# US 2024/0201807 A1 · Method and device for measuring a force action

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- Number: US 2024/0201807 A1
- Document ID: US20240201807A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/529,474
- Filed: 2023-12-05
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2022-12-15
- Assignees: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
- Applicants: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
- Inventors: Vitalis Frolov
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201807A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
- G01L 1/16: using properties of piezoelectric devices
- G01L 1/26: Auxiliary measures taken, or devices used, in connection with the measurement of force, e.g. for preventing influence of transverse components of force, for preventing overload
- H10N 30/302: {Sensors}
- H10N 30/802: {Circuitry or processes for operating piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices not otherwise provided for, e.g. drive circuits}
- G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
- 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)
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for measuring a force action. The disclosure additionally relates to an input apparatus which uses such a device or such a method. In a first step, a voltage pulse resulting from a force action on a force sensor is generated by a charge amplifier. Using this voltage pulse, a trigger pulse may be generated by a comparator circuit. A voltage value derived from the voltage pulse is then stored in a storage capacitor by a current mirror. The capacitor voltage resulting therefrom may be evaluated by an evaluation unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for measuring a force action, the method comprising:
generating a voltage pulse resulting from a force action on a force sensor by a charge amplifier; and
storing a voltage value derived from the voltage pulse in a storage capacitor by a current mirror.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein storing the voltage value in the storage capacitor is triggered by a trigger pulse of a comparator circuit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the comparator circuit comprises two comparators, which make possible storing a positive and a negative voltage value derived from the voltage pulse.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force sensor is a piezoelectric sensor or an electrodynamic sensor.

### Claim 5

A device for measuring a force action, the device comprising:
a charge amplifier for generating a voltage pulse resulting from a force action on a force sensor; and
a current mirror for storing a voltage value derived from the voltage pulse in a storage capacitor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the device comprises a comparator circuit for generating a trigger pulse that triggers storing the voltage value in the storage capacitor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the comparator circuit comprises two comparators, which make possible storing a positive and a negative voltage value derived from the voltage pulse.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the force sensor is a piezoelectric sensor or an electrodynamic sensor.

### Claim 9

An input apparatus, wherein the input apparatus comprises:
a device for measuring a force action, the device comprising:
a charge amplifier for generating a voltage pulse resulting from a force action on a force sensor; and
a current mirror for storing a voltage value derived from the voltage pulse in a storage capacitor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The input apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the input apparatus is a touch-sensitive display device.