Resistive touch pad with multiple regions of sensitivity

摘要

A touch pad for a data processing system that includes a first film and an electrically conductive first thin film above the first film, a plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots above the first thin film, a second electrically conductive thin film above the plurality of spacer dots, and a second film above the second thin film. The density of spacer dots above the first thin film is non-uniform. In one implementation, the first film is a ceramic, the second film is a flexible polymer, and the first and second thin films are a metal-oxide compound. In one embodiment, the spacer dot density is in a first range over a first portion of the first film and in a second range over a second portion of the first film. The second portion of the first film may define a signature box suitable for receiving a user's signature.

主权项

1. A touch pad for a data processing system, comprising:
a surface; a first electrically conductive thin film above the surface; a first plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots above the first electrically conductive thin film, wherein the first plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots has a first density; a second plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots above the first electrically conductive thin film, wherein the second plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots has a second density, and wherein the first density is different from the second density, wherein the second plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots is non-overlapping with the first plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots; and a second electrically conductive thin film above both the first plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots and the second plurality of electrically non-conductive spacer dots.