US 2017/0285835 A1 · PER-FINGER FORCE DETECTION USING SEGMENTED SENSOR ELECTRODES

Abstract

Techniques for obtaining force-based data of an input device are provided. The techniques include driving sensor electrodes in transcapacitive mode and in absolute capacitive mode, obtaining profiles for each of the modes, scaling the transcapacitive profile, and subtracting the scaled transcapacitive profile from the profile for absolute capacitive sensing. The result of this subtraction is force-based data that indicates the degree of force with that input object applies to the input device. These techniques may be used with an input device in which a plurality of sensor electrodes are divided into two or more segments. Independent sets of force-based data can be obtained for each segment, which allows for determination of a location associated with each set of force-based data.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for obtaining first and second force-based data associated with a touch event for first and second portions of an input device, the method comprising:

driving a first segment of a plurality of sensor electrodes located within the first portion of the input device in transcapacitive mode to obtain a first plurality of transcapacitive measurements;
driving a second segment of the plurality of sensor electrodes located within the second portion of the input device in transcapacitive mode to obtain a second plurality of transcapacitive measurements;
driving the first segment of the plurality of sensor electrodes in absolute capacitive mode to obtain a first plurality of absolute capacitive measurements;
driving the second segment of the plurality of sensor electrodes in absolute capacitive mode to obtain a second plurality of absolute capacitive measurements;
determining the first force-based data based on differences between the first plurality of transcapacitive measurements and the first plurality of absolute capacitive measurements;
and
determining the second force-based data based on differences between the second plurality of transcapacitive measurements and the second plurality of absolute capacitive measurements.

4 more elements

A processing system for obtaining first and second force-based data associated with a touch event for first and second portions of an input device, the processing system comprising:

sensor circuitry configured to:
drive a first segment of a plurality of sensor electrodes located within the first portion of the input device in transcapacitive mode to obtain a first plurality of transcapacitive measurements,
drive a second segment of the plurality of sensor electrodes located within the second portion of the input device in transcapacitive mode to obtain a second plurality of transcapacitive measurements,
drive the first segment of the plurality of sensor electrodes in absolute capacitive mode to obtain a first plurality of absolute capacitive measurements, and
drive the second segment of the plurality of sensor electrodes in absolute capacitive mode to obtain a second plurality of absolute capacitive measurements;
and
a determination processor configured to:
determine the first force-based data based on differences between the first plurality of transcapacitive measurements and the first plurality of absolute capacitive measurements, and
determine the second force-based data based on differences between the second plurality of transcapacitive measurements and the second plurality of absolute capacitive measurements.

6 more elements

An input device for obtaining first and second force-based data associated with a touch event for first and second portions of the input device, the input device comprising:

a plurality of sensor electrodes comprising a first segment located within the first portion of the input device and a second segment located within the second portion of the input device;
and
a processing system, comprising:
sensor circuitry configured to:
drive a first segment of a plurality of sensor electrodes located within the first portion of the input device in transcapacitive mode to obtain a first plurality of transcapacitive measurements,
drive a second segment of the plurality of sensor electrodes located within the second portion of the input device in transcapacitive mode to obtain a second plurality of transcapacitive measurements,
drive the first segment of the plurality of sensor electrodes in absolute capacitive mode to obtain a first plurality of absolute capacitive measurements, and
drive the second segment of the plurality of sensor electrodes in absolute capacitive mode to obtain a second plurality of absolute capacitive measurements;
and
a determination processor configured to:
determine the first force-based data based on differences between the first plurality of transcapacitive measurements and the first plurality of absolute capacitive measurements, and
determine the second force-based data based on differences between the second plurality of transcapacitive measurements and the second plurality of absolute capacitive measurements.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Per-finger force detection using segmented sensor electrodes

Life of this patent

Per-finger force detection using segmented sensor electrodes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20