Two dimensional position sensor
First Claim
1. A position sensor comprising:
- a plurality of x-electrodes that generally extend in an x-direction; and
a plurality of y-electrodes that generally extend in the x-direction and are interleaved with the x-electrodes in a y-direction that is substantially perpendicular to the x-direction, the x-electrodes and y-electrodes being arranged together in a pattern that defines a sensitive area, none of the y-electrodes being adjacent to another one of the y-electrodes in the y-direction, the plurality of y-electrodes being arranged in y-electrode groups of at least two y-electrodes, the y-electrodes of each y-electrode group being connected to each other, one or more of the x-electrodes each being adjacent to one or more other ones of the x-electrodes in the y-direction, the x-electrodes comprising first, second, and third groups of elements, the elements in each of the first, second, and third groups of elements being connected to each other but not to elements in another one of the groups, the elements in the first, second, and third groups having shapes configured for;
adjacent ones of the elements in the first and second groups to co-extend in the x-direction over a first portion of the sensitive area and to provide ratiometric capacitive signals with respect to each other in the x-direction; and
adjacent ones of the elements in the second and third groups to co-extend in the x-direction over a second portion of the sensitive area and to provide ratiometric capacitive signals with respect to each other in the x-direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-dimensional position sensor comprising a substrate with a sensitive area defined by a pattern of electrodes including electrodes for determining x-position and electrodes for determining y-position. The x-electrodes and y-electrodes generally extend in the x-direction and are interleaved in the y-direction. The x-electrodes comprise at least first, second and third groups of elements shaped such that adjacent ones of the elements of the different x-electrode groups co-extend in the x-direction so that the x-electrodes provide ratiometric capacitive signals, thereby providing quasi-continuous x-position sensing across the sensitive area. In addition, the y-electrodes may be resistively connected or arranged in ratiometric pairs to provide quasi-continuous y-position sensing. Alternatively, the x-electrode groups may be interdigitated to form pairs of x-adjacent blocks of differing area to provide stepwise x-position sensing in combination with stepwise y-position sensing provided by the y-electrodes.
71 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A position sensor comprising:
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a plurality of x-electrodes that generally extend in an x-direction; and a plurality of y-electrodes that generally extend in the x-direction and are interleaved with the x-electrodes in a y-direction that is substantially perpendicular to the x-direction, the x-electrodes and y-electrodes being arranged together in a pattern that defines a sensitive area, none of the y-electrodes being adjacent to another one of the y-electrodes in the y-direction, the plurality of y-electrodes being arranged in y-electrode groups of at least two y-electrodes, the y-electrodes of each y-electrode group being connected to each other, one or more of the x-electrodes each being adjacent to one or more other ones of the x-electrodes in the y-direction, the x-electrodes comprising first, second, and third groups of elements, the elements in each of the first, second, and third groups of elements being connected to each other but not to elements in another one of the groups, the elements in the first, second, and third groups having shapes configured for; adjacent ones of the elements in the first and second groups to co-extend in the x-direction over a first portion of the sensitive area and to provide ratiometric capacitive signals with respect to each other in the x-direction; and adjacent ones of the elements in the second and third groups to co-extend in the x-direction over a second portion of the sensitive area and to provide ratiometric capacitive signals with respect to each other in the x-direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device comprising:
a position sensor comprising; a plurality of x-electrodes that generally extend in an x-direction; and a plurality of y-electrodes that generally extend in the x-direction and are interleaved with the x-electrodes in a y-direction that is substantially perpendicular to the x-direction, the x-electrodes and y-electrodes being arranged together in a pattern that defines a sensitive area, none of the y-electrodes being adjacent to another one of the y-electrodes in the y-direction, the plurality of y-electrodes being arranged in y-electrode groups of at least two y-electrodes, the y-electrodes of each y-electrode group being connected to each other, one or more of the x-electrodes each being adjacent to one or more other ones of the x-electrodes in the y-direction, the x-electrodes comprising first, second, and third groups of elements, the elements in each of the first, second, and third groups of elements being connected to each other but not to elements in another-one of the groups, the elements in the first, second, and third groups having shapes configured for; adjacent ones of the elements in the first and second groups to co-extend in the x-direction over a portion of the sensitive area and to provide ratiometric capacitive signals with respect to each other in the x-direction; and adjacent ones of the elements in the second and third groups to co-extend in the x-direction over another portion of the sensitive area and to provide ratiometric capacitive signals with respect to each other in the x-direction, circuitry configured to drive and process information from the position sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification