DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LOCALIZED FORCE SENSING
First Claim
1. A capacitive input device configured to sense input objects in a sensing region, the capacitive input device comprising:
- a pliable component comprising an input surface configured to be touched by a user, a first array of sensor electrodes, and a second array of sensor electrodes disposed in the sensing region, the pliable component characterized by a bending stiffness;
a third array of sensor electrodes disposed in the sensing region; and
a spacing layer disposed between the third array of sensor electrodes and the pliable component, the spacing layer characterized by a compressive stiffness;
wherein, in response to a force applied to the input surface, the input surface is configured to deform and the pliable component is configured to deflect the second array of sensor electrodes towards the third array of sensor electrodes; and
wherein the deformation of the input surface and the deflection of the second array of sensor electrodes is based on the bending stiffness of the pliable component and the compressive stiffness of the spacing layer.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for operating a capacitive input device configured to sense input objects and their applied force in a sensing region, the device including a pliable component having an input surface and characterized by a bending stiffness, and first and second arrays of sensor electrodes. The input device further includes a third array of sensor electrodes and a spacing layer disposed between the third array. The pliable component is characterized by a compressive stiffness and configured to deform in response to a force applied to the input surface and to deflect the second array of sensor electrodes towards the third array of sensor electrodes, wherein the deformation of the input surface and the deflection of the second array of sensor electrodes is a function of the ratio of the bending stiffness of the pliable component and the compressive stiffness of the spacing layer.
47 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A capacitive input device configured to sense input objects in a sensing region, the capacitive input device comprising:
-
a pliable component comprising an input surface configured to be touched by a user, a first array of sensor electrodes, and a second array of sensor electrodes disposed in the sensing region, the pliable component characterized by a bending stiffness; a third array of sensor electrodes disposed in the sensing region; and a spacing layer disposed between the third array of sensor electrodes and the pliable component, the spacing layer characterized by a compressive stiffness; wherein, in response to a force applied to the input surface, the input surface is configured to deform and the pliable component is configured to deflect the second array of sensor electrodes towards the third array of sensor electrodes; and wherein the deformation of the input surface and the deflection of the second array of sensor electrodes is based on the bending stiffness of the pliable component and the compressive stiffness of the spacing layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An electronic system comprising:
-
a pliable component characterized by a bending stiffness, the pliable component comprising an input surface, a first array of sensor electrodes, and a second array of sensor electrodes; a third array of sensor electrodes; a spacing layer characterized by a compressive stiffness and disposed between the pliable component and the third array of sensor electrodes, wherein the pliable component is configured to deflect towards the third array in response to applied force to the input surface, wherein, the deflection is a function of the bending stiffness of the pliable component and the compressive stiffness of the spacing layer; and a processing system communicatively coupled to the first, second, and third arrays, the processing system configured to; drive a transmitter signal onto a sensor electrode of the second array; receive a first resulting signal from a sensor electrode of the first array, wherein the first resulting signal comprises effects of the capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode of the second array and the sensor electrode of the first array; receive a second resulting signal from a sensor electrode of the third array, wherein the second resulting signal comprises effects of capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode of the third array and the sensor electrode of the second array; and determine positional and force information for an input object interacting with the input surface based on the first and second resulting signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
14. A processing system for a capacitive input device, the capacitive input device comprising a pliable component, the pliable component comprising an input surface and a first and second array of sensor electrodes, the pliable component disposed above a spacing layer, and the spacing layer disposed above a third array of sensor electrodes;
- the processing system communicatively coupled to the first, second, and third array of sensor electrodes and configured to;
operate the first and second array of sensor electrodes to form a variable capacitance between the first and second array of sensor electrodes; operate the second and third array of sensor electrodes to form a variable capacitance between the second, and third array of sensor electrodes; determine positional information for input objects in contact with the input surface based on a change in the variable capacitance between the first and second array of sensor electrodes; and determine positional and force information for input objects in contact with the input surface based on a change in variable capacitance between the second and third array of sensor electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- the processing system communicatively coupled to the first, second, and third array of sensor electrodes and configured to;
Specification