Load Cell Array for Detection of Force Input to an Electronic Device Enclosure

An electronic device comprising:

• an enclosure defining an interior volume and comprising:
• an interior sidewall surface;
• and
• an exterior sidewall surface opposite the interior sidewall surface and configured to receive a force input from a user of the electronic device;
• and
• a force input sensor coupled to the interior sidewall surface and comprising:
• a first compression plate having a length extending along the interior sidewall surface;
• a second compression plate separated from the first compression plate by a gap and extending with the first compression plate for the length of the first compression plate;
• and
• a flexible diaphragm between the first compression plate and the second compression plate, extending the length of the first compression plate;
• wherein:
• the force input sensor is subdivided to define a linear array of independent load cells, each load cell of the array configured to compress in response to a force applied normal to a respective region of the exterior sidewall surface and each respective load cell defined by:
• a pair of support features protruding from the second compression plate toward, and affixed to, the flexible diaphragm;
• a loading feature adhered to the first compression plate and extending toward, and affixed to the flexible diaphragm, such that when the force is applied to the respective region of the exterior sidewall surface of the enclosure, the respective load cell compresses to induce a bending moment into the flexible diaphragm;
• and
• a strain sensor mechanically coupled to the respective region of the flexible diaphragm.

A force input sensor for an electronic device, the force input sensor comprising:

• a first compression plate having a length;
• a second compression plate separated from the first compression plate by a gap and extending for the length of the first compression plate;
• a flexible substrate between the first compression plate and the second compression plate, extending the length of the first compression plate;
• and
• a set of support features protruding from the second compression plate and coupled to flexible diaphragm;
• a set loading features, each adhered to the first compression plate and extending toward to the flexible diaphragm between two respective adjacent support features, such that when a force is applied to the first compression plate above a respective loading feature, the loading feature concentrates the applied force against a portion of the flexible substrate between the two respective adjacent support features to deform the flexible substrate;
• and
• a set of strain sensors each mechanically coupled to of the flexible substrate between two respective adjacent support features.

A force input sensor for an electronic device, the force input sensor comprising:

• a first rigid substrate comprising an array of loading features extending from the first rigid substrate;
• a second rigid substrate aligned with and separated from the first rigid substrate by a gap, the second rigid substrate comprising an array of support features extending from the second rigid substrate, offset from the array of loading features such that a single loading feature of the array of loading features is aligned between two support features;
• a flexible substrate disposed within the gap and coupled to each support feature and each loading feature;
• and
• a set of strain sensors each coupled to the flexible substrate.