Force determination based on capacitive sensing
First Claim
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1. An electronic device comprising:
- a cover glass;
a touch sensor comprising one or more arrays of conductive lines integrated with the cover glass and configured to detect a location of a touch on the cover glass;
a force-sensing structure disposed at a periphery of the touch sensor, wherein the force-sensing structure comprises;
a first layer of polyimide flex material;
a first capacitive plate on the first layer of polyimide flex material;
a second layer of polyimide flex material;
a second capacitive plate disposed on the second layer of polyimide flex material; and
a compressible dielectric element disposed between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate; and
force-sensing circuitry configured to detect changes in capacitive coupling between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate due to compression of the compressible dielectric element, and to produce a signal that corresponds to a magnitude of a touch force on the touch sensor, wherein;
the compressible dielectric element of the force-sensing structure is configured to compress in response to the touch force on the touch sensor;
the force-sensing structure encircles an interior cavity of the electronic device;
the first capacitive plate is positioned closer to the compressible dielectric element than the first layer of polyimide flex material, the second capacitive plate is positioned closer to the compressible dielectric element than the second layer of polyimide flex material, and the first layer of polyimide flex material is positioned between the cover glass and the first capacitive plate;
a portion of the first capacitive plate extends outward from the first layer of polyimide flex material, towards the interior cavity, and a portion of the second capacitive plate extends outward from the second layer of polyimide flex material, towards the interior cavity; and
the portions of the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate are operatively coupled to the force-sensing circuitry.
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Abstract
A device configured to determine the location and magnitude of a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a transparent touch sensor that is configured to detect a location of a touch on the transparent touch sensor. The device also includes a force-sensing structure disposed at the periphery of the transparent touch sensor. The force sensor includes an upper capacitive plate and a compressible element disposed on one side of the upper capacitive plate. The force sensor also includes a lower capacitive plate disposed on a side of the compressible element that is opposite the upper capacitive plate.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a cover glass; a touch sensor comprising one or more arrays of conductive lines integrated with the cover glass and configured to detect a location of a touch on the cover glass; a force-sensing structure disposed at a periphery of the touch sensor, wherein the force-sensing structure comprises; a first layer of polyimide flex material; a first capacitive plate on the first layer of polyimide flex material; a second layer of polyimide flex material; a second capacitive plate disposed on the second layer of polyimide flex material; and a compressible dielectric element disposed between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate; and force-sensing circuitry configured to detect changes in capacitive coupling between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate due to compression of the compressible dielectric element, and to produce a signal that corresponds to a magnitude of a touch force on the touch sensor, wherein; the compressible dielectric element of the force-sensing structure is configured to compress in response to the touch force on the touch sensor; the force-sensing structure encircles an interior cavity of the electronic device; the first capacitive plate is positioned closer to the compressible dielectric element than the first layer of polyimide flex material, the second capacitive plate is positioned closer to the compressible dielectric element than the second layer of polyimide flex material, and the first layer of polyimide flex material is positioned between the cover glass and the first capacitive plate; a portion of the first capacitive plate extends outward from the first layer of polyimide flex material, towards the interior cavity, and a portion of the second capacitive plate extends outward from the second layer of polyimide flex material, towards the interior cavity; and the portions of the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate are operatively coupled to the force-sensing circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A force-sensing structure, comprising:
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an upper body comprising a dielectric layer; an upper capacitive plate connected to the upper body; a lower body; a lower capacitive plate connected to the lower body; a deformable middle body connected to one of the upper body and the upper capacitive plate, the deformable middle body further connected to one of the lower body and the lower capacitive plate; and an electrical connector tail configured to electrically connect the force-sensing structure to a force-sensing circuit, wherein; each of the upper body, the upper capacitive plate, the lower body, the lower capacitive plate, and the deformable middle body defines a hole for positioning a display, wherein the force-sensing structure is disposed at a periphery of a cover glass and around the display, and between the cover glass and a ledge of a housing of an electronic device, with the dielectric layer oriented toward the cover glass; the lower body comprises a second dielectric layer; and the electrical connector tail comprises;
a first circuit layer comprising a first flexible conductive layer electrically connected with the upper capacitive plate, a second circuit layer comprising a second flexible conductive layer electrically connected with the lower capacitive plate, and an end portion configured to be detachably connected to a circuit component. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic device comprising:
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a cover glass; a touch sensor comprising one or more arrays of conductive lines integrated with the cover glass and configured to detect a location of a touch on the cover glass; a display disposed below the cover glass; a force-sensing structure disposed around the display, wherein the force-sensing structure comprises; a first layer of polyimide flex material; a first capacitive plate on the first layer of polyimide flex material; a second layer of polyimide flex material; a second capacitive plate disposed on the second layer of polyimide flex material; a compressible element disposed between the first capacitive plate and the second capacitive plate; and an electrical connector tail for electrically connecting the force-sensing structure to force-sensing circuitry, wherein; each of the first layer, the first capacitive plate, the second layer, the second capacitive plate, and the compressible element defines a hole in which the display is positioned; the first capacitive plate is positioned closer to the compressible element than the first layer of polyimide flex material, the second capacitive plate is positioned closer to the compressible element than the second layer of polyimide flex material, and the first layer of polyimide flex material is positioned between the cover glass and the first capacitive plate; and the electrical connector tail comprises a first circuit layer comprising a first flexible conductive layer electrically connected with the first capacitive plate, a second circuit layer comprising a second flexible conductive layer electrically connected with the second capacitive plate, and an end portion configured to be detachably connected to a circuit component, wherein the end portion includes a void region between the first circuit layer and the second circuit layer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification