Single-layer touchpad having touch zones

Abstract

A single-layer touchpad comprised of a relatively clear substrate, a first active electrode disposed thereon, and a sense electrode disposed thereon, wherein the first active electrode and the sense electrode are comprised of a conductive material, wherein the first active electrode in combination with the sense electrode are used to detect the presence of a pointing object in a zone, determining in which zone the pointing object has been detected, or the simultaneous presence of multiple pointing objects in multiple zones, and wherein the first active electrode and/or the sense electrode are made sufficiently visible so that a pattern is visually detectable to the user when looking at the display screen.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A single-layer touchpad for providing input to a device having a display screen, said single-layer touchpad comprised of: 
 a first active electrode disposed in at least two discrete regions of a touch-sensitive area, wherein the first active electrode is generally transparent when disposed over a display screen;    a sense electrode disposed adjacent to the first active electrode in the at least two discrete regions, wherein the sense electrode is generally transparent when disposed over the display screen; and    a touchpad sensing circuit coupled to the first active electrode and to the sense electrode, wherein the touchpad sensing circuit determines when a pointing object makes contact in the touch-sensitive area, and wherein the touchpad sensing circuit determines in which of the at least two discrete regions the pointing object has made contact.