Tactile feedback for capacitive sensors

• US 9,110,506 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Reynolds, Joseph K., Dattalo, Tracy S., Ausbeck, Paul J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Charles V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Steinberg, Jeffrey S
• Application Number:
  US11/784,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20080246735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,057 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/174, 341 20- 22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96066 Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches

Abstract

A tactile feedback apparatus for a capacitive sensing device is comprised of a dielectric insulator having a surface. A finger receiving recess is defined in the surface. The finger receiving recess is configured for receiving a deflected portion of a finger. The finger receiving recess is comprised of a finger deflecting feature and a tactile feedback feature. The finger deflecting feature is coupled to the surface and structured such that a variety of finger sizes pressed into the finger receiving recess would deflect into a predictable and repeatable shape for affecting the capacitive sensing device in a substantially uniform manner. The tactile feedback element is coupled to the surface and disposed such that the tactile feedback element contacts the deflected portion of the finger to provide tactile feedback to the finger only when the finger is sufficiently deflected into the finger receiving recess to actuate the capacitive sensing device.

Claims

1. A tactile feedback apparatus for a capacitive sensing device, said tactile feedback apparatus comprising:

a dielectric insulator having a surface; and

a finger receiving recess defined in said surface, said finger receiving recess configured for receiving a deflected portion of a finger, wherein a maximum interior cross-sectional measurement of said finger receiving recess is less than ten millimeters, said finger receiving recess comprising;

a finger deflecting feature coupled to said surface and structured such that a variety of finger sizes pressed into said finger receiving recess would deflect into a predictable and repeatable shape for affecting the capacitive sensing device in a substantially uniform manner; and

a tactile feedback element coupled to said surface and disposed such that said tactile feedback element contacts said deflected portion of said finger to provide tactile feedback to said finger only when said finger is sufficiently deflected into said finger receiving recess to actuate said capacitive sensing device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said finger receiving recess further comprises a contoured interior contact surface configured for receiving contact from said deflected portion of said finger.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said contoured interior contact surface further comprises a floating top surface conductor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of said finger receiving recess is filled with a conformal dielectric material, such that said finger deflects said conformal dielectric material if said finger contacts said tactile feedback element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said finger deflecting feature comprises a raised protrusion disposed along at least a portion of an opening defined in said surface by said finger receiving recess.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said finger deflecting feature circumscribes said finger receiving recess.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tactile feedback element comprises a protrusion disposed within said finger receiving recess.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said tactile feedback element has a radius of curvature of no more than five millimeters.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predictable and repeatable finger shape is shaped substantially like a portion of a sphere.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predictable and repeatable finger shape is shaped substantially like a portion of a cylinder.

11. A capacitance sensing device, said device comprising:

a dielectric insulator having a surface;

a finger receiving recess defined in said surface, said finger receiving recess configured for receiving a deflected portion of a finger, said finger receiving recess comprising;

a finger deflecting feature coupled to said surface and structured such that a variety of finger sizes pressed into said finger receiving recess would deflect into a predictable and repeatable shape for affecting the capacitive sensing device in a substantially uniform manner; and

a tactile feedback element coupled to said surface and disposed such that said tactile feedback element contacts said deflected portion of said finger to provide tactile feedback to said finger when said finger is sufficiently deflected into said finger receiving recess to actuate said capacitive sensing device; and

a capacitive sensor electrode coupled to said dielectric insulator, said capacitive sensor electrode configured for sensing said deflected portion of said finger, wherein said capacitive sensor electrode is configured to be actuated by said finger if said finger deflects into said finger receiving recess beyond a threshold amount, the threshold amount between that of an undeflected contact of said finger with said finger deflecting feature and that of a deflected contact of said finger with said tactile feedback element.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said finger deflecting feature comprises a raised protrusion disposed along at least a portion of an opening defined in said surface by said finger receiving recess.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein said finger deflecting feature circumscribes said finger receiving recess.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said tactile feedback element comprises a protrusion disposed near a bottom portion of said finger receiving recess.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein said finger receiving recess further comprises a floating top surface conductor.

16. A tactile feedback apparatus for a capacitive sensing device, said tactile feedback apparatus comprising:

a dielectric insulator having a surface; and

a finger receiving means defined in said surface, said finger receiving means configured for receiving a deflected portion of a finger, wherein a maximum interior cross-sectional measurement of said finger receiving means is less than ten millimeters, said finger receiving means comprising;

a finger deflecting means coupled to said surface and structured such that a variety of finger sizes pressed into said finger receiving means would deflect into a predictable and repeatable shape for affecting the capacitive sensing device in a substantially uniform manner; and

a tactile feedback means coupled to said surface and disposed such that said tactile feedback means contacts said deflected portion of said finger to provide tactile feedback to said finger only when said finger is sufficiently deflected into said finger receiving means to actuate said capacitive sensing device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said finger receiving means further comprises a contoured interior contact surface configured for receiving contact from said deflected portion of said finger.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said contoured interior contact surface further comprises a floating top surface conductor.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a portion of said finger receiving means is filled with a conformal dielectric material, such that said finger deflects said conformal dielectric material if said finger contacts said tactile feedback means.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said finger deflecting means circumscribes said finger receiving means.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said tactile feedback means is disposed within said finger receiving means.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said predictable and repeatable finger shape is shaped substantially like a portion of a sphere.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said predictable and repeatable finger shape is shaped substantially like a portion of a cylinder.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said finger deflecting means is disposed within said finger receiving means.