Physical force capacitive touch sensors
First Claim
1. A physical force capacitive touch sensor, comprising:
- a substrate;
a capacitive sensor element on a face of the substrate comprising an array of electrodes;
a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that surrounds the capacitive sensor element and a second section forming a flexible cover covering the capacitive sensor element;
an electrically conductive plane coupled with the flexible cover via an array of pedestals and being proximate to the capacitive sensor element and being arranged to at least partially cover each electrode in said array of electrodes;
wherein a density of pedestals in the array of pedestals coupled between the flexible cover and the electrically conductive plane is greater than a density of electrodes in the array of electrodes; and
wherein when a mechanical force is applied to the flexible cover, the flexible cover and electrically conductive plane are biased toward the capacitive sensor element, whereby the capacitive sensor element changes capacitance value.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A physical force capacitive touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor element on a substrate, a physically deformable electrically insulating spacer over the capacitive sensor element and a conductive deformable plane over the physically deformable electrically insulating spacer. A protective deformable fascia may be placed over the conductive deformable plane to provide an environmental seal for physical and weather protection, but is not essential to operation of the capacitive touch sensor. Back lighting is accomplished through a light transmissive layer(s) in the capacitive touch sensor. When the conductive deformable plane is displaced toward the capacitive touch sensor element, the capacitance value of the capacitive touch sensor element changes and that change may be detected and used as an actuation signal.
36 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A physical force capacitive touch sensor, comprising:
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a substrate; a capacitive sensor element on a face of the substrate comprising an array of electrodes; a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that surrounds the capacitive sensor element and a second section forming a flexible cover covering the capacitive sensor element; an electrically conductive plane coupled with the flexible cover via an array of pedestals and being proximate to the capacitive sensor element and being arranged to at least partially cover each electrode in said array of electrodes; wherein a density of pedestals in the array of pedestals coupled between the flexible cover and the electrically conductive plane is greater than a density of electrodes in the array of electrodes; and wherein when a mechanical force is applied to the flexible cover, the flexible cover and electrically conductive plane are biased toward the capacitive sensor element, whereby the capacitive sensor element changes capacitance value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A capacitive touch sensor arrangement, comprising:
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a substrate; an array of capacitive sensor electrodes linearly or circularly arranged on a face of the substrate or arranged in a matrix on a face of the substrate; a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that surrounds the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and a second section forming a flexible cover covering the array of capacitive sensor elements; and a continuous electrically conductive deformable plane coupled with the flexible cover and being proximate to the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and being arranged to at least partially cover each capacitive sensor electrode in said array of capacitor sensor electrodes; an array of mini-pedestals located between the flexible cover and the electrically conductive deformable plane; wherein a density of mini-pedestals in the array of mini-pedestals between the flexible cover and the electrically conductive deformable plane is greater than a density of capacitive sensor electrodes in the array of capacitive sensor electrodes; and wherein when a mechanical force is applied to a region of the electrically conductive plane, the electrically conductive plane is biased toward at least one of the capacitive sensor elements physically aligned with the region of the continuous electrically conductive plane, whereby the at least one of the capacitive sensor elements changes capacitance value. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A physical force capacitive touch key, comprising:
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a substrate; an array of capacitive sensor elements including first and second capacitive sensor elements on a face of the substrate such that a gap is formed between the first and second capacitive sensor elements; a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that forms a cavity including at least the first and second capacitive sensor elements and a second section forming a flexible cover covering at least the first and second capacitive sensor elements; and a continuous flexibly-deformable electrically conductive plane coupled with the flexible cover via an array of pedestals and being arranged to at least partially cover each capacitor sensor element in the array of capacitive sensor elements including the first and second capacitive sensor elements; wherein a density of pedestals in the array of pedestals coupled between the flexible cover and the electrically conductive plane is greater than a density of capacitive sensor elements in the array of capacitive sensor elements; and wherein when a mechanical force is applied to a first region of the continuous flexibly-deformable electrically conductive plane, the electrically conductive plane is biased toward the first capacitive sensor element, whereby the first capacitive sensor element changes capacitance value; and wherein when the mechanical force is applied to a second region of the continuous flexibly-deformable electrically conductive plane, the electrically conductive plane is biased toward the second capacitive sensor element, whereby the second capacitive sensor element changes capacitance value. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A physical force capacitive touch joystick, comprising:
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a substrate; an array of at least three capacitive sensor elements on a face of the substrate;
a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that forms a cavity including array of the least three capacitive sensor elements and a second section forming a flexible cover covering the array of at least three capacitive sensor elements;an array of pedestal structures spaced apart from each other and coupled with the flexible cover; and a continuous electrically conductive plane attached to the array of spaced-apart pedestal structures and proximate to the array of at least three capacitive sensor elements and being arranged to at least partially cover each capacitive sensor element in said array of at least three capacitor sensor elements; wherein a density of pedestal structures in the array of pedestal structures between the flexible cover and the continuous electrically conductive plane is greater than a density of capacitive sensor elements in the array of capacitive sensor elements; and wherein when a mechanical force is applied to the continuous electrically conductive plane, the continuous electrically conductive plane is biased toward a subset of one or more of the array of at least three capacitive sensor elements based on a location of the mechanical force applied to the continuous electrically conductive plane, whereby the subset of the array of at least three capacitive sensor elements changes capacitance value. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A capacitive touch cylindrical sensor, comprising:
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a substrate formed into a cylinder; a plurality of capacitive sensor elements arranged in a circular arrangement on a substrate; a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that forms a cavity including the plurality of capacitive sensor elements and a second section forming a flexible cover covering the plurality of capacitive sensor elements; and a continuous electrically conductive deformable structure coupled with the flexible cover via an array of pedestals and having a circular shape and arranged proximate to the plurality of capacitive sensor elements and being arranged to at least partially cover each capacitive sensor element in said plurality of capacitor sensor elements; wherein a density of pedestals in the array of pedestals coupled between the flexible cover and the continuous electrically conductive plane is greater than a density of the plurality of capacitive sensor elements; and wherein when a mechanical force is applied to a portion of the continuous electrically conductive deformable structure having the circular shape, the continuous electrically conductive deformable structure is biased toward at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensor elements, whereby the at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensor elements changes capacitance value. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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Specification