Capacitance sensing electrode with integrated i/o mechanism

Abstract

A touch sensing device is disclosed. The touch sensing device includes one or more multifunctional nodes each of which represents a single touch pixel. Each multifunctional node includes a touch sensor with one or more integrated I/O mechanisms. The touch sensor and integrated I/O mechanisms share the same communication lines and I/O pins of a controller during operation of the touch sensing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-functional node within a touch sensing device, the multi-functional node comprising:
 a first sensor configured for detecting a first touch input; and   one or more secondary functional mechanisms integrated with the first sensor into a single physical unit, the one or more secondary functional mechanisms configured for detecting a second touch input;   wherein the first sensor and the one or more secondary functional mechanisms are configured for communicating with a controller to perform multiple functions based on the first touch input and the second input.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , the one or more secondary functional mechanisms comprising a haptics mechanism configured for propagating haptic feedback through the multi-functional node. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , the first sensor comprising an optical detector. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more secondary functional mechanisms are located within the confines of the first sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more secondary functional mechanisms are located underneath the first sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , wherein the single physical unit is a movable housing. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , the one or more secondary functional mechanisms comprising a dome switch. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , the first sensor comprising a capacitive touch sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , wherein the first touch input from the first sensor is configured to initiate a scrolling operation. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , wherein the second touch input from the one or more secondary functional mechanisms is configured to initiate a selection operation. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-functional node is configured with button functionality. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-functional node of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor and the one or more secondary functional mechanisms are configured for communicating with a controller over a plurality of traces in a single communication channel. 
     
     
         13 . A multi-functional node within a touch sensing device, the multi-functional node comprising:
 first sensing means for detecting a first touch input; and   one or more secondary sensing means integrated with the first sensing means into a single physical unit, the one or more secondary means for detecting a second touch input;   wherein the first sensing means and the one or more secondary sensing means are configured for communicating with a controller to perform multiple functions based on the first touch input and the second input.   
     
     
         14 . The multi-functional node of  claim 13 , the one or more secondary sensing means comprising haptics generating means for propagating haptic feedback through the multi-functional node. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-functional node of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more secondary sensing means are located within the confines of the first sensing means. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-functional node of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more secondary sensing means are located underneath the first sensing means. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-functional node of  claim 13 , wherein the single physical unit is a movable housing. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-functional node of  claim 13 , wherein the first touch input from the first sensing means is configured to initiate a scrolling operation. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-functional node of  claim 13 , wherein the second touch input from the one or more secondary sensing means is configured to initiate a selection operation. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-functional node of  claim 13 , wherein the first sensing means and the one or more secondary sensing means are configured for communicating with a controller over a plurality of traces in a single communication channel.