Method and apparatus for force-based touch input
First Claim
1. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
- a first element including an elastic element and a first capacitor plate having a first capacitive surface, the elastic element including at least part of the first capacitor plate; and
a second element including a second capacitor plate opposed to the first capacitor plate;
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force through the elastic element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface is disclosed. The force sensor includes: a first element including an elastic element and a first capacitor plate having a first capacitive surface, the elastic element including at least part of the first capacitor plate; and a second element including a second capacitor plate opposed to the first capacitor plate; wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force through the elastic element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate. The elastic element and the first capacitor plate may be integral. Other force sensors and methods for manufacturing said force sensors are also disclosed. Touch location devices suitable for use with the disclosed force sensors are also disclosed.
266 Citations
110 Claims
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1. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first element including an elastic element and a first capacitor plate having a first capacitive surface, the elastic element including at least part of the first capacitor plate; and
a second element including a second capacitor plate opposed to the first capacitor plate;
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force through the elastic element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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22. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first substantially planar element comprising;
a first capacitor plate having a first capacitive surface; and
an elastic element comprising an integral elevated feature of the first capacitor plate, the elastic element receiving at least part of the touch force into the first element; and
a second element including a second capacitor plate opposed to the first capacitor plate;
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force through the elastic element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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23. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first element including an elastic element and a first capacitor plate including a first capacitive surface, the elastic element and the first capacitive surface being substantially coplanar;
a second element including a second capacitor plate;
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force through the elastic element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate.
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27. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first element including an elastic element, a first capacitor plate including a first capacitive surface, force-receiving means for receiving at least part of the touch force into the first element, force-transmitting means for transmitting at least part of the touch force to structures not including the first element;
a second element including a second capacitor plate; and
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force through the elastic element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate; and
wherein the smallest rectangular parallelepiped that encloses the first capacitive surface, the elastic element, and the second capacitor plate has a greatest dimension that is at least five times its least dimension.
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32. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first element including a first capacitor plate including a first capacitive surface;
a second element including a second capacitor plate having a second capacitive surface, at least a portion of the first element being in contact with at least one support region of the second element to transmit force thereto, the second capacitive surface being substantially coplanar with the at least one support region; and
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force to the first element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate. - View Dependent Claims (33, 35, 37, 39)
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34. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first element including a first capacitor plate including a first capacitive surface;
a second element including a second capacitor plate, the second element being part of an interconnect system to transmit a signal developed in response to the change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate, at least a portion of the first element being in contact with at least one support region of the second element to transmit force thereto;
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force to the first element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate.
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36. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first element including a first capacitor plate including a first capacitive surface;
a second element including a second capacitor plate separated by a capacitive gap from the first capacitor plate, the length of the mechanical path defining the capacitive gap being no greater than four times the maximum dimension of the volume of the capacitive gap;
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force to the first element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate.
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38. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first element including a first capacitor plate including a first capacitive surface;
a second element including a second capacitor plate separated by a capacitive gap from the first capacitor plate, the aggregate normal component of the mechanical path defining the capacitive gap being no greater than twice the size of the capacitive gap;
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force to the first element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate.
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40. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first element including force-receiving means for receiving at least part of the touch force into the first element and a first capacitor plate including a first capacitive surface;
a second element including a second capacitor plate separated by a capacitive gap from the first capacitor plate, wherein the average width of the capacitive gap in an unloaded state of the force sensor is not less than thirty times the average height of the capacitive gap in the unloaded state of the force sensor;
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force to the first element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate.
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41. A force sensor for sensing a touch force applied to a touch surface, the force sensor comprising:
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a first element including an elastic element, and a first capacitor plate including a first capacitive surface; and
a second element including a second capacitor plate;
wherein transmission of at least part of the touch force through the elastic element contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate; and
wherein the force sensor has a normal stiffness not less than 0.5 pounds per mil.
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42. A force sensing touch location device comprising:
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a touch surface;
a bezel enclosing a first portion of the touch surface; and
force transmission means including an enclosing portion enclosing a second portion of the touch surface, said force transmission means having a stiffness greater than that of the bezel, wherein the force transmission means includes a path to transmit force from the bezel to a region not including the touch surface. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A force sensing touch location device comprising:
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a touch surface;
a bezel enclosing a first portion of the touch surface; and
force transmission means including an enclosing portion enclosing a second portion of the touch surface and at least one thin rigid leg in contact with the bezel and a stiff surface not including the touch surface, said force transmission means having a stiffness greater than that of the bezel, wherein the force transmission means includes a path to transmit force from the bezel to the stiff surface not including the touch surface. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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67. A force sensing touch location device comprising:
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a touch surface defining a touch plane;
a first rigid member;
a contoured first film coupled to the touch surface and the first rigid member to form a first seal therebetween, the contoured first film being compliant along an axis normal to the touch plane.
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86. In a force sensor, a method for separating a first capacitor plate from a second capacitor plate by a desired volume, the method comprising steps of:
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(A) disposing a separator between a support surface and a principal element including the first capacitor plate to maintain a separation of at least the desired volume between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate;
(B) coupling at least one region of the principal element to at least one region of the support surface; and
(C) removing the separator, whereby the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate remain separated by at least the desired volume in an unloaded state of the force sensor. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93)
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94. In a force sensor, a method for separating a first capacitor plate from a second capacitor plate by a desired volume, the method comprising steps of:
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(A) disposing a predetermined substrate containing particles of controlled size between a support surface and a principal element including the first capacitor plate to produce a separation of at least the desired volume between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate; and
(B) coupling at least one region of the principal element to at least one region of the support surface to maintain the separation of at least the desired volume between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate. - View Dependent Claims (95)
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96. A method for manufacturing a force sensor, the method comprising steps of:
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(A) selecting a principle element including a substantially flat surface and a first capacitive surface;
(B) disposing the first capacitive surface in opposition to a second capacitive surface; and
(C) forming an elevated elastic feature into the substantially flat surface, whereby transmission of a force through the elevated elastic feature contributes to a change in capacitance between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99)
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100. In a force sensor, a method for separating a first capacitor plate from a second capacitor plate by a desired volume, the method comprising steps of:
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(A) disposing a separator between the second capacitor plate and a substantially planar principal element including the first capacitor plate to maintain a separation of at least the desired volume between the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate;
(B) coupling at least one region of the principal element to at least one region of the support surface that is substantially parallel to the principal element; and
(C) removing the separator, whereby the first capacitor plate and the second capacitor plate remain separated by at least the desired volume in an unloaded state of the capacitive force sensor.
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101. A force sensing touch location device comprising:
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a touch surface structure to which a touch force may be applied, the touch force including a perpendicular component that is perpendicular to a touch surface of the touch surface structure and a tangential component that is tangential to the touch surface of the touch surface structure;
a supporting structure;
at least one force sensor, in communication with the touch surface and the supporting structure, to measure properties of the touch force;
lateral restraint means, in contact with both the touch surface structure and the supporting structure, for impeding lateral motion of the touch surface structure without substantially impeding transmission of the perpendicular component of the touch force through the at least one force sensor. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110)
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Specification