Apparatus for sensing user input

• US 10,095,342 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kwong, Kelvin, Mukherjee, Debanjan, Cooper, James Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarma, Abhishek
• Application Number:
  US15/351,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/225 Measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9647 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

An apparatus for sensing user input includes a first strain gauge grouping attached to an inner surface of a housing of a device, and a second strain gauge grouping attached to the inner surface of the housing. The apparatus includes a circuit coupled to the first and second strain gauge groupings, the circuit being configured to: (i) receive a first parameter signal from the first strain gauge grouping in response to user input that interacts with the housing over a location of the first strain gauge grouping, (ii) indicate that a first type of user input has been received in response to receipt of the first parameter signal, (iii) receive a second parameter signal from the second strain gauge grouping in response to user input that interacts with the housing over a location of the second strain gauge grouping, and (iv) indicate that a second type of user input has been received in response to receipt of the second parameter signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sensing user input provided on an exterior surface of an electronic device, comprising:

a first strain gauge grouping attached to an inner surface of a sidewall of a housing of the electronic device, the first strain gauge grouping forming a first resistor bridge that includes;

(a) a first strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that includes a first strain gauge affixed in a first orientation, and

(b) a second strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that includes a second strain gauge affixed in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation;

a second strain gauge grouping attached to the inner surface of the sidewall of the housing of the electronic device, the second strain gauge grouping forming a second resistor bridge that includes;

(c) a third strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that includes a third strain gauge affixed in the first orientation, and

(d) a fourth strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that includes a fourth strain gauge affixed in the second orientation that differs from the first orientation; and

an electronic circuit electrically coupled to the first strain gauge grouping and the second strain gauge grouping, the electronic circuit configured to;

(i) receive a first parameter signal from the first strain gauge grouping associated with changes in a resistance attribute of the first strain gauge grouping in response to user input that interacts with the housing over a location of the first strain gauge grouping, and

(ii) receive a second parameter signal from the second strain gauge grouping associated with changes in a resistance attribute of the second strain gauge grouping in response to user input that interacts with the housing over a location of the second strain gauge grouping.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges indicates a first voltage value when voltage is applied to the first strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges;

the second strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that indicates a second voltage value when voltage is applied to the second strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges; and

wherein the first voltage value and the second voltage value are indicated concurrently in response to the user input that interacts with the housing over the location of the first strain gauge grouping.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electronic circuit determines a differential voltage value that corresponds to a difference between the first voltage value of the first strain gauge set and the second voltage value of the second strain gauge set.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the third strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges indicates a third voltage value when voltage is applied to the third strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges;

the fourth strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges indicates a fourth voltage value when voltage is applied to the fourth strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges; and

wherein the third voltage value and the fourth voltage value are indicated concurrently in response to the user input that interacts with the housing over the location of the second strain gauge grouping.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electronic circuit determines a second differential voltage value that corresponds to a difference between the third voltage value of the third strain gauge set and the fourth voltage value of the fourth strain gauge set.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a third strain gauge grouping, wherein the first strain gauge grouping, the second strain gauge grouping, and the third strain gauge grouping are attached longitudinally along the inner surface of the sidewall of the housing by way of an adhesive material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first strain gauge grouping is configured to allow the electronic device to sense user input to the electronic device, the sensed user input being of a plurality of different types that the electronic circuit is configured to detect.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first strain gauge grouping interacts with the second strain gauge grouping to allow the electronic device to sense user input corresponding to at least one of:

a particular magnitude of physical force applied to an outer surface of the housing;

a particular time period associated with physical force applied to the outer surface of the housing; and

a particular magnitude of physical force applied to the outer surface of the housing for a particular time period.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in response to user input detected using the first strain gauge grouping, the electronic circuit amplifies a characteristic of the first parameter signal indicated by the first resistor bridge.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first orientation and the second orientation are perpendicular to each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first parameter signal indicates a differential voltage value, and wherein the resistance attribute of the first strain gauge grouping changes in response to tension applied concurrently to each of the first strain gauge of the first resistor bridge and the second strain gauge of the first resistor bridge.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

each of the multiple strain gauges of the first strain gauge set are affixed in the first orientation;

each of the multiple strain gauges of the second strain gauge set are affixed in the second orientation;

each of the multiple strain gauges of the third strain gauge set are affixed in the first orientation;

each of the multiple strain gauges of the fourth strain gauge set are affixed in the second orientation; and

the first orientation is perpendicular to the second orientation.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the multiple strain gauges of the first strain gauge set and the multiple strain gauges of the second strain gauge set are both affixed to a first coupling plate that is affixed to the inner surface of the sidewall of the housing;

the multiple strain gauges of the third strain gauge set and the multiple strain gauges of the fourth strain gauge set are both affixed to a second coupling plate that is affixed to the inner surface of the sidewall of the housing; and

the inner surface of the sidewall of the housing is perpendicular to a front surface of the electronic device which is at least partially defined by cover glass for a display.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the multiple strain gauges of the first strain gauge set are parallel and adjacent to each other;

the multiple strain gauges of the second strain gauge set are parallel and adjacent to each other;

the multiple strain gauges of the first stain gauge set are spaced apart from the multiple strain gauges of the second strain gauge set;

the multiple strain gauges of the third strain gauge set are parallel and adjacent to each other;

the multiple strain gauges of the fourth strain gauge set are parallel and adjacent to each other; and

the multiple strain gauges of the third stain gauge set are spaced apart from the multiple strain gauges of the fourth strain gauge set.

15. An apparatus for sensing user input provided on an area of a device, comprising:

a first strain gauge grouping attached to a sidewall of a housing of the device, the first strain gauge grouping forming a first resistor bridge that includes;

(a) a first strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that are each affixed in a first orientation, and

(b) a second strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that are each affixed in a second orientation that differs from the first orientation;

a second strain gauge grouping attached to a sidewall of the housing of the device, the second strain gauge grouping forming a second resistor bridge that includes;

(c) a third strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that are each affixed in the first orientation, and

(d) a fourth strain gauge set of multiple strain gauges that are each affixed in the second orientation that differs from the first orientation; and

a processor that is electrically coupled to the first strain gauge grouping and the second strain gauge grouping to;

(i) receive a first signal from the first strain gauge grouping associated with changes in a resistance attribute of the first strain gauge grouping in response to user input that interacts with the housing over a location of the first strain gauge grouping, and

(ii) receive a second signal from the second strain gauge grouping associated with changes in a resistance attribute of the second strain gauge grouping in response to user input that interacts with the housing over a location of the second strain gauge grouping.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first strain gauge grouping interacts with at least the second strain gauge grouping to allow the device to sense user input corresponding to at least one of:

a particular magnitude of physical force applied to the housing;

a particular time period associated with physical force applied to the housing; and

a particular magnitude of physical force that is applied to the housing for a particular time period.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the first strain gauge set is configured to indicate a first voltage value;

the second strain gauge set configured to indicate a second voltage value; and

the first voltage value and the second voltage value are indicated concurrently in response to user input interacting with the housing of the device.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the first strain gauge grouping is attached to a surface of a first plate and the first plate is attached to the housing;

the second strain gauge grouping is attached to a surface of a second plate and the second plate is attached to the housing; and

the first plate and the second plate are arranged in a parallel configuration.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the first plate is attached to the housing by way of an adhesive material; and

the second plate is attached to the housing by way of an adhesive material.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the multiple strain gauges of the first strain gauge set are parallel and adjacent to each other;

the multiple strain gauges of the second strain gauge set are parallel and adjacent to each other;

the multiple strain gauges of the first stain gauge set are spaced apart from the multiple strain gauges of the second strain gauge set;

the multiple strain gauges of the third strain gauge set are parallel and adjacent to each other;

the multiple strain gauges of the fourth strain gauge set are parallel and adjacent to each other; and

the multiple strain gauges of the third stain gauge set are spaced apart from the multiple strain gauges of the fourth strain gauge set.