Abstract: Disclosed is a dual sensor comprising first and second touchpad sensors having different resolutions and being sandwiched to form a single sensor. Each of the touchpad sensors include a first plurality of electrically conductive strips positioned proximate to a second plurality of electrically conductive strips. The conductive strips in each plurality lie substantially in a single plane and the two pluralities are skewed relative to one-another in plan view. The conductive strips are separated by insulators that extend beyond the surface of the conductors to separate the conductors of one plurality from the conductors of the other plurality until a localized pressure is applied to a region of the pad. Two such touchpad sensors are sandwiched to form the dual sensor of the present invention. The two touchpad sensors are configured and positioned such that a single touch of a finger, stylus, or the like is capable of being detected by both sensors.

Abstract: A touchpad sensor comprising a first plurality of electrically conductive strips positioned proximate to a second plurality of electrically conductive strips. The conductive strips in each plurality lie substantially in a single plane and the two pluralities are skewed relative to one-another in plan view. Ideally, the pluralities are aligned orthogonally. The conductive strips are separated by insulators that extend beyond the surface of at least one of the pluralities of conductors to separate the conductors of one plurality from the conductors of the other plurality until a localized pressure is applied to a region of the pad. When a localized pressure is applied, the conductors and insulators deform until a conductor from the first plurality forms an electrically conducting path with at least one conductor from the second plurality, which can be detected using banks of drivers and receivers.

Abstract: A membrane keyboard has two spaced flexible membranes (1 and 2) carrying contact pad assemblies. Acoustic pads (15) of expanding ink are printed on the top surface of the upper membrane (2) between the contact pads (4) and the key buttons used to operate the contact switches formed by the pairs of opposed contact pads, thus reducing the acoustic noise and improving the contact bounce characteristic.Optionally, printed expanding ink is also used to form the spacer (5) between the membranes (1 and 2).