Depressable touch sensor

Abstract

An input device and a method for providing an input device are provided. The input device assembly includes a base, a sensor support, and a guide mechanism attached to the base and the sensor support. The guide mechanism allows for only substantially uniform translation of the sensor support towards the base in response to a force biasing the sensor support substantially towards the base.

1 . An input device assembly comprising:
 a base;   a sensor support; and   a guide mechanism attached to the base and the sensor support, wherein the guide mechanism allows for only substantially uniform translation of the sensor support towards the base in response to a force biasing the sensor support substantially towards the base.   
     
     
         2 . The input device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the guide mechanism comprises a flexure assembly designed to bend in a bending region, the flexure assembly having a first flexure spring with a first substantially planar portion in the bending region and a second flexure spring having a second substantially planar portion in the bending region, wherein the first and second substantially planar portions overlap, are substantially parallel to each other, and are separated by a distance. 
     
     
         3 . The input device assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the flexure assembly is configured such that when the sensor support translates towards the base in response to the force biasing the sensor support substantially towards the base, the first and second substantially planar portions remain substantially parallel to each other and the distance separating the first and second substantially planar portions remains substantially constant. 
     
     
         4 . The input device assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the flexure assembly further comprises a spacing structure interconnecting the first and second flexure springs. 
     
     
         5 . The input device assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a switch, wherein the switch is actuated when the sensor support translates towards the base by at least an actuation distance. 
     
     
         6 . The input device assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a switch adjustment mechanism, the switch adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the actuation distance 
     
     
         7 . An input device assembly comprising:
 a base;   a sensor support configured to support a touch sensor; and   a flexure assembly comprising:
 a first flexure member affixed to the base and having a first substantially planar portion; 
 a second flexure member affixed to the sensor support and having a second substantially planar portion and; and 
 at least one spacing structure interconnecting the first and second flexure members and forming a space between the first and second substantially planar portions such that the first and second substantially planar portions are substantially parallel and overlap, 
 wherein the flexure assembly is configured to generate an opposing force in response to a displacement of the sensor support towards the base. 
   
     
     
         8 . The input device assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first flexure member is connected to the base at a first interface, and the second flexure member is connected to the sensor support at a second interface, and wherein the first and second interfaces do not overlap. 
     
     
         9 . The input device assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the entire flexure assembly is positioned within a combined footprint of the touch sensor, the sensor support, and the base. 
     
     
         10 . The input device assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a switch, and wherein the switch is actuated when the sensor support is displaced towards the base by an actuation distance. 
     
     
         11 . The input device assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the base comprises an opening arranged such that when the sensor support is displaced towards the base by the actuation distance, the flexure assembly moves into the opening. 
     
     
         12 . The input device assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one spacing structure comprises a first spacing structure and a second spacing structure, the first spacing structure being adjacent to the first interface and the second spacing structure being adjacent to the second interface, the first and second spacing structures configured such that a gap distance of the space between the first and second flexure members remains substantially constant when the sensor support is displaced towards the base by an actuation distance. 
     
     
         13 . The input device assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a length of the first substantially planar portion is at least half of a length of the sensor support, and wherein a length of the second substantially planar portion is at least half of the length of the sensor support. 
     
     
         14 . A depressable touch pad device configured to sense objects in a sensing region comprising:
 a base;   a sensor support;   a capacitive touch sensor configured to detect input objects in the sensing region physically coupled to the sensor support, the capacitive touch sensor comprising:
 a sensor substrate; 
 a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on the sensor substrate; and 
 a processing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes; and 
   a flexure assembly positioned within a combined footprint of the base, the sensor support, and the capacitive touch sensor, the flexure assembly comprising:
 a first flexure member affixed to the base at a first interface, the first flexure member having a first substantially planar portion; 
 a second flexure member affixed to the sensor support at a second interface, the second flexure member having a second substantially planar portion, wherein the first and second interfaces do not overlap; and 
 first and second spacing structures interconnecting the first and second flexure members such that the first and second planar portions are separated by a separation distance, are substantially parallel to each other, and overlap each other, and wherein the first spacing structure is adjacent to the first interface and the second spacing structure is adjacent to the second interface, 
 wherein in response to a displacement of the capacitive touch sensor towards the base, the first and second flexure members flex and generate an opposing force and the first and second spacing structures keep the separation distance substantially constant and the first and second substantially planar portions substantially parallel. 
   
     
     
         15 . The depressable touch pad device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a switch configured to be actuated when the touch sensor is moved an actuation distance towards the base; and   a switch adjustment mechanism, the switch adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the actuation distance.   
     
     
         16 . A method for providing an input device assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a base;   providing a sensor support; and   providing a flexure assembly designed to bend in a bending region and attached to the base and the sensor support, wherein the flexure assembly allows for only substantially uniform translation of the sensor support towards the base in response to a force biasing the sensor support substantially towards the base.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the providing the flexure assembly designed to bend in the bending region and attached to the base and the sensor support comprises:
 attaching a first flexure spring to the base such that a substantially planar portion of the first flexure spring is in the bending region; and   attaching a second flexure spring to the sensor support such that a substantially planar portion of the second flexure spring is in the bending region and overlaps the substantially planar portion of the of the first flexure spring,   wherein the second flexure spring is physically coupled to the first flexure spring, and wherein the substantially planar portion of the second flexure spring is substantially parallel to and is separated by a distance from the substantially planar portion of the first flexure spring.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the attaching the first flexure spring to the base and the attaching the second flexure spring to the sensor support each comprises using a laser weld, a rivet, a screw, or an adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising physically coupling a capacitive touch sensor to the sensor support, the capacitive touch sensor configured to detect input objects in a sensing region, the capacitive touch sensor comprising:
 a sensor substrate;   a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on the sensor substrate; and   a processing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a switch communicatively coupled to the processing system and arranged such that the switch is actuated when the sensor support translates towards the base by at least an actuation distance.