Force sensing of inputs through strain analysis

• US 10,496,212 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2019
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hoen, Storrs T., Babiarz, Kristina A., Christophy, Miguel C., Teil, Romain A., Filiz, Sinan, Katiyar, Vivek
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US16/379,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20190235688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Although embodiments have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the various embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The foregoing description has broad application. Accordingly, the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be an example and is not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to these examples.

Claims

1. A smart phone, comprising:

a frame at least partially enclosing an interior of the smart phone;

a display mounted within the interior of the smart phone and at least partially surrounded by the frame;

an input surface movably connected to the frame;

a force-sensing device comprising a set of strain sensors, the set of strain sensors coupled to the input surface and configured to output a set of strain signals; and

a processor configured to determine an amount of force applied to the input surface using the set of strain signals.

2. The smart phone of claim 1, wherein the force-sensing device comprises a bending beam on which one or more strain sensors in the set of strain sensors is mounted.

3. The smart phone of claim 2, wherein the bending beam is attached to the frame by at least one clip.

4. The smart phone of claim 1, wherein the force-sensing device is coupled to the input surface by a compressible member.

5. The smart phone of claim 1, wherein the input surface comprises a cover over the display.

6. The smart phone of claim 1, wherein the input surface comprises a track pad surface.

7. The smart phone of claim 1, wherein the set of strain sensors comprises a row of multiple strain sensors.

8. A smart phone, comprising:

a frame at least partially enclosing an interior of the smart phone and having an open end;

a cover glass covering the open end of the frame;

a plurality of strain probes configured to output a plurality of strain signals in response to a force input applied to the smart phone; and

a processor configured to determine an amount of force applied to the smart phone by the force input, the amount of force determined using the plurality of strain signals.

9. The smart phone of claim 8, further comprising:

an input surface;

wherein;

the input surface is movably coupled to the frame; and

the plurality of strain probes is configured to output the plurality of strain signals in response to a force input applied to the input surface.

10. The smart phone of claim 9, wherein the plurality of strain probes is coupled to the input surface by a compressible member.

11. The smart phone of claim 8, further comprising:

a bending beam;

wherein;

the bending beam is configured to bend in response to the force input; and

the plurality of strain probes is coupled to the bending beam and generates at least one strain signal in response to bending of the bending beam.

12. The smart phone of claim 11, wherein the bending beam is attached to the frame by at least one clip.

13. The smart phone of claim 8, wherein the plurality of strain probes comprises a row of multiple strain sensors.

14. A smart phone, comprising:

an input surface;

a first member coupled to the input surface and having a pedestal extending inward from the first member toward an interior of the smart phone;

a beam having a surface contacted by the pedestal;

a second member that supports the beam and defines a space on a side of the beam opposite the pedestal; and

a strain sensor disposed on the beam;

wherein;

an input force applied to the input surface pushes the pedestal toward the space and causes the beam to bend; and

the strain sensor is configured to generate a strain signal in response to bending of the beam.

15. The smart phone of claim 14, further comprising:

a frame at least partially enclosing the interior of the smart phone;

wherein;

the second member is attached to the frame.

16. The smart phone of claim 14, wherein:

the pedestal is a first pedestal;

the surface of the beam contacted by the first pedestal is a first surface of the beam;

the second member comprises a second pedestal and a third pedestal in contact with a second surface of the beam, opposite the first surface of the beam; and

the second pedestal and the third pedestal define opposite sides of the space.

17. The smart phone of claim 16, wherein the first pedestal, the second pedestal, and the third pedestal have equal width contact points along the beam.

18. The smart phone of claim 16, wherein the second pedestal and the third pedestal have greater width contact points along the beam than the first pedestal.

19. The smart phone of claim 14, wherein:

the strain sensor is a first strain sensor;

the smart phone further comprises a second strain sensor; and

the first strain sensor and second strain sensor are positioned on opposite sides of the pedestal.

20. The smart phone of claim 14, wherein the pedestal is a first pedestal and the space is a first space, the smart phone further comprising:

a set of multiple pedestals arranged in a row and including the first pedestal;

wherein;

each pedestal in the set of multiple pedestals extends inward from the first member, toward the interior of the smart phone, and contacts the surface of the beam;

the second member defines a set of multiple spaces on the side of the beam opposite the first pedestal; and

an input force applied to the input surface pushes one or more pedestals in the set of multiple pedestals toward one or more corresponding spaces in the set of multiple spaces.