# US 11,907,463 B2 · Pressure-sensitive machine interface device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,907,463 B2 - Document ID: US11907463B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/211,267 - Filed: 2021-03-24 - Published: 2021-11-11 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-08 - Assignees: Accenture Global Solutions Limited - Applicants: Accenture Global Solutions Limited - Inventors: Mark Benjamin Greenspan; Lavinia Andreea Danielescu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11907463B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/04144: {using an array of force sensing means (position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447)} - G06F 3/04146: {using pressure sensitive conductive elements delivering a boolean signal and located between crossing sensing lines, e.g. located between X and Y sensing line layers} - G06F 3/04142: {the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate} - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - H05K 3/10: in which conductive material is applied to the insulating support in such a manner as to form the desired conductive pattern - G06F 2203/04103: Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract This document described pressure-sensitive human machine interface (HMI) devices. In some aspects, a pressure-sensitive human-machine interface (HMI) device may include a surface element comprising an outer surface for receiving pressure inputs. The HMI device may also include multiple pressure-sensitive input regions that each include one or more positive electrodes and one or more return electrodes. The HMI device may also include a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet disposed adjacent to or between the one or more positive electrodes and one or more return electrodes of the multiple pressure-sensitive input regions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pressure-sensitive human-machine interface (HMI) device comprising: a surface element comprising an outer surface for receiving pressure inputs, and an inner surface; 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; a pressure-sensitive conductive sheet comprising: (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 plurality of 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 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 a control circuit electrically connected 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 voltage above the threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pressure-sensitive HMI device of claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet comprises a polymeric foil impregnated with a conductive material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pressure-sensitive HMI device of claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet comprises Velostat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pressure-sensitive HMI device of claim 1, wherein each electrode comprises a conductive trace arranged on a circuit board. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pressure-sensitive HMI device of claim 1, wherein a set of the plurality of pressure-sensitive input regions are arranged in a straight line for detecting swipe inputs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pressure-sensitive HMI device of claim 1, wherein a set of the plurality of pressure-sensitive input regions are arranged to form a two-dimensional array. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pressure-sensitive HMI device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface for receiving pressure inputs defines a polygon, and a set of the plurality of pressure-sensitive input regions are arranged along the edges of the polygon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pressure-sensitive HMI device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to map a location of an object placed on the outer surface based on pressure-sensitive inputs detected at the pressure-sensitive input regions. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein forming the plurality of pressure-sensitive input regions comprises forming the one or more positive electrodes and the one or more return electrodes on the common substrate, with the one or more positive electrodes and the one or more return electrodes being disposed adjacent to the first side of the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: adhering the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet to the pressure-sensitive input regions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: attaching the pressure-sensitive input regions to a wall associated with an indoor or outdoor structure; and electrically connecting the control circuit to an object associated with the structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: connecting the electrodes of the pressure-sensitive input regions to a flat flexible battery. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the surface element for receiving pressure inputs comprises a table top, the method further comprising: disposing the pressure-sensitive input regions, the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet, and the control circuit below the table top. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the surface element for receiving pressure inputs comprises a wall covering, the method further comprising: disposing the pressure-sensitive input regions, the pressure-sensitive conductive sheet, and the control circuit behind the wall covering. ### Claim 16 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.