WO2009064601A1 - Mobile electronic device having capacitive sensor with reduced visibility isolation areas and corresponding method - Google Patents
Mobile electronic device having capacitive sensor with reduced visibility isolation areas and corresponding method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2009064601A1 WO2009064601A1 PCT/US2008/081053 US2008081053W WO2009064601A1 WO 2009064601 A1 WO2009064601 A1 WO 2009064601A1 US 2008081053 W US2008081053 W US 2008081053W WO 2009064601 A1 WO2009064601 A1 WO 2009064601A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- reflectance
- polarizer
- etched away
- away portions
- liquid crystal
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/22—Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
- G06F3/0443—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means using a single layer of sensing electrodes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
- H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
- G06F2203/041—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/041 - G06F3/045
- G06F2203/04103—Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
- H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
- H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
- H04M1/72442—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for playing music files
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
- H04M2250/22—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector
Definitions
- the invention relates generally to a mobile electronic device having a capacitive sensor with reduced visibility isolation areas.
- Mobile electronic devices such as cellular phones, handheld computers, MP3 players, laptop computers, and the like are very pervasive computing devices.
- the electronic devices provide various features, such as communications, computing features, Internet access, playing music or video, viewing images, etc.
- Such electronic devices will often include a display, such as an LCD (liquid crystal display).
- LCD liquid crystal display
- One issue associated with the integration of new features and functionality with devices like mobile telephones involves the user interface.
- Traditional mobile telephones only included 12 to 15 keys.
- Such devices are sometimes not compatible with new features and functions as new modes of operation require new, dedicated keys or input devices in addition to the basic phone keys. Further, the devices may also require additional keys for the purpose of navigation or initiation of the modes within the device.
- buttons Some devices, for example, include full keypads with forty to fifty keys.
- the problem with this solution is that many mobile devices, including mobile telephones, are getting smaller and thinner.
- many keys are clustered in one location, the likelihood of user confusion or difficulty with operation of the device increases. What's more, in a particular mode, many of the keys are not needed. For example, when a device is in a camera mode, the number keys 1-9 are generally not needed to take pictures.
- the capacitive sensor may include an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) layer selectively etched to produce regions of ITO which are electrically isolated from one another.
- ITO Indium Tin Oxide
- the regions where the ITO has been etched away are known as "isolation areas".
- ITO regions reflect a significantly larger amount of light than the isolation areas. When the device is in an off state, it may be intended to produce a uniform black or grey appearance.
- the ITO layer may be laminated to a black or grey background to produce a black or grey appearance. While most of the light transmitted through the capacitive sensor may be absorbed by the black background, additional light which is reflected off of the ITO regions may be highly visible in contrast to the black background, which is seen through the isolation areas, making the ITO pattern visible. It has been found that the ITO regions may typically have a four times greater reflectance than the isolation areas.
- a mobile electronic device and corresponding method have a user interface for receiving a touch input.
- the mobile electronic device includes a capacitive sensor having an electrode layer with non-etched away portions and etched away portions, and having isolation areas formed in the etched away portions, and a segmented optical shutter disposed on a side of the capacitive sensor, the optical shutter including a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a top absorbing polarizer and a bottom absorbing polarizer, and including a reflectance increasing element disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the bottom absorbing polarizer.
- a reflectance of the reflectance increasing element is selected to reduce a ratio of a reflectance through the non-etched away portions to a reflectance through the etched away portions to make an appearance of the user interface substantially uniform in an off state.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a mobile electronic device in accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of an exemplary mobile electronic device in accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of an exemplary mobile electronic device in accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing according to embodiments of the invention.
- the invention comprises a variety of embodiments, such as a method and apparatus and other embodiments that relate to the basic concepts of the invention.
- the invention may include a morphing keypad that performs a hiding and revealing function by opening and closing shutters in an optical shutter element.
- the optical shutter element acts as a segmented electro-optical device in that it selectively alters an axis of polarization of light passing through the keypad.
- the alteration of the axis of polarization causes predetermined shutters to open or close, altering the appearance visible to a user.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary diagram of a mobile electronic device 100 in accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention.
- the mobile electronic device may include a high resolution display 101 and a segmented electro-optical display 102.
- the segmented electro-optical display 102 is configured as an optical shutter to present a mode-based dynamic keypad 103 to a user.
- the mode-based dynamic keypad 103 may display one of a plurality of keypad configurations, and is associated with the current mode of operation of the electronic device 100.
- the mode-based dynamic keypad 103, and its keypad configuration, may include only those keys necessary for navigating the particular operating mode of the device.
- the exemplary electronic device 100 shown in FIG. 1 also may include a navigation device 104.
- the navigation device 104 may be used for selectively navigating between the various modes of the device.
- the navigation device 104 may also be used as a control for each operational mode.
- the navigation device 104 may be continually accessible to the user.
- the navigation device may be selectively hidden and revealed by the segmented electro-optical display 102.
- the navigation device 104 is disposed, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, in the keypad region 106 of the electronic device 100. This geometric location allows the navigation device 104 to be large and easily accessible.
- the high-resolution display 101 may comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD) configured to present device information to the user.
- LCD liquid crystal display
- the term "high-resolution display 101" is used herein to refer to a device that can present text and images to a user by altering a large number of pixels which, when viewed collectively by a user, form the presented text or image.
- the term "high-resolution” is used herein to mean a display suitable for the presentation of text, information, and graphics on a mobile device with sufficient granularity as to be easily switched between graphics or text.
- the high-resolution display would be one suitable for presenting an image in the Joint
- Photographies Expert Group JPEG
- Such displays generally are configured to turn on and off individual pixels by way of a display driver for the presentation of high-resolution information. Examples include a 256-pixel by 128-pixel reflective or backlit LCD, although any size LCD may be used.
- the front surface 105 of the electronic device 100 forms the overall user interface.
- the segmented electro-optical display 102 provides a dynamic user input interface. This dynamic user interface is configured to present different indicators, which may appear as actuation targets, across the user interface in keypad region 106, for example.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a dynamic user interface 200 that may form an exemplary electronic device 100 in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
- the user interface 200 may include several layers. While several layers are shown, each and every layer may not be necessary for every application, and the structure shown is exemplary. Additionally, extra layers not shown could also be included as needed, such as substrate or electrode layers.
- the user interface 200 includes a segmented optical shutter 202, a capacitive sensor 204, and a cover layer 206.
- the optical shutter 202 includes bottom polarizer 208, DBEF layer 210, low-E polarizer 212, liquid crystal material 214, and top polarizer 216.
- the bottom polarizer 208 and the top polarizer 216 may be absorbing polarizers.
- the optical shutter may also include a patterned electrode (not shown) showing the keys or symbols, and application of an electric field can selectively cause transmission properties of the liquid crystal material to be altered, thus causing selective opening and closing of the optical shutter windows to reveal keys as desired.
- a music player mode may correspond to a first configuration
- a phone mode may correspond to an alternate configuration.
- the liquid crystal material 214 may be a twisted nematic liquid crystal (TNLC) material, although other types of liquid crystal material may be used.
- the cover layer 206 may be a thin plastic film, glass, or other suitable material.
- the capacitive sensor 204 is configured to detect the presence of an object, such as the user's finger, near to or touching the user interface 200. A change in capacitance near a touched region is detected, and in this way a user's selection of actuation targets, such as a key on a keypad, may be detected.
- the capacitive sensor may be formed from an electrode layer 218 and an adhesive layer 220.
- the electrode layer 218 may be Indium tin Oxide (ITO), for example, which is selectively etched to produce regions of ITO that are electrically isolated from each other.
- ITO Indium tin Oxide
- the regions where the ITO has been etched away are "isolation areas", as shown in the center in FIG. 2 between the two portions of electrode layers 218.
- the adhesive layer is formed below the electrode layer 218 and between portions of the electrode layer 218 in the isolation areas.
- the electrode layer 218 and any underlying substrate may be laminated to a black or grey color to give a black or grey appearance to the device when in an off state.
- the electrode layer 218 reflects substantially more light than the isolation areas, which could lead to an undesirable visible contrast between the ITO areas and the isolation areas.
- Embodiments of the present invention substantially eliminate this visible contrast, through the use of the reflective polarizer 210.
- the reflective polarizer 210 may be a DBEF (Dual Brightness Enhancement Film), such as a 3M Vikuiti DBEF.
- the reflective polarizer 210 passes light of a first polarization and reflects light of another polarization.
- the low-E polarizer 212 is a low-efficiency polarizer.
- the low-E polarizer is an absorbing polarizer with a low polarization efficiency relative to that of a perfectly absorbing polarizer, where the polarization efficiency is defined as the amount of polarized light transmitted in the direction of the polarizer's maximum polarized light transmission divided by the amount of polarized light transmitted in the direction of the polarizer's minimum polarized light transmission, when an unpolarized light source is projected through the polarizer.
- the low-E polarizer can be used to adjust the appearance of the user interface.
- the reflective polarizer 210 may impart a silvery or shiny appearance to the user interface.
- the grey level may be controlled by selecting a low-E polarizer with an appropriate efficiency.
- Embodiments of the invention may be used with the reflective polarizer 210 without use of the low-E polarizer 212, or may be used with both the reflective polarizer 210 and the low-E polarizer 212. When both the reflective polarizer 210 and the low-E polarizer 212 are used, one can select a reflective polarizer with the appropriate amount of reflectance and select a low-E polarizer with an efficiency to impart the desired appearance. [0026] FIG.
- FIG 3 is a graph illustrating the % of reflectance in the isolation areas as compared to the ITO areas in configuration A, which is the structure of FIG. 2 without the reflective polarizer 210 and the low-E polarizer 212, and configuration B, which is the structure of FIG. 2 with the reflective polarizer 210 and the low-E polarizer 212.
- configuration A the % reflectance in the ITO areas is approximately 2% reflectance, while in the isolation areas the % reflectance is approximately 0.5 %. This results in a contrast between the ITO areas and the isolation areas of 2/0.5, or 4:1, which produces an undesirable visible contrast in appearance between the ITO areas and the isolation areas.
- FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of method of manufacturing a mobile electronic device according to embodiments of the invention. At 4100, the method starts.
- a capacitive sensor is disposed having an electrode layer with non-etched away portions and etched away portions, and having isolation areas formed in the etched away portions.
- a segmented optical shutter is disposed on a side of the capacitive sensor.
- the optical shutter includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a top absorbing polarizer and a bottom absorbing polarizer, and includes a reflectance increasing element disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the bottom absorbing polarizer.
- a reflectance of the reflectance increasing element is selected to reduce a ratio of a reflectance through the non-etched away portions to a reflectance through the etched away portions to make an appearance of the user interface substantially uniform in an off state.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP08849578A EP2210347A1 (en) | 2007-11-09 | 2008-10-24 | Mobile electronic device having capacitive sensor with reduced visibility isolation areas and corresponding method |
CN200880115062A CN101849364A (en) | 2007-11-09 | 2008-10-24 | Mobile electronic device having capacitive sensor with reduced visibility isolation areas and corresponding method |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/937,723 | 2007-11-09 | ||
US11/937,723 US20090122017A1 (en) | 2007-11-09 | 2007-11-09 | Mobile electronic device having capacitive sensor with reduced visibility isolation areas and corresponding method |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2009064601A1 true WO2009064601A1 (en) | 2009-05-22 |
Family
ID=40623265
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2008/081053 WO2009064601A1 (en) | 2007-11-09 | 2008-10-24 | Mobile electronic device having capacitive sensor with reduced visibility isolation areas and corresponding method |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090122017A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2210347A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20100068298A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101849364A (en) |
RU (1) | RU2428746C1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009064601A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9595960B2 (en) | 2010-05-04 | 2017-03-14 | Whirlpool Corporation | Dead-front user interface |
TWI432115B (en) * | 2010-10-19 | 2014-03-21 | Lg Chemical Ltd | Touch panel comprising conducting pattern and method for manufacturing the same |
KR101773613B1 (en) * | 2011-02-25 | 2017-09-01 | 엘지디스플레이 주식회사 | Touch integrated display device |
US20130194281A1 (en) * | 2012-01-30 | 2013-08-01 | Apple Inc. | Moisture Barrier for Electronic Devices |
EA021104B1 (en) * | 2012-03-27 | 2015-04-30 | Сергей Павлович МАРЫШЕВ | Display sensory glass |
US9235299B2 (en) | 2013-02-06 | 2016-01-12 | Google Technology Holdings LLC | Touch sensitive surface for an electronic device with false touch protection |
JP5859597B2 (en) * | 2014-04-24 | 2016-02-10 | 日東電工株式会社 | Transparent conductive film and touch panel |
CN104777696A (en) * | 2015-05-08 | 2015-07-15 | 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 | Backlight module and display device |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH05173707A (en) * | 1991-12-20 | 1993-07-13 | Sharp Corp | Handwriting input tablet |
JPH1048625A (en) * | 1996-08-02 | 1998-02-20 | Sumitomo Chem Co Ltd | Touch panel for liquid crystal display |
WO2004066136A2 (en) * | 2003-01-20 | 2004-08-05 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Touch sensitive display device |
US20060262236A1 (en) * | 2002-03-01 | 2006-11-23 | Planar Systems, Inc. | Reflection resistant touch screens |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3723984B2 (en) * | 1997-01-17 | 2005-12-07 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Liquid crystal device and electronic apparatus using the same |
KR100637360B1 (en) * | 1999-06-17 | 2006-10-23 | 니폰샤신인사츠가부시키가이샤 | High-reliability touch panel |
US7525604B2 (en) * | 2005-03-15 | 2009-04-28 | Naxellent, Llc | Windows with electrically controllable transmission and reflection |
US20080207254A1 (en) * | 2007-02-27 | 2008-08-28 | Pierce Paul M | Multimodal Adaptive User Interface for a Portable Electronic Device |
-
2007
- 2007-11-09 US US11/937,723 patent/US20090122017A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2008
- 2008-10-24 EP EP08849578A patent/EP2210347A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2008-10-24 CN CN200880115062A patent/CN101849364A/en active Pending
- 2008-10-24 WO PCT/US2008/081053 patent/WO2009064601A1/en active Application Filing
- 2008-10-24 KR KR1020107010083A patent/KR20100068298A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2008-10-24 RU RU2010123384/09A patent/RU2428746C1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH05173707A (en) * | 1991-12-20 | 1993-07-13 | Sharp Corp | Handwriting input tablet |
JPH1048625A (en) * | 1996-08-02 | 1998-02-20 | Sumitomo Chem Co Ltd | Touch panel for liquid crystal display |
US20060262236A1 (en) * | 2002-03-01 | 2006-11-23 | Planar Systems, Inc. | Reflection resistant touch screens |
WO2004066136A2 (en) * | 2003-01-20 | 2004-08-05 | Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. | Touch sensitive display device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2210347A1 (en) | 2010-07-28 |
US20090122017A1 (en) | 2009-05-14 |
RU2428746C1 (en) | 2011-09-10 |
CN101849364A (en) | 2010-09-29 |
KR20100068298A (en) | 2010-06-22 |
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