Input interface, portable electronic device and method of producing an input interface

Abstract

An input interface comprises a touch sensor panel having a surface and a first sensor arrangement provided on the surface to sense a position of a touch action with two-dimensional spatial resolution. A transparent window member is offset from the surface of the touch sensor panel in a direction perpendicular to the surface. A second sensor arrangement is interposed between the surface and the transparent window member. The second sensor arrangement is configured to sense a magnitude of a force normal to the surface applied by the touch action and pushing the window member toward the touch sensor panel.

1 . An input interface, comprising:
 a touch sensor panel having a surface and a first sensor arrangement provided on the surface to sense a position of a touch action with two-dimensional spatial resolution;   a transparent window member offset from the surface of the touch sensor panel in a direction perpendicular to the surface; and   a second sensor arrangement interposed between the surface and the transparent window member, the second sensor arrangement being configured to sense a magnitude of a force normal to the surface applied by the touch action and pushing the window member toward the touch sensor panel.   
     
     
         2 . The input interface of  claim 1 ,
 the second sensor arrangement comprising plural conductive traces arranged on the surface of the touch sensor panel.   
     
     
         3 . The input interface of  claim 2 ,
 the first sensor arrangement comprising a conductive pattern arranged on a central area of the surface,   the plural conductive traces of the second sensor arrangement being arranged on a peripheral area of the surface which surrounds the central area.   
     
     
         4 . The input interface of  claim 3 ,
 a spacer area being formed between the central area and the peripheral area, the spacer area extending around the central area.   
     
     
         5 . The input interface of  claim 3 ,
 the first sensor arrangement comprising other conductive traces arranged on the central area of the surface, the plural conductive traces and the other conductive traces being formed from the same material.   
     
     
         6 . The input interface of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a chip coupled to the conductive pattern to determine the position of the touch action,   the chip being further coupled to the plural conductive traces to determine the magnitude of the force.   
     
     
         7 . The input interface of  claim 2 ,
 the second sensor arrangement comprising a force sensing material interposed between the surface and the transparent window member, the force sensing material covering at least two conductive traces of the plural conductive traces.   
     
     
         8 . The input interface of  claim 7 ,
 the force sensing material having a first face contacting the surface and a second face contacting the transparent window member.   
     
     
         9 . The input interface of  claim 8 ,
 the first face and the second face being spaced by a height of the force sensing material,   a transparent material layer being interposed between the conductive pattern and the transparent window member, the transparent material layer having another height which is less than or equal to the height of the force sensing material.   
     
     
         10 . The input interface of  claim 7 ,
 the force sensing material being resiliently deformable and having electrical characteristics varying as a function of deformation.   
     
     
         11 . The input interface of  claim 1 ,
 the touch sensor panel having a first side and a second side, the second side extending parallel to the first side at a first distance,   the transparent window member having another first side and another second side, the other second side extending parallel to the other first side at a second distance, the second distance being equal to the first distance.   
     
     
         12 . The input interface of  claim 11 ,
 the touch sensor panel having a third side and a fourth side, the fourth side extending parallel to the third side at a third distance, the third and fourth sides being perpendicular to the first side,   the transparent window member having another third side and another fourth side, the other fourth side extending parallel to the other third side at a fourth distance, the other third and fourth sides being perpendicular to the other first side, the fourth distance being equal to the third distance.   
     
     
         13 . The input interface of  claim 1 ,
 the touch sensor panel having an outer boundary and the transparent window member having another outer boundary, the other outer boundary being flush with the outer boundary.   
     
     
         14 . The input interface of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a sealing material interposed between the touch sensor panel and the transparent window member, the sealing material surrounding the surface of the touch sensor panel.   
     
     
         15 . A portable electronic device, comprising:
 a housing having a support area; and   an input interface, the input interface comprising:
 a touch sensor panel having a surface and a first sensor arrangement provided on the surface to sense a position of a touch action with two-dimensional spatial resolution; 
 a transparent window member offset from the surface of the touch sensor panel in a direction perpendicular to the surface; and 
 a second sensor arrangement interposed between the surface and the transparent window member, the second sensor arrangement being configured to sense a magnitude of a force normal to the surface applied by the touch action and pushing the window member toward the touch sensor panel; 
   the touch sensor panel being attached to the support area.   
     
     
         16 . The portable electronic device of  claim 15 ,
 the touch sensor panel having another surface opposite the surface, an outer boundary of the other surface being fastened to the support area.   
     
     
         17 . The portable electronic device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a processing device;   the input interface comprising a chip coupled to the conductive pattern to determine the position of the touch action, the chip being further coupled to plural conductive traces of the second sensor arrangement to determine the magnitude of the force;   the processing device being interfaced with the chip and being configured to control operation of the portable electronic device as a function of both the position of the touch action and the magnitude of the force.   
     
     
         18 . The portable electronic device of  claim 17 ,
 the input interface comprising a flexible printed circuit on which the chip is arranged, the flexible printed circuit having a connector to provide the position of the touch action and the magnitude of the force to the processing device.   
     
     
         19 . A method of producing an input interface, the method comprising:
 forming first conductive traces on a central area of a surface of a touch sensor panel to provide a first sensor arrangement to sense a position of a touch action with two-dimensional spatial resolution;   forming second conductive traces on a peripheral area of the surface to provide a second sensor arrangement to sense a magnitude of a force applied by the touch action, the peripheral area surrounding the central area of the surface,   applying a force sensing material on the second conductive traces; and   attaching a transparent window member to the touch sensor panel such that the transparent window member is offset from the touch sensor panel in a direction normal to the surface and that the second sensor arrangement is interposed between the touch sensor panel and the transparent window member.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 ,
 the first conductive traces and the second conductive traces being formed from the same material,   the first conductive traces and the second conductive traces being formed simultaneously.