Abstract: A suspension system for a differential-pressure touch sensitive panel suspended over force sensors, for use in either fixed or mobile devices such as point of sales terminals, kiosks, laptops, monitors, PDAs, cell phones, UMPCs and more. In one embodiment, a number of leaf springs are attached directly to the touch lens at both ends and attached directly to the underlying housing at the center, effectively pulling the leaf spring down at the center into a concave arc. The spring bias preloads the touch lens downward against the force sensors. The leaf springs bring the touch lens into a fixed state in the xy-plane and resist translation; however, the touch lens remains free to float against the bias of the leaf spring(s) without any frictional physical contact along the z-axis.

Abstract: A suspension system for a differential-pressure touch sensitive panel suspended over force sensors, for use in either fixed or mobile devices such as point of sales terminals, kiosks, laptops, monitors, PDAs, cell phones, UMPCs and more. In one embodiment, a number of leaf springs are attached directly to the touch lens at both ends and attached directly to the underlying housing at the center, effectively pulling the leaf spring down at the center into a concave arc. The spring bias preloads the touch lens downward against the force sensors. The leaf springs bring the touch lens into a fixed state in the xy-plane and resist translation; however, the touch lens remains free to float against the bias of the leaf spring(s) without any frictional physical contact along the z-axis.