Apparatuses, methods and computer programs for expanding the use of touch-sensitive input apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016147366-A1
Application number	US-201414904161-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: one or more conductive paths for transporting charge carriers; and measurand-responsive material, wherein the measurand-responsive material is configured to respond to a measurand and form an active electrode, where sufficient measurand is present, the formed active electrode interconnecting to at least one of the one or more conductive paths.

First claim

I/we claim:

1 - 41 . (canceled)

42 . An apparatus comprising:
one or more conductive paths for transporting charge carriers; and measurand-responsive material, wherein the measurand-responsive material is configured to respond to a measurand and form an active electrode, where sufficient measurand is present, the formed active electrode interconnecting to at least one of the one or more current paths.

43 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the measurand-responsive material is further configured to overlie a touch-sensitive input apparatus and simulate one or more touch inputs at the touch-sensitive input apparatus by forming one or more active electrodes, where sufficient measurand is present.

44 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the apparatus is configured to enable a touch-sensitive input apparatus to detect the measurand by simulating one or more touch inputs at the touch-sensitive input apparatus.

45 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 42 , further comprising a plurality of distinct sub-electrodes, wherein the measurand-responsive material is configured to electrically interconnect the sub-electrodes together in the presence of sufficient measurand.

46 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the measurand-responsive material is further configured to electrically interconnect sub-electrodes in the presence of sufficient measurand to at least one conductive path.

47 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the distinct sub-electrodes are conductive islands.

48 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the distinct sub-electrodes are the same size and are arranged in rows and columns as a regular array.

49 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 45 , wherein the distinct sub-electrodes are formed from conductive, optically transparent material.

50 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 42 , configured as an accessory for a touch-sensitive input apparatus.

51 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 50 , wherein the accessory is a disposable accessory that is configured to be applied to the touch-sensitive input apparatus by a user and removed from the touch-sensitive input apparatus by the user.

52 . An apparatus as claimed in claim 42 , configured as an overlay for a touch-sensitive apparatus, the overlay comprising releasable backing.

53 . A touch-sensitive input apparatus comprising an apparatus, the apparatus comprising one or more conductive paths for transporting charge carriers; and
measurand-responsive material, wherein the measurand-responsive material is configured to respond to a measurand and form an active electrode, where sufficient measurand is present, the formed active electrode interconnecting to at least one of the one or more current paths.

54 . A touch-sensitive input apparatus as claimed in claim 53 , wherein the apparatus is adhered to a capacitive touch input region of the touch-sensitive input apparatus as a post-manufacture modification of the touch-sensitive input apparatus.

55 . A method comprising:
providing on a substrate one or more conductive paths for transporting charge carriers; and providing measurand-responsive material, wherein the measurand-responsive material is configured to respond to a measurand and form an active electrode, where sufficient measurand is present, the formed active electrode interconnecting to at least one of the one or more conductive paths.

56 . A method as claimed in claim 55 , wherein the measurand-responsive material is deposited over the one or more conductive paths.

57 . A method as claimed in claim 55 , further comprising providing conductive sub-electrodes adjacent the one or more conductive paths.

58 . A method as claimed in claim 57 , wherein the measurand-responsive material is deposited over the one or more conductive paths and the conductive sub-electrodes.

59 . A method as claimed in claim 57 , wherein the conductive sub-electrodes and the one or more conductive paths are optically transparent to the human eye.

60 . A method as claimed claim 55 further comprising depositing a cover layer over the measurand-responsive material, wherein the
cover material is configured to transport the measurand to the measurand-responsive material.

61 . A method as claimed in claim 60 , wherein the cover layer is an insulator that is optically transparent to the human eye.

Assignees

• Nokia Technologies Oy

Inventors

• Cotton Darry
• Astley Michael
• White Richard
• Matthews Andrew

Classifications

• G06F2203/04103

  Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices · CPC title

• G06F2203/04108

  Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction · CPC title

• G06F2203/04106

  Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/0416 Primary

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title