Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Compliant material for protecting capacitive force sensors and increasing capacitive sensitivity
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Application No.: US16399958Application Date: 2019-04-30
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Publication No.: US10921943B2Publication Date: 2021-02-16
- Inventor: Daniel J. Bechstein , Collin R. Petty , Martin P. Grunthaner , Andrew W. Joyce , John R. Matthews , Pavan O. Gupta , Albert Lin
- Applicant: Apple Inc.
- Applicant Address: US CA Cupertino
- Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Cupertino
- Agency: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
- Main IPC: G06F3/044
- IPC: G06F3/044

Abstract:
A compliant material, such as a conductive foam, is positioned in the dielectric or capacitive gap between drive and sense electrodes and/or other conductive elements of a capacitive and/or other force sensor, such as a TFT or other display element and a sensor assembly. The compliant material prevents damage by preventing and/or cushioning contact. The compliant material may be conductive. By being conductive and being positioned between the electrodes while still being separated from one or more of the electrodes, the compliant material also shortens the effective electrical distance between the electrodes. As a result, the force sensor may be more sensitive than would otherwise be possible while being less vulnerable to damage.
Public/Granted literature
- US20200348795A1 Compliant Material for Protecting Capacitive Force Sensors and Increasing Capacitive Sensitivity Public/Granted day:2020-11-05
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