Device and method for force and proximity sensing employing an intermediate shield electrode layer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An input device for an electronic system, comprising:
- a pliable component having an input surface and a first plurality of sensor electrodes, the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprising a first subset characterized by a first geometric pattern and a second subset characterized by a second geometric pattern;
a support substrate spaced apart from the pliable component;
a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a second substrate;
a spacing layer disposed between the pliable component and the support substrate, the spacing layer configured to locally deform in response to a force applied to the input surface; and
a shield electrode layer;
disposed between the first plurality of sensor electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes;
comprising an array of conductive segments overlaying the first geometric pattern and an array of voids overlaying the second geometric pattern; and
configured to electrically shield the first plurality of sensor electrodes from the second plurality of sensor electrodes so that a touch image measured is substantially independent of the force applied to the input surface.
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Abstract
Methods, systems and devices are described for use with an electronic system. The device includes a pliable component having an input surface and a first plurality of sensor electrodes; a support substrate spaced apart from the pliable component; a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a second substrate; a spacing layer disposed between the pliable component and the support substrate, the spacing layer configured to locally deform in response to a force applied to the input surface; and a shield electrode layer disposed between the first plurality and the second plurality of sensor electrodes.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An input device for an electronic system, comprising:
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a pliable component having an input surface and a first plurality of sensor electrodes, the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprising a first subset characterized by a first geometric pattern and a second subset characterized by a second geometric pattern; a support substrate spaced apart from the pliable component; a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a second substrate; a spacing layer disposed between the pliable component and the support substrate, the spacing layer configured to locally deform in response to a force applied to the input surface; and a shield electrode layer; disposed between the first plurality of sensor electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes; comprising an array of conductive segments overlaying the first geometric pattern and an array of voids overlaying the second geometric pattern; and configured to electrically shield the first plurality of sensor electrodes from the second plurality of sensor electrodes so that a touch image measured is substantially independent of the force applied to the input surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A processing system for use with an input device of the type including
a pliable component having an input surface and a first plurality of sensor electrodes, the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprising a first subset characterized by a first geometric pattern and a second subset characterized by a second geometric pattern; -
a support substrate spaced apart from the pliable component; a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a second substrate; a spacing layer disposed between the pliable component and the support substrate, the spacing layer configured to locally deform in response to a force applied to the input surface; and a shield electrode layer; disposed between the first plurality of sensor electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes; comprising an array of conductive segments overlaying the first geometric pattern and an array of voids overlaying the second geometric pattern; and configured to electrically shield the first plurality of sensor electrodes from the second plurality of sensor electrodes so that a touch image measured is substantially independent of the force applied to the input surface; the processing system configured to be communicatively coupled to the first plurality of sensor electrodes and to the second plurality of sensor electrodes and configured to; determine a first type of resulting signal from a first subset of the first plurality of sensor electrodes, and a second type of resulting signal from the second plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein the first type of resulting signal comprises effects of input objects proximate the input surface, and further wherein the second type of resulting signal comprises effects of a force applied to the input surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An input device, comprising:
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a pliable component having an input surface and a first plurality of sensor electrodes; a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a second substrate, the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprising a first subset characterized by a first geometric pattern and a second subset characterized by a second geometric pattern; a spacing layer including a shield electrode layer disposed between first and second pluralities of sensor electrodes, the spacing layer configured to locally deform in response to a force applied to the input surface, wherein the shield electrode layer is configured to electrically shield the first plurality of sensor electrodes from the second plurality of sensor electrodes so that a touch image measured is substantially independent of the force applied to the input surface, and wherein the shield layer comprises an array of conductive segments overlaying the first geometric pattern and an array of voids overlaying the second geometric pattern; and a processing system communicatively coupled to the first plurality of sensor electrodes and to the second plurality of sensor electrodes and configured to determine a first type of resulting signal from a first subset of the first plurality of sensor electrodes, and a second type of resulting signal from the second plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein the first type of resulting signal comprises effects of input objects proximate the input surface, and the second type of resulting signal comprises effects of a force applied to the input surface.
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Specification