A TOUCH INTERFACE DEVICE HAVING AN ELECTROSTATIC MULTITOUCH SURFACE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE DEVICE
FIG13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an example touch surface having multiple electrodes and insulating layers
FIG13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an example touch surface 1300 having multiple electrodes 1302, 1304 and insulating layers 1306, 1308. The surface 1300 may be similar to the touch surface 12 of the device 10 described above. For example, the surface 1300 may be capable of perceiving touch from an operator and of generating haptic effects that are perceived by the operator. The device 1300 includes the multiple electrodes 1302, 1304 and insulating layers 1306, 1308 stacked on top one another and coupled with a screen 1310, such as a display screen or other surface of the device 10. The electrodes 1302, 1304 may be used for sensing touch of the device 10 that includes the surface 1300 and/or for generating haptic effects, as described herein. As shown in FIG13, the electrodes and insulating layers are disposed on a side of the device that an operator acts to touch. As described herein, the operator touching or acting to touch the surface 1300 may involve the operator touching the insulating layer 1308 instead of actually engaging the underlying screen 1310. The electrodes and insulating layers may be at least partially transparent, or light transmissive, so that a visual display can be seen through the touch screen 1300 by the operator, as described above. One transparent and electrically conductive material that can used for such layers is Indium Tin Oxide, ITO.
cross-sectional view
1300
surface
12
surface
1302
electrodes
1306
insulating layers
1310
screen
1308
insulating layer
1102
switches switch
['1. A touch interface device comprising: a touch surface; and elongated electrodes coupled with the touch surface, the electrodes including a first electrode oriented along a first direction and a second electrode oriented along a second direction that is substantially parallel to the first direction, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to receive haptic actuation electric potentials of opposite polarities to generate an electrostatic force that is imparted on the one or more appendages of the operator that touch the touch surface above the first and second electrodes.']