Automatic field calibration of force input sensors
First Claim
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1. An input sensor for an electronic device, the input sensor comprising:
- a force-sensitive structure coupled to a substrate and comprising a plurality of force sensors, each force sensor coupled to a separate area of the substrate; and
an input resolver in communication with the force-sensitive structure and configured to;
measure an output by each force sensor when a compressive force is applied to an input location of the substrate;
modify the measurement of each force sensor based on an output of a mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that a sum magnitude of force applied to the substrate does not exceed a selected threshold; and
update the mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the sum magnitude of force applied to the substrate exceeds the selected threshold, and output the measurements of each force sensor as a force input to the electronic device.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for calibrating a force input device are disclosed. The force input device includes a force-sensitive structure with a number of individual force sensors that compress or expand in response to input. The force input device measures an electrical property of the force sensors of the force-sensitive structure. After the force sensors are measured, the values obtained are adjusted based on a mechanical model of the response of the force sensitive structure. Upon receiving a force input event of high magnitude, the force input device recalibrates the mechanical model.
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14 Claims
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1. An input sensor for an electronic device, the input sensor comprising:
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a force-sensitive structure coupled to a substrate and comprising a plurality of force sensors, each force sensor coupled to a separate area of the substrate; and an input resolver in communication with the force-sensitive structure and configured to; measure an output by each force sensor when a compressive force is applied to an input location of the substrate; modify the measurement of each force sensor based on an output of a mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that a sum magnitude of force applied to the substrate does not exceed a selected threshold; and update the mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the sum magnitude of force applied to the substrate exceeds the selected threshold, and output the measurements of each force sensor as a force input to the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An input sensor comprising:
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a force-sensitive structure coupled to a substrate and having an electrical property that changes as a function of a magnitude of force to the substrate; and an input resolver in communication with the force-sensitive structure and configured to update a mechanical model of the force-sensitive structure upon determining that the force-sensitive structure has received a sum magnitude of force input that exceeds a selected threshold. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification