US 7,679,376 B2 · Capacitive sensor for sensing tactile and proximity, and a sensing system using the same

Abstract

A capacitive sensor includes an upper electrode layer having a plurality of electrodes disposed in line with each other, a lower electrode layer having a plurality of electrodes disposed in line with each other, an insulating layer disposed between the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer, and a layer of bumps made of insulating material formed above the area where the electrodes of the upper electrode layer and the electrodes of the lower electrode later are crossed. The sensor detects the proximity of approaching objects by the capacitance change between the electrodes disposed in the upper electrode layer, and detects the contact of any objects by the capacitance change between the electrodes of the upper electrode layer and the electrodes of the lower electrode layer.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims12

Dependent claims

A capacitive sensor comprising

an upper electrode layer wherein a plurality of electrodes are disposed in line with each other;
a lower electrode layer wherein a plurality of electrodes are disposed in line with each other;
and
an insulating layer disposed between said upper electrode layer and said lower electrode layer,
the capacitive sensor detecting the proximity of approaching objects by the capacitance change between the electrodes of the upper electrode layer, and detecting the contact of any object by the capacitance change between the electrode of the upper electrode layer and the electrode of the lower electrode layer,
wherein the electrodes of the upper electrode layer and the electrodes of the lower electrode layer are configured to be crossed at a certain angle, and
wherein the electrodes of the upper electrode layer and the electrodes of the lower electrode layer form an area and a layer of bumps made of insulating material is formed above the area.

4 more elements

A sensing system comprising:

a capacitive sensor comprising an upper electrode layer having a plurality of electrodes disposed in line with each other, a lower electrode layer having a plurality of electrodes disposed in line with each other, and an insulating layer disposed between said upper electrode layer and said lower electrode layer;
a proximity detection circuit wherein the electrodes of said upper electrode layer are classified into two groups, each of which is electrically connected to the proximity detection circuit, the proximity detection circuit detecting the proximity of approaching objects by the capacitance change between the two groups of electrodes;
and
a tactile detection circuit electrically connected to each of the electrodes of the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer, the tactile detecting circuit detecting the contact of any object by the capacitance change between the electrodes of the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer,
wherein the two groups of electrodes of the upper electrode layer are each connected to the proximity detection circuit by switch unit 1;
wherein the electrodes of the upper electrode layer and the electrodes of the lower electrode layer are each connected to the tactile detection circuit by switch unit 2;
and
further comprising a control unit which controls the operation of said switch unit 1 and switch unit 2.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description2,883 words

Summary711 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a dual mode capacitive sensor which operates both as tactile sensor and proximity sensor. The foregoing sensor comprises an upper electrode layer in which a plurality of electrodes are disposed in line with each other; a lower electrode layer in which a plurality of electrodes are disposed in line with each other; and an insulating layer disposed between the above upper electrode layer and lower electrode layer. The sensor detects approaching objects by the capacitance change between adjacent upper electrodes, and detects any contact with objects by the capacitance change between the electrodes in the upper electrode layer and the electrodes in the lower electrode layer.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1A illustrates the structure of the sensor according to the present invention,

#FIG. 1B is a plane figure of the sensor according to the present invention.

Detailed description1,996 words

#Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the particular mode of practice described in the examples. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

#FIG. 1A illustrates the structure of the sensor according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a plane figure of the said sensor.

#The capacitive sensor according to the present invention comprises an upper electrode layer (10) wherein a plurality of electrodes are disposed in line with each other; a lower electrode layer (30) wherein a plurality of electrodes are disposed in line with each other; and an insulating layer (20) disposed between said upper electrode layer and said lower electrode layer.

Facts

Application

11/655,356Filed 19 Jan 2007

Published

US 2008/0174321 A124 Jul 2008

Granted

16 Mar 2010

Term ends

28 Jun 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 526 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

G06F 3/0446
By capacitive means: using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
G06F 3/04166
Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers: details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time…
G06F 3/0445
By capacitive means: using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
G06F 2203/04108
Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/041 - G06F3/045: touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger…

Timeline

19 Jan 2007Application filedUS 11/655,356
9 May 2008Assigned to Korea Institute of Science and Tehnologyassignment of assignor's interest
9 May 2008Assigned to Regents of the University of Minnesota, theassignment of assignor's interest
24 Jul 2008PublishedUS 2008/0174321 A1
16 Mar 2010GrantedUS 7,679,376 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
28 Jun 2028Term endsEstimated, includes 526 days of adjustment

Capacitive sensor for sensing tactile and proximity, and a sensing system using the same

Life of this patent

Capacitive sensor for sensing tactile and proximity, and a sensing system using the same

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims12

Description2,883 words

Drawings

Description2,883 words

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent