公开(公告)号：US20170052616A1

公开(公告)日：2017-02-23

申请号：US15175536

申请日：2016-06-07

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Wei Lin ,  Henry E. Herman, III ,  Po-Jui Chen ,  Robert W. Rumford ,  Steve L. Terry ,  Yindar Chuo

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041

CPC classification number: G06F3/044 ,  G06F2203/04105

Abstract: An electronic device such as a device with a display may have a force sensor. The force sensor may include capacitive electrodes separated by a deformable layer such as a layer of an elastomeric polymer. The display or other layers in the electronic device may deform inwardly under applied force from a finger of a user or other external object. As the deformed layers contact the deformable layer, the deformable layer is compressed and the spacing between the capacitive electrodes of the force sensor decreases. This causes a measurable rise in the capacitance signal and therefore the force signal output of the force sensor. To prevent the deformable layer from sticking to the inner surface of the display layers, air flow promotion structures may be interposed between the deformable layer and the inner surface of the display. The air flow promotion structures may include spacer pads with anti-stick surfaces.

Abstract translation: 具有显示器的装置等电子装置可以具有力传感器。 力传感器可以包括由诸如弹性体聚合物层的可变形层隔开的电容电极。 电子设备中的显示器或其他层可能在施加的力下从用户的手指或其他外部物体向内变形。 当变形层与可变形层接触时，可变形层被压缩并且力传感器的电容电极之间的间隔减小。 这导致电容信号的可测量的上升，因此导致力传感器的力信号输出。 为了防止可变形层粘附到显示层的内表面，可以在可变形层和显示器的内表面之间插入气流促进结构。 气流促进结构可以包括具有防粘表面的间隔垫。

公开(公告)号：US20210089168A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-25

申请号：US17116907

申请日：2020-12-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Dhaval C. Patel ,  Eugene C. Cheung ,  Pey-Jiun Ko ,  Po-Jui Chen ,  Robert W. Rumford ,  Steve L. Terry ,  Wei Lin ,  Xiaofan Niu ,  Xiaoqi Zhou ,  Yi Gu ,  Yindar Chuo ,  Rasmi R. Das ,  Steven M. Scardato ,  Se Hyun Ahn ,  Victor H. Yin ,  Wookyung Bae ,  Christopher L. Boitnott ,  Chun-Hao Tung ,  Mookyung Son ,  Sunggu Kang ,  Nathan K. Gupta ,  John Z. Zhong

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: An electronic device with a force sensing device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a user input surface defining an exterior surface of the electronic device, a first capacitive sensing element, and a second capacitive sensing element capacitively coupled to the first capacitive sensing element. The electronic device also comprises a first spacing layer between the first and second capacitive sensing elements, and a second spacing layer between the first and second capacitive sensing elements. The first and second spacing layers have different compositions. The electronic device also comprises sensing circuitry coupled to the first and second capacitive sensing elements configured to determine an amount of applied force on the user input surface. The first spacing layer is configured to collapse if the applied force is below a force threshold, and the second spacing layer is configured to collapse if the applied force is above the force threshold.

公开(公告)号：US20170242506A1

公开(公告)日：2017-08-24

申请号：US15435649

申请日：2017-02-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Dhaval C. Patel ,  Eugene C. Cheung ,  Pey-Jiun Ko ,  Po-Jui Chen ,  Robert W. Rumford ,  Steve L. Terry ,  Wei Lin ,  Xiaofan Niu ,  Xiaoqi Zhou ,  Yi Gu ,  Yindar Chuo ,  Rasmi R. Das ,  Steven M. Scardato ,  Se Hyun Ahn ,  Victor H. Yin ,  Wookyung Bae ,  Christopher L. Boitnott ,  Chun-Hao Tung ,  Mookyung Son ,  Sunggu Kang ,  Nathan K. Gupta ,  John Z. Zhong

IPC: G06F3/044

Abstract: An electronic device with a force sensing device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a user input surface defining an exterior surface of the electronic device, a first capacitive sensing element, and a second capacitive sensing element capacitively coupled to the first capacitive sensing element. The electronic device also comprises a first spacing layer between the first and second capacitive sensing elements, and a second spacing layer between the first and second capacitive sensing elements. The first and second spacing layers have different compositions. The electronic device also comprises sensing circuitry coupled to the first and second capacitive sensing elements configured to determine an amount of applied force on the user input surface. The first spacing layer is configured to collapse if the applied force is below a force threshold, and the second spacing layer is configured to collapse if the applied force is above the force threshold.

公开(公告)号：US11803276B2

公开(公告)日：2023-10-31

申请号：US17116907

申请日：2020-12-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Dhaval C. Patel ,  Eugene C. Cheung ,  Pey-Jiun Ko ,  Po-Jui Chen ,  Robert W. Rumford ,  Steve L. Terry ,  Wei Lin ,  Xiaofan Niu ,  Xiaoqi Zhou ,  Yi Gu ,  Yindar Chuo ,  Rasmi R. Das ,  Steven M. Scardato ,  Se Hyun Ahn ,  Victor H. Yin ,  Wookyung Bae ,  Christopher L. Boitnott ,  Chun-Hao Tung ,  Mookyung Son ,  Sunggu Kang ,  Nathan K. Gupta ,  John Z. Zhong

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  G02F1/1339 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G01L1/14 ,  G01L9/00

CPC classification number: G06F3/0443 ,  G01L1/146 ,  G02F1/13394 ,  G02F1/13398 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/0412 ,  G06F3/0446 ,  G06F3/0447 ,  G01L9/0052 ,  G06F3/04146 ,  G06F2203/04102 ,  G06F2203/04105

Abstract: An electronic device with a force sensing device is disclosed. The electronic device comprises a user input surface defining an exterior surface of the electronic device, a first capacitive sensing element, and a second capacitive sensing element capacitively coupled to the first capacitive sensing element. The electronic device also comprises a first spacing layer between the first and second capacitive sensing elements, and a second spacing layer between the first and second capacitive sensing elements. The first and second spacing layers have different compositions. The electronic device also comprises sensing circuitry coupled to the first and second capacitive sensing elements configured to determine an amount of applied force on the user input surface. The first spacing layer is configured to collapse if the applied force is below a force threshold, and the second spacing layer is configured to collapse if the applied force is above the force threshold.

公开(公告)号：US20190179450A1

公开(公告)日：2019-06-13

申请号：US16212488

申请日：2018-12-06

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Wei Lin ,  Henry E. Herman, III ,  Po-Jui Chen ,  Robert W. Rumford ,  Steve L. Terry ,  Yindar Chuo

IPC: G06F3/044

Abstract: An electronic device such as a device with a display may have a force sensor. The force sensor may include capacitive electrodes separated by a deformable layer such as a layer of an elastomeric polymer. The display or other layers in the electronic device may deform inwardly under applied force from a finger of a user or other external object. As the deformed layers contact the deformable layer, the deformable layer is compressed and the spacing between the capacitive electrodes of the force sensor decreases. This causes a measurable rise in the capacitance signal and therefore the force signal output of the force sensor. To prevent the deformable layer from sticking to the inner surface of the display layers, air flow promotion structures may be interposed between the deformable layer and the inner surface of the display. The air flow promotion structures may include spacer pads with anti-stick surfaces.