Systems for dynamically illuminating touch sensors
A system for and method of illuminating a contact (or touch) device such as a fingerprint sensor are disclosed. In an exemplary system, a touch sensor system has a surface or contact area and comprises a substantially transparent molding positioned over the contact area and a dynamic illuminator positioned to show through the molding. The dynamic illuminator is for indicating a status of the touch sensor system, such as power on, standby, error, low power, an input mode for receiving user input, or a selected operating mode. The touch sensor system includes any one of a fingerprint sensor, a miniature joystick, a touch-sensitive navigation disc, a touch-sensing navigation pad, an N-way pressure-sensitive directional control, to name a few touch sensor devices. In one embodiment, when the touch sensor comprises a fingerprint sensor, the operating mode is for emulating an input device such as a scroll wheel, a push button, a steering wheel, a joy stick, a pressure button, and a mouse. The operating mode also includes an authentication mode for authenticating an identity of a user. Preferably, the dynamic illuminator includes light sources and multiple light channels, colored or not, that are configured to be illuminated in multiple configurations, where each configuration corresponds to a status of the touch sensor system.
1 . A touch sensor system having a contact area and comprising:
a. a substantially transparent molding positioned over the surface; and
b. a dynamic illuminator positioned to show through the molding.
2 . The touch sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic illuminator is for indicating a status of the touch sensor system.
3 . The touch sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the status is any one of power on, standby, error, and low power.
4 . The touch sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the status corresponds to an input mode for receiving user input.
5 . The touch sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the touch sensor system comprises any one of a joystick module, a touch-sensitive navigation disc, a touch sensing navigation pad, and a pressure-sensitive directional control.
6 . The touch sensor system of claim 2 , wherein the touch sensor system comprises a fingerprint sensor.
7 . The touch sensor system of claim 6 , wherein the status corresponds to an operating mode of the touch sensor system.
8 . The touch sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the operating mode is for emulating a selectable one of a scroll wheel, a push button, a steering wheel, a joy stick, a pressure button, and a mouse.
9 . The touch sensor system of claim 7 , wherein the operating mode comprises an authentication mode for authenticating an identity of a user.
10 . The touch sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic illuminator comprises one or more light channels configured to be illuminated in multiple configurations, each configuration corresponding to a status of the touch sensor system.
11 . The touch sensor system of claim 10 , wherein each configuration from the multiple configurations corresponds to an intensity of one or more of the one or more light channels.
12 . The touch sensor system of claim 10 , wherein each configuration from the multiple configurations comprises an illumination of the one or more light channels in a corresponding predetermined sequence.
13 . The touch sensor system of claim 10 , wherein each configuration from the multiple configurations comprises an illumination of a corresponding predetermined combination of light channels from the one or more light channels.
14 . The touch sensor system of claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more light channels is a different color.
15 . The touch sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a substrate having a metal surface disposed below the molding and for reflecting illumination from the dynamic illuminator to a user.
16 . The touch sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic illuminator surrounds the contact area.
17 . The touch sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the molding comprises a light channel.
18 . A system comprising:
a. a means for detecting contact to a surface of a contact device; and
b. a means for indicating a status of the contact device.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the means for indicating a status comprises a visual display.
20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the visual display comprises any one or more of a light emitting diode, an illuminated optical fiber, and an illuminated optical ribbon.
21 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the means for detecting contact comprises any one of a joystick module, a touch-sensitive navigation disc, a touch sensing navigation pad, and a pressure-sensitive directional control.
22 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the means for detecting contact comprises a fingerprint sensor.
23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a fingerprint swipe sensor.
24 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the fingerprint sensor comprises a fingerprint placement sensor.
25 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the status is any one of power on, standby, error, and low power.
26 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the status corresponds to an input mode in which the system awaits contact to the contact area.
27 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the status corresponds to an emulation mode.
28 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the status corresponds to an authentication mode.
29 . A method of fabricating an electronic device comprising:
a. forming a touch sensor having a contact surface;
b. forming a dynamic illuminator for indicating a status of the touch sensor; and
c. forming a substantially transparent molding over the surface and the dynamic illuminator.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the touch sensor comprises any one of a joystick module, a touch-sensitive navigation disc, a touch-sensing navigation pad, and a pressure-sensitive directional control.
31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the touch sensor is a fingerprint sensor.
32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is a fingerprint swipe sensor.
33 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the fingerprint sensor is a fingerprint placement sensor.
34 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the status is any one of power on, standby, error, and low power.
35 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the status corresponds to an operating mode of the touch sensor.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the operating mode is an emulation mode for emulating any one of a scroll wheel, a push button, a steering wheel, a joy stick, a pressure button, a key pad, and a mouse.
37 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the operating mode comprises an authentication mode.
38 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the dynamic illuminator comprises one or more light channels configured to indicate a status of the touch sensor.
39 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the touch sensor is formed on a substrate, the method further comprising forming a metal surface below the molding for reflecting illumination from the dynamic illuminator to a user.
40 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the molding comprises a light channel.