Strain sensors in an electronic device

• US 10,139,294 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Vosgueritchian, Michael, Smith, John Stephen, Filiz, Sinan, Pedder, James E., Xu, Tingjun, Wen, Xiaonan
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US15/457,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20170191884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 73862045
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/225 Measuring circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2287 constructional details of the strain gauges adjustable resistors H01C10/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

One or more strain sensors can be included in an electronic device. Each strain sensor includes a strain sensitive element and one or more strain signal lines connected directly to the strain sensitive element. The strain sensor(s) are used to detect a force that is applied to the electronic device, to a component in the electronic device, and/or to an input region or surface of the electronic device. A strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first gauge factor and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second gauge factor. Additionally or alternatively, a strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first conductance and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second conductance.

Claims

1. A strain sensor positioned in a display stack of an electronic device, the strain sensor comprising:

a strain sensitive element comprised of a first conductive material having a first gauge factor;

a strain signal line connected to the strain sensitive element and comprised of a different second conductive material having a second gauge factor, wherein the first gauge factor is greater than the second gauge factor.

2. The strain sensor of claim 1, wherein the first conductive material has a first electrical resistance, the second conductive material has a second electrical resistance, and the first electrical resistance is greater than the second electrical resistance.

3. The strain sensor of claim 1, wherein the first conductive material and the second conductive material each comprise a conducting oxide film.

4. The strain sensor of claim 3, wherein the first conductive material comprises one of a gallium doped zinc oxide film and an aluminum doped zinc oxide film.

5. The strain sensor of claim 3, wherein the second conductive material comprises an indium tin oxide film.

6. The strain sensor of claim 3, wherein the first conductive material comprises a multi-layer conductive structure that includes an insulating layer disposed between two conducting oxide films.

7. The strain sensor of claim 1, wherein the first conductive material in the strain sensitive element is processed to produce the first gauge factor.

17. The strain sensor of claim 2, wherein the second conductive material in the strain signal line is processed to produce the second electrical resistance.

18. The strain sensor of claim 17, wherein the second conductive material is doped with one or more dopants to produce the second electrical resistance.

19. The strain sensor of claim 18, wherein the first conductive material in the strain sensitive element is laser annealed to produce the first gauge factor.

8. A strain sensor positioned in a display stack of an electronic device, the strain sensor comprising:

a strain sensitive element comprising a hybrid conductive material that includes;

a first conductive segment having a first gauge factor and a first electrical resistance; and

a second conductive segment connected to the first conductive segment, the second conductive segment having a second gauge factor and a second electrical resistance,

wherein the first gauge factor is different than the second gauge factor and the first electrical resistance is different than the second electrical resistance.

9. The strain sensor of claim 8, further comprising at least one strain signal line connected directly to the strain sensitive element, wherein the at least one signal line has a third gauge factor and a third electrical resistance, wherein the third electrical resistance is less than the first and the second electrical resistances.

10. The strain sensor of claim 8, wherein a dimension of the first conductive segment is different than a dimension of the second conductive segment.

11. The strain sensor of claim 10, wherein the first conductive segment is longer than the second conductive segment.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a display stack for a display, comprising;

a cover glass; and

a strain sensing structure positioned below the cover glass, the strain sensing structure comprising;

a substrate;

a first strain sensitive element positioned on a first surface of the substrate;

a second strain sensitive element positioned on a second surface of the substrate; and

one or more strain signal lines connected directly to each strain sensitive element, wherein the first and the second strain sensitive elements have a gauge factor that is greater than a gauge factor of the strain signal lines;

sense circuitry electrically connected to the strain signal lines; and

a controller operably connected to the sense circuitry and configured to determine an amount of force applied to the cover glass based on signals received from the sense circuitry.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first and the second strain sensitive elements are each comprised of one of a gallium doped zinc oxide film and an aluminum doped zinc oxide film and the strain signal lines are comprised of an indium tin oxide film.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first surface of the substrate is opposite the second surface of the substrate.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the first and the second strain sensitive elements comprise a conducting oxide film.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the display stack further comprises a gap adjacent the second surface of the substrate.