Input device and method with pressure-sensitive layer

A pressure sensitive input device for sensing an input object in a sensing region, comprising:

• a plurality of sensor electrodes comprising:
• a set of primary sensor electrodes;
• a set of secondary sensor electrodes, each of the primary sensor electrodes electrically coupled to and disposed at a fixed distance from at least one of the secondary sensor electrodes to form a set of measurable elastive admittances between each primary sensor electrode and secondary sensor electrode, respectively;
• and
• a pressure-sensitive layer proximate to at least a portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes, the pressure-sensitive layer located between a touch surface and both the set of primary sensor electrodes and the set of secondary sensor electrodes and configured to change at least one of the measurable elastive admittances, without changing the fixed distance between each primary sensor electrode and each corresponding secondary sensor electrode, in response to pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive layer.

A method for determining user input comprising:

• driving signals onto a set of primary sensor electrodes, wherein the set of primary sensor electrodes is a first part of a plurality of sensor electrodes;
• receiving signals with a set of secondary sensor electrodes, wherein the set of secondary sensor electrodes is a second part of the plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein each of the primary sensor electrodes is electrically coupled to and disposed at a fixed distance from at least one of the secondary sensor electrodes to form a set of measurable admittances, and wherein a pressure-sensitive layer is located between a touch surface and both the set of primary sensor electrodes and the set of secondary sensor electrodes, the pressure-sensitive layer configured to change at least one of the admittances, without changing the fixed distance between each primary sensor electrode and each corresponding secondary sensor electrode, in response to pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive layer by an input object on the touch surface;
• determining measures of the admittances from the signals received;
• determining positional information for the input object on the touch surface from the measures;
• and
• providing an output representative of the positional information.

A method for determining user input on a device comprising:

• driving signals onto a set of primary sensor electrodes, wherein the set of primary sensor electrodes is a first part of a plurality of sensor electrodes;
• receiving signals with a set of secondary sensor electrodes, wherein the set of secondary sensor electrodes is a second part of the plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein each of the primary sensor electrodes is electrically coupled to and disposed at a fixed distance from at least one of the secondary sensor electrodes to form a set of elastive admittances, and wherein a pressure-sensitive layer is proximate the plurality of sensor electrodes, the pressure-sensitive layer located between a touch surface and both the set of primary sensor electrodes and the set of secondary sensor electrodes configured to change at least one of the elastive admittances, without changing the fixed distance between each primary sensor electrode and each corresponding secondary sensor electrode, in response to pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive layer by an input object;
• determining measures of the elastive admittances from the signals received;
• determining positional information for the input object in a sensing region from the measures;
• and
• providing an output representative of the positional information.

A processing system for use with a pressure sensitive input device, the processing system configured to:

• drive signals onto a set of primary sensor electrodes, wherein the set of primary sensor electrodes is a first part of a plurality of sensor electrodes;
• receive signals with a set of secondary sensor electrodes, wherein the set of secondary sensor electrodes is a second part of the plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein each of the primary sensor electrodes is electrically coupled to and disposed at a fixed distance from at least one of the secondary sensor electrodes to form a set of admittances, and wherein a pressure-sensitive layer is located between a touch surface and both the set of primary sensor electrodes and the set of secondary sensor electrodes, the pressure-sensitive layer configured to change at least one of the admittances, without changing the fixed distance between each primary sensor electrode and each corresponding secondary sensor electrode, in response to pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive layer by an input object on the touch surface;
• determine measures of the admittances from the signals received;
• determine positional information for the input object on the touch surface from the measures;
• and
• provide an output representative of the positional information.

A processing system for use with a pressure sensitive input device, the processing system configured to:

• drive signals onto a set of primary sensor electrodes, wherein the set of primary sensor electrodes is a first part of a plurality of sensor electrodes;
• receive signals with a set of secondary sensor electrodes, wherein the set of secondary sensor electrodes is a second part of the plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein each of the primary sensor electrodes is electrically coupled to and disposed at a fixed distance from at least one of the secondary sensor electrodes to form a set of elastive admittances, and wherein a pressure-sensitive layer is proximate the plurality of sensor electrodes, the pressure-sensitive layer located between a touch surface and both the set of primary sensor electrodes and the set of secondary sensor electrodes and configured to change at least one of the elastive admittances, without changing the fixed distance between each primary sensor electrode and each corresponding secondary sensor electrode, in response to pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive layer by an input object;
• determine measures of the elastive admittances from the signals received;
• determine positional information for the input object in a sensing region from the measures;
• and
• provide an output representative of the positional information.

A pressure sensitive input device for sensing an input object in a sensing region, comprising:

• a touch surface;
• a primary sensor electrode disposed at a fixed distance from a secondary sensor electrode and forming a variable capacitance therebetween;
• and
• a pressure-sensitive layer located between the touch surface and both the primary sensor electrode and the secondary sensor electrode, the pressure-sensitive layer configured to change the variable capacitance, without changing the fixed distance between primary sensor electrode and secondary sensor electrode, in response to pressure applied by the input object to the touch surface.