DATA INPUT DEVICE WITH ENCODING OF ACTIVATION DIRECTION

摘要

A data input device comprises a first electrode structure comprising a first collector electrode and a first plurality of finger electrodes extending from said first collector electrode and a second electrode structure comprising a second collector electrode and a second plurality of finger electrodes extending from said second collector electrode, said first and second electrode structures being arranged on a first carrier layer in such a way, that in an active area of said data input device, said first plurality of finger electrodes extend between said second plurality in an interdigitating arrangement. The device further comprises at least one shunting element arranged in said active area of said data input device on a second carrier layer in facing relationship to said interdigitating arrangement of said first and second plurality of finger electrodes such that, if said first and second carrier layers are pressed together in response to a force acting on the data input device, said at least one shunting element establishes an electrical contact between respective adjacent finger electrodes of said first and said second plurality of finger electrodes. According to the invention at least one of said first electrode structure, second electrode structure or shunting element comprises at least one series of resistive patches having different electrical resistances, said resistive patches of said at least one series being arranged along said active area in an order of increasing electrical resistance in such a way that the electrical resistance between respective terminals of the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure varies monotonically if an activation of the input device propagates monotonically along said series of resistive patches.