Physical force capacitive touch sensors

A capacitive touch sensor arrangement, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an array of capacitive sensor electrodes linearly or circularly arranged on a face of the substrate or arranged in a matrix on a face of the substrate;
• a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that surrounds the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and a second section forming a flexible cover covering the array of capacitive sensor elements;
• and
• a continuous electrically conductive deformable plane coupled with the flexible cover and being proximate to the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and being arranged to at least partially cover each capacitive sensor electrode in said array of capacitor sensor electrodes;
• an array of mini-pedestals located between the flexible cover and the electrically conductive deformable plane;
• wherein a density of mini-pedestals in the array of mini-pedestals between the flexible cover and the electrically conductive deformable plane is greater than a density of capacitive sensor electrodes in the array of capacitive sensor electrodes;
• and
• wherein when a mechanical force is applied to a region of the electrically conductive plane, the electrically conductive plane is biased toward at least one of the capacitive sensor elements physically aligned with the region of the continuous electrically conductive plane, whereby the at least one of the capacitive sensor elements changes capacitance value.

A physical force capacitive touch key, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an array of capacitive sensor elements including first and second capacitive sensor elements on a face of the substrate such that a gap is formed between the first and second capacitive sensor elements;
• a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that forms a cavity including at least the first and second capacitive sensor elements and a second section forming a flexible cover covering at least the first and second capacitive sensor elements;
• and
• a continuous flexibly-deformable electrically conductive plane coupled with the flexible cover via an array of pedestals and being arranged to at least partially cover each capacitor sensor element in the array of capacitive sensor elements including the first and second capacitive sensor elements;
• wherein a density of pedestals in the array of pedestals coupled between the flexible cover and the electrically conductive plane is greater than a density of capacitive sensor elements in the array of capacitive sensor elements;
• and
• wherein when a mechanical force is applied to a first region of the continuous flexibly-deformable electrically conductive plane, the electrically conductive plane is biased toward the first capacitive sensor element, whereby the first capacitive sensor element changes capacitance value;
• and
• wherein when the mechanical force is applied to a second region of the continuous flexibly-deformable electrically conductive plane, the electrically conductive plane is biased toward the second capacitive sensor element, whereby the second capacitive sensor element changes capacitance value.

A physical force capacitive touch joystick, comprising:

• a substrate;
• an array of at least three capacitive sensor elements on a face of the substrate;
• a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that forms a cavity including array of the least three capacitive sensor elements and a second section forming a flexible cover covering the array of at least three capacitive sensor elements;
• an array of pedestal structures spaced apart from each other and coupled with the flexible cover;
• and
• a continuous electrically conductive plane attached to the array of spaced-apart pedestal structures and proximate to the array of at least three capacitive sensor elements and being arranged to at least partially cover each capacitive sensor element in said array of at least three capacitor sensor elements;
• wherein a density of pedestal structures in the array of pedestal structures between the flexible cover and the continuous electrically conductive plane is greater than a density of capacitive sensor elements in the array of capacitive sensor elements;
• and
• wherein when a mechanical force is applied to the continuous electrically conductive plane, the continuous electrically conductive plane is biased toward a subset of one or more of the array of at least three capacitive sensor elements based on a location of the mechanical force applied to the continuous electrically conductive plane, whereby the subset of the array of at least three capacitive sensor elements changes capacitance value.

A capacitive touch cylindrical sensor, comprising:

• a substrate formed into a cylinder;
• a plurality of capacitive sensor elements arranged in a circular arrangement on a substrate;
• a cover comprising a first section forming a substantially non-deformable spacer on the substrate that forms a cavity including the plurality of capacitive sensor elements and a second section forming a flexible cover covering the plurality of capacitive sensor elements;
• and
• a continuous electrically conductive deformable structure coupled with the flexible cover via an array of pedestals and having a circular shape and arranged proximate to the plurality of capacitive sensor elements and being arranged to at least partially cover each capacitive sensor element in said plurality of capacitor sensor elements;
• wherein a density of pedestals in the array of pedestals coupled between the flexible cover and the continuous electrically conductive plane is greater than a density of the plurality of capacitive sensor elements;
• and
• wherein when a mechanical force is applied to a portion of the continuous electrically conductive deformable structure having the circular shape, the continuous electrically conductive deformable structure is biased toward at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensor elements, whereby the at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensor elements changes capacitance value.