INPUT DEVICE WITH FORCE SENSING
First Claim
1. An input device comprising:
- a first substrate;
proximity sensor electrodes disposed on the first substrate, the proximity sensor electrodes configured to detect objects in a sensing region;
a first force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate; and
a second substrate physically coupled to the first substrate, the second substrate comprising a spring feature and an electrode component, wherein the electrode component at least partially overlaps the first force sensor electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first force sensor electrode and the electrode component, and wherein the spring feature is configured to facilitate deflection of the electrode component relative to the first force sensor electrode to change the variable capacitance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a first substrate with proximity sensor electrodes and at least a first force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate. A second substrate is physically coupled to the first substrate, where the second substrate comprises a spring feature and an electrode component. The electrode component at least partially overlaps the first force sensor electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first force sensor electrode and the electrode component. The spring feature is configured to facilitate deflection of the electrode component relative to the first force sensor electrode to change the variable capacitance. A measure of the variable capacitance may be calculated and used to determine force information regarding the force biasing the input device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An input device comprising:
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a first substrate; proximity sensor electrodes disposed on the first substrate, the proximity sensor electrodes configured to detect objects in a sensing region; a first force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate; and a second substrate physically coupled to the first substrate, the second substrate comprising a spring feature and an electrode component, wherein the electrode component at least partially overlaps the first force sensor electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first force sensor electrode and the electrode component, and wherein the spring feature is configured to facilitate deflection of the electrode component relative to the first force sensor electrode to change the variable capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of forming an input device comprising:
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providing a first substrate; disposing a plurality of sensor electrodes on the first substrate, the plurality of sensor electrodes configured to detect objects in a sensing region; disposing a first force sensor electrode on the first substrate; patterning a second substrate to define a spring feature and an electrode component in the second substrate, the spring feature configured to facilitate deflection of the electrode component; and physically coupling the second substrate to the first substrate such that the electrode component at least partially overlaps the first force sensor electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first force sensor electrode and the electrode component and such that deflection of the electrode component feature relative to the first force sensor electrode changes the variable capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An input device comprising:
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a substrate; a plurality of proximity sensor electrodes disposed on the substrate, the proximity sensor electrodes configured to detect objects in a sensing region; a transmitter force sensor electrode and a receiver force sensor electrode disposed on the substrate; a conductive layer physically coupled to the first substrate, the conductive layer patterned to define at least one attachment component in the conductive layer, at least one spring feature in the conductive layer and at least one electrode component in the conductive layer, wherein the electrode component at least partially overlaps the transmitter force sensor electrode and the receiver sensor electrode to define a variable capacitance between the transmitter force sensor electrode, the receiver sensor electrode and the electrode component, and wherein the spring feature is configured to facilitate deflection of the electrode component relative to the transmitter force sensor electrode and the receiver sensor electrode to change the variable capacitance; and a casing, the casing comprising an mating element and a force transmission element, the mating element configured to be coupled to the attachment component of the conductive layer, and wherein the mating element and the force transmission element are dimensioned such that the force transmission element applies preload force to the electrode component when the attachment element is coupled to the attachment component and such that the force transmission element transmits additional force to electrode component in response to force applied by a user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification