Equalizing reference surface capacitance with uneven thickness

• US 7,683,891 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Tran, Bich Quy
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Joseph G
• Application Number:
  US11/316,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20070144795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/165, 733/350.4, 338/295
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

One embodiment in accordance with the invention includes a capacitive sensing apparatus that includes a capacitive sensor configured to sense an object proximate to a physical capacitive sensing reference surface. The capacitive sensing apparatus also includes a plurality of dielectric materials disposed between the capacitive sensor and the physical capacitive sensing reference surface. Note that at least one of the plurality of dielectric materials has a non-uniform thickness. The plurality of dielectric materials can be configured such that capacitive coupling between the capacitive sensor and the object proximate to the physical capacitive sensing reference surface is substantially constant across the physical capacitive sensing reference surface.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensing apparatus comprising:

a capacitive sensor configured to sense an object proximate to a physical capacitive sensing reference surface; and

a plurality of dielectric materials disposed between the capacitive sensor and the physical capacitive sensing reference surface, at least one of said plurality of dielectric materials having non-uniform self thickness,

wherein said plurality of dielectric materials is configured such that capacitive coupling between said capacitive sensor and said object proximate to said physical capacitive sensing reference surface is substantially constant across said physical capacitive sensing reference surface.

2. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of dielectric materials is comprised of a foam material.

3. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of dielectric materials is comprised of a gas.

4. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 3, wherein said gas comprises air.

5. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 3, wherein at least one of said plurality of dielectric materials is comprised of a polymer.

6. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said physical capacitive sensing reference surface is not uniformly flat.

7. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said physical capacitive sensing reference surface is concave.

8. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said physical capacitive sensing reference surface is convex.

9. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of dielectric materials has a substantially uniform self thickness.

10. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a touch surface material disposed against said plurality of dielectric materials, said touch surface material configured to provide a contact surface for said object.

11. A capacitive sensing apparatus comprising:

a two-dimensional capacitive sensor configured to sense an object proximate to a tangible capacitive sensing reference surface; and

a plurality of layers of dielectric material disposed between said two-dimensional capacitive sensor and said tangible capacitive sensing reference surface, at least one of said plurality of layers of dielectric material having varying self thickness,

wherein said plurality of layers of capacitive material is configured such that the specific capacitance per unit area between said two-dimensional capacitive sensor and said conductive object proximate to said tangible capacitive sensing reference surface remains approximately constant across said tangible capacitive sensing reference surface.

12. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality layers of dielectric material is comprised of a gas.

13. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said gas comprises air.

14. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of said plurality layers of dielectric material is comprised of a polymer.

15. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein said tangible capacitive sensing reference surface is not uniformly flat.

16. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein said tangible capacitive sensing reference surface is concave.

17. The capacitive sensing apparatus of claim 11, wherein said tangible capacitive sensing reference surface is convex.

18. A method comprising:

disposing a first dielectric material having varying thickness above a capacitive sensor; and

disposing a second dielectric material adjacent to said first dielectric material;

wherein capacitive coupling of said capacitive sensor through said first and second dielectric materials to an object proximate to a physical capacitive sensing reference surface is approximately constant across said physical capacitive sensing reference surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said first dielectric material comprises a gas.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said second dielectric material comprises a polymer.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

disposing a third dielectric material having substantially uniform thickness above said second dielectric material, said third dielectric material provides a contact surface for said object.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said physical capacitive sensing reference surface is not uniformly flat.