Compression Seal for Force Sensing Device
First Claim
1. A force sensing device, comprising:
- a housing;
a cover;
a gasket compressed between the housing and the cover;
a retainer that maintains compression of the gasket absent a force exerted on the cover and that is operable to allow increased compression of the gasket when the force is exerted on the cover; and
a force sensor disposed between the housing and the cover that produces a signal indicative of an amount of the force;
wherein the gasket is positioned between the force sensor and an exterior environment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device includes a seal compressed between a moveable structure and a support. A retainer maintains seal compression in a first direction absent force exerted on the moveable structure. However, the retainer allows increased seal compression by moving in a second, opposing direction when force is exerted on the moveable structure. A force sensor (positioned internal to the seal) is influenced by movement of the moveable structure in response to the force and a signal received from the force sensor indicates an amount of the force. By maintaining the seal in compression but allowing further compression, the seal can hermetically seal the electronic device against contaminant entry without adversely impacting detection of the amount of force.
9 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A force sensing device, comprising:
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a housing; a cover; a gasket compressed between the housing and the cover; a retainer that maintains compression of the gasket absent a force exerted on the cover and that is operable to allow increased compression of the gasket when the force is exerted on the cover; and a force sensor disposed between the housing and the cover that produces a signal indicative of an amount of the force; wherein the gasket is positioned between the force sensor and an exterior environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A force sensing electronic device, comprising:
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a support; an input surface; an o-ring preloaded in compression between the support and the input surface; a clamp that; resists expansion of the o-ring in a first direction absent a force exerted on the input surface; and moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the force is exerted on the input surface; and a force sensor disposed between the support and the input surface that produces a signal indicative of an amount of displacement between the input surface and the support caused by the force, the force sensor positioned proximate to the o-ring in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electronic device, comprising:
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a base; a moveable structure; a compressed seal positioned between the base and the moveable structure; a restraint that maintains compression of the seal absent a force exerted on the moveable structure and allows movement of the moveable structure relative to the base in response to the force; a strain gauge that experiences a strain related to the movement; a processing unit that receives a signal indicative of an amount of the force from the strain gauge; and wherein the strain for the amount of the force is dependent upon a resistance of the compressed seal to the movement. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification