Sensor pattern for a tactile input device

• US 9,007,191 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tenuta, Matthew Dominic
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Bhavin M
• Application Number:
  US13/709,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20140097948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.2, 738/620.41, 250/231.19, 345/156, 345/173, 345/661, 345/174
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A tactile sensor includes a plurality of first sensing elements that are arranged in a plurality of rows on a first layer and a plurality of second sensing elements that are vertically aligned in a plurality of columns on the first layer. The second sensing elements in each column are electrically connected together and each of the plurality of columns are separate conductors from one another. The plurality of second sensing elements include a plurality of vertical elements that form an interlocking pattern with the plurality of first sensing elements.

Claims

1. A tactile sensor comprising:

a plurality of first sensing elements that are arranged in a plurality of rows on a first layer;

a plurality of second sensing elements that are vertically aligned in a plurality of columns on the first layer, with the second sensing elements in each column being electrically connected together through multiple connectors on each of the second sensing elements using a second layer that is different than the first layer and each of the plurality of columns being separate conductors from one another, wherein the plurality of second sensing elements comprise a plurality of vertical elements that form an interlocking pattern with the plurality of first sensing elements; and

a controller having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein the plurality of first sensing elements are operably coupled to the plurality of inputs of the controller and the plurality of second sensing elements are operably coupled to the plurality of outputs of the controller.

2. The tactile sensor of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first sensing elements comprise a plurality of vertical elements that form the interlocking pattern with the plurality of vertical elements of the plurality of second sensing elements.

3. The tactile sensor of claim 2 wherein the vertical elements from the plurality of the first sensing elements alternate with the vertical elements from the plurality of the second sensing elements.

4. The tactile sensor of claim 2 wherein the plurality of vertical elements from the plurality of first sensing elements define rectangular-shaped projections that project vertically along a horizontal element.

5. The tactile sensor of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first sensing elements and the plurality of second sensing elements are formed using copper etching.

6. The tactile sensor of claim 1 wherein the second sensing elements are connected one to the other on the second layer to form a continuous vertical sensing element.

7. The tactile sensor of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first sensing elements are electrically isolated from the plurality of second sensing elements.

8. The tactile sensor of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of first sensing elements forms a continuous horizontal line and each column of the plurality of second sensing elements interfaces along each of the continuous horizontal sensing elements.

9. A tactile sensor comprising:

a plurality of first sensing elements that are arranged in a plurality of rows on a first layer;

a plurality of second sensing elements that are vertically aligned in a plurality of columns on the first layer, with the second sensing elements in each column being electrically connected together through multiple connectors on each of the second sensing elements using a second layer that is different than the first layer and each of the plurality of columns being separate conductors from one another, wherein the plurality of first sensing elements comprise a plurality of vertical elements that form an interlocking pattern with the plurality of second sensing elements; and

a controller having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein the plurality of first sensing elements are operably coupled to the plurality of inputs of the controller and the plurality of second sensing elements are operably coupled to the plurality of outputs of the controller.

10. The tactile sensor of claim 9 wherein the plurality of vertical elements from the plurality of first sensing elements define rectangular-shaped projections that project vertically along a horizontal element.

11. The tactile sensor of claim 9 wherein the plurality of first sensing elements and the plurality of second sensing elements are formed using copper etching.

12. The tactile sensor of claim 9 wherein the plurality of first sensing elements are electrically isolated from the plurality of second sensing elements.

13. A tactile sensor comprising:

a plurality of first sensing elements that are arranged in a plurality of rows on a first layer, wherein the plurality of first sensing elements comprise a horizontal segment from which a plurality of vertical elements project;

a plurality of second sensing elements that are vertically aligned in a plurality of columns on the first layer, with the second sensing elements in each column being electrically connected together through multiple connectors on each of the second sensing elements using a second layer that is different than the first layer and each of the plurality of columns being separate conductors from one another, wherein the plurality of second sensing elements comprise a horizontal segment from which a plurality of vertical elements project; and

a controller having a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, wherein the plurality of first sensing elements are operably coupled to the plurality of inputs of the controller and the plurality of second sensing elements are operably coupled to the plurality of outputs of the controller.

14. The tactile sensor of claim 13 wherein the vertical elements from the plurality of the first sensing elements alternate with the vertical elements from the plurality of the second sensing elements.

15. The tactile sensor of claim 13 wherein the horizontal segment of each of the first sensing elements is disposed on the tactile sensor from a first side of the sensor to a second side of the sensor.

16. The tactile sensor of claim 13 wherein the plurality of first sensing elements and the plurality of second sensing elements are formed using copper etching.

17. A tactile sensor comprising:

a plurality of first sensing elements that are arranged in a plurality of rows on a first layer; and

a plurality of second sensing elements that are vertically aligned in a plurality of columns on the first layer, with the second sensing elements in each column being electrically connected together and each of the plurality of columns being separate conductors from one another, wherein the plurality of second sensing elements comprise a plurality of vertical elements that form an interlocking pattern with the plurality of first sensing elements and wherein the plurality of second sensing elements are electrically connected together through multiple connectors on each of the second sensing elements using a second layer that is different than the first layer.

18. The tactile sensor of claim 17 wherein the second sensing elements are connected one to the other on the second layer to form a continuous vertical sensing element.

19. The tactile sensor of claim 17 wherein the plurality of first sensing elements are electrically isolated from the plurality of second sensing elements.

20. The tactile sensor of claim 17 wherein each of the plurality of first sensing elements forms a continuous horizontal line and each column of the plurality of second sensing elements interfaces along each of the continuous horizontal sensing elements.

21. The tactile sensor of claim 17 wherein the plurality of first sensing elements comprise a plurality of vertical elements that form the interlocking pattern with the plurality of vertical elements of the plurality of second sensing elements.

22. The tactile sensor of claim 21 wherein the vertical elements from the plurality of the first sensing elements alternate with the vertical elements from the plurality of the second sensing elements.

23. The tactile sensor of claim 21 wherein the plurality of vertical elements from the plurality of first sensing elements define rectangular-shaped projections that project vertically along a horizontal element.

24. A tactile sensor comprising:

a plurality of first sensing elements that are arranged in a plurality of rows on a first layer; and

a plurality of second sensing elements that are vertically aligned in a plurality of columns on the first layer, with the second sensing elements in each column being electrically connected together and each of the plurality of columns being separate conductors from one another, wherein the plurality of first sensing elements comprise a plurality of vertical elements that form an interlocking pattern with the plurality of second sensing elements and wherein the plurality of second sensing elements are electrically connected together through multiple connectors on each of the second sensing elements using a second layer that is different than the first layer.

25. The tactile sensor of claim 24 wherein the second sensing elements are connected one to the other on the second layer to form a continuous vertical sensing element.

26. The tactile sensor of claim 24 wherein the plurality of vertical elements from the plurality of first sensing elements define rectangular-shaped projections that project vertically along a horizontal element.

27. A tactile sensor comprising:

a plurality of first sensing elements that are arranged in a plurality of rows on a first layer, wherein the plurality of first sensing elements comprise a horizontal segment from which a plurality of vertical elements project; and

a plurality of second sensing elements that are vertically aligned in a plurality of columns on the first layer, with the second sensing elements in each column being electrically connected together and each of the plurality of columns being separate conductors from one another, wherein the plurality of second sensing elements comprise a horizontal segment from which a plurality of vertical elements project and wherein the plurality of second sensing elements are electrically connected together through multiple connectors on each of the second sensing elements using a second layer that is different than the first layer.

28. The tactile sensor of claim 27 wherein the second sensing elements are connected one to the other on the second layer to form a continuous vertical sensing element.

29. The tactile sensor of claim 27 wherein the vertical elements from the plurality of the first sensing elements alternate with the vertical elements from the plurality of the second sensing elements.

30. The tactile sensor of claim 27 wherein the horizontal segment of each of the first sensing elements is disposed on the tactile sensor from a first side of the sensor to a second side of the sensor.