FLOATING PLANE TOUCH DETECTION SYSTEM

A force/displacement touch device, this invention employs a base-plane 32 and flexible mounting material to suspend, or "float," a non-rigidly mounted touch-plane 12, and uses sensors at each mounting point 22 to measure Z-axis deflection of the floating touch-plane 12. The system adapts existing planes in typical LCD assemblies to implement touch screens. This floating touch detection system provides an accurate, sensitive, compact and low-cost solution. It mitigates XY friction to improve detection of Z-forces. This approach provides latitude in locating sensors 34, allows for additional mid-plane sensors, enables greater accuracy and resolution, and adds features such as "multi-touch" sensitivity. This touch system is defined as a unique and novel 'floating' co-planar assembly of a touch-plane 12 to a base-plane 32, which uses a flexible material 22 or medium to define a consistent resting air gap, and then senses and measures any deflection from the co-planar resting position, using any among a broad variety of sensor types.