Touch sensor with secondary sensor and ground shield
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBenjamin B. Lyon, Peter W. Richards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A touch sensor pattern with a secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern is provided. By forming the secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern, where the secondary sensor can be held at a steady state or ground during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor, an overall thickness of the stackup at the area of the touch sensor where the secondary sensor is formed can be significantly reduced. The reduction in the thickness can allow more space for other hardware such as a device battery, for example. Moreover, grounding the secondary sensor can shield the touch sensor pattern at the area of the touch sensor pattern where the secondary sensor is formed, during a touch scan cycle.
Claims23
A touch surface, comprising:
- a touch sensor pattern including at least one touch sensor;
- and
- at least one secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern,
- wherein the at least one secondary sensor is configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state during a touch scan cycle, and
- the at least one secondary sensor is configured to shield at least a portion of the touch sensor pattern during the touch scan cycle;
- wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a button sensor.
A method of forming a touch surface, comprising:
- forming a touch sensor pattern;
- forming at least one secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern;
- and
- grounding or holding the at least one secondary sensor at a low-impedance state to shield at least a portion of the touch sensor pattern during a touch scan cycle;
- wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a button sensor.
A system, comprising:
- a touch sensor surface,
- wherein the touch sensor surface includes
- a touch sensor pattern, and
- at least one secondary sensor formed as part of the touch sensor pattern and configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state, in order to shield at least a portion of the touch sensor pattern during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor circuit;
- wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a button sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.