Low-profile capacitive pointing stick

• US 9,898,095 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Hsieh, Lin-Hsiang, Shen, Chun-Hung, Chiu, Hui-Chu, Kao, Tzeng-Fu, Lu, Jia-Hua
• Primary Examiner(s): Ritchie, Darlene M
• Application Number:
  US14/753,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20160378202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

In an example, an isometric input device configured to control a user interface indicator of an electronic device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a sensor substrate. The input device further includes a control member mechanically coupled to the sensor substrate over at least a portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The input device further includes a conductive support substrate and a compliant member disposed between the sensor substrate and the conductive support substrate. The input device further includes a securing component extending through the conductive support substrate and the compliant member and engaging with the control member, the securing component defining a gap between the sensor substrate and the conductive support substrate.

Claims

1. An isometric input device configured to control a user interface indicator of an electronic device, the input device comprising:

a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a sensor substrate;

a control member mechanically coupled to the sensor substrate over at least a portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes;

a conductive support substrate;

a compliant member disposed between the sensor substrate and the conductive support substrate;

a securing component extending through the conductive support substrate and the compliant member and engaging with the control member, the securing component defining a gap between the sensor substrate and the conductive support substrate, wherein the securing component comprises a single post extending through the conductive support substrate, through an aperture of the compliant member, and through the sensor substrate, and wherein the single post comprises a first portion larger in circumference than a second portion, the first portion of the single post disposed between the conductive support substrate and the sensor substrate and defining the gap between the sensor substrate and the conductive support substrate, the second portion of the single post engaging with the control member; and

wherein a force applied to the control member results in a change in the gap between the sensor substrate and the conductive support substrate, changing a variable capacitance between at least one sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes and the conductive support substrate.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor substrate is communicatively coupled to a processing system, the processing system configured to operate the plurality of sensor electrodes.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the processing system is configured to operate a capacitive touchpad of the electronic device.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the conductive support substrate is ohmically coupled to a substantially constant electrical potential.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor electrodes is configured for capacitively coupling with the conductive support substrate.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the single post comprises a threaded surface configured to mechanically couple to a threaded surface of the control member.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the single post comprises a surface engaged with a surface of the control member through friction.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the control member comprises a plurality of alignment features, wherein the conductive support substrate comprises a plurality of alignment receiving features, and wherein the plurality of alignment features engage the plurality of alignment receiving features to restrict planar translation and rotation of the control member with respect to the conductive support substrate.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the compliant member is configured to provide a biasing force in response to a force applied to the button and a restoring force in response to movement of the control member.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the compliant component has a symmetrical shape comprising a first end contacting the control member, a second end contacting the conductive support substrate, and an aperture extending between the first end and the second end.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor substrate further comprises at least one ohmically isolated conductive element disposed between the plurality of sensor electrodes and conductive support substrate.

12. A processing system for an input device configured to control a user interface indicator of an electronic device, the processing system comprising:

a sensor module including sensor circuitry, the sensor module configured to operate a plurality of sensor electrodes by driving a sensing signal on a first subset of the plurality of electrodes and receiving resulting signals from a second subset of the plurality of electrodes, the plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a dielectric layer of a sensor substrate, the dielectric layer disposed between the plurality of sensor electrodes and a conductive support substrate, the sensor substrate mechanically coupled to a control member, the resulting signals including effects from a change in spacing between the sensor substrate and the conductive support substrate caused by a deflection of the control member; and

a determination module configured to measure a change in capacitive coupling between at least one ohmically isolated conductive element and the conductive support substrate based on the resulting signals, the at least one ohmically isolated conductive element disposed between the dielectric layer and the conductive support substrate.

13. The processing system of claim 12, wherein the determination module is configured to control the user interface indicator in response to the change in capacitive coupling.

14. The processing system of claim 12, wherein the user interface indicator comprises a cursor and wherein the determination module is configured to control motion of the cursor in response to the change in capacitive coupling.

15. The processing system of claim 12, wherein the sensor module is configured to operate a capacitive touchpad of the electronic system.

16. The processing system of claim 12, wherein the conductive support substrate is configured to be coupled to a substantially constant electrical potential.

17. A method of operating an input device configured to control a user interface indicator of an electronic device, the method comprising:

operating a plurality of sensor electrodes by driving a sensing signal on a first subset of the plurality of electrodes and receiving resulting signals from a second subset of the plurality of electrodes, the plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a dielectric layer of a sensor substrate, the dielectric layer disposed between the plurality of sensor electrodes and a conductive support substrate, the sensor substrate mechanically coupled to a control member, the resulting signals including effects from a change in spacing between the sensor substrate and the conductive support substrate caused by a deflection of the control member; and

measuring a change in capacitive coupling between at least one ohmically isolated conductive element and the conductive support substrate based on the resulting signals, the at least one ohmically isolated conductive element disposed between the dielectric layer and the conductive support substrate.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

controlling the user interface indicator in response to the change in capacitive coupling.