Pressure detecting user input device

摘要

A pressure sensitive device (250) and operating method (1200) thereof that detects a location and magnitude of an applied pressure. The device has a base (202) and a deformable surface (204) that enclose a deformable material that has an electrical impedance. Impedance measurements are made at multiple points along the base and the deformable surface. A contour (310, 420) of the deformable surface, caused by the applied pressure, is estimated. The position of the pressure relative to the center of the device is estimated based on contour and is interpreted as a user input specifying a direction. The amount of applied pressure is also estimated based on contour and is interpreted as a user input specifying a magnitude. The user input specifying location direction and magnitude is provided to processing for any application, such as controlling a user interface.