RIM patent filing reveals hybrid capacitive / resistive touchscreens
By Donald Melanson 
posted August 5th 2009 12:17PM
posted August 5th 2009 12:17PM
RIM's no stranger to playing different tricks with touchscreens, and it looks like it may have another up its sleeve, with a recent patent application revealing some plans for a hybrid capacitive / resistive touchscreen. As you might expect, the idea here is to take the best aspects from each and form one super touchscreen, which would have the general usability and "goodness" of capacitive displays, and the added benefits of a resistive screen, like better support for stylus-based input. Of course, such a screen would also likely eliminate one of the biggest advantages of resistive displays -- their cost-effectiveness -- so it seems safe to assume that it'd be reserved for higher-end phones to start with.
[Via Unwired View]
[Via Unwired View]
Nice, RIM. This will be the best of both worlds.
I doubt it. Resistive touch-screens are hated because of the overall poor appeal (plasticy feel) and scratch proneness. I don't see how that can be solved the screen still has a bendable plastic layer on top. It's rather an unnecessary complication.
But you havent even seen the screen as yet.
Besides, my resistive screen has a glass top.
I'd love to touch your resistive screen, F. C., if you know what I mean.
It's already denied, the patent was already filed by another company that is contracted by Symbian and Nokia and it's valid till 2020...
I can scald my eyes out for far less than 500 bones...
Am I the only one who missed the pun? I don't see it...
Ooops. I don't know how, but this should have been on the hello kitty post...
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Welcome to Engadget's comment system. :)
Wow, they can't even get it on the right article anymore...
Finally, but I don't think I like the idea of a patent. Most devices would benefit from this. Some people prefer writing out notes it tends to be pretty quick for jotting stuff down.
Plus I don't seem RIM using the tech right. Windows Mobile would be best.
Silly.. This tech already exists and has done for a while.
http://www.n-trig.com/
Can someone explain to me how patents work? Apple had patents on some of the touchscreen technology, didn't it? And yet it seems shortly after the iPhone appeared other companies were offering their own touchscreens. So what aobut this hybrid technology patent? Would it give RIM a big advantage? Or within months would apple be able to produce its own phones using the same technology?
The patents sometimes seem to give a company a big exclusive opportunity, but i don't see that happening in practice. Why is that?
Just because Apple made the first mainstream touch screen phone, does not mean they own the patent on it.
Apple patented the Internet(s), the color Blue, White and the smartphones.
Isn't the Blackberry Storm essentially a hybrid capacitive/resistive touchscreen?
Hmm...Blackberry Magnum plz?
The advantage, I think, has almost everything to do with battery life. Resistive is MUCH lower power and capacitive is quite a bit higher. This would allow some basic touch functionality without powering up the capacitive touch interface until a user is interacting with the device.
This is a good idea not for cost or pure functionality, but for preserving user experience while driving power consumption down considerably.
I thought that there stylii that work with capacite screen. I believe it's accomplished via either making the stylus slightly magnetic.
Apple already patented this already, am I right?
Ya' know... the one that makes use of your fingers to directly select an item and use your fingernails for a menu to pop-up. AFAIK it makes use of hybrid capacitive/resistive technology for it to work...
Raffy.A