'Force' input technology patent filed by Apple
With touchscreen and touchpad technology, the biggest limitation was the inability to detect 'force' inputs. PDAs that used either technology featured limited control and hence, there arose a requirement to develop a new technology that focuses on force-sensitive response.
In line with this requirement, Apple Inc has succeeded in developing the first 'Force and Location Sensitive Display' technology that will add a new dimension to user control of devices. The patent has already been filed, and this force-sensitive detection technology follows closely on the heels of a patent filed by Apple the previous week, which was titled - Force Imaging Input Device and System.
Apple is all set to add to its portfolio of multi-touch responsive devices, another state-of-the-art technology that plugs the gap left by touchscreen and touchpad devices, which track only the location of a user's touch through his finger or a stylus.
Like a spokesperson from Apple explains,
A first transparent substrate (having first and second sets of conductive traces oriented in a first direction), a second transparent substrate (having a third set of conductive traces oriented in a second direction) and a plurality of deformable members (e.g., rubber beads) arranged between the first and second transparent substrates.
The first set of conductive traces along with the conductive traces from the second transparent element will offer a capacitance signal. This is an indication of the location of a user's touch on the display. At the same time, the second set of conductive traces along with the conductive traces of the second transparent element will offer a capacitance signal that will indicate the magnitude of force, which the display element is subject to.
The new technology is expected to be incorporated in future versions of the iPhone or Apple's Newton PDA. The person behind the recent patent filing is Apple engineer Steven Hotelling. The patent that was filed the previous week has been credited to Hotelling and another engineer, Brian Huppi.
Via: Appleinsider
