Touch-sensitive display method and apparatus
A portable electronic device comprises at least one force sensor configured to generate a force signal based at least in part on a force applied to a touch-sensitive display and a processor configured to receive the force signal and to provide a feedback signal when the force exceeds a force threshold. The at least one force sensor may be integrated into the touch-sensitive display.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a touch-sensitive display including a layer, the layer comprising:
a touch sensor disposed on a substrate; and
a force sensor disposed on the substrate and configured to generate a force signal based at least in part on a force applied to the touch-sensitive display; and
a processor configured to receive the force signal and provide a feedback signal when the force exceeds a force threshold,
wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch sensor members and the force sensor is disposed in gaps between the touch sensor members.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to provide tactile feedback in response to receiving the feedback signal.
3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is actuated to move the touch-sensitive display relative to a housing of the portable electronic device when the feedback signal is received.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor provides the feedback signal when a location of the touch on the touch-sensitive display is associated with a selectable feature displayed on the touch-sensitive display and the force signal exceeds the force threshold.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a time duration of the touch and wherein the feedback signal is provided when the time duration is less than a specific length of time.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the touch-sensitive display is configured to provide a visual indicator associated with a location of the force when the force is below the force threshold.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor is distributed in a pattern within the layer of the touch-sensitive display.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the layer comprises a plurality of discrete force sensors disposed in the layer.
9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor comprises a continuous serpentine pattern.
10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is configured to perform a function associated with a location of a touch on the touch-sensitive display when the force of the touch exceeds the force threshold.
11. A method comprising:
detecting via a touch sensor a touch at a location on a touch-sensitive display, the touch sensitive display having a layer comprising the touch sensor disposed on a substrate and a force sensor disposed on the substrate, by utilizing the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch sensor members and the force sensor is disposed in gaps between the touch sensor members;
determining a force of the touch in response to a signal from the force sensor; and
providing feedback to the touch-sensitive display when the force of the touch exceeds a force threshold.
12. The method of claim 11 , comprising providing a visual indicator associated with the location when the force is below the force threshold.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining the force of the touch and the location of the touch and sending a feedback signal to an actuator to provide the tactile feedback utilizing the touch-sensitive display.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein feedback is not provided when
the force is below the force threshold.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a time duration of the touch and providing the tactile feedback when the time duration is less than a specific length of time.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising performing a function associated with the location when the force of the touch exceeds the force threshold.
17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer-readable code, which when executed by at least one processor of an electronic device, causes the electronic device to:
detect via a touch sensor a touch at a location on a touch-sensitive display, the touch sensitive display having a layer comprising the touch sensor disposed on a substrate and a force sensor disposed on the substrate, by utilizing the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch sensor members and the force sensor is disposed in gaps between the touch sensor members;
determine a force of the touch in response to a signal from the force sensor; and
provide feedback to the touch-sensitive display when the force of the touch exceeds a force threshold.
18. A touch-sensitive display comprising:
a display; and
a layer disposed on the touch-sensitive display, the layer comprising a touch sensor disposed on a substrate to detect a touch and determine a location of the touch on the touch-sensitive display, and a force sensor disposed on the substrate to generate a force feedback signal based on a force applied to the touch-sensitive display when the touch is detected,
wherein the touch sensor comprises a plurality of touch sensor members and the force sensor is disposed in gaps between the touch sensor members.
19. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18 , wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor.
20. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18 , wherein the touch sensor and the force sensor are formed during the same process.
21. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18 , wherein the touch sensor and the force sensor are formed of the same material.
22. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18 , wherein the force sensor comprises a continuous serpentine pattern.
23. The touch-sensitive display of claim 18 , wherein a function associated with a location of a touch on the touch-sensitive display is performed when the force of the touch exceeds the force threshold.