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Apple Files for Touch And Force Sensitive Display Patent

by , 2:50 PM EDT, October 11th, 2007

A patent, 2007/0236466, filed by Apple in May and recently posted on October 11th with the U.S. Patent office proposes a mechanism for detecting both the location and force applied to a touch sensitive display.

The force measurement mechanism utilizes rubber beads between transparent conductive traces. Apparently as the beads deform, a capacitance proportional to the force is generated, a capacitance that can be measured. "When used with a display element (e.g., a LCD or CRT), an input-output unit capable of both location sensing and force sensing operations is provided," the application stated.

The patent was filed on behalf of Apple Computer by the intellectual property firm in Houston of Wong, Cabello, et al, and the inventor is listed as Steve P. Hotelling.


Image file from patent

As Apple moves into new, mouseless UI development with handheld computers, it's possible that new mechanisms like this could form the basis for new interface protocols.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Sir Harry Flashman Posts: 787 Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:32 pm Subject: Mouse?

Hmmm, a MightyMouse II that uses this technology instead of a scroll wheel?


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Close Name:Guest
Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:45 pm Subject: What??

Last time I checked, no mouse has a built in display.


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Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:32 pm Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
Last time I checked, no mouse has a built in display.


Not yet.


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Close Name:Sir Harry Flashman Posts: 787 Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:55 pm Subject: Thinking outside the scroll wheel

Quote
gslusher wrote:
Quote
Guest wrote:
Last time I checked, no mouse has a built in display.


Not yet.


I was thinking of it more as an input device than a mouse with a view.

Instead a mechanical mouse ball that can get dirty (don't go there Bosco) you could have a touch surface for scrolling and such. More than current devices such as for drawing, this would be a small device to replaces the mouse.


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Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:17 pm Subject: Re: Thinking outside the scroll wheel

Quote
Sir Harry Flashman wrote:

I was thinking of it more as an input device than a mouse with a view.

Instead a mechanical mouse ball that can get dirty (don't go there Bosco) you could have a touch surface for scrolling and such. More than current devices such as for drawing, this would be a small device to replaces the mouse.


You mean like a trackpad?


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Close Name:Sir Harry Flashman Posts: 787 Joined: 08 Feb 2007
Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:33 pm Subject: Yeah

Quote
gslusher wrote:
You mean like a trackpad?


Yes, but more up-to-date with technology. Kind of like an iPhone pinch or flick.


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