Shear force detection using capacitive sensors
First Claim
1. An input device having a sensing region overlapping an input surface of the input device, the input device comprising:
- a first substrate;
a second substrate physically coupled to the first substrate;
at least one sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate, the at least one sensor electrode configured to detect input objects in the sensing region;
a first force sensor comprising;
a first force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate; and
a first conductive portion of the second substrate capacitively coupled with the first force sensor electrode, the first conductive portion configured to move relative to the first force sensor electrode such that a first variable capacitance of the first force sensor changes in response to force applied to the input surface in a first direction parallel to the touch surface; and
a second force sensor comprising;
a second force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate;
a second conductive portion of the second substrate capacitively coupled with the second force sensor electrode, the second conductive portion configured to move relative to the second force sensor electrode such that a second variable capacitance of the second force sensor changes in response to force applied to the input surface in a second direction different from the first direction and parallel to the input surface; and
a third force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate, the third force sensor electrode capacitive coupled to the second force sensor electrode and configured to move relative to the second conductive portion such that the second variable capacitance changes in response to parallel relative motion between the first substrate and the second substrate, the third force sensor electrode being a transmitter electrode configured to transmit transmitter signals, and the second force sensor electrode being a receiver electrode configured to receive resulting signals, and the resulting signals being indicative of the second variable capacitance and comprising effects from the transmitter signals and the second conductive portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An input device having a sensing region overlapping an input surface includes a first substrate, a second substrate physically coupled to the first substrate, and a sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate and configured to detect input objects in the sensing region. A first force sensor includes a first electrode disposed on the first substrate and a first conductive portion of the second substrate capacitively coupled with the first electrode. The first conductive portion is configured to move relative to the first electrode such that a first variable capacitance of the first force sensor changes in response to force applied to the input surface in a first direction parallel to the touch surface.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An input device having a sensing region overlapping an input surface of the input device, the input device comprising:
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a first substrate; a second substrate physically coupled to the first substrate; at least one sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate, the at least one sensor electrode configured to detect input objects in the sensing region; a first force sensor comprising; a first force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate; and a first conductive portion of the second substrate capacitively coupled with the first force sensor electrode, the first conductive portion configured to move relative to the first force sensor electrode such that a first variable capacitance of the first force sensor changes in response to force applied to the input surface in a first direction parallel to the touch surface; and a second force sensor comprising; a second force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate; a second conductive portion of the second substrate capacitively coupled with the second force sensor electrode, the second conductive portion configured to move relative to the second force sensor electrode such that a second variable capacitance of the second force sensor changes in response to force applied to the input surface in a second direction different from the first direction and parallel to the input surface; and a third force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate, the third force sensor electrode capacitive coupled to the second force sensor electrode and configured to move relative to the second conductive portion such that the second variable capacitance changes in response to parallel relative motion between the first substrate and the second substrate, the third force sensor electrode being a transmitter electrode configured to transmit transmitter signals, and the second force sensor electrode being a receiver electrode configured to receive resulting signals, and the resulting signals being indicative of the second variable capacitance and comprising effects from the transmitter signals and the second conductive portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An input device comprising a sensing region overlapping an input surface of the input device, the input device comprising:
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at least one sensor electrode disposed on a first substrate, the at least one sensor electrode configured to detect input objects in the sensing region of the input device; a plurality of force sensor electrodes disposed on the first substrate, the first substrate physically coupled to a second substrate and configured to move relative to the second substrate, the plurality of force sensor electrodes comprising a first force sensor electrode and a second force sensor electrode, the first force sensor electrode being capacitively coupled to the second force sensor electrode, the second force sensor electrode being a transmitter electrode configured to transmit transmitter signals, and the first force sensor electrode being a receiver electrode configured to receive resulting signals; a first variable capacitance comprising; a capacitive coupling between at least one force sensor electrode of the plurality of force sensor electrodes disposed on the first substrate and a first conductive portion of the second substrate; a second variable capacitance comprising; a capacitive coupling between at least one force sensor electrode of the plurality of force sensor electrodes disposed on the first substrate and a second conductive portion of the second substrate; wherein a force applied to the input surface in a first direction parallel to the input surface moves the first substrate relative to the second substrate and changes at least one of the first and second variable capacitances, wherein the first force sensor electrode is configured to move relative to the second conductive portion such that the second variable capacitance changes in response to parallel relative motion between the first substrate and the second substrate, and wherein the resulting signals are indicative of the second variable capacitance and comprise effects from the transmitter signals and the second conductive portion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A processing system for an input device, the input device comprising an input surface overlapped by a sensing region;
- the processing system comprising;
a sensor module comprising force sensor circuitry, the sensor module configured to; operate at least one sensor electrode disposed on a first surface of a first substrate of the input device to capacitively detect input objects in the sensing region; transmit transmitter signals using a first sub-set of a plurality of force sensor electrodes disposed on a second surface of the first substrate, the second surface opposite the first surface; receive resulting signals using a second sub-set of the plurality of force sensor electrodes disposed on the second surface, at least one of the second sub-set of the plurality of force sensor electrodes being capacitive coupled to at least one of the first sub-set of the plurality of force sensor electrodes; a determination module configured to; determine a first force value based on a first resulting signal received on a first force sensor electrode of the second sub-set, wherein the first resulting signal varies in response to a lateral motion of a first conductive portion of a second substrate physically coupled and configured to move relative to the first substrate, the first conductive portion disposed opposite the first force sensor electrode of the second sub-set, and wherein the first resulting signal varies based on a change in a capacitive coupling between the first conductive portion and the first force sensor electrode due to the lateral motion; determine a second force value based on a second resulting signal received on a second force sensor electrode of the second sub-set, wherein the second resulting signal varies in response to lateral motion of a second conductive portion of the second substrate, the second conductive portion disposed opposite the second force sensor electrode of the second sub-set; and determine a lateral force applied to the input surface based on the first and second force values, wherein the at least one of the first sub-set of the plurality of force sensor electrodes is configured to move relative to the second conductive portion such that the second variable capacitance changes in response to parallel relative motion between the first substrate and the second substrate, and wherein the resulting signals comprises effects from the transmitter signals and the second conductive portion. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
- the processing system comprising;
Specification