Dual touch surface multiple function input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9423895-B2
Application number	US-201213485690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2012
Priority date	May 31, 2012
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

For one disclosed embodiment, an apparatus includes a first housing and a second housing coupled to the first housing. The first housing and the second housing are rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The apparatus further includes and a touch input device supported by the first housing. The touch input device is configured to have a first active touch surface when the first housing and the second housing are in the open configuration, and a second active touch surface when the first housing and the second housing are in the closed configuration. The first active touch surface is smaller than the second active touch surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first housing;
a second housing coupled to the first housing, the first housing and the second housing being rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and
a touch input device supported by the first housing, wherein the touch input device includes a first touch surface layer configured to have a first active touch surface responsive to the first housing and the second housing being in the open configuration, and a second touch surface layer configured to have a second active touch surface responsive to the first housing and the second housing being in the closed configuration, wherein the first active touch surface is configured to be smaller than the second active touch surface, wherein the first active touch surface is configured to include a touchpad area, and wherein the touchpad area is marked on the first touch surface layer by a change in surface texture on the first touch surface layer; and
wherein the touchpad area includes a touchpad activation area smaller than the touchpad area, and wherein the touchpad area is activated responsive to a user touch within the touchpad activation area; and
wherein the first touch surface layer is further configured to include a gesture area separate from the touchpad area and positioned along an outside edge of the first touch surface layer and wherein the gesture area is separate from the touchpad area by a distance greater than a width of the gesture area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the touch input device has an at least partially transparent material.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least partially transparent material includes one or more of glass and plastic.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the touch input device further comprises:
a touch sensor disposed between the first touch surface layer and the second touch surface layer, the touch sensor being configured to detect a first touch input associated with the first touch surface layer and a second touch input associated with the second touch surface layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first touch surface layer and the second touch surface layer has an at least partially transparent material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first housing includes a base portion, and wherein the touch input device extends across a substantial portion of a length of the first housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a display device supported by the second housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the touch input device is configured such that a portion of the display device is visible through the touch input device when the first housing and the second housing are in the closed configuration.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the touch input device is positioned in proximity to the display device when the first housing and second housing are in the closed configuration.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second housing includes a lid portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a notebook computer.

12. An apparatus comprising:
a first housing including a base portion;
a second housing coupled to the first housing, the first housing and the second housing being rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and
a touch input device including an at least partially transparent window supported by the first housing, wherein the at least partially transparent window extends across a substantial portion of a length of the first housing; and
wherein the touch input device further includes a first touch surface layer configured to have a first active touch surface responsive to the first housing and the second housing being in the open configuration, and a second touch surface layer configured to have a second active touch surface responsive to the first housing and the second housing being in the closed configuration, wherein the first active touch surface is configured to be smaller than the second active touch surface, wherein the first active touch surface is configured to include a touchpad area, and wherein the touchpad area is marked on the first touch surface layer by a change in surface texture on the first touch surface layer; and
wherein the touchpad area includes a touchpad activation area smaller than the touchpad area, and wherein the touchpad area is activated responsive to a user touch within the touchpad activation area; and
wherein the first touch surface layer is further configured to include a gesture area separate from the touchpad area and positioned along an outside edge of the first touch surface layer and wherein the gesture area is separate from the touchpad area by a distance greater than a width of the gesture area.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least partially transparent window includes one or more of glass and plastic.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the touch input device further comprises:
a touch sensor disposed between the first touch surface layer and the second touch surface layer, the touch sensor being configured to detect a first touch input associated with the first touch surface layer and a second touch input associated with the second touch surface layer.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a display device supported by the second housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the touch input device is configured such that a portion of the display device is visible through the at least partially transparent window when the first housing and the second housing are in the closed configuration.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the touch input device is positioned in proximity to the display device when the first housing and second housing are in the closed configuration.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second housing includes a lid portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus comprises a notebook computer.

20. An apparatus comprising:
a first housing;
a second housing coupled to the first housing, the first housing and the second housing being rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and
a touch input device including an at least partially transparent window supported by the first housing, wherein the at least partially transparent window extends across one-half or more of a length of the first housing; and
wherein the touch input device further includes a first touch surface layer configured to have a first active touch surface responsive to the first housing and the second housing being in the open configuration, and a second touch surface layer configured to have a second active touch surface responsive to the first housing and the second housing being in the closed configuration, wherein the first active touch surface is configured to be smaller than the second active touch surface, wherein the first active touch surface is configured to include a touchpad area, and wherein the touchpad area is marked on the first touch surface layer by a change in surface texture on the first touch surface layer; and
wherein the touchpad area includes a touchpad activation area smaller than the touchpad area, and wherein the touchpad area is activated responsive to a user touch within the touchpad activation area; and
wherein the first touch surface layer is further configured to include a gesture area separate from the touchpad area and positioned along an outside edge of the first touch surfa

Assignees

• Adamson Peter S
• Paek Gary
• Oakley Nicholas W
• Valavi John J
• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Adamson Peter S
• Paek Gary
• Oakley Nicholas W
• Valavi John J

Classifications

• G06F1/1616 Primary

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F2203/04804

  Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows · CPC title

• G06F3/041 Primary

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F3/0416

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title