Pressure-sensitive machine interface device

A method for manufacturing a human-machine interface (HMI) device comprising:

• obtaining a surface element comprising an outer surface for receiving pressure inputs and an inner surface;
• forming a plurality of pressure-sensitive input regions that each include one or more positive electrodes electrically connected to a positive voltage source and one or more return electrodes electrically connected to a return path, the one or more positive electrodes and the one or more return electrodes being formed on a common substrate;
• and
• forming a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet in contact with the common substrate and with both the one or more positive electrodes and the one or more return electrodes of the plurality of pressure-sensitive input regions, wherein the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet comprises:
• (i) a first side in contact with the common, substrate and with both the one or more positive, electrodes and the one or more return electrodes of the pressure-sensitive input regions when no pressure is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element and when pressure is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element, and
• (ii) a second side that is opposite to the first side, the second side being in contact with the inner surface of the surface element and deforming when pressure is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element,
• wherein the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet conducts electricity between one or more of the positive electrodes and one or more of the return electrodes of the pressure-sensitive regions when no pressure is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element and when pressure is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element, and exhibits a variable resistance that varies with an amount of the pressure that is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element;
• and
• electrically connecting a control circuit to each pressure-sensitive input region, wherein the control circuit is configured to (i) detect a change in voltage above a threshold of the electricity conducted between the one or more of the positive electrodes and the one or more of the return electrodes of the pressure-sensitive input regions and (ii) operate one or more objects based on detecting the change in the voltage above the threshold.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• detecting, by a control circuit, a change in voltage above a threshold of electricity conducted between one or more positive electrodes and one or more return electrodes of pressure-sensitive regions;
• and
• operating, by the control circuit, one or more objects based on detecting the change in the voltage above a threshold, wherein:
• the one or more positive electrodes and the one or more return electrodes are formed on a common substrate,
• a first side of a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet is in contact with the common substrate and with both the one or more positive electrodes and the one or more return electrodes when no pressure is being applied to an outer surface of a surface element and when pressure is being applied to an outer surface of the surface element,
• a second side of the of the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet that is opposite to the first side, the second side being in contact with an inner surface of the surface element and deforming when pressure is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element,
• the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet conducts electricity between one or more of the positive electrodes and one or more of the return electrodes when no pressure is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element and when pressure is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element, and exhibits a variable resistance that varies with an amount of the pressure that is being applied to the outer surface of the surface element.