Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140218339 | Capacitive Sensing Array Modulation - A capacitive fingerprint sensor that may be formed of an array of sensing elements. Each capacitive sensing element of the array may register a voltage that varies with the capacitance of a capacitive coupling. A finger may capacitively couple to the individual capacitive sensing elements of the sensor, such that the sensor may sense a capacitance between each capacitive sensing element and the flesh of the fingerprint. The capacitance signal may be detected by sensing the change in voltage on the capacitive sensing element as the relative voltage between the finger and the sensing chip is changed. Alternately, the capacitance signal may be detected by sensing the change in charge received by the capacitive sensing elements as the relative voltage between the finger and the sensing chip is changed. | 08-07-2014 |
20150036065 | Fingerprint Sensor in an Electronic Device - A fingerprint sensor is incorporated in a display stack in an electronic device. A single fingerprint can be captured at one time at a single pre-defined fixed location on a display. Alternatively, a single fingerprint can be acquired at one time at any location on a display. Alternatively, multiple touches on the display can be acquired substantially simultaneously where only one fingerprint is captured at a time or where all of the fingerprints are acquired at the same time. The fingerprint sensor can be implemented as an integrated circuit connected to a bottom surface of a cover sheet, near the bottom surface of the cover sheet, or connected to a top surface of a display. Alternatively, the fingerprint sensor can be implemented as a full panel fingerprint sensor. | 02-05-2015 |
20150070037 | TEST FIXTURE FOR PROBE APPLICATION - Systems and methods to fixture and utilizing a probe which tests a capacitive array are described herein. A support bracket with freedom about a plurality of axes may aid in locating a probe and allowing the probe to contact multiple surfaces consistently. By utilizing the support bracket, the angle between a test probe and a contact surface may be minimized such that the surface of the test probe and the contact surface may rest flat against one another. The system may also limit the force translated through support bracket. This system and method may allow for a high degree of accuracy and a high degree of precision during contact of the test probe and the test surface. | 03-12-2015 |
20150370376 | Force Determination Based on Capacitive Sensing - A device configured to determine the location and magnitude of a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a transparent touch sensor that is configured to detect a location of a touch on the transparent touch sensor. The device also includes a force-sensing structure disposed at the periphery of the transparent touch sensor. The force sensor includes an upper capacitive plate and a compressible element disposed on one side of the upper capacitive plate. The force sensor also includes a lower capacitive plate disposed on a side of the compressible element that is opposite the upper capacitive plate. | 12-24-2015 |
20150370396 | Force Sensing Based on Capacitance Changes - A force sensing device for electronic device. The force inputs may be detected by measuring changes in capacitance, as measured by surface flex of a device having a flexible touchable surface, causing flex at a compressible gap within the device. A capacitive sensor responsive to changes in distance across the compressible gap. The sensor can be positioned above or below, or within, a display element, and above or below, or within, a backlight unit. The device can respond to bending, twisting, or other deformation, to adjust those zero force measurements. The device can use measure of surface flux that appear at positions on the surface not directly the subject of applied force, such as when the user presses on a part of the frame or a surface without capacitive sensors. | 12-24-2015 |
20160054826 | Ultrasound-Based Force Sensing - A force sensing device for computer or electronic devices. The force sensing device is configured to determine an amount of force applied, and changes in amounts of force applied, by the user when contacting a device, such as a touch device, and which can be incorporated into devices using touch recognition, touch elements of a graphical user interface, and touch input or manipulation in an application program. Additionally, the force sensing device may determine an amount of force applied, and changes in amounts of force applied, by the user when contacting a device, such as a touch device, and in response thereto, provide additional functions available to a user of a touch device, track pad, or the like. | 02-25-2016 |
20160062497 | Ultrasound-Based Force Sensing and Touch Sensing - An input/output device for a computing device including one or more touch sensors and one or more force sensors. The touch sensors sense data including one or more locations at which a contact or near-contact occurs. The force sensor sense data including a measure of an amount of force presented at the one or more locations at which a contact occurs. The touch sensors and the force sensors responsive to signals occurring in response to whether the signals are in response to contact or in response to an amount of force. The input/output device also includes one or more circuits coupled to the touch sensors and to the force sensors, and capable of combining information from both sensors. | 03-03-2016 |
20160062498 | Ultrasound-Based Force and Touch Sensing - A touch input/output device for a computing device. The touch device includes a touch sensor for providing touch location information and a force sensor for providing force of touch information. The touch sensor determines touch location information. The force sensor determines the force of touch information. Both the touch sensor and the force sensor are integrated into a circuit responsive to signals, the signals occurring at discernible times in response to whether the signals are in response to contact or in response to an amount of force. Additionally, the touch device includes a circuit coupled to the touch sensor and to the force sensor, and capable of combining information from the touch sensors and from the force sensors. | 03-03-2016 |
20160062530 | Ultrasound-Based Force Sensing of Inputs - An electronic device that senses home button inputs through ultrasonic force sensing. The electronic device may correlate that amount of force that a user applies to the home button with a specific home button command. In certain embodiments, the system may combine the force of touch information with other information that is sensed for a particular touch to correlate the touch input with a greater number of home button commands. A home button embodiment discussed herein may include a home button image that is displayed on a touch sensitive panel. In other embodiments, a home button may be located outside of the boundaries of a touch sensitive panel. | 03-03-2016 |
20160070404 | Fingerprint-Assisted Force Estimation - Embodiments may take the form of a system having a user input device and a first sensor coupled to the user input device. The first sensor is configured to sense touch on a surface of the user input device. The system may also include a second sensor in communication with the surface of the user device configured to sense wetting of a user's fingerprint on the surface. The system has a processor coupled to the first and second sensors and configured to estimate an amount of force applied by the user's fingerprint based at least in part upon the sensed wetting of the user's fingerprint. | 03-10-2016 |
20160098131 | Force Sensor Incorporated into Display - A force-sensitive device for electronic device. The force inputs may be detected by measuring changes in capacitance, as measured by surface flex of a device having a flexible touchable surface, causing flex at a compressible gap within the device. A capacitive sensor responsive to changes in distance across the compressible gap. The sensor can be positioned above or below, or within, a display element, and above or below, or within, a backlight unit. The device can respond to bending, twisting, or other deformation, to adjust those zero force measurements. The device can use measure of surface flux that appear at positions on the surface not directly the subject of applied force, such as when the user presses on a part of the frame or a surface without capacitive sensors. | 04-07-2016 |
20160103542 | Force Sensor Incorporated into Display - A force-sensitive device for electronic device. The force inputs may be detected by measuring changes in capacitance, as measured by surface flex of a device having a flexible touchable surface, causing flex at a compressible gap within the device. A capacitive sensor responsive to changes in distance across the compressible gap. The sensor can be positioned above or below, or within, a display element, and above or below, or within, a backlight unit. The device can respond to bending, twisting, or other deformation, to adjust those zero force measurements. The device can use measure of surface flux that appear at positions on the surface not directly the subject of applied force, such as when the user presses on a part of the frame or a surface without capacitive sensors. | 04-14-2016 |