Continuous touch input over multiple independent surfaces
Touch input devices are provided with the capability of sensing a capacitive load in a two-dimensional array while also being able to sense deflection or movement of the input device in multiple different locations under an input pad. A touch input device can beneficially be used in a remote control device and can be used with multiple input buttons or platforms overlaying multiple capacitive touch input regions on a capacitive touch sensor substrate. Movement and position of a capacitive load can be tracked and calculated via output signals from a set of electrodes or other capacitance sensors with irregular shapes, with inconsistent distances from the capacitive load, and which are positioned below variable materials and material compositions. Thus, tracking gestures and taps can be detected using the capacitance sensing devices, and deflection input can be detected using switches or other actuators situated under the capacitance sensing devices.
1. An electronic controller, comprising:
a housing defining an internal cavity; and
a capacitive touch input assembly disposed within the internal cavity, the capacitive touch input assembly comprising:
an input pad;
a single-piece substrate positioned beneath the input pad and configured to sense touch inputs at the input pad;
a first switch positioned beneath a central portion of the single-piece substrate; and
a second switch positioned beneath an outer portion of the single-piece substrate, the second switch being independently actuatable relative to the first switch in response to a touch input positioned over the second switch at the input pad.
2. The electronic controller of claim 1 , wherein the input pad comprises a central input pad spaced apart from an outer input pad.
3. The electronic controller of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first adhesive layer adhering the central input pad to the central portion of the single-piece substrate; and
a second adhesive layer adhering the outer input pad to the outer portion of the single-piece substrate, the second adhesive layer being separate from the first adhesive layer.
4. The electronic controller of claim 3 , wherein the central input pad and the first adhesive layer define a gap relative to the outer input pad and the second adhesive layer.
5. The electronic controller of claim 1 , further comprising a single-piece adhesive layer adhering the input pad to the single-piece substrate.
6. The electronic controller of claim 1 , further comprising a set of supports positioned between the single-piece substrate and the housing.
7. The electronic controller of claim 6 , wherein the set of supports is configured to isolate bending or deflection of the input pad to locations correlating to the touch inputs.
8. The electronic controller of claim 6 , wherein at least one support of the set of supports is positioned laterally between the first switch and the second switch.
9. The electronic controller of claim 1 , wherein the input pad comprises a touch input surface having at least one of a convex portion or concave portion.
10. The electronic controller of claim 1 , wherein the input pad is entirely flat.
11. A touch input device, comprising:
a housing with an internal cavity; and
a capacitive touch input device disposed in the internal cavity, the capacitive touch input device including:
a central platform;
an outer platform disposed around the central platform;
a central substrate positioned beneath the central platform, the central substrate being configured to sense touches at the central platform;
an outer substrate positioned beneath the outer platform, the outer substrate being configured to sense touches at the outer platform;
a central adhesive layer positioned between the central platform and the central substrate;
an outer adhesive layer positioned between the outer platform and the outer substrate,
a first switch positioned beneath the central substrate, the first switch being actuatable in response to movement of the central platform relative to the outer platform; and
a second switch positioned beneath the outer substrate, the second switch being actuatable in response to movement of the outer platform relative to the central platform.
12. The touch input device of claim 11 , further comprising a tactile surface feature disposed on at least one of the central platform or the outer platform.
13. The touch input device of claim 12 , wherein the tactile surface feature comprises multiple tactile surface features disposed on the outer platform and the central platform.
14. The touch input device of claim 12 , wherein the tactile surface feature is aligned with the first switch on the central platform.
15. The touch input device of claim 11 , wherein the central substrate and the outer substrate are separated from each other by a gap.
16. The touch input device of claim 11 , wherein the central adhesive layer and the outer adhesive layer are separated from each other by a gap.
17. The touch input device of claim 11 , wherein the movement of the outer platform is configured to be substantially isolated from the central platform.
18. A touch sensitive control assembly, comprising:
a housing having an internal cavity; and
a touch input assembly disposed within the internal cavity, the touch input assembly including:
an input surface movably disposed within the internal cavity;
a single-piece substrate positioned below the input surface and comprising a non-rectangular region including a central set of touch-sensitive electrodes and a perimeter set of touch-sensitive electrodes positioned around the central set of touch-sensitive electrodes; and
a central switch positioned beneath the single-piece substrate, the central switch being operable via a touch input applied to the input surface above the central set of touch-sensitive electrodes,
wherein each touch-sensitive electrode of the central set of touch-sensitive electrodes and the perimeter set of touch-sensitive electrodes is spaced apart relative to an adjacent touch-sensitive electrode by non-conductive material.
19. The touch sensitive control assembly of claim 18 , further comprising at least one perimeter switch disposed beneath the single-piece substrate and actuatable in response to a force applied to the input surface above at least one touch-sensitive electrode of the perimeter set of touch-sensitive electrodes.
20. The touch sensitive control assembly of claim 18 , wherein each touch-sensitive electrode of the central set of touch-sensitive electrodes and the perimeter set of touch-sensitive electrodes includes at least one curved edge.