Pressure sensing on a touch sensor using capacitance
AssigneeCirque Corporation
InventorDavid C. Taylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for measuring pressure by using two substrates that are separated by a distance, each substrate having at least one electrode, and wherein touch sensor capacitance circuitry coupled to electrodes on each of the substrates and transmitting a drive signal may be used to detect a bending or deflection of at least one of the substrates by measuring a change in distance between the electrodes on the different substrates when pressure is applied to one of the substrates, and wherein a compressible substrate may be disposed between the two substrates.
Claims11
A method for sensing pressure using capacitance and a drive signal, said method comprising:
- providing a touch controller that can determine a change in capacitance measured between at least two electrodes;
- providing a first substrate having at least one first electrode disposed thereon that is coupled to the touch controller;
- providing a second substrate having at least one second electrode disposed thereon that is coupled to the touch controller;
- disposing a compressible substrate between the first substrate and the second substrate;
- applying a drive signal to the at least one first electrode;
- applying pressure to the first substrate;
- and
- measuring a change in capacitance between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode caused by compression of the compressible substrate.
A method for sensing pressure using capacitance and a drive signal, said method comprising:
- providing a touch controller that can determine a change in capacitance measured between at least two electrodes;
- providing a second substrate that is coupled to ground, to VDD or left electrically floating;
- providing a first substrate having at least one drive electrode and at least one sense electrode, wherein the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode are coupled to the touch controller;
- disposing a compressible substrate between the first substrate and the second substrate;
- applying a drive signal to the at least one drive electrode;
- applying a force to the first substrate;
- and
- measuring a change in capacitance between the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode caused by compression of the compressible substrate.
A method for sensing pressure using capacitance and a drive signal, said method comprising:
- providing a touch controller that can determine a change in capacitance measured between at least two electrodes;
- providing a nonconductive housing;
- providing a conductive lever arm that is attached to the non-conductive housing, the conductive lever arm being disposed above a target in the non-conductive housing;
- disposing at least one drive electrode on the conductive lever arm;
- disposing at least one sense electrode on the target;
- coupling the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode to the touch controller;
- applying a drive signal to the at least one drive electrode;
- and
- applying a force to the conductive lever arm and measuring a change in capacitance between the at least one drive electrode and the at least one sense electrode caused by movement of the conductive lever arm relative to the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.