Sensor assemblies for electronic devices

• US 10,488,891 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2017
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Browning, Lucy Elizabeth, Pope, Benjamin J., Leutheuser, Paul U., Myers, Scott A., Dinh, Richard Hung Minh, Huo, Edward S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US15/844,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20180120893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1671 Special purpose buttons or auxiliary keyboards, e.g. retractable mini keypads, keypads or buttons that remain accessible at closed laptop G06F1/1666 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• 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 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/964 Piezoelectric touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element

Abstract

Sensor assemblies for electronic devices are described. According to some embodiments, the sensor assemblies include solid-state sensors, such as capacitive sensors, piezoelectric sensors or piezoresistive sensors. The sensor assemblies can include a number of features that provide a compact profile, making them well suited for integration into small spaces of electronic device enclosures. The sensor assemblies can also include features that isolate movement of various parts of the sensor assemblies, allowing for accurate detection of a sensing event. According to some embodiments, the sensor assemblies are coupled to haptic actuators, speaker, or both, which mimic the feel of a mechanical button and enhance a user'"'"'s experience.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing at least partially defining an internal volume;

an outer protective cover coupled with the housing and defining an opening;

a sensor assembly carried by the housing and at least partially disposed in the internal volume, comprising;

a sensor cover disposed within the opening;

a solid-state sensor that provides a signal in response to a touch input on the sensor cover moving the sensor cover less than a threshold distance;

a fingerprint sensor positioned between the sensor cover and the solid-state sensor; and

a haptic component that provides, based on the signal, a first haptic feedback corresponding to a first distance of a movement of the sensor cover and a second haptic feedback corresponding to a second distance of the movement different from the first distance.

2. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the signal is commensurate with a distance of the movement.

3. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the solid-state sensor comprises two conductive layers separated by a distance that is reduced based on movement of the sensor cover, and wherein the solid-state sensor detects a capacitance between the two conductive layers.

4. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first haptic feedback and the second haptic feedback comprises a vibration.

5. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is a pre-assembled module.

18. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is adhered to the solid-state touch sensor.

19. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the haptic component simulates the actuation of the mechanical switch.

6. A portable electronic device, comprising:

an outer protective cover defining an opening;

a processor;

a solid-state sensor assembly comprising;

a sensor cover disposed in the opening;

a compliant member secured to the sensor cover and having a thickness of less than 500 micrometers that limits a movement of the sensor cover to 50 micrometers or less, wherein the compliant member comprises multiple segment pieces;

a touch sensor adhesively coupled to the sensor cover that provides a signal to the processor in response to a touch input applied to the sensor cover that causes a movement of the sensor cover that is less than a threshold distance; and

a haptic component that provides a haptic feedback for simulating an actuation of a mechanical button by more than the threshold distance in response to the signal.

7. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 6, further comprising a speaker that provides an acoustic feedback concurrently with the haptic feedback.

8. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 7, wherein the acoustic feedback takes a form that mimics a sound associated with a mechanical button being pressed.

9. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the haptic component provides a periodic vibration in response to a command from the processor based on an incoming call.

10. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the opening is defined by a first chamfered edge, and the solid-state sensor assembly further comprises a trim that surrounds the sensor cover and prevents lateral movement of the sensor cover, the trim including a second chamfered edge that corresponds to and engages the first chamfered edge.

11. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the touch sensor comprises one or more of a capacitive sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, and a piezoresistive sensor.

12. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the solid-state sensor assembly further comprises a fingerprint sensor that provides a second signal to the processor independent of the signal provided by the touch sensor.

13. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing defining an opening;

a cover positioned at the opening and defining a recessed portion;

a display assembly carried by the housing and overlaid by the cover;

a processor carried by the housing;

a solid-state touch sensor coupled to the cover at a location opposite the recessed portion, the solid-state touch sensor that provides a signal to the processor in response to a deflection that is less than a threshold distance and is caused by an external force applied to the recess portion; and

a haptic component that provides a first vibration simulating operation of a mechanical switch moving a first distance that is more than the threshold distance and a second vibration simulating operation of a mechanical switch moving a second distance different from the first distance in response to the signal.

14. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the solid-state touch sensor is a pressure sensor that provides the signal when the external force applied to the recessed portion results in a pressure that exceeds a threshold level.

15. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the haptic component provides a first pattern of vibration in response to the signal and a second pattern of vibration in response to an incoming call.

16. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, wherein the solid-state touch sensor is located in proximity to a sidewall of the housing.

17. The portable electronic device as recited in claim 13, further comprising a fingerprint sensor adhesively secured to the solid-state touch sensor.