Systems and methods for illuminating a track pad system

Abstract

Various implementations of a track pad system include an array of force sensors disposed between a base surface and a touch interface plate. The touch interface plate passes touch forces incident on an upper surface thereof to one or more of the force sensors in the array. At least one light source is disposed adjacent the touch interface plate such that the light from the light source is directed through the touch interface plate to illuminate at least a portion of the upper surface of the touch interface plate. One or more icons may be disposed adjacent the illuminated portion of the touch interface plate.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A track pad system comprising:
 a two-dimensional array of force sensors arranged to have a length and a width, the two-dimensional array of force sensors being disposed on a first surface of a circuit board;   a touch interface plate disposed over the two-dimensional array of force sensors, the touch interface plate comprising a lower surface disposed facing the two-dimensional array of force sensors and an upper surface opposite the lower surface, wherein the touch interface plate passes touch forces incident on the upper surface through to at least two of the force sensors of the two-dimensional array of force sensors, and wherein the lower surface of the touch interface plate is spaced apart from the first surface of the circuit board;   at least one light source disposed on the first surface of the circuit board and adjacent a lower surface of the touch interface plate such that at least a portion of the touch interface plate is illuminated; and   a feedback generator connected to the circuit board and coupled to the lower surface of the touch interface plate, wherein the feedback generator generates at least one of a tactile or audible feedback that is amplified by the touch interface plate.   
     
     
         27 . The track pad system of  claim 26 , wherein a portion of the touch interface plate is transparent or translucent and the at least one light source directs light through the lower surface of the touch interface plate to illuminate the upper surface of the touch interface plate to create the illuminated portion of the touch interface plate. 
     
     
         28 . The track pad system of  claim 26 , further comprising at least one hole in the touch interface plate, wherein the at least one light source is disposed adjacent the at least one hole to shine light through that at least one hole to create the illuminated portion of the touch interface plate. 
     
     
         29 . The track pad system of  claim 26 , wherein one or more icons are disposed adjacent the illuminated portion of the touch interface plate. 
     
     
         30 . The track pad system of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more icons are disposed on an overlay that is disposed adjacent the illuminated portion of the touch interface plate. 
     
     
         31 . The track pad system of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more icons are etched adjacent the illuminated portion of the touch interface plate. 
     
     
         32 . The track pad system of  claim 26 , further comprising one or more light altering films disposed adjacent at least one surface of the touch interface plate. 
     
     
         33 . The track pad system of  claim 26 , wherein the light source comprises a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode, wherein the first light emitting diode is disposed adjacent the lower surface of the touch interface plate and the second light emitting diode is disposed adjacent the lower surface of the touch interface plate and spaced apart from the first light emitting diode. 
     
     
         34 . The track pad system of  claim 26 , further comprising a processor in electronic communication with the two-dimensional array of force sensors. 
     
     
         35 . The track pad system of  claim 34 , wherein the processor executes computer program instructions for:
 receiving force information from one or more force sensors; and   determining from the force information a force position along the width and length and a corresponding force magnitude, the force position identifying the location of the touch force on the upper surface of the touch interface plate.   
     
     
         36 . The track pad system of  claim 34 , wherein the processor executes computer program instructions for adjusting an intensity of the light source in response to ambient lighting conditions. 
     
     
         37 . The track pad system of  claim 36 , wherein the processor executes computer program instructions for adjusting an intensity of the light source in response to the force magnitude detected by the one or more force sensors. 
     
     
         38 . The track pad system of  claim 35 , wherein the processor executes computer program instructions for adjusting an intensity of the light source based on the location of the touch force detected by the one or more force sensors. 
     
     
         39 . The track pad system of  claim 34 , wherein the circuit board includes the processor and light source. 
     
     
         40 . The track pad system of  claim 26 , wherein one or more of the force sensors change at least one electrical property in response to forces applied to the touch interface plate. 
     
     
         41 . The track pad system of  claim 40 , wherein the force sensors comprise at least one of a mechanical sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, a magnetic sensor, an optical fiber sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a silicon sensor, and a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         42 . The track pad system of  claim 41 , wherein the force sensors comprise microelectromechanical (MEMS) force sensors. 
     
     
         43 . The track pad system of  claim 42 , wherein the MEMS sensors are structure-based piezo-resistive sensors. 
     
     
         44 . The track pad system of  claim 26 , wherein the two-dimensional array of force sensors comprises a shape of a rectangle, circle, oval, square, or triangle. 
     
     
         45 . The track pad system of  claim 35 , wherein the feedback generator provides an audible tick depending on the force magnitude and tactile feedback depending on the force position. 
     
     
         46 . The track pad system of  claim 45 , wherein the audible tick and/or tactile feedback is proportional to at least one of the force magnitude or force position. 
     
     
         47 . The track pad system of  claim 34 , further comprising a memory, wherein the memory causes the processor to send a control message to a system selected from a plurality of systems, wherein the control message is selected from a plurality of control messages by the processor. 
     
     
         48 . The track pad system of  claim 47 , wherein the system is selected from the plurality of systems depending upon the force magnitude and the control message is selected from a plurality of control messages depending at least partially upon the force position along the width and length. 
     
     
         49 . The track pad system of  claim 34 , wherein the processor executes computer-executable instructions for activating or deactivating the track pad system in response to one or more force sensors of the two-dimensional array of force sensors receiving a force input over a certain threshold. 
     
     
         50 . The track pad system of  claim 49 , wherein activation includes turning on the light source and/or the processor responding to a force input received by one or more force sensors of the two-dimensional array of force sensors after receiving the force input over the certain threshold. 
     
     
         51 . The track pad system of  claim 49 , wherein deactivation comprises turning off the light source and/or the processor ceasing to respond to force inputs received after receiving the force input over the certain threshold.