Force Sensing Using Dual-Layer Cover Glass with Gel Adhesive and Capacitive Sensing
First Claim
1. Apparatus includinga touch device including one or more applied force sensors, said applied force sensors includinga first cover glass element;
- a second cover glass element;
a compressible layer positioned between said first and second cover glass element, said compressible layer including one or more capacitive sensors;
wherein said touch device is responsive to said capacitive sensors, and capable of determining an amount of applied force and a location of touch on a surface of said touch device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A touch device including a force sensor disposed between capacitive sensing structures, so both touch and force sensing occur capacitively using device drivers in rows and columns. A dual-layer cover glass, with gel adhesive separating first and second CG layers, so capacitive sensing between the first and second CG layers can determine both touch locations and applied force. The first and second CG layers include a compressible material having a Poisson'"'"'s ratio of less than approximately 0.48, the force sensor being embedded therein, or disposed between the first and second CG layers. Applied force is detected using capacitive detection of depression of the first CG layer. Depression is responsive to compressible features smaller than optical wavelengths, so those features are substantially invisible to users. Alternatively, the compressible features may be large enough to be seen by a user, but made substantially invisible through the use of a fluid or other element filling spaces between the features. Such a fluid may have an index of refraction equal to, or nearly equal to, the index of refraction of the compressible features.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. Apparatus including
a touch device including one or more applied force sensors, said applied force sensors including a first cover glass element; -
a second cover glass element; a compressible layer positioned between said first and second cover glass element, said compressible layer including one or more capacitive sensors; wherein said touch device is responsive to said capacitive sensors, and capable of determining an amount of applied force and a location of touch on a surface of said touch device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A touch device including
a cover glass element, said cover glass element being substantially flexible; -
a force sensor, said force sensor including a substantially rigid element disposed below said cover glass element; a compressible layer positioned between said cover glass element and said substantially rigid element, said compressible layer including one or more elements disposed to detect a measure of compression of said compressible layer; wherein said force sensor is capable of determining an amount and a location of applied force in response to said measure of compression. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method, including steps of
measuring an amount of applied force and a location of touch for a contact applied to a surface of a touch device, said steps of measuring including disposing a compressible layer between a first cover glass element and a second cover glass element in said touch device; -
sensing a measure of distance between elements coupled to said first cover glass element and said second cover glass element; wherein said measure of distance is responsive to a deformation of at least one of;
said first cover glass element, said second cover glass element. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of operating a touch device, including steps of
measuring an amount of applied force and a location of touch for a contact applied to a surface of a touch device, said steps of measuring including disposing a substantially flexible layer at a surface of said touch device; -
disposing a substantially rigid layer below said substantially flexible layer; and sensing a measure of deformation of said substantially flexible layer with respect to said substantially rigid layer; wherein said steps of sensing a measure of deformation are responsive to a compressible layer disposed between said substantially flexible layer and said substantially rigid layer. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification