Patent ID: 6680731
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: G06F,H05K

Abstract:
A touchpad for providing data input to a computer system by tracking movement of an object in contact with the touchpad, and which includes a flexible touch-sensitive surface that conforms to arcuate surfaces such that the flexible touch-sensitive surface is non-planar, said touchpad comprising:at least two flexible and non-conductive sheets having at least three touchpad sensing electrodes disposed thereon, wherein the at least two flexible and non-conductive sheets overlap such that the at least three touchpad sensing electrodes form a grid which defines a touch-sensitive area of the touchpad, and wherein the at least two flexible and non-conductive sheets can bend to thereby conform to an arcuate surface such that the flexible touch-sensitive surface is not in a single plane, wherein movement of an object is detected and followed across the arcuate surface; a printed circuit board; and touchpad control circuitry which is mounted on the printed circuit board, wherein the touchpad control circuitry is electrically coupled to the touchpad sensing electrodes so as to receive sensing information therefrom in order to detect contact of the object with the touchpad, track movement of the object across the touchpad, and removal of the object from the touchpad to thereby perform such a function as cursor control for the computer system, and wherein the touchpad control circuitry generates a plurality of signals that correspond to data input from the touchpad.