公开(公告)号：US20240147127A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-02

申请号：US18405464

申请日：2024-01-05

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nahid Harjee ,  Brain R. Twehues ,  Teera Songatikamas ,  Aonan Li ,  Travis N. Owens ,  Kyle J. Campiotti

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: H04R1/1041 ,  G06F3/044 ,  H04R1/1016 ,  H04R1/1075 ,  G06F2203/04105 ,  H04R2420/07

Abstract: An earphone includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit.

公开(公告)号：US20230092946A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-23

申请号：US17481122

申请日：2021-09-21

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Daniel J. Bechstein ,  Nahid Harjee ,  Travis N. Owens

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: A capacitive gap force sensor includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a first layer of dielectric material positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second layer of conductive material positioned between the first layer and the second electrode. The first layer has a first compression resistance less than a second compression resistance of the second layer. An effective capacitive sensing gap is defined between the first electrode and the second layer. The first layer is configured to compress or deform and alter the effective capacitive sensing gap when a force is received at the first electrode or the second electrode.

公开(公告)号：US11592946B1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-28

申请号：US17481122

申请日：2021-09-21

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Daniel J. Bechstein ,  Nahid Harjee ,  Travis N. Owens

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041

Abstract: A capacitive gap force sensor includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a first layer of dielectric material positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second layer of conductive material positioned between the first layer and the second electrode. The first layer has a first compression resistance less than a second compression resistance of the second layer. An effective capacitive sensing gap is defined between the first electrode and the second layer. The first layer is configured to compress or deform and alter the effective capacitive sensing gap when a force is received at the first electrode or the second electrode.

公开(公告)号：US20220417643A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-29

申请号：US17897152

申请日：2022-08-27

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nahid Harjee ,  Brian H. Twehues ,  Teera Songatikamas

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.

公开(公告)号：US11463799B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-04

申请号：US17351133

申请日：2021-06-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nahid Harjee ,  Brian R. Twehues ,  Teera Songatikamas

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.

公开(公告)号：US20250016491A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-09

申请号：US18898429

申请日：2024-09-26

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nahid Harjee ,  Brian R. Twehues ,  Teera Songatikamas

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: An stylus includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.

公开(公告)号：US20240406612A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-05

申请号：US18805921

申请日：2024-08-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nahid Harjee ,  Brian R. Twehues ,  Teera Songatikamas ,  Aonan Li ,  Travis N. Owens ,  Kyle J. Campiotti

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: A stylus includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit.

公开(公告)号：US20240292143A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-29

申请号：US18660107

申请日：2024-05-09

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nahid Harjee ,  Brian R. Twehues ,  Teera Songatikamas ,  Aonan Li ,  Travis N. Owens ,  Kyle J. Campiotti

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: H04R1/1041 ,  G06F3/044 ,  H04R1/1016 ,  H04R1/1075 ,  G06F2203/04105 ,  H04R2420/07

Abstract: An earphone includes a speaker housing; a speaker positioned in the speaker housing; a stem extending from the speaker housing, the stem defining an input surface; a conductive object disposed within the stem; a flexible circuit positioned between the stem and the conductive object; a member positioned between the flexible circuit and the conductive object operable to allow the flexible circuit to move with respect to the stem; a force sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit; and a controller operable to determine an input to the earphone using a change in capacitance detected using the force sensor electrode, the change in capacitance corresponding to a non-binary amount of a force applied to the input surface. In some examples, the earphone further includes a touch sensor electrode disposed within the flexible circuit.

公开(公告)号：US11917355B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-27

申请号：US17897152

申请日：2022-08-27

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nahid Harjee ,  Brian R. Twehues ,  Teera Songatikamas

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: H04R1/1041 ,  G06F3/044 ,  H04R1/1016 ,  H04R1/1066 ,  G06F2203/04104

Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.

公开(公告)号：US11463796B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-04

申请号：US17176310

申请日：2021-02-16

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nahid Harjee ,  Brian R. Twehues ,  Teera Songatikamas

IPC: H04R1/10 ,  G06F3/044

Abstract: An earphone includes a housing that defines a force input surface opposite a touch input surface. A spring member in the housing includes a first arm that biases a touch sensor toward the touch input surface. The spring member also includes a second arm that biases a first force electrode toward the housing and allows the first force electrode to move toward a second force electrode when a force is applied to the force input surface. A non-binary amount of the force is determinable using a change in a mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode. The mutual capacitance between the first force electrode and the second force electrode may be measured upon detecting a touch using the touch sensor.