Apparatus and method for detecting user input
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a first electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes configured for use in detecting a location of a user input;
a second electrode arrangement;
an inter-electrode layer extending between the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement, wherein the inter-electrode layer comprises a piezoelectric material;
wherein the first electrode arrangement, the second electrode arrangement, and the inter-electrode layer are configured to operate as a piezoelectric sensor for use in detecting strain, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect a change in voltage between the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement in response to a deformation of the piezoelectric material;
wherein the first electrode arrangement comprises row electrodes arranged in parallel rows and column electrodes arranged in parallel columns, wherein the row electrodes and the column electrodes are at a same level, and wherein a control circuitry is configured to interconnect the row electrodes and the column electrodes; and
circuitry configured to switch between a first mode for location detection of a user input and a second mode for strain detection, wherein the first electrode arrangement has a variable configuration and is configured as multiple smaller electrodes in the first mode and is configured as one or more larger electrodes in the second mode.
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Abstract
An apparatus including: an first electrode arrangement including a plurality of electrodes configured for use in detecting a location of a user input; a second electrode arrangement configured for use in detecting strain; and an inter-electrode layer extending between the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a first electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes configured for use in detecting a location of a user input; a second electrode arrangement; an inter-electrode layer extending between the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement, wherein the inter-electrode layer comprises a piezoelectric material; wherein the first electrode arrangement, the second electrode arrangement, and the inter-electrode layer are configured to operate as a piezoelectric sensor for use in detecting strain, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect a change in voltage between the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement in response to a deformation of the piezoelectric material; wherein the first electrode arrangement comprises row electrodes arranged in parallel rows and column electrodes arranged in parallel columns, wherein the row electrodes and the column electrodes are at a same level, and wherein a control circuitry is configured to interconnect the row electrodes and the column electrodes; and circuitry configured to switch between a first mode for location detection of a user input and a second mode for strain detection, wherein the first electrode arrangement has a variable configuration and is configured as multiple smaller electrodes in the first mode and is configured as one or more larger electrodes in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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using a first electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes when detecting a location of a user input; using a second electrode arrangement, separated from the first electrode arrangement by an inter-electrode layer, and the first electrode arrangement when detecting strain, wherein the inter-electrode layer comprises a piezoelectric material, wherein the first electrode arrangement, the second electrode arrangement, and the inter-electrode layer are configured to operate as a piezoelectric sensor for use in detecting strain, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect a change in voltage between the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement in response to a deformation of the piezoelectric material; wherein the first electrode arrangement comprises row electrodes arranged in parallel rows and column electrodes arranged in parallel columns, wherein the row electrodes and the column electrodes are at a same level, and wherein a control circuitry is configured to interconnect the row electrodes and the column electrodes; and using circuitry configured to switch between a first mode for location detection of a user input and a second mode for strain detection, wherein the first electrode arrangement has a variable configuration and is configured as multiple smaller electrodes in the first mode and is configured as one or more larger electrodes in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a first electrode arrangement comprising a plurality of electrodes; a second electrode arrangement; and an inter-electrode layer extending between the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement, wherein the inter-electrode layer comprises a piezoelectric material, wherein the first electrode arrangement, the second electrode arrangement, and the inter-electrode layer are configured to operate as a piezoelectric sensor for use in detecting strain, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect a change in voltage between the first electrode arrangement and the second electrode arrangement in response to a deformation of the piezoelectric material; wherein the first electrode arrangement comprises row electrodes arranged in parallel rows and column electrodes arranged in parallel columns, wherein the row electrodes and the column electrodes are at a same layer, and wherein a control circuitry is configured to interconnect the row electrodes and the column electrodes, wherein the apparatus has; a first mode in which the plurality of electrodes are configured as independent electrodes for use in detecting a location of a user input and a second mode in which the plurality of electrodes are configured as a combined electrode for use, with the second electrode arrangement, in detecting strain; wherein the apparatus further comprises circuitry configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode, wherein the first electrode arrangement has a variable configuration and is configured as multiple smaller electrodes in the first mode and is configured as one or more larger electrodes in the second mode.
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Specification