Method and apparatus for providing an integrated membrane switch and capacitive sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor circuit assembly comprising:
- a switch sensor area having a first conductive element in conductive material of a first pattern oriented in a first plane, a second conductive element in conductive material of a second pattern oriented in a second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, and an insulating member that allows electrical contact between said first conductive element and said second conductive element responsive to force being applied to said first conductive element;
a capacitive sensor area having a portion of a first layer of conductive material in a first one of a group consisting of said first pattern and said second pattern; and
a preventative capacitance configuration that limits non-intentional capacitive coupling to said portion of said first layer in said capacitive sensor area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit assembly for providing a switch sensor and a capacitive sensor. The circuit assembly has a first pattern of conductive material in a first plane and a second pattern of conductive material in a second plane. An insulating member in an intermediate plane separates the first and second patterns. In a switch sensor area, the insulating member has openings to allow a first conductive element in the first pattern to contact a second conductive element in the second pattern responsive a force being applied to the first conductive element. In the capacitive sensor area, the insulating member maintains spacing between conductive material in the first and second patterns. The circuit assembly also includes a preventative capacitance configuration that limits non-intentional capacitive coupling in the capacitive sensor area.
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Citations
88 Claims
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1. A sensor circuit assembly comprising:
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a switch sensor area having a first conductive element in conductive material of a first pattern oriented in a first plane, a second conductive element in conductive material of a second pattern oriented in a second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, and an insulating member that allows electrical contact between said first conductive element and said second conductive element responsive to force being applied to said first conductive element; a capacitive sensor area having a portion of a first layer of conductive material in a first one of a group consisting of said first pattern and said second pattern; and a preventative capacitance configuration that limits non-intentional capacitive coupling to said portion of said first layer in said capacitive sensor area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for configuring a sensor circuit assembly comprising:
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defining a switch sensor area having a first conductive element in conductive material of a first pattern oriented in a first plane, a second conductive element in conductive material of a second pattern oriented in a second plane substantially parallel to said first plane, and an insulating member that allows electrical contact between said first conductive element and said second conductive element responsive to force being applied to said first conductive element; defining a capacitive sensor area having a portion of a first layer of conductive material in a first one of a group consisting of said first pattern and said second pattern; and limiting non-intentional capacitive coupling to said portion of said first layer in said capacitive sensor area. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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Specification