Capacitive sensors for grip sensing and finger tracking

• US 10,139,869 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2014
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Novet, Isaac Chase
• Primary Examiner(s): Mandeville, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/339,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20160026216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 345169, 345173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Mobile devices are increasing aware of the environment surrounding the mobile devices. In many applications, it is useful for the mobile device to be able to sense different types of hand grips and/or where fingers are positioned with respect to the mobile device. The present disclosure describes a capacitive sensing apparatus particularly suitable for sensing hand grips and/or finger tracking along edges of a mobile device. The capacitive sensing apparatus comprises strips arranged along two lines, and the respective lengths and spacing are designed to allow optimal response behavior for sensing hand grips and/or tracking fingers.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensing apparatus usable with an electronic device with a display screen for grip sensing and/or finger tracking, wherein the capacitive sensing apparatus comprises:

first capacitive sensors comprising a first set of strips spatially arranged in a first line on a first edge of the electronic device, the first set of strips having respective lengths and spacings between the first set of strips spanning lengthwise across the first line, wherein each strip of the first set of strips is configured to generate a respective response to an object positioned near the first line; and

wherein the respective response of each strip of the first set of strips is saturated and non-varying when an object is positioned along the length of a respective strip of the first set of strips, and the respective response of each strip of the first set of strips is varying and tapers off as an object moves away from either end of the length a respective strip of the first set of strips;

wherein the respective lengths of each of the first set of strips are predetermined to reduce a span in which a respective response of each strip of the first set of strips may be saturated, and the respective spacings of the first set of strips are predetermined such that a respective varying and tapering response between each strip of the first set of strips is calculated as a reciprocal of a distance of the object, at least in part;

one or more processors configured for;

receiving first capacitive sensor measurements generated by each strip of the first set of strips in response to an object positioned near the first line;

determining ratio values from the first capacitive sensor measurements wherein, the ratio values represent magnitudes of each strip of the first set of strips and are based on calculating one or more gain independent ratios of the first capacitive sensor measurements;

generating a cross-correlation matrix from at least one of the first capacitive sensor measurements and the ratio values;

inferring grip sensing information or finger tracking information based on at least one of the ratio values and the cross-correlation matrix; and

reporting the grip sensing information or finger tracking information.

2. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

second capacitive sensors comprising a second set of strips spatially arranged in a second line on a second edge of the electronic device opposite of the first edge the second set of strips having respective lengths and spacings between the second set of strips spanning lengthwise across the second line, wherein each strip of the second set of strips is configured to generate a respective response to an object positioned near the second line; and

the one or more processors further configured for;

receiving second capacitive sensor measurements generated by each strip of the second set of strips in response to an object positioned near the second line;

determining ratio values from the second capacitive sensor measurements;

generating a cross-correlation matrix from the second capacitive sensor measurements or the ratio values;

inferring grip sensing information or finger tracking information; and

reporting the grip sensing information or finger tracking information.

3. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the first set of strips is a single strip forming an L-shape and is positioned at one or more corners of the electronic device.

4. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

determining ratio values includes calculating a gain independent ratio;

(A−

B)/(A+B), wherein A is the first capacitive sensor measurement from one of the first set of strips and B is the first capacitive sensor measurement from another of the first set of strips.

5. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first set of strips comprises a first end strip, one or more middle strips, and a second end strip, and wherein the first end strip and/or the second end strip is configured to generate a tapering or increasing response, when an object moves along the length of any one of the one or more middle strips.

6. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

one or more of the one or more middle strips is configured to generate a tapering or increasing response, when an object moves along the length of the first end strip or the second end strip.

7. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

two of the first set of strips are each configured to generate a tapering or increasing response, when an object moves along the length of the spacing between the two strips.

8. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

one or more of the middle strips is configured to generate a tapering or increasing response, when an object moves over the span of the first set of strips along the first line.

9. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the length of one or more middle strips is short to reduce span of dead zone along the first line where the respective response(s) of the one or more middle strips saturates.

10. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the spatial arrangement of the first capacitive sensors is asymmetric to the spatial arrangement of the second capacitive sensors with respect to an axis parallel to the first line.

11. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

differential tracing for one of the first capacitive sensors, wherein the differential tracing comprises;

a first trace connectable to a first input terminal of a capacitive sensing controller and connected to the one of the first capacitive sensors; and

a second trace running next to the first trace connectable a second terminal of the capacitive sensing controller and not connected to any one of the first capacitive sensors.

12. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

one of the first set of strips comprises a hollow portion at a center of the strip.

13. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

one of the first set of strips comprises a sensor on a first surface and the traces connected to the sensor on a second surface adjoining the first surface.

14. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a removable outer shell usable for enclosing an electronic device, said removable outer shell comprising conductive pads as electrical contacts for connecting the first capacitive sensors to a component in an inner chassis of the electronic device;

wherein the first capacitive sensors are provided in the removable outer shell or on a surface of the removable outer shell configured to face towards the mobile device.

15. An electronic device with a display screen comprising:

an inner chassis molded housing for enclosing electronics associated with the electronic device; and

a capacitive sensing flexible circuit connectable to one or more of the electronics of the inner chassis molded housing for grip sensing and/or finger tracking, wherein the capacitive sensing flexible circuit comprises;

first capacitive sensors comprising a first set of strips spatially arranged in a first line next to a first edge of the inner chassis, the first set of strips having respective lengths and spacings between each of the first set of strips spanning lengthwise across the first line, wherein each of the first set of strips comprises a sensor on a first surface and traces connected to the sensor on a second surface adjoining the first surface;

and wherein a respective response of each strip of the first set of strips is saturated and non-varying when an object is positioned along the length of a respective strip of the first set of strips, and the respective response of each strip of the first set of strips is varying and tapers off as an object moves away from either end of the length a respective strip of the first set of strips;

further wherein the respective lengths and spacing of each of the first set of strips are predetermined to reduce a span in which a respective response of each strip of the first set of strips may be saturated, and the respective spacings of the first set of strips are predetermined such that a respective varying and tapering response between each strip of the first set of strips is calculated as a reciprocal of a distance of the object, at least in part;

one or more processors configured for;

receiving first capacitive sensor measurements generated by each strip of the first set of strips in response to an object positioned near the first line;

determining ratio values from the first capacitive sensor measurements wherein, the ratio values represent magnitudes of each strip of the first set of strips and are based on calculating one or more gain independent ratios of the first capacitive sensor measurements;

generating a cross-correlation matrix from at least one of the first capacitive sensor measurements and the ratio values;

inferring grip sensing information or finger tracking information based on at least one of the ratio values and the cross-correlation matrix; and

reporting the grip sensing information or finger tracking information.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

at least part of the capacitive sensing flexible circuit is positioned in one or more cavities of the inner chassis molded housing.

17. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

at least part of the capacitive sensing flexible circuit is attached to one or more surfaces of the inner chassis molded housing using an adhesive.

18. The electronic device of claim 15, wherein:

the traces to the first capacitive sensors are on a main portion of the capacitive sensing flexible circuit; and

the first capacitive sensors are on respective legs of the capacitive sensing flex circuit, wherein the legs are bent and wrap around adjoining surfaces of the inner chassis molded housing.