INPUT DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED DEFORMABLE ELECTRODE STRUCTURE FOR FORCE SENSING

• US 20130068038A1
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Reynolds, Joseph Kurth, Bolender, Robert James, Vijayashanker, Narain Kumar, Hsieh, Lin-Hsiang, Kumar, Shwetank
• Granted Patent: US 9,748,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.626
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/142 using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/146 for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays G01L1/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96077 comprising an electrode which is floating
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960775 Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on a first substrate and a deformable electrode structure. The deformable electrode structure overlaps the first electrode and the second electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode that changes with the deformation of the deformable electrode structure. The deformable electrode structure comprises a spacing component configured to provide spacing between the deformable electrode structure and the first electrode and the second electrode. Finally, a transmission component is configured such that biasing the transmission component causes the deformable electrode structure to deform and change the variable capacitance. A measurement of the variable capacitance can be used to determine force information regarding the force biasing the transmission component.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on a first substrate;

a deformable electrode structure, the deformable electrode structure comprising a spacing component, wherein the deformable electrode structure overlaps the first electrode and the second electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode that changes with deformation of the deformable electrode structure, and wherein the spacing component is configured to provide spacing between the deformable electrode structure and the first electrode and the second electrode; and

a transmission component configured such that force biasing the transmission component causes the deformable electrode structure to deform and change the variable capacitance.

2. The input device of claim 1 wherein the first electrode comprises a transmitter electrode and wherein the second electrode comprises a receiver electrode.

3. The input device of claim 1 wherein the deformable electrode structure further comprises an attachment component configured to be physically coupled to the first substrate.

4. The input device of claim 1 wherein the deformable electrode structure and the transmission component are integrally formed.

5. The input device of claim 1 wherein the deformable electrode structure and the transmission component are formed from a single piece of material.

6. The input device of claim 1 further comprising a third electrode disposed between the deformable electrode structure and the first and second electrode, the third electrode separated from the first and second electrode by an insulator, and wherein the third electrode is configured to float electrically during operation.

7. The input device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes configured to detect objects in a sensing region; and

a processing system, the processing system communicatively coupled to the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, and the first and second electrodes, wherein the processing system is configured to;

determine a capacitance value of the variable capacitance and to determine force information from the capacitance value; and

operate the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes to sense objects in the sensing region.

8. An input device comprising:

a transmitter electrode and a receiver electrode disposed on a first substrate;

a deformable electrode structure, the deformable electrode structure overlapping at least a portion of the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode to define a variable capacitance between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode, the deformable electrode structure further comprising;

a spacing component, the spacing component configured to provide spacing between the deformable electrode structure and the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode; and

a transmission component, the transmission component configured such that force biasing the transmission component causes the deformable electrode structure to deform relative to the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode and changes the variable capacitance; and

a processing system communicatively coupled to the deformable electrode structure and the transmitter and receiver electrodes, wherein the processing system is configured to determine a capacitance value of the variable capacitance and to determine force information from the capacitance value.

9. The input device of claim 8 wherein the deformable electrode structure further comprises an attachment component configured to be physically coupled to the first substrate.

10. The input device of claim 8 wherein the deformable electrode structure and the transmission component are integrally formed.

11. The input device of claim 8 wherein the deformable electrode structure is formed from a single piece of material.

12. The input device of claim 8 further comprising a third electrode disposed between the deformable electrode structure and the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode, the third electrode separated from the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode by an insulator, wherein the third electrode is configured to float electrically during operation.

13. The input device of claim 8 further comprising:

a first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes configured to detect objects in a sensing region; and

wherein the processing system is further communicatively coupled to the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, and wherein the processing system is further configured to;

operate the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes to sense objects in the sensing region.

14. A method comprising:

providing a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on a first substrate;

providing a deformable electrode structure, the deformable electrode structure comprising a spacing component, the spacing component is configured to provide spacing between the deformable electrode structure and the first electrode and the second electrode

affixing the deformable electrode structure such that the deformable electrode structure overlaps the first electrode and the second electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode that changes with deformation of the deformable electrode structure; and

providing a transmission component configured such that force biasing the transmission component causes the deformable electrode structure to deform and change the variable capacitance.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the deformable electrode structure further comprises an attachment component configured to be physically coupled to the first substrate.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the deformable electrode structure and the transmission component are integrally formed.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the deformable electrode structure is stamped from a single piece of material to shape the single piece of material into the deformable electrode structure.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the deformable electrode structure is coined a single piece of material to shape the single piece of material into the deformable electrode structure.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a third electrode disposed between the deformable electrode structure and the first and second electrode, the third electrode separated from the first and second electrode by an insulator, and wherein the third electrode is configured to float electrically during operation.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes on the first substrate, the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes configured to detect objects in a sensing region.