METHOD OF CAPACITIVELY SENSING FINGER POSITION

• US 20080111795A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bollinger, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,482,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

Sensor array configurations that allow for the accurate determination of an object'"'"'s position are disclosed. The sensor configurations utilize a plurality of varying length sensors that have staggered beginning and ending positions. By staggering the beginning and ending positions of the varying length sensors, fewer sensors need to be utilized in a given area to provide accurate positional information.

Claims

1. A sensor array comprising:

a plurality of sensors of varying length, wherein the sensors have a length direction and a width direction and ends of adjacent sensors are staggered in the length direction of the sensors.

2. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein a distance between a sensor and an adjacent sensor in the width direction varies along the length of the sensor.

3. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to provide a position of an object in contact with the device.

4. The sensor array of claim 3, wherein a width of the sensors is configured to be less than a dimension of the object in contact with the device.

5. The sensor array of claim 3, wherein the length of the sensors is configured to be greater than a dimension of the object in contact with the device.

6. The sensor array of claim 3, wherein the varying distance between a sensor and an adjacent sensor is configured to be less than a dimension of an object in contact with the device.

7. The sensor array of claim 3, wherein the object is a finger.

8. The sensor array of claim 3, wherein the device is configured to provide the polar coordinate position of the object

9. The sensor array of claim 3, wherein the device is configured to provide the Cartesian coordinate position of the object.

10. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the sensors are positioned parallel to one another.

11. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the sensors are positioned lengthwise around an axis.

12. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the sensors are based on resistive sensing, surface acoustic wave sensing, pressure sensing, optical sensing, or capacitive sensing.

13. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the sensors are based on capacitive sensing.

14. The sensor array of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of a media player, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a PDA, a cellular phone, or a remote control.

15. A sensor array comprising:

a plurality of sensors of varying length positioned lengthwise around an axis, wherein ends of adjacent sensors are positioned at different distances from the axis.

16. The sensor array of claim 15, wherein the device is configured to provide a position of an object in contact with the device.

17. The sensor array of claim 15, wherein a width of the sensors is configured to be less than a dimension of an object in contact with the device.

18. The sensor array of claim 15, wherein the length of the sensors is configured to be greater than a dimension of the object in contact with the device.

19. The sensor array of claim 15, wherein the device is configured to provide the polar coordinate position of the object.

20. A sensor array comprising

a plurality of sensors positioned parallel to an axis to be measured, wherein adjacent sensors begin and end at different positions along the axis to be measured.

21. The sensor array of claim 20, wherein a distance between a sensor and an adjacent sensor varies along the length of the sensor.

22. The sensor array of claim 20, wherein the device is configured to provide a position of an object in contact with the device.

23. The sensor array of claim 22, wherein a width of the sensors is configured to be less than a dimension of an object in contact with the device.

24. The sensor array of claim 22, wherein the length of the sensors is configured to be greater than a dimension of the object in contact with the device.

25. The sensor array of claim 22, wherein the varying distance between a sensor and an adjacent sensor is configured to be less than a dimension of an object in contact with the device.

26. A sensor array comprising:

a plurality of varying length sensors,

wherein the length of each sensor is a distance between a first end and a second end of each sensor, and

ends of adjacent sensors in a lengthwise direction of the sensors are staggered.

27. A sensor array comprising:

a plurality of varying length sensors,

wherein the length of each sensor is a distance between a first end and a second end of each sensor,

ends of adjacent sensors in a length direction of the sensors are staggered, and

a first distance between the first end of a sensor and an adjacent sensor is greater than a second distance between the second end of a sensor and an adjacent sensor.

28. A method of determining a position of an object utilizing a sensor array comprising:

measuring an amount of the object positioned on a sensor array comprising plurality of sensors of varying length, wherein ends of adjacent sensors in a length direction of the sensors are staggered; and

correlating the measured amount to a position of the object on the sensor array.

29. A method of making a sensor array comprising:

positioning a plurality of varying length sensors on a substrate such that adjacent sensors in a length direction of the sensors are staggered.

30. A portable device comprising:

a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors of varying length, wherein ends of adjacent sensors in a length direction of the sensors are staggered and the sensor array is configured to generate a signal dependent on the position of an object relative to the sensor array; and

a processor configured to execute a command that that is dependent upon the signal.

31. A method comprising:

disposing an array of spaced, object detecting sensors relative to a surface, the sensors extending along a first dimension relative to the surface and along a second dimension relative to the surface, the space between at least some adjacent sensors along the first dimension being greater than the space between at least some adjacent sensors along the second dimension,

identifying, along at least one of the first dimension and the second dimension, sensors in the array that detect an object and sensors in the array that do not detect an object,

whereby a position of an object relative to the surface is detected.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the first dimension is measurable along a first linear axis and the second dimension is measurable along a second linear axis.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the first linear axis and the second linear axis mutually define an angle of 90°

.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the first dimension is measurable along a radial axis of a circle and wherein the second dimension is measurable by an angle subtended at the center of the circle.

35. A device comprising:

an array of spaced, object detecting sensors disposed relative to a surface, the sensors extending along a first dimension relative to the surface and along a second dimension relative to the surface, the space between at least some adjacent sensors along the first dimension being greater than the space between at least some adjacent sensors along the second dimension,

a processor configured to identify, along at least one of the first dimension and the second dimension, sensors in the array that detect an object and sensors in the array that do not detect an object,

whereby a position of an object relative to the surface is detected.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the first dimension is measurable along a first linear axis and the second dimension is measurable along a second linear axis.

37. The device of claim 36 wherein the first linear axis and the second linear axis mutually define an angle of 90°

.

38. The device of claim 35 wherein the first dimension is measurable along a radial axis of a circle and wherein the second dimension is measurable by an angle subtended at the center of the circle.