METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PRESSURE DETECTION

• US 20110235156A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: KOTHARI, Manish, GOVIL, Alok
• Application Number:
  US12/732,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20110235156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/125 by capacitive pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 2015/0837 the mass being suspended so as to only allow movement perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, i.e. z-axis sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position

Abstract

Methods and devices for detecting pressure applied to a device are described herein. In one embodiment, the device comprises a first layer and a second layer positioned below the first layer. The first layer and the second layer form a cavity. The device further comprises a plurality of display elements disposed in the cavity. The device further comprises a sensor configured to measure the relative movement between the first layer and the second layer. In another embodiment, the device may detect sound waves.

Claims

1. A display comprising:

a first layer;

a second layer positioned below the first layer, the first layer and the second layer forming a cavity;

at least one display element attached to the first layer and disposed in the cavity; and

a sensor configured to measure the relative movement between the display element and the second layer.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to measure a capacitance between the display element and the second layer.

3. The display of claim 2, wherein the sensor is further configured to measure a capacitance between a central portion of the at least one display element and a central portion of the second layer.

4. The display of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to detect sound waves.

5. The display of claim 1, wherein the first layer is a glass layer.

6. The display of claim 1, wherein the second layer is a glass layer.

7. The display of claim 1, wherein the at least one display element comprises an interferometric modulator.

8. The display of claim 1, wherein the at least one display element comprises a fixed layer and a movable layer.

9. The display of claim 8, wherein the sensor is configured to measure the relative movement between the movable layer and the second layer.

10. The display of claim 8, wherein the fixed layer is at least partially reflective and the movable layer is at least partially reflective and partially transmissive.

11. A method of manufacturing a display, the method comprising:

providing a first layer;

providing a second layer positioned below the first layer, the first layer and the second layer forming a cavity;

providing at least one display element attached to the first layer and disposed in the cavity; and

providing a sensor configured to measure the relative movement between the at least one display element and the second layer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is further configured to measure a capacitance between the at least one display element and the second layer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sensor is further configured to measure a capacitance between a central portion of the at least one display element and a central portion of the second layer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the display is configured to detect sound waves.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first layer is a glass layer.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the second layer is a glass layer.

17. The display of claim 11, wherein the at least one display element comprises an interferometric modulator.

18. The display of claim 17, wherein the at least one display element comprises a fixed layer and a movable layer.

19. The display of claim 18, wherein the sensor is configured to measure the relative movement between the movable layer and the second layer.

20. The display of claim 18, wherein the fixed layer is at least partially reflective and the movable layer is at least partially reflective and partially transmissive.

21. A display comprising:

a first layer;

a second layer positioned below the first layer, the first layer and the second layer forming a cavity;

means for displaying disposed in the cavity; and

means for measuring the relative movement between the means for displaying and the second layer.

22. The display of claim 21, wherein the measuring means is further configured to measure a capacitance between the first layer and the second layer.

23. The display of claim 22, wherein the measuring means is further configured to measure a capacitance between a central portion of the first layer and a central portion of the second layer.

24. The display of claim 21, wherein the display is configured to detect sound waves.

25. The display of claim 21, wherein the first layer is a glass layer.

26. The display of claim 21, wherein the second layer is a glass layer.