公开(公告)号：US20240126394A1

公开(公告)日：2024-04-18

申请号：US18458977

申请日：2023-08-30

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Supratik DATTA ,  John K. FRANKOVICH ,  Ehsan KHAJEH ,  Omid MAHDAVIPOUR

IPC: G06F3/043 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06F3/043 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: Examples of the disclosure are directed to the use of one or more piezoelectric (PE) transducers for detecting one or more touches on a surface. In some embodiments, the one or more PE transducers can complement a capacitive touch sensor array and provide a confirmation that a touch has in fact occurred, and can provide a secondary determination of touch location. In some examples, the one or more PE transducers can be formed on, or as part of, a flex circuit that is adhered to a housing or other structure to which the touch surface is affixed. The flex circuit can be formed as a strip upon which the one or more PE transducers are attached, and can be shaped and sized (optionally with a fold to create a tail for electrical connections) to adhere to an inner or outer surface of the housing.

公开(公告)号：US20240103654A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-28

申请号：US18461395

申请日：2023-09-05

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Travis N. OWENS ,  Daniel J. BECHSTEIN ,  Jeremy A. BAGNOL ,  Daniell DOKKO ,  Supratik DATTA

IPC: G06F3/041

CPC classification number: G06F3/0414

Abstract: Electronic devices can include a textured exterior surface that is used for controlling functions associated with the electronic device or another electronic device when an object moves along the textured exterior surface. In some examples, the textured exterior surface can be a multi-directional textured surface to enable multi-directional touch functionality. In some examples, sensors of the electronic device can detect signal inputs generated by vibrations caused by the object moving along the textured exterior surface. The signal inputs can be processed to determine the directionality and/or speed of the movement input.

公开(公告)号：US20210089170A1

公开(公告)日：2021-03-25

申请号：US16938544

申请日：2020-07-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Supratik DATTA ,  Karan JAIN ,  Zhiyuan SUN ,  Ho Hyung LEE ,  Da YU ,  Wei LIN ,  Nathan K. GUPTA ,  Chun-Chih CHANG

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: A two dimensional touch sensor panel can be thermoformed or curved by another process to a three-dimensional touch sensor panel, and the three-dimensional touch sensor panel can be laminated to a three-dimension surface having a highly curved or spherical shape. In some examples, thermoforming a two-dimensional touch sensor panel into a three-dimensional touch sensor panel can result in strain of the touch electrodes, and can result in non-uniform three-dimensional touch electrodes (distortion of the two-dimensional touch electrode pattern). The strain can be a function of the curved touch-sensitive surface and/or process related mechanical strain from thermoforming. In some examples, a three-dimensional touch sensor panel can be formed with uniform area touch electrodes using a two-dimensional touch sensor panel pattern with non-uniform area touch electrodes in accordance with the strain pattern expected for a given curved surface and thermoforming technique.

公开(公告)号：US20200333914A1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-22

申请号：US16390911

申请日：2019-04-22

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Ehsan KHAJEH ,  Ala'a AL-OKAILY ,  Brian Michael KING ,  George Ho Yin MAK ,  Supratik DATTA

IPC: G06F3/043

Abstract: Acoustic touch sensing system architectures and methods for acoustic touch sensing can be used to detect a position of an object touching a surface. Acoustic touch sensing can utilize transducers (e.g., piezoelectric) to simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves along a surface and through a thickness of a material. The location of the object can be determined based on the amount of time elapsing between the transmission of the waves and receipt of the reflected waves. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be insensitive to water contact on the device surface, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that may become wet or fully submerged in water. In some examples, techniques such as isolation and absorption of acoustic energy can be used to mitigate acoustic energy reflected by portions of the electronic device and interfere with the acoustic touch sensing operation.

公开(公告)号：US20240004500A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-04

申请号：US18326743

申请日：2023-05-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Santosh POKHREL ,  Nandita VENUGOPAL ,  Supratik DATTA

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06F3/04186 ,  G06F3/04164 ,  G06F3/0443 ,  G06F3/0446 ,  G06F2203/04107

Abstract: Touch sensor panels/screens can include negative temperature coefficient materials in the stack-up and routing traces with expanded areas to reduce thermal drift and minimize the detection of false touches. In some examples, the touch sensor panels/screens can include a plurality of touch electrodes in a first layer. In some examples, the sensor panels/screens can include one or more dielectric materials in a second layer, the one or more dielectric materials including a negative temperature coefficient material. In some examples, the touch sensor panels/screens can include a plurality of routing traces in a third layer, the plurality of routing traces routing the plurality of touch electrodes to a touch controller chip.

公开(公告)号：US20200012358A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-09

申请号：US16029489

申请日：2018-07-06

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Blake R. MARSHALL ,  Reza NASIRI MAHALATI ,  Wing Kong LOW ,  Izhar BENTOV ,  Ashwin Kumar ASOKA KUMAR SHENOI ,  Henry N. TSAO ,  Supratik DATTA ,  Wesley W. ZUBER ,  Nandita VENUGOPAL ,  Karan S. JAIN

IPC: G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/038

Abstract: Touch-based input devices, such as a stylus, can receive tactile input from a user. The tactile input functions can be performed by a touch sensor, such as a capacitive sensing device. A touch sensor can be integrated into a stylus in a low profile form. Tactile input can be received at the user's natural grip location. Furthermore, the stylus can effectively distinguish between tactile inputs from a user and disregard sustained tactile inputs that are provided while the user simply holds the stylus at the user's natural grip location.

公开(公告)号：US20180341359A1

公开(公告)日：2018-11-29

申请号：US15989063

申请日：2018-05-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Ehsan KHAJEH ,  Brian Michael KING ,  Mohammad YEKE YAZDANDOOST ,  Marcus YIP ,  Aaron Scott TUCKER ,  Marduke YOUSEFPOR ,  Peter Jon KARDASSAKIS ,  Giovanni GOZZINI ,  Supratik DATTA ,  Asif HUSSAIN

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/0354

Abstract: Acoustic touch and/or force sensing system architectures and methods for acoustic touch and/or force sensing can be used to detect a position of an object touching a surface and an amount of force applied to the surface by the object. The position and/or an applied force can be determined using time-of-flight (TOF) techniques, for example. Acoustic touch sensing can utilize transducers (e.g., piezoelectric) to simultaneously transmit ultrasonic waves along a surface and through a thickness of a deformable material. The location of the object and the applied force can be determined based on the amount of time elapsing between the transmission of the waves and receipt of the reflected waves. In some examples, an acoustic touch sensing system can be insensitive to water contact on the device surface, and thus acoustic touch sensing can be used for touch sensing in devices that may become wet or fully submerged in water.