# US 12,111,704 B2 · Force sensor and display device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,704 B2 - Document ID: US12111704B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/351,630 - Filed: 2021-06-18 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-12-27 - Assignees: Japan Display Inc. - Applicants: Japan Display Inc. - Inventors: Takayuki Nakanishi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111704B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/182: {with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]} - G01L 1/146: {for measuring force distributions, e.g. using force arrays (G01L1/148 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - G01L 1/144: {with associated circuitry (G01L1/146 and G01L1/148 take precedence)} - G06F 3/0414: {using force sensing means to determine a position} - G06F 3/0445: {using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer} - 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 According to an aspect, a force sensor includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a first conductor facing the first electrode in a first direction; a second conductor facing the second electrode in the first direction; a first elastic member and a second elastic member arranged between the first electrode and the first conductor; and the first elastic member arranged between the second electrode and the second conductor. The first elastic member and the second elastic member have degrees of compression with respect to force thereon that are different depending on temperature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A force sensor comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; a first conductor facing the first electrode in a first direction; a second conductor facing the second electrode in the first direction; a first elastic member and a second elastic member arranged between the first electrode and the first conductor; and the first elastic member arranged between the second electrode and the second conductor, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member have degrees of compression with respect to force thereon that are different depending on temperature, the first electrode and the second electrode do not overlap each other when viewed in the first direction, in a position facing the first electrode, the first elastic member and the second elastic member are in direct contact with each other, and the second conductor faces the second electrode and does not face the first electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The force sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a detection circuit configured to detect force applied in the first direction based on capacitance between the first electrode and the first conductor and capacitance between the second electrode and the second conductor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The force sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are electrically coupled to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The force sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second conductor is formed of conductive rubber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The force sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member are formed of porous synthetic rubber, and the first elastic member and the second elastic member are different in at least one of size, number, and distribution of pores. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The force sensor according to claim 1, wherein a material of the first elastic member and a material of the second elastic member are different from each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A display device comprising: the force sensor according to claim 1; and a display panel configured to display an image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The display device according to claim 7, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are provided in a frame region around a display region of the display panel in which the image is displayed, the first conductor is a housing arranged so as to face the display panel on an opposite side to a display surface of the display panel on which the image is displayed, and the first elastic member and the second elastic member are provided between the display panel and the housing. ### Claim 9 A force sensor comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode; a conductor facing the first electrode and the second electrode in a first direction; a first elastic member arranged between the second electrode and the conductor; and a second elastic member arranged between the first electrode and the conductor, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member have degrees of compression with respect to force thereon that are different depending on temperature, the first elastic member and the second elastic member are stacked in the first direction with the conductor interposed between the first elastic member and the second elastic member, the first electrode and the second electrode do not overlap each other when viewed in the first direction, and in a position facing the second electrode, no electrodes and no conductors are provided in the same layer as that of the first electrode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A display device comprising: the force sensor according to claim 9; and a display panel configured to display an image. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The display device according to claim 10, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are provided in a frame region around a display region of the display panel in which the image is displayed, a first conductor is a housing arranged so as to face the display panel on an opposite side to a display surface of the display panel on which the image is displayed, and the first elastic member and the second elastic member are provided between the display panel and the housing.