# US 11,442,569 B2 · Apparatus and method for sensing pressure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,569 B2 - Document ID: US11442569B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/272,256 - Filed: 2019-02-11 - Published: 2019-08-15 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-15 - Assignees: Tactual Labs Co. - Applicants: Tactual Labs Co. - Inventors: Braon Moseley; Adam Landa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442569B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0414: {using force sensing means to determine a position} - G01L 1/144: {with associated circuitry (G01L1/146 and G01L1/148 take precedence)} - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - G01L 1/14: by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators - G01L 1/205: {using distributed sensing elements} - G06F 3/04144: {using an array of force sensing means (position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447)} - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 3/0447: {Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells} - G06F 2203/04104: Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) ## Abstract A pressure sensor is disclosed which includes a transmit electrode adapted to be operatively connected to a signal generator, a receive electrode adapted to be operatively connected to a signal receiver and signal processor, and a variably resistive conductive deformable element. The transmit electrode, the receive electrode and the variably resistive conductive deformable element being positioned in proximity to each other such that a pressure event proximate to the variably resistive conductive deformable element causes a change in coupling between the transmit electrode and the receive electrode, and a signal transmit on the transmit electrode as received on the receive electrode is changed in at least one of magnitude or phase in relation to and as a result of a pressure event. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pressure sensor, comprising: a plurality of transmit electrodes, each adapted to be operatively connected to a signal generator; a plurality of receive electrodes, each adapted to be operatively connected to a signal receiver and signal processor; a deformable element located proximate to at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes or at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes, wherein the deformable element is a variably resistive conductive material; and wherein the plurality of transmit electrodes, the plurality of receive electrodes and the deformable element are positioned such that deformation of the deformable element causes a change in resistance of the variably resistive conductive material thereby changing capacitive coupling between at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes and at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes, wherein a measurement of the change in capacitive coupling between the at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes and the at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes is preocessed with a Fourier tranform and used to form a heat map that provides information regarding a pressure event. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the change in capacative coupling is proportional to deformation of the deformable element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pressure sensor of claim 2, wherein the signal generator is adapted to generate at least one frequency orthogonal signal on each of the plurality of transmit electrodes, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The pressure sensor of claim 3, wherein the signal receiver and signal processor are adapted to detect a measurement corresponding to the each of the generated at least one frequency orthogonal signals as the same is received from each of the plurality of receive electrodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pressure sensor of claim 4, wherein the measurement is one selected from the group consisting of magnitude and phase. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pressure sensor of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric layer located between at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes and at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pressure sensor of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic interference shield. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the deformable element is one of a plurality of deformable elements located proximate to where one of the plurality of transmit electrodes couples with one of the plurality of receive electrodes. ### Claim 9 A pressure sensitive device, comprising: a plurality of transmit electrodes, each adapted to be operatively connected to a signal generator; a plurality of receive electrodes, each adapted to be operatively connected to a signal receiver and signal processor; a deformable element located proximate to at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes or at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes, wherein the deformable element is a variably resistive conductive material; and wherein the plurality of transmit electrodes, the plurality of receive electrodes and the deformable element are positioned such that deformation of the deformable element causes a change in resistance of the varibly resistive conductive material thereby changing capacitive coupling between at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes and at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes, wherein a measurement of the change in capacitive coupling between the at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes and the at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes is processed with a Fourier transform and used to form a heat map that provides information regarding a pressure event. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pressure sensitive device of claim 9, wherein the change in capacitive coupling is proportional to deformation of the deformable element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pressure sensitive device of claim 10, wherein the signal generator is adapted to generate at least one frequency orthogonal signal on each of the plurality of transmit electrodes, respectively. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pressure sensitive device of claim 11, wherein the signal receiver and signal processor are adapted to detect a measurement corresponding to the each of the generated at least one frequency orthogonal signals as the same is received from each of the plurality of receive electrodes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pressure sensitive device of claim 12, wherein the measurement is one selected from the group consisting of magnitude and phase. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The pressure sensitive device of claim 9, further comprising a dielectric layer located between at least one of the plurality of transmit electrodes and at least one of the plurality of receive electrodes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The pressure sensitive device of claim 9, further comprising an electromagnetic interference shield. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The pressure sensitive device of claim 9, wherein the deformable element is one of a plurality of deformable elements located proximate to where one of the plurality of transmit electrodes couples with one of the plurality of receive electrodes. ### Claim 17 A pressure sensor, comprising: a transmit electrode adapted to be operatively connected to a signal generator; a receive electrode adapted to be operatively connected to a signal receiver and signal processor; a deformable element located proximate to at least one of the transmit electrode or the receive electrode, wherein the deformable element is a variably resistive conductive material; and wherein the transmit electrode, the receive electrode and the deformable element are positioned such that deformation of the deformable element causes a change in resistance of the varibly resistive conductive material thereby changing capacaitive coupling between the transmit electrode and the receive electrode, wherein a measurement of the change in capacitive coupling between the transmit electrode and receive electrode is processed with a Fourier transform and used to form a heat map that provides information regarding a pressure event. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The pressure sensor of claim 17, wherein the change in capacitive coupling is proportional to deformation of the deformable element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The pressure sensor of claim 18, wherein the signal generator is adapted to generate at least one frequency orthogonal signal on each of the plurality of transmit electrodes, respectively. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The pressure sensor of claim 19, wherein the signal receiver and signal processor are adapted to detect a measurement corresponding to the each of the generated at least one frequency orthogonal signals as the same is received from each of the plurality of receive electrodes.