Single substrate layer force sensor

A method of manufacturing a force sensing capacitance touch sensor, the method comprising:

• providing a single layer compressive substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
• forming a first set of electrodes and at least a portion of a second set of electrodes on the first surface by using an additive process to add conductive material directly on the first surface, wherein the first set of electrodes is formed contemporaneously with the at least a portion of the second set of electrodes;
• forming an insulator on the first surface and directly over portions of the first set of electrodes;
• forming an electrical connection between a first portion of the second set of electrodes directly over at least a portion of the insulator and a second portion of the second set of electrodes, wherein the insulator electrically isolates the first set of electrodes from the second set of electrodes;
• and
• forming a third set of electrodes on the opposing second surface of the single layer compressive substrate by using the additive process to add the conductive material directly on the opposing second surface.

An apparatus comprising:

• a single layer compressive substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface;
• a first set of electrodes formed as columns directly on the top surface of the single layer compressive substrate, the first set of electrodes including conductive material in direct contact with the top surface;
• a second set of electrodes formed as rows directly on the bottom surface of the single layer compressive substrate, the second set of electrodes including the conductive material in direct contact with the bottom surface;
• a third set of electrodes formed as rows on the top surface of the single layer compressive substrate and over portions of the first set of electrodes, at least a portion of the third set of electrodes and the first set of electrodes forming two patterns as a single layer of electrodes directly on the top surface of the single layer compressive substrate;
• a plurality of insulators disposed on the top side of the single layer compressive substrate and over the portions of the first set of electrodes, each insulator individually formed in a local area at an intersection between a portion of each first electrode and a portion of each third electrode, and the plurality of insulators formed of a non-conductive material to electrically isolate the first set of electrodes from the third set of electrodes;
• and
• an integrated circuit in connection with the first set of electrodes, the second set of electrodes, and the third set of electrodes, the integrated circuit to:
• create a first electrical field between the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes, and a second electrical field between the first set of electrodes and the third set of electrodes,
• measure, via the second set of electrodes, a force caused by a first change in the first electrical field transmitted by the first set of electrodes, the first change in the first electrical field caused by deformation of both the first set of electrodes and the single layer compressive substrate resulting from a force of a finger or an input device against the single layer compressive substrate;
• and
• determine, via the third set of electrodes, a location associated with a second change in the second electrical field created between the first set of electrodes and the third set of electrodes, the second change in the second electrical field caused by presence of the finger or the input device proximate to the third set of electrodes that modifies attributes of the second electrical field.