# US 10,503,313 B2 · Unified input/output interface for electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,313 B2 - Document ID: US10503313B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/107,479 - Filed: 2018-08-21 - Published: 2019-02-21 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-21 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Supratik Datta; Christiaan A. Ligtenberg; Karan S. Jain; Asif Hussain - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503313B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/016: {Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user} - G06F 1/169: {the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes (G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033)} - G06F 3/0414: {using force sensing means to determine a position} - G06F 3/04166: {Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving (Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184)} - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 3/03547: {Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface} - G06F 2203/04103: Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices - G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position - G06F 2203/04106: Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Components associated with receiving user touch input, receiving user force input, and providing haptic output interface are integrated into a unified input/output interface that includes a transducer substrate formed with a monolithic or multi-layer body having a number of electrodes disposed on surfaces thereof. Electrodes are selected by a controller to provide touch input sensing, force input sensing, and haptic output. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transducer substrate comprising: a rectangular body formed from a piezoelectric material that induces an electrically-measurable response when compressed, the rectangular body defining a first surface and a second surface; a set of electrodes disposed on the first surface; a shared ground electrode disposed on the second surface; and a piezoelectric stack actuator positioned below the rectangular body and coupled to the shared ground electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The transducer substrate of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric stack actuator is disposed at a corner of the rectangular body and is formed as a quartered ellipse. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The transducer substrate of claim 2, wherein a focus of the quartered ellipse is proportionately related to a ratio between a width and a height of the rectangular body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The transducer substrate of claim 1, wherein: the piezoelectric material is a first piezoelectric material; and the piezoelectric stack actuator comprises a second piezoelectric material different from the first piezoelectric material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The transducer substrate of claim 1, further comprising an outer cover layer disposed over the rectangular body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The transducer substrate of claim 5, wherein the outer cover layer is formed from glass. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The transducer substrate of claim 1, wherein the set of electrodes comprises an array of electrodes disposed as capacitive sensors configured to detect a user touch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The transducer substrate of claim 1, wherein: the piezoelectric stack actuator is a first piezoelectric stack actuator disposed at a first corner of the rectangular body; and the transducer substrate further comprises: a second piezoelectric stack actuator disposed at a second corner of the rectangular body; a third piezoelectric stack actuator disposed at a third corner of the rectangular body; and a fourth piezoelectric stack actuator disposed at a fourth corner of the rectangular body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The transducer substrate of claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric stack actuator comprises greater than three layers of piezoelectric material, each separated by a respective electrode layer. ### Claim 10 An electronic device comprising: a rectangular interface surface for receiving touch input and force input from a user; a transducer substrate below the rectangular interface surface and comprising: a touch and force input layer; a haptic output layer comprising at least two piezoelectric stack actuators positioned below and coupled to each of at least two respective corners of the touch and force input layer; and a shared electrode positioned between the touch and force input layer and the haptic output layer; and a controller coupled to the transducer substrate and configured to operate the transducer substrate in a force sensing mode, a touch sensing mode, and a haptic output mode; wherein: each of the at least two piezoelectric stack actuators comprises at least three piezoelectric layers separated by at least two electrode layers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the touch and force input layer comprises: a piezoelectric body; and an array of electrodes disposed onto a surface of the piezoelectric body opposite the shared electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein, in the force sensing mode, the controller is configured to select an electrode from the array of electrodes and to measure a voltage between the selected electrode and the shared electrode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein, in the touch sensing mode, the controller is configured to select a first electrode and a second electrode from the array of electrodes and to measure a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein, in the haptic output mode, the controller is configured to apply a voltage to the haptic output layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the shared electrode is a ground electrode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the electronic device is a trackpad input device. ### Claim 17 A transducer substrate comprising: a monolithic body formed from a first piezoelectric material and defining a top surface and a bottom surface; a first electrode set coupled to the top surface; a second electrode set coupled to the bottom surface; a piezoelectric stack actuator comprising at least two layers of a second piezoelectric material, the piezoelectric stack actuator disposed relative to an edge of the monolithic body and electrically coupled to at least one electrode of the second electrode set; and a controller electrically coupled to the first electrode set and the second electrode set and configured to: select a first electrode from the first electrode set or the second electrode set; select a second electrode from the first electrode set or the second electrode set; and couple the first electrode and the second electrode to at least one of touch sensing circuitry or force sensing circuitry. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The transducer substrate of claim 17, wherein: the piezoelectric stack actuator comprises a third electrode set; and each electrode of the third electrode set separates at least two layers of the piezoelectric stack actuator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The transducer substrate of claim 18, wherein the controller is electrically coupled to at least one electrode of the third electrode set. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The transducer substrate of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to couple the at least one electrode of the third electrode set to haptic output circuitry.