Fabric-based devices with force sensing
First Claim
1. A wearable electronic device comprising:
- fabric containing conductive strands of material;
control circuitry coupled to the conductive strands of material;
a force sensor element coupled to the control circuitry; and
force sensor circuitry that is electrically coupled to the force sensor element through the conductive strands of material, wherein the force sensor circuitry comprises capacitive force sensor circuitry.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fabric-based item such as a fabric glove may include force sensing circuitry. The force sensing circuitry may include force sensor elements formed from electrodes on a compressible substrate such as an elastomeric polymer substrate. The fabric may include intertwined strands of material including conductive strands. Signals from the force sensing circuitry may be conveyed to control circuitry in the item using the conductive strands. Wireless circuitry in the fabric-based item may be used to convey force sensor information to external equipment. The compressible substrate may have opposing upper and lower surfaces. Electrodes for the force sensor elements may be formed on the upper and lower surfaces. Stiffeners may overlap the electrodes to help decouple adjacent force sensor elements from each other. Integrated circuits can be attached to respective force sensing elements using adhesive.
67 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A wearable electronic device comprising:
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fabric containing conductive strands of material; control circuitry coupled to the conductive strands of material; a force sensor element coupled to the control circuitry; and force sensor circuitry that is electrically coupled to the force sensor element through the conductive strands of material, wherein the force sensor circuitry comprises capacitive force sensor circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wearable electronic device, comprising:
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a fabric; control circuitry; and a force sensor coupled to the control circuitry and to the fabric, wherein the force sensor includes first electrodes that extend in a first dimension and second electrodes that extend in a second dimension that is different from the first dimension, wherein the second electrodes overlap the first electrodes, and wherein the second electrodes are separated from the first electrodes by a compressible material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus configured to be worn on a user'"'"'s finger, comprising:
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fabric formed from intertwined strands of material; control circuitry; and a force sensor coupled to the fabric and electrically coupled to the control circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification