Input Device
First Claim
1. An input device comprisinga capacitive proximity and pressure sensor, including a first carrier layer, a second carrier layer and a spacer arranged between said first and second carrier layers, said first carrier layer having a first capacitor electrode applied thereon, said second carrier layer having a second capacitor electrode applied thereon, said first and second capacitor electrodes being arranged opposite one another with respect to said spacer in such a way that, in response to a compressive force acting on the pressure sensor, the first and second capacitor electrodes are brought closer together;
- and a control circuit configured so as to operate in at least a first and a second mode of operation, said control circuit determining,while in said first mode of operation, a quantity indicative of a capacitance between said first capacitor electrode and ground;
and, while in said second mode of operation, a quantity indicative of a capacitance between said first capacitor electrode and said second capacitor electrode.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An input device comprises a capacitive proximity and pressure sensor, which includes a first carrier layer, a second carrier layer and a spacer arranged between the first and second carrier layers, the first carrier layer having a first capacitor electrode applied thereon, the second carrier layer having a second capacitor electrode applied thereon, the first and second capacitor electrodes being arranged opposite one another with respect to the spacer in such a way that, in response to a compressive force acting on the pressure sensor, the first and second capacitor electrodes are brought closer together. The input device further comprises a control circuit configured so as to operate in at least two modes of operation, including a first and a second mode of operation. The control circuit determines, while in the first mode of operation, a quantity indicative of a capacitance between the first capacitor electrode and ground and, while in the second mode of operation, a quantity indicative of a capacitance between the first capacitor electrode and the second capacitor electrode.
225 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An input device comprising
a capacitive proximity and pressure sensor, including a first carrier layer, a second carrier layer and a spacer arranged between said first and second carrier layers, said first carrier layer having a first capacitor electrode applied thereon, said second carrier layer having a second capacitor electrode applied thereon, said first and second capacitor electrodes being arranged opposite one another with respect to said spacer in such a way that, in response to a compressive force acting on the pressure sensor, the first and second capacitor electrodes are brought closer together; -
and a control circuit configured so as to operate in at least a first and a second mode of operation, said control circuit determining, while in said first mode of operation, a quantity indicative of a capacitance between said first capacitor electrode and ground; and, while in said second mode of operation, a quantity indicative of a capacitance between said first capacitor electrode and said second capacitor electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An input device comprising
a capacitive proximity and pressure sensor, including a first carrier layer, a second carrier layer and a spacer arranged between said first and second carrier layers for keeping the first and second carrier layers apart from one another, said first carrier layer having a plurality of first capacitor electrodes applied thereon, said second carrier layer having a second capacitor electrode applied thereon, said plurality of first capacitor electrodes being arranged opposite said second capacitor electrode with respect to said spacer in such a way that, in response to a compressive force acting locally on the pressure sensor, individual ones of said first capacitor electrodes are brought closer to said second capacitor electrode at the location where said compressive force acts on the pressure sensor; -
and a control circuit configured so as to operate in at least a first and a second mode of operation, said control circuit determining, while in said first mode of operation, a quantity indicative of capacitance between individual ones of said first capacitor electrodes and ground; and, while in said second mode of operation, a quantity indicative of a capacitance between said second capacitor electrode and individual ones of said first capacitor electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
-
Specification