US 7,573,464 B2
Shape adaptable resistive touchpad
Jeffrey R. Baker, Thousand Oaks, Calif. (US); Michael Errico, Camarillo, Calif. (US); and Carlos Solis Sanchez, Oxnard, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Interlink Electronics, Inc., Camarillo, Calif. (US)
Filed on Jul. 20, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/489,922.
Prior Publication US 2008/0018609 A1, Jan. 24, 2008
Int. Cl. G06F 3/041 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 345—173 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A touchpad comprising:
a first substrate having a first surface;
a second substrate having a second surface, the second substrate positioned so that the second surface faces the first surface and the second substrate is spaced apart from the first substrate;
wherein at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate is flexible, whereby a touch to one of the first substrate and the second substrate brings a portion of the first surface into contact with the second surface;
a first resistor on the first surface, the first resistor having a narrow shape dividing the first surface into a first surface first region and a first surface second region;
a first set of conductors on the first surface along the length of the first resistor and extending from the first resistor into the first surface first region and the first surface second region, the first set of conductors in electrical contact with the first resistor and electrically isolated from one another except through the first resistor, whereby if a voltage potential is applied across the length of the first resistor, each of the first set of conductors will be at different potentials from one another;
a second resistor on the second substrate, the second resistor having a narrow shape dividing the second surface into a second surface first region and a second surface second region; and
a second set of conductors along the length of the second resistor and extending from the second resistor into the second surface first region and the second surface second region, the second set of conductors in electrical contact with the second resistor and electrically isolated from one another except through the second resistor, whereby if a voltage potential is applied across the length of the second resistor, each of the second set of conductors will be at different potentials from one another.