Printed force sensor within a touch screen
First Claim
1. A force sensor integrated into a multi-layer touch screen, the force sensor comprising:
- a variably conductive material whose conductivity changes in accordance with an amount of compressive force applied to the variably conductive material;
a first electrode positioned on a first side of the variable conductive material and between the variably conductive material and a first layer of the multi-layer touch screen, the first electrode being conductively connected to another first electrode of another force sensor; and
a second electrode positioned on a second side of the variably conductive material opposite the first side of the variably conductive material and between the variably conductive material and a second layer of the multi-layer touch screen that is substantially parallel to the first layer, the second electrode being conductively connected to another second electrode of the other force sensor;
wherein the variably conductive material, the first electrode, and the second electrode form a protrusion from a layer plane of the second layer, the protrusion extending towards the first layer, andwherein a space between the first layer of the multi-layer touch screen and the second layer of the multi-layer touch screen is smaller than a rest state thickness of the variably conductive material in combination with a thickness of the first and second electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A quantum tunneling composite, or other material exhibiting changing electrical or magnetic properties as force on the material is increased, can be located within a force concentrator integrated into traditional touch screen layers to sense force applied on the touch screen. The force concentrator can be a protrusion from the layer planes of the layers in a traditional touch screen and can be formed, at least in part, from printed elements. The amount of protrusion of the force concentrator can be adjusted through multi-pass printing and thicker deposit printing. The force concentrator can also have optically clear adhesive layered over it. The force-sensitive material can be optionally pre-loaded so as to operate within a substantially linear feedback range. A sensing mechanism can be configured to detect changes in force at multiple locations or to detect the application of force irrespective of location.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A force sensor integrated into a multi-layer touch screen, the force sensor comprising:
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a variably conductive material whose conductivity changes in accordance with an amount of compressive force applied to the variably conductive material; a first electrode positioned on a first side of the variable conductive material and between the variably conductive material and a first layer of the multi-layer touch screen, the first electrode being conductively connected to another first electrode of another force sensor; and a second electrode positioned on a second side of the variably conductive material opposite the first side of the variably conductive material and between the variably conductive material and a second layer of the multi-layer touch screen that is substantially parallel to the first layer, the second electrode being conductively connected to another second electrode of the other force sensor; wherein the variably conductive material, the first electrode, and the second electrode form a protrusion from a layer plane of the second layer, the protrusion extending towards the first layer, and wherein a space between the first layer of the multi-layer touch screen and the second layer of the multi-layer touch screen is smaller than a rest state thickness of the variably conductive material in combination with a thickness of the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electronic device capable of distinguishing between touch input and press input, the electronic device comprising:
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touch detection circuitry for identifying the touch input; press detection circuitry for identifying the press input; and a multi-layer touch screen for receiving the touch input, the multi-layer touch screen comprising a first layer, a second layer that is substantially parallel to the first layer, and at least one integrated force sensor for receiving the press input, the at least one integrated force sensor being located between the first layer and the second layer and forming a protrusion from a layer plane of the second layer extending towards the first layer, the at least one integrated force sensor comprising; a variably conductive material whose conductivity changes in accordance with an amount of compressive force applied to the variably conductive material; a first electrode positioned on a first side of the variably conductive material and between the variably conductive material and the first layer of the multi-layer touch screen; and a second electrode positioned on a second side of the variably conductive material opposite the first side of the variably conductive material and between the variably conductive material and the second layer of the multi-layer touch screen, wherein the variably conductive material is preloaded so that a space between the first layer of the multi-layer touch screen and the second layer of the multi-layer touch screen is smaller than a rest state thickness of the variably conductive material in combination with a thickness of the first and second electrodes and the variably conductive material operates in a linear feedback range. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A force sensor integrated into a multi-layer touch screen, the force sensor comprising:
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a variably conductive material whose conductivity changes in accordance with an amount of compressive force applied to the variably conductive material; a first electrode positioned on a first side of at least a portion of the variably conductive material and vertically between the at least a portion of the variably conductive material and a first layer of the multi-layer touch screen; a second electrode positioned on a second side of the at least a portion of the variably conductive material opposite the first side of the variably conductive material and vertically between the at least a portion of the variably conductive material and a second layer of the multi-layer touch screen that is substantially parallel to the first layer; and an adhesive extending between the first layer of the multi-layer touch screen and the second layer, a first portion of the adhesive extending along a plane which extends through the second electrode and a second portion of the adhesive extending between the first layer and the first electrode, wherein the variably conductive material, the first electrode, and the second electrode form a protrusion from a layer plane of the second layer, the protrusion extending into the adhesive towards the first layer, and wherein at least a portion of the variably conductive material is positioned horizontally between a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the second electrode, each of the portions being positioned in a plane parallel to the layer plane of the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electronic device capable of distinguishing between touch input and press input, the electronic device comprising:
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touch detection circuitry for identifying the touch input; press detection circuitry for identifying the press input; and a multi-layer touch screen for receiving the touch input, the multi-layer touch screen comprising a first layer, a second layer that is substantially parallel to the first layer, an adhesive extending between the first layer of the multi-layer touch screen and the second layer, a first portion of the adhesive extending between the first layer and a first electrode and a second portion of the adhesive extending along a plane which extends through a second electrode, and at least one integrated force sensor for receiving the press input, the at least one integrated force sensor being located between the adhesive and the second layer and forming a protrusion from a layer plane of the second layer extending into the adhesive towards the first layer, the at least one integrated force sensor comprising; a variably conductive material whose conductivity changes in accordance with an amount of compressive force applied to the variably conductive material, the variably conductive material being preloaded so that a space between the first layer and the second layer is smaller than a rest state thickness of the variably conductive material in combination with a thickness of the first and second electrodes and the adhesive and the variably conductive material operates in a linear feedback range; the first electrode positioned on a first side of the at least a portion of the variably conductive material and vertically between the at least a portion of the variably conductive material and the first layer of the multi-layer touch screen, the first electrode being conductively connected to another first electrode of another force sensor; and the second electrode positioned on a second side of the at least a portion of the variably conductive material opposite the first side of the variably conductive material and vertically between the at least a portion of the variably conductive material and the second layer of the multi-layer touch screen, the second electrode being conductively connected to another second electrode of the other force sensor, wherein at least a portion of the variably conductive material is positioned horizontally between a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the second electrode, each of the portions being positioned in a plane parallel to the layer plane of the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification