Method of capacitively sensing finger position

• US 8,482,530 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bollinger, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles V
• Application Number:
  US11/842,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,149 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• 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 smaller than the length direction, centroids of adjacent sensors are staggered in the length direction of the sensors, and a first distance in the width direction between a sensor and a first adjacent sensor on a side of the sensor is less than a second distance in the width direction between the sensor and a second adjacent sensor on the same side of the sensor.

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

3. The sensor array of claim 2, wherein a width of the sensors is configured to be less than a dimension of the object in contact with the device.

4. The sensor array of claim 2, wherein the length of the sensors is configured to be greater than a dimension of the object in contact with the device.

5. The sensor array of claim 2, 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.

6. The sensor array of claim 2, wherein the object is a finger.

7. The sensor array of claim 2, wherein the device is configured to provide the polar coordinate position of the object.

8. The sensor array of claim 2, wherein the device is configured to provide the Cartesian coordinate position of the object.

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

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

11. 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.

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

13. 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.

14. A sensor array comprising:

a plurality of sensors of varying length each having a length direction and a width direction smaller than the length direction, the sensors being positioned lengthwise around an axis such that the sensors extend toward the axis in the length direction,

wherein ends of adjacent sensors in the length direction are positioned at different distances from the axis and none of the sensors reaches the axis.

15. The sensor array of claim 14, wherein the device is configured to provide a position of an object in contact with the device.

16. The sensor array of claim 14, wherein a width of the sensors is configured to be less than a dimension of an object in contact with the device.

17. The sensor array of claim 14, wherein the length of the sensors is configured to be greater than a dimension of the object in contact with the device.

18. The sensor array of claim 14, wherein the device is configured to provide the polar coordinate position of the object.

19. A sensor array comprising

a plurality of sensors of uniform width along a length of the sensor, the length being greater than the width for each sensor, and positioned parallel to an axis to be measured,

wherein adjacent sensors begin and end at different positions along the axis to be measured, and a first distance in the width direction between a sensor and a first adjacent sensor on a side of the sensor is less than a second distance in the width direction between the sensor and a second adjacent sensor on the same side of the sensor.

20. The sensor array of claim 19, wherein the device is configured to provide a position of an object in contact with the device.

21. The sensor array of claim 20, wherein a width of the sensors is configured to be less than a dimension of an object in contact with the device.

22. The sensor array of claim 20, wherein the length of the sensors is configured to be greater than a dimension of the object in contact with the device.

23. The sensor array of claim 20, 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.

24. A sensor array comprising:

a plurality of sensors of varying length and uniform width along the length of the sensor, the length being greater than the width for each sensor,

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 a first adjacent sensor on a side of the sensor is greater than a second distance between the second end of the sensor and a second adjacent sensor on the same side of the sensor.

25. 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 a plurality of sensors of varying length and uniform width along the length of the sensor, the length being greater than the width for each sensor, wherein ends of adjacent sensors in a length direction of the sensors are staggered and a first distance between a sensor and a first adjacent sensor on a side of the sensor differs from a second distance between the sensor and a second adjacent sensor on the same side of the sensor; and

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

26. A method of making a sensor array comprising:

positioning a plurality of sensors of varying length and uniform width along the length of the sensor, the length being greater than the width for each sensor, on a substrate such that adjacent sensors in a length direction of the sensors are staggered and a first distance between a sensor and a first adjacent sensor on a side of the sensor differs from a second distance between the sensor and a second adjacent sensor on the same side of the sensor.

27. A portable device comprising:

a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors of varying length and uniform width along the length of the sensor, the length being greater than the width for each sensor, wherein ends of adjacent sensors in a length direction of the sensors are staggered, a first distance between a sensor and a first adjacent sensor on a side of the sensor differs from a second distance between the sensor and a second adjacent sensor on the same side of the sensor, 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 is dependent upon the signal.

28. A method comprising:

disposing an array of spaced, object detecting sensors relative to a surface, the sensors having a first dimension relative to the surface and a second dimension relative to the surface,

a first space in the second dimension between a sensor and a first adjacent sensor on a side of the sensor being less than a second space in the second dimension between the sensor and a second adjacent sensor on the same side of the sensor,

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.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the first dimension is measurable along a first linear axis and the second dimension is measurable along a second linear axis.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the first linear axis and the second linear axis mutually define an angle of 90°

.

31. The method of claim 28 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.

32. A device comprising:

an array of spaced, object detecting sensors disposed relative to a surface, the sensors having a first dimension relative to the surface and a second dimension relative to the surface,

a first space in the second dimension between a sensor and a first adjacent sensor on a side of the sensor being less than a second space in the second dimension between the sensor and a second adjacent sensor on the same side of the sensor,

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.

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

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

.

35. The device of claim 32 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.

36. A sensor array including a plurality of sensors each having a length along an x axis and a width along a y axis, the plurality of sensors comprising:

a first sensor having a first length and ending on one side at a first position along the x axis;

a second sensor having a second length and ending on the same side at a second position along the x axis; and

a third sensor having a third length and ending on the same side at a third position along the x axis,

wherein the second sensor is adjacent to the first sensor and the third sensor, the first, second, and third lengths are different from each other, and the first, second, and third positions each have a different coordinate along the x axis, and

wherein the plurality of sensors are situated in a sensing area such that gaps are present, the gaps being portions of the sensing area along the x axis of the sensors that are not covered by the sensors as a result of the different lengths and positions of the sensors.

37. The sensor array of claim 36 wherein the first, second, and third sensors constitute a first plurality of adjacent sensors, the sensor array comprising a second plurality of adjacent sensors identical to the first plurality of adjacent sensors except that the second plurality of adjacent sensors is situated in the sensing area adjacent to the first plurality of adjacent sensors such that the gaps associated with the second plurality of adjacent sensors are present at opposite sides of the sensing area and in a mirror image relative to the gaps associated with the first plurality of adjacent sensors.