公开(公告)号：US20160103545A1

公开(公告)日：2016-04-14

申请号：US14972917

申请日：2015-12-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sinan Filiz ,  James E. Pedder ,  Charley T. Ogata ,  John Stephen Smith ,  Dhaval Chandrakant Patel ,  Shin John Choi ,  Brian Q. Huppi ,  Christopher J. Butler ,  Martin P. Grunthaner

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/045 ,  G01L1/16

CPC classification number: G06F3/0414 ,  G01L1/005 ,  G01L1/16 ,  G01L1/18 ,  G01L1/20 ,  G01L1/205 ,  G06F3/0412 ,  G06F3/0416 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/045 ,  G06F2203/04103 ,  G06F2203/04105 ,  G06F2203/04111

Abstract: An optically transparent force sensor that may compensate for environmental effects, including, for example, variations in temperature of the device or the surroundings. In some examples, two force-sensitive layers are separated by a compliant layer. The relative electrical response of the two force-sensitive layers may be used to compute an estimate of the force of a touch that reduces the effect of variations in temperature. In some examples, piezoelectric films having anisotropic strain properties are used to reduce the effects of temperature.

Abstract translation: 可以补偿环境影响的光学透明的力传感器，包括例如装置或周围环境的温度变化。 在一些示例中，两个力敏感层由柔顺层分开。 可以使用两个力敏感层的相对电响应来计算降低温度变化影响的触摸力的估计。 在一些实例中，使用具有各向异性应变特性的压电膜来降低温度的影响。

公开(公告)号：US11153676B2

公开(公告)日：2021-10-19

申请号：US16875366

申请日：2020-05-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： John Stephen Smith ,  Storrs T. Hoen

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G01L9/04 ,  G01L1/02 ,  H04R5/02 ,  G01L9/12 ,  G01L9/06 ,  G01L9/08

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices having a deformable surfaces through which a user can provide inputs to the device by applying a force such as a pinch or a squeeze. A particular embodiment is an earpiece with the deformable surface part of an elongate section extending from an earbud. The deformable surface includes an incompressible hyperelastic material and a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor includes a pressure sensing element and a void defined between the pressure sensing element and the incompressible hyperelastic material. An applied force is transferred by the incompressible hyperelastic material to compress the void and change an internal pressure thereof. The changed pressure is detected by the pressure sensor, and can result in changed operation of the electronic device.

公开(公告)号：US20190361560A1

公开(公告)日：2019-11-28

申请号：US16538724

申请日：2019-08-12

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Sinan Filiz ,  Martin P. Grunthaner ,  John Stephen Smith ,  Charley T. Ogata ,  Christian M. Sauer ,  Shin John Choi ,  Christopher J. Butler ,  Steven J. Martisauskas

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: A device configured to sense a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a cover and a force-sensing structure disposed below the cover. The force-sensing structure may be positioned below a display and used in combination with other force-sensing elements to estimate the force of a touch on the cover of a device.

公开(公告)号：US10318089B2

公开(公告)日：2019-06-11

申请号：US15274663

申请日：2016-09-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： John Stephen Smith ,  Manu Agarwal ,  Christian M. Sauer

IPC: G06F3/045 ,  G01L1/20 ,  G01L1/22

Abstract: Several techniques for driving a force sensor to reduce common mode offset are disclosed. The force sensor can include at least one set of individual strain sensitive structures formed on or in a surface of a substrate. Each set of individual strain sensitive structures can include one or more strain sensitive structures. At least one external resistor is operably connected in series between a first output of one or more transmitter channels and at least one set of strain sensitive structures. The external resistor(s) effectively increases the resistances of the strain sensitive structures to reduce the common mode offset. Additionally or alternatively, one or more signal generators may be connected to one or more transmitter channels. Each signal generator is configured to produce one or more signals that is/are designed to reduce common mode offset.

公开(公告)号：US10309846B2

公开(公告)日：2019-06-04

申请号：US15658387

申请日：2017-07-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： John Stephen Smith

IPC: G01L1/22 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: A strain-responsive sensor incorporating a strain-sensitive element is disclosed. The strain-sensitive element includes a matched-pair of resistive structures disposed on opposite sides of a substrate. One resistive structure is coupled to a crossover, either a physical crossover or a soft crossover, such that current within the resistive structures of the matched pair flows in the same direction. In addition, one resistive structure of the matched pair has a different loop area than the other resistive structure.

公开(公告)号：US10006820B2

公开(公告)日：2018-06-26

申请号：US15063985

申请日：2016-03-08

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Michael Vosgueritchian ,  Sinan Filiz ,  John Stephen Smith ,  Anshuman Bhuyan ,  James E. Pedder ,  Vikram Garg

IPC: G01L1/12 ,  G01L1/22 ,  G01B7/16 ,  G06F3/00

CPC classification number: G01L1/2268 ,  G01B7/18 ,  G01L1/2287 ,  G06F3/00 ,  G06F3/0414 ,  G06F3/0418 ,  G06F2203/04103 ,  G06F2203/04105

Abstract: A strain-responsive sensor incorporating a strain-sensitive element is disclosed. The strain-sensitive element includes a matched-pair of resistive structures disposed on opposite sides of a substrate. One resistive structure of the matched pair is coupled to a crossover, either a physical crossover or a soft crossover, such that current within the resistive structures of the matched pair flows in the same direction.

公开(公告)号：US20180157363A1

公开(公告)日：2018-06-07

申请号：US15867297

申请日：2018-01-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Michael Vosgueritchian ,  James E. Pedder ,  John Stephen Smith ,  Xiaonan Wen

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  H01L27/12

CPC classification number: G06F3/0414 ,  G06F3/0412 ,  G06F3/0416 ,  G06F2203/04103 ,  H01L27/1218 ,  Y10S977/762

Abstract: One or more transparent transistor force sensitive structures can be included in an electronic device. The transistor force sensitive structures(s) is used to detect a force that is applied to the electronic device, to a component in the electronic device, and/or to an input region of the electronic device. As one example, the one or more transparent transistor force sensitive structures may be included in a display stack of a display in an electronic device.

公开(公告)号：US20170268942A1

公开(公告)日：2017-09-21

申请号：US15612922

申请日：2017-06-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： James E. Pedder ,  John Stephen Smith

IPC: G01L1/18

CPC classification number: G01L1/18 ,  G06F2203/04105

Abstract: A transparent force sensor for detecting an applied force on a surface of a device. The transparent force sensor includes a transparent force-sensitive film having an array of strain-relief features oriented along a first direction. The transparent force-sensitive film is formed from a transparent piezoelectric material that exhibits a substantially reduced net charge when strained along a primary direction. The force sensor also includes a display element disposed on one side of the transparent force-sensitive film.

公开(公告)号：US20170031495A1

公开(公告)日：2017-02-02

申请号：US14815670

申请日：2015-07-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： John Stephen Smith

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06F3/0416 ,  G06F3/016 ,  G06F3/0414 ,  G06F3/0418

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic device having a force sensing device. The force sensing device receives a continuous force input which is translated into a discrete event. In order to more accurately determine the type of discrete event intended by a user, the electronic device is able to determine an amount of noise present in the electronic device and dynamically adjust force threshold values associated with the force sensing device.

Abstract translation: 本文公开了具有力感测装置的电子装置。 力感测装置接收连续的力输入，其被转换为离散事件。 为了更精确地确定用户意图的离散事件的类型，电子设备能够确定电子设备中存在的噪声的量并且动态地调整与力感测装置相关联的力阈值。

公开(公告)号：US20170010723A1

公开(公告)日：2017-01-12

申请号：US15274663

申请日：2016-09-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： John Stephen Smith ,  Manu Agarwal ,  Christian M. Sauer

IPC: G06F3/045

CPC classification number: G06F3/045 ,  G01L1/205 ,  G01L1/225

Abstract: Several techniques for driving a force sensor to reduce common mode offset are disclosed. The force sensor can include at least one set of individual strain sensitive structures formed on or in a surface of a substrate. Each set of individual strain sensitive structures can include one or more strain sensitive structures. At least one external resistor is operably connected in series between a first output of one or more transmitter channels and at least one set of strain sensitive structures. The external resistor(s) effectively increases the resistances of the strain sensitive structures to reduce the common mode offset. Additionally or alternatively, one or more signal generators may be connected to one or more transmitter channels. Each signal generator is configured to produce one or more signals that is/are designed to reduce common mode offset.

Abstract translation: 公开了用于驱动力传感器以减少共模偏移的几种技术。 力传感器可以包括形成在基底表面上或表面上的至少一组单独的应变敏感结构。 每组单个应变敏感结构可以包括一个或多个应变敏感结构。 至少一个外部电阻器可操作地连接在一个或多个发射器通道的第一输出端与至少一组应变敏感结构之间。 外部电阻有效地增加了应变敏感结构的电阻以减小共模偏移。 附加地或替代地，一个或多个信号发生器可以连接到一个或多个发射器通道。 每个信号发生器被配置成产生被设计为减少共模偏移的一个或多个信号。