensity is increased with increased acceleration, and wherein illumination intensity is decreased with decreased acceleration.  
   
   
       45 . The method as recited in  claim 43  wherein a first intensity level is used for high acceleration, a second intensity level is used for low acceleration, and a third intensity level is used for no acceleration.  
   
   
       46 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein the entire input surface is illuminated.  
   
   
       47 . The method as recited in  claim 42  wherein only a localized area of the input surface is illuminated.