Resistive force sensor with capacitive discrimination
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- switching operation of a sensor between a first operation mode and a second operation mode, whereinwhen operating in the first operation mode, the sensor provides a first output responsive to a force applied by an object, andwhen operating in the second operation mode, the sensor provides a second output responsive to a proximity of the object;
using a combination of the first and second outputs and corresponding force and proximity activation thresholds to determine whether the object has pressed an input area of a device; and
using the second output to determine whether to adjust a force baseline in accordance with the first output, wherein the force baseline is different from the activation thresholds and represents the level of force detected in the sensor when no force is being applied to the sensor.
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Abstract
A resistive force sensor with capacitive discrimination is disclosed. According to an example of the disclosure, a sensor is directed to detect resistance and capacitance in an alternating fashion, the resistance indicating a force being applied to an input area of a device, and the capacitance indicating a proximity of a body part to the input area of the device, and the detected resistance and capacitance are utilized to determine whether the body part has pressed the input area of the device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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switching operation of a sensor between a first operation mode and a second operation mode, wherein when operating in the first operation mode, the sensor provides a first output responsive to a force applied by an object, and when operating in the second operation mode, the sensor provides a second output responsive to a proximity of the object; using a combination of the first and second outputs and corresponding force and proximity activation thresholds to determine whether the object has pressed an input area of a device; and using the second output to determine whether to adjust a force baseline in accordance with the first output, wherein the force baseline is different from the activation thresholds and represents the level of force detected in the sensor when no force is being applied to the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for sensing force with capacitive discrimination, comprising:
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receiving from one or more sensors one or more signals indicating levels of force and proximity detected at an input area; determining whether the detected level of force exceeds a threshold amount of force; determining whether the detected level of proximity exceeds a threshold amount of proximity; if the threshold amounts of both force and proximity are determined to have been exceeded, activating a state indicating receiving a user input at the input area; and determining whether to adjust a force baseline in accordance with the detected levels of force based on the detected level of proximity indicated in the one or more signals, wherein the force baseline is different from the threshold amounts of force and proximity and represents the level of force detected in the sensor when no force is being applied to the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device comprising:
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a sensor having at least a first mode and a second mode, the sensor providing in the first mode a first output associated with force applied to the sensor by an object, the sensor providing in the second mode a second output associated with proximity to the sensor of the object, and a processor capable of processing the first output and the second output and determining whether the object has pressed an input area of the device based on a combination of the first and second outputs and corresponding force and proximity activation thresholds, the processor further capable of determining whether to adjust a force baseline in accordance with the first output based on the second output, wherein the force baseline is different from the activation thresholds and represents the level of force detected in the sensor when no force is being applied to the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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15. A method comprising:
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operating a sensor in a first mode providing a first output associated with force applied to the sensor by an object, operating the sensor in a second mode providing a second output associated with proximity to the sensor of the object, and processing the first output and the second output to determine whether the object has pressed an input area of a device based on a combination of the first and second outputs and corresponding force and proximity activation thresholds, and determine whether to adjust a force baseline in accordance with the first output based on the second output, wherein the force baseline is different from the activation thresholds and represents the level of force detected in the sensor when no force is being applied to the sensor.
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16. A method comprising:
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providing a sensor having at least a first mode and a second mode, the sensor providing in the first mode a first output associated with force applied to the sensor by an object, the sensor providing in the second mode a second output associated with proximity to the sensor of the object, and providing a processor capable of processing the first output and the second output and determining whether the object has pressed an input area of a device based on a combination of the first and second outputs and corresponding force and proximity activation thresholds, the processor further capable of determining whether to adjust a force baseline in accordance with the first output based on the second output, wherein the force baseline is different from the activation thresholds and represents the level of force detected in the sensor when no force is being applied to the sensor.
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Specification