Peratech Limited

Electrotextiles Company Limited

John Burkitt

David Lee Sandbach

Stuart Mark Walkington

Christopher Chapman

Phillipe Georges Crispin

Andrew Deakin

Apparatus for detecting the position of the mechanical interaction is disclosed. A first fabric conducting layer () has electrically conducting fibers, electrically conducting tracks () and terminals () connectable to a circuit. A second fabric layer () has conducting fibers and insulating fibers. A third separating layer () is constructed from an insulator with openings to allow conduction to occur. A forth fabric conducting layer () also has electrically conducting fibers, electrically conducting tracks () and terminals connectable to a circuit. The second fabric () is a knitted fabric having a substantially smooth back () and an irregular front (). The knitted fabric is positioned such that the irregular surface is in contact with the first conducting layer and the smooth surface is in contact with the separating layer ().

Position detection

A sensor having a three layer construction comprising a first knitted conductive textile plane, a second conductive textile plane and an intermediate separating plane penetrable by the first knitted conductive textile plane to allow the first conductive textile plane and the second conductive textile plane to make electrical contact under a mechanical interaction. The intermediate separating plane defines structural endpoints from which the first knitted conductive textile plane deforms towards the second conductive textile plane under a mechanical interaction. The first knitted conductive textile plane has conductive yarn knitted to form a repeating pattern of stitches each comprising a stitch looping portion SLP having a looping portion footprint LPF. Within the sensor, there is at least one of a plurality of described dimensional relationships between stitches of the first knitted conductive textile plane and structural endpoints of the intermediate separating plane.

Knitted sensor

A tactile feedback simulating fabrication for use with an input device provides flexible mouldings ( ) locatable above detection positions. Flexible mouldings ( ) provide tactile feedback simulating a key-press. Each of the mouldings ( ) defines a top portion ( ) and a flexible side wall ( ). A flexible fabric layer ( ) is attached to the flexible mouldings thereby significantly enhancing the durability of these mouldings.

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Woking, United Kingdom

John Burkitt