Nokia Corporation

Nokia Technologies Oy

Nokia Mobile Phones Limited

Juhani Tuovinen

Marko Karhiniemi

Jari Nousiainen

Pauli Laitinen

Ossi Pöllänen

Ossi P&ouml;ll&auml;nen

Jauri Manner

An apparatus includes a touchscreen keypad and one or more devices that generate a tactile response to a user of the apparatus when a key in the keypad is pressed. In order accomplish a simple construction requiring a minimum of space, the one or more devices that generate that tactile response may include at least one piezoelectric element configured to generate vibration which is forwarded to the user in response to a key of the touchscreen keypad being pressed.

Piezoelectric user interface

The disclosure relates to implementing different key types on a keypad or keyboard. The implementation can be enabled e.g. by an apparatus including a substrate () including a capacitive sensor element (), the capacitive sensor element having a first electrode () forming a first capacitor with an object touching or coming into proximity of the first electrode, wherein the capacitive sensor element is configured to generate a first signal responsive to the object touching or coming into proximity of the capacitive sensor element, a first capacitor circuit coupled to at least the first electrode, and a dome () configured to complete, responsive to the dome being depressed, an electric circuit including at least the first capacitor and the first capacitor circuit to form a second capacitor circuit, wherein the second capacitor circuit is configured to generate a second signal.

Keypad apparatus

A device comprising a piezo element includes a piezo-electric material the piezo element including a piezo actuator, and at least one piezo sensor coupled to the piezo actuator, wherein the piezo actuator and the at least one piezo sensor include a common element.

Cost efficient element for combined piezo sensor and actuator in robust and small touch screen realization and method for operation thereof

The invention relates to an apparatus () comprising a keypad (), and means for generating a tactile response to a user of the apparatus when a key in said keypad is pressed. In order accomplish a simple construction requiring a minimum of space, said means for generating a tactile response include at least one piezoelectric element () arranged to generate vibration which is forwarded to the user via a key when said key is pressed.

A sensor includes a rectangular conductive sheet. Electrical connectors are connected at each corner of the sheet. A number of non-conductive features, e.g. apertures, are formed in this sheet. In one embodiment, V-shaped features extend from near the corners of the sheet towards the centre of the sheet and then turn towards an adjacent corner. Smaller V-shaped features reside in the area between the larger features and the closest edge of the sheet. In another embodiment, a spider web formation of conductive tracks or paths is provided. This provides hardware correction of pincushion error. It reduces or eliminates the need for software correction of pincushion error.

Sensors

A pointing device that comprises a movable pointing element and a detector. The pointing element affects a magnetic field the changes of which are detected by the detector and adapted so as to point out information. The detector that produces a detection signal on the basis of which the movement of the pointing element is sensed and utilized to point out information on a display. The movable pointing element and the detector comprises means for generating a magnetic field and for detecting a magnetic field. The pointing element includes a plurality of magnetic elements placed on a perimeter of the pointing element.

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Espoo, Finland

Juhani Tuovinen