Abstract: A piezoelectric touch device is provided. According to a first aspect, a piezoelectric touch device comprises: a conductive support structure comprising an inseparable section as a bridge separated by a first opening; a piezoelectric element configured to provide a touch sensing and a haptic feedback; connection pads configured to form an electrically connected circuit for the piezoelectric element, wherein the piezoelectric element is electrically connected to the connection pads, and wherein the bridge comprises one of the connection pads and the conductive support structure comprises another of the connection pads; a second opening next to the another connection pad allowing the piezoelectric element to bend freely. The piezoelectric touch device for touch sensing and haptic feedback may be consequently manufactured with an improved manufacturability.

Abstract: A piezoelectric touch device is provided. According to a first aspect, a piezoelectric touch device comprises: a conductive support structure comprising an inseparable section as a bridge separated by a first opening; a piezoelectric element configured to provide a touch sensing and a haptic feedback; connection pads configured to form an electrically connected circuit for the piezoelectric element, wherein the piezoelectric element is electrically connected to the connection pads, and wherein the bridge comprises one of the connection pads and the conductive support structure comprises another of the connection pads; a second opening next to the another connection pad allowing the piezoelectric element to bend freely. The piezoelectric touch device for touch sensing and haptic feedback may be consequently manufactured with an improved manufacturability.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a light guide. A first light input section receives light in a first direction into said light guide. First direction-dependent outcoupling structures selectively couple out light propagating in said first direction in said light guide. A second light input section receives light in a second direction into said light guide. Said second direction is different than said first direction. Second direction-dependent outcoupling structures selectively couple out light propagating in said second direction in said light guide.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A device for detecting the likelihood of the presence of at least one human finger on a surface, and a method of using the device in the user interface of a machine, device or system. The device comprises at least one element having piezoelectric characteristics, located under a surface, the element arranged in the device in such a manner that a force when exerted on the surface, such as when the surface is pressed by finger, is transferred to mechanical stress of the element, the element then producing a voltage output in response to the mechanical stress. Also included are means for measuring the voltage output in a predefined time period and means for determining the degree of stability of the measured voltage output, and configured to indicate whether or not the degree of stability shows that the measured voltage output is likely to be a human finger or not.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a light guide. A first light input section receives light in a first direction into said light guide. First direction-dependent outcoupling structures selectively couple out light propagating in said first direction in said light guide. A second light input section receives light in a second direction into said light guide. Said second direction is different than said first direction. Second direction-dependent outcoupling structures selectively couple out light propagating in said second direction in said light guide.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing energy consumption in monitoring means of a plurality of piezoelectric components comprises a plurality of piezoelectric components as well as monitoring means for monitoring the status of the piezoelectric components. The monitoring means have two states namely active and inactive. The piezoelectric components are connected in parallel to each other. A current detecting circuit comprises a switch and a resistor that is connected in parallel to the switch. A controller having two states that are active and inactive. The controller is configured to open the switch in response to the controller being in the inactive state and to close the switch in response to the controller being in the active state. The closing of the switch triggers a state change in the monitoring means from their inactive state to their active state.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a light guide. A first light input section receives light in a first direction into said light guide. First direction-dependent outcoupling structures selectively couple out light propagating in said first direction in said light guide. A second light input section receives light in a second direction into said light guide. Said second direction is different than said first direction. Second direction-dependent outcoupling structures selectively couple out light propagating in said second direction in said light guide.

Abstract: A thin keypad including a top surface layer, a light guide layer, a capacitive sensing layer and a piezo layer provides for touch input, pressure input and haptic feedback.

Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and manufacturing method for optical protrusions (e.g., dome pins or actuators) attached to a light guide for providing backlight, actuation function and/or tactile feedback in keypad modules of electronic devices. Spatially and spectrally selective out-coupling of light from the light guide (e.g., a planar light guide plate) can be accomplished using these optical actuators integrated with the light guide for keypad illumination to control out-coupling efficiency and/or spectra of the out-coupled light to enable modification of the visual appearance (intensity, colored/white) of individual keys of the keypad.

Abstract: A device for detecting the likelihood of the presence of at least one human finger on a surface, and a method of using the device in the user interface of a machine, device or system. The device comprises at least one element having piezoelectric characteristics, located under a surface, the element arranged in the device in such a manner that a force when exerted on the surface, such as when the surface is pressed by finger, is transferred to mechanical stress of the element, the element then producing a voltage output in response to the mechanical stress. Also included are means for measuring the voltage output in a predefined time period and means for determining the degree of stability of the measured voltage output, and configured to indicate whether or not the degree of stability shows that the measured voltage output is likely to be a human finger or not.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing energy consumption in monitoring means of a plurality of piezoelectric components comprises a plurality of piezoelectric components as well as monitoring means for monitoring the status of the piezoelectric components. The monitoring means have two states namely active and inactive. The piezoelectric components are connected in parallel to each other. A current detecting circuit comprises a switch and a resistor that is connected in parallel to the switch. A controller having two states that are active and inactive. The controller is configured to open the switch in response to the controller being in the inactive state and to close the switch in response to the controller being in the active state. The closing of the switch triggers a state change in the monitoring means from their inactive state to their active state.

Abstract: A light distributing device (100) comprises a thin planar waveguide (10) and a waveguiding ridge (20). An incoming light beam (B1) coupled into the ridge (20) forms a second light beam (B2) waveguided in the ridge (20). The ridge (20) and the planar waveguide (10) have a common portion (23) such that light is further coupled from the side of the ridge (20) into the planar waveguide (10) through said common portion (23). Thus, optical power of a broad incoming beam (B1) may be effectively coupled to a relatively thin planar waveguide (10). The planar waveguide (10) may further comprise diffractive out-coupling elements (30) to direct light towards a display (400).

Abstract: A light guide plate (100) has an input face (11) to couple light (B0) emitted by a light source (50) into said light guide (100), and an out-coupling grating (30) to couple light (B2) out of said light guide (100). Said out-coupling grating (30) is substantially perpendicular to said input face (11). A rough cut side of a light guide (100) is processed by a heated surface processing member (701) to smooth out irregularities and/or to implement a further diffraction grating (12) on said input face (11). The efficiency of coupling light out of the light guide (100) may be substantially increased and/or stray light effects may be reduced.

Abstract: A touchscreen including a touch sensitive layer wherein the user perceived surface roughness or friction coefficient is variable and dynamically controlled. The level of user perceived surface roughness or friction coefficient is related to the information that is displayed at the position at which an object touches the touch sensitive layer. The surface roughness is not locally changed but rather for a complete portion of the touchscreen or for the whole touchscreen simultaneously. Because the modulation of user experience surface roughness or friction coefficient is faster than the user interaction, the user will experience that the surface roughness of certain areas of the display is different from other areas, depending on the information that is being shown, although in fact the surface roughness or friction coefficient is uniform over the whole portion or the whole display at any given point of time.

Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new apparatus and manufacturing method for optical protrusions (e.g., dome pins or actuators) attached to a light guide for providing backlight, actuation function and/or tactile feedback in keypad modules of electronic devices. Spatially and spectrally selective out-coupling of light from the light guide (e.g., a planar light guide plate) can be accomplished using these optical actuators integrated with the light guide for keypad illumination to control out-coupling efficiency and/or spectra of the out-coupled light to enable modification of the visual appearance (intensity, colored/white) of individual keys of the keypad.

Abstract: A layered light guide structure has a number of planar light guides arranged in a stack to receive a number of different color light beams from the edge of the light guides. Each of the planar light guides has one or more diffractive structures imparted or provided on its upper surface. The diffractive structures on each light guide are configured to diffract light of a particular wavelength range so that they efficiently diffract the guided light within that light guide. The diffractive structure can be one or more keypad symbols such that the layered light guide structure can be used as a keypad. The symbols can be pixelized such that the pixels can have different color patterns. The diffractive structure can also be a simple patch so that the layered light guide structure can be used as a back-light source.

Abstract: A light distributing device (100) comprises a thin planar waveguide (10) and a waveguiding ridge (20). An incoming light beam (B1) coupled into the ridge (20) forms a second light beam (B2) waveguided in the ridge (20). The ridge (20) and the planar waveguide (10) have a common portion (23) such that light is further coupled from the side of the ridge (20) into the planar waveguide (10) through said common portion (23). Thus, optical power of a broad incoming beam (B1) may be effectively coupled to a relatively thin planar waveguide (10). The planar waveguide (10) may further comprise diffractive out-coupling elements (30) to direct light towards a display (400).

Abstract: A layered light guide structure has a number of planar light guides arranged in a stack to receive a number of different color light beams from the edge of the light guides. Each of the planar light guides has one or more diffractive structures imparted or provided on its upper surface. The diffractive structures on each light guide are configured to diffract light of a particular wavelength range so that they efficiently diffract the guided light within that light guide. The diffractive structure can be one or more keypad symbols such that the layered light guide structure can be used as a keypad. The symbols can be pixelized such that the pixels can have different color patterns. The diffractive structure can also be a simple patch so that the layered light guide structure can be used as a back-light source.

Abstract: A thin keypad including a top surface layer, a light guide layer, a capacitive sensing layer and a piezo layer provides for touch input, pressure input and haptic feedback.