Ultrasound-based force sensing of inputs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A force-sensitive device, comprising:
- a non-mechanical, non-depressible button;
an ultrasound-based force-sensing element underlying the button with respect to a bottom surface of the device, the force-sensing element comprising;
at least one emitter operative to transmit an energy pulse toward a surface of the button; and
at least one receiver configured to receive a reflected energy pulse from the surface of the button;
a sensing layer configured to detect a location of a touch on the force-sensitive device; and
a processor operative to receive force data based on the touch from the force-sensing element and interpret the force data as a command associated with the button;
whereinthe reflected energy pulse is indicative of the force data;
based on a first magnitude of force, the command comprises a first command; and
based on a second magnitude of force different from the first magnitude of force, the command comprises a second command.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device that senses home button inputs through ultrasonic force sensing. The electronic device may correlate that amount of force that a user applies to the home button with a specific home button command. In certain embodiments, the system may combine the force of touch information with other information that is sensed for a particular touch to correlate the touch input with a greater number of home button commands. A home button embodiment discussed herein may include a home button image that is displayed on a touch sensitive panel. In other embodiments, a home button may be located outside of the boundaries of a touch sensitive panel.
53 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A force-sensitive device, comprising:
-
a non-mechanical, non-depressible button; an ultrasound-based force-sensing element underlying the button with respect to a bottom surface of the device, the force-sensing element comprising; at least one emitter operative to transmit an energy pulse toward a surface of the button; and at least one receiver configured to receive a reflected energy pulse from the surface of the button; a sensing layer configured to detect a location of a touch on the force-sensitive device; and a processor operative to receive force data based on the touch from the force-sensing element and interpret the force data as a command associated with the button;
whereinthe reflected energy pulse is indicative of the force data; based on a first magnitude of force, the command comprises a first command; and based on a second magnitude of force different from the first magnitude of force, the command comprises a second command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for determining and responding to an input force, comprising:
-
ultrasonically sensing a force exerted on a button or a touch screen of an electronic device, the button or the touch screen being non-depressible and non-mechanical, by; transmitting an energy pulse toward a bottom surface of the button or the touch screen; and receiving a reflected energy pulse from the bottom surface of the button or the touch screen; determining a magnitude of the force based on the reflected energy pulse; correlating the force to an input command, the correlated input command chosen from three or more input commands based on the magnitude of the force exerted on the button or the touch screen; and executing the correlated input command. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An electronic device, comprising:
-
a touch-sensitive display; a non-mechanical, non-depressible button; an ultrasound-based force-sensing element positioned below the button and configured to detect force data indicating an amount of force applied to the button, the force-sensing element comprising; an emitter operative to transmit an ultrasonic pulse toward a surface of the display; a receiver configured to receive a reflected ultrasonic pulse indicative of the force data; and a processor operative to; receive the force data and estimate the amount of force; execute a first command in response to the amount of force equaling or exceeding a first threshold; and execute a second command in response to the amount of force equaling or exceeding a second threshold greater than the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification