公开(公告)号：US09772721B2

公开(公告)日：2017-09-26

申请号：US14730370

申请日：2015-06-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Brian Q. Huppi ,  Martin P. Grunthaner ,  John G. Elias ,  Sinan Filiz ,  Steven P. Hotelling

IPC: G06F3/043 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/0488

CPC classification number: G06F3/043 ,  G06F3/0414 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/04883 ,  G06F2203/04104 ,  G06F2203/04106 ,  G06F2203/04808

Abstract: An input/output device for a computing device including one or more touch sensors and one or more force sensors. The touch sensors sense data including one or more locations at which a contact or near-contact occurs. The force sensor sense data including a measure of an amount of force presented at the one or more locations at which a contact occurs. The touch sensors and the force sensors responsive to signals occurring in response to whether the signals are in response to contact or in response to an amount of force. The input/output device also includes one or more circuits coupled to the touch sensors and to the force sensors, and capable of combining information from both sensors.

公开(公告)号：US09740343B2

公开(公告)日：2017-08-22

申请号：US13842635

申请日：2013-03-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Steven P. Hotelling ,  Jean-Marie Bussat ,  Benjamin B. Lyon

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06K9/00

CPC classification number: G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/0416 ,  G06K9/0002

Abstract: A capacitive fingerprint sensor that may be formed of an array of sensing elements. Each capacitive sensing element of the array may register a voltage that varies with the capacitance of a capacitive coupling. A finger may capacitively couple to the individual capacitive sensing elements of the sensor, such that the sensor may sense a capacitance between each capacitive sensing element and the flesh of the fingerprint. The capacitance signal may be detected by sensing the change in voltage on the capacitive sensing element as the relative voltage between the finger and the sensing chip is changed. Alternately, the capacitance signal may be detected by sensing the change in charge received by the capacitive sensing elements as the relative voltage between the finger and the sensing chip is changed.

公开(公告)号：US09671889B1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-06

申请号：US14340138

申请日：2014-07-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Thayne M. Miller ,  Jean-Marie Bussat ,  Steven P. Hotelling ,  Sawyer I. Cohen ,  Tyler B. Cater

IPC: G06K9/00 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06K9/0002 ,  H03K17/962 ,  H03K17/975 ,  H03K2217/960755

Abstract: Input members with capacitive sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment of an electronic button, a first circuit is configured to capture a fingerprint of a user's finger placed on the electronic button, and a second circuit is configured to sense a force applied to the electronic button by the user's finger. The first circuit is further configured to provide temperature information to compensate for temperature sensitivities of the second circuit, and the second circuit is further configured to provide force information to the first circuit.

公开(公告)号：US09575588B2

公开(公告)日：2017-02-21

申请号：US15005732

申请日：2016-01-25

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Bingrui Yang ,  Martin P. Grunthaner ,  Steven P. Hotelling

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/047 ,  G06F3/045 ,  H03K17/96 ,  G01L1/22

CPC classification number: G06F3/0414 ,  G01L1/22 ,  G01L1/2262 ,  G06F3/0418 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/045 ,  G06F3/047 ,  G06F2203/04102 ,  G06F2203/04105 ,  H03K17/9625 ,  H04M1/0266 ,  H04M1/7258 ,  H04M1/72583

Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing in which components such as a display are mounted. A strain gauge may be mounted on a layer of the display such as a cover layer or may be mounted on a portion of the housing or other support structure. The layer of material on which the strain gauge is mounted may be configured to flex in response to pressure applied by a finger of a user. The strain gauge may serve as a button for the electronic device or may form part of other input circuitry. A differential amplifier and analog-to-digital converter circuit may be used to gather and process strain gauge signals. The strain gauge may be formed form variable resistor structures that make up part of a bridge circuit that is coupled to the differential amplifier. The bridge circuit may be configured to reduce the impact of capacitively coupled noise.

Abstract translation: 电子设备可以具有其中安装诸如显示器的部件的壳体。 应变计可以安装在诸如覆盖层的显示器的层上，或者可以安装在壳体或其他支撑结构的一部分上。 应变仪安装在其上的材料层可以被配置为响应于用户的手指施加的压力而弯曲。 应变计可以用作电子设备的按钮或者可以形成其他输入电路的一部分。 差分放大器和模数转换器电路可用于收集和处理应变计信号。 应变计可以形成为构成耦合到差分放大器的桥式电路的一部分的可变电阻器结构。 桥接电路可以被配置为减少电容耦合噪声的影响。

公开(公告)号：US20160306468A1

公开(公告)日：2016-10-20

申请号：US15195852

申请日：2016-06-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Wei Chen ,  Steven P. Hotelling ,  John Z. Zhong ,  Shih-Chang Chang ,  Stephen S. Poon

IPC: G06F3/044 ,  H01L51/52 ,  H01L27/32 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/047

CPC classification number: G06F3/044 ,  G06F1/1601 ,  G06F1/1643 ,  G06F3/0412 ,  G06F3/0416 ,  G06F3/047 ,  G06F3/04886 ,  G06F2203/04112 ,  H01L27/323 ,  H01L27/3276 ,  H01L27/3288 ,  H01L27/3293 ,  H01L51/5237 ,  H01L51/5246 ,  H01L51/5253 ,  H01L51/5281 ,  H01L51/5284 ,  H01L2251/5338

Abstract: Displays such as organic light-emitting diode displays may be provided with touch sensing capabilities. A touch sensor may be formed from electrodes located on a thin-film encapsulation layer or one or more sides of a polarizer. A single-sided or double-sided touch sensor panel may be attached to the upper or lower surface of a polarizer. Control circuitry may be used to provide control signals to light-emitting diodes in the display using a grid of control lines. The control lines and transparent electrode structures such as indium tin oxide structures formed on a thin-film encapsulation layer or polarizer may be used as electrodes for a touch sensor. Displays may have active regions and inactive peripheral portions. The displays may have edge portions that are bent along a bend axis that is within the active region to form a borderless display. Virtual buttons may be formed on the bent edge portions.

Abstract translation: 可以提供诸如有机发光二极管显示器的显示器具有触摸感测能力。 触摸传感器可以由位于薄膜封装层或偏振器的一个或多个侧面上的电极形成。 单面或双面触摸传感器面板可以附接到偏振器的上表面或下表面。 控制电路可以用于使用控制线网格来向显示器中的发光二极管提供控制信号。 控制线和形成在薄膜封装层或偏振片上的铟锡氧化物结构之类的透明电极结构可用作触摸传感器的电极。 显示器可能具有活动区域和不活动的外围部分。 显示器可以具有沿着在有效区域内的弯曲轴线弯曲以形成无边界显示器的边缘部分。 虚拟按钮可以形成在弯曲的边缘部分上。

公开(公告)号：US09367158B2

公开(公告)日：2016-06-14

申请号：US14570915

申请日：2014-12-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Steven P. Hotelling ,  Christoph H. Krah

IPC: G09G5/00 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F1/32 ,  G06F3/042 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F3/0488 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/02

CPC classification number: G06F3/044 ,  G06F1/3231 ,  G06F1/3262 ,  G06F3/017 ,  G06F3/0227 ,  G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/0416 ,  G06F3/042 ,  G06F3/0421 ,  G06F3/0488 ,  G06F2203/04101 ,  G06F2203/04104 ,  G06F2203/04106 ,  G06F2203/04808 ,  Y02B70/30 ,  Y02B70/32 ,  Y02D10/173

Abstract: The use of one or more proximity sensors in combination with one or more touch sensors in a multi-touch panel to detect the presence of a finger, body part or other object and control or trigger one or more functions in accordance with an “image” of touch provided by the sensor outputs is disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more infrared (IR) proximity sensors can be driven with a specific stimulation frequency and emit IR light from one or more areas, which can in some embodiments correspond to one or more multi-touch sensor “pixel” locations. The reflected IR signal, if any, can be demodulated using synchronous demodulation. In some embodiments, both physical interfaces (touch and proximity sensors) can be connected to analog channels in the same electrical core.

公开(公告)号：US09291495B2

公开(公告)日：2016-03-22

申请号：US13787434

申请日：2013-03-06

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Brian R. Land ,  Richard Ruh ,  Steven P. Hotelling

IPC: H03K17/945 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G01V8/20 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/02

CPC classification number: G01J1/4204 ,  G01S7/481 ,  G01S17/023 ,  G01S17/026 ,  G01V8/20

Abstract: A proximity and light sensing device including a radiation emitter for proximity sensing positioned on a substrate. The device further includes a radiation detector positioned on the substrate, the radiation detector configured to detect radiation from the emitter. An ambient light detector is also positioned on the substrate and around the radiation emitter so as to form a border around the radiation emitter and detect off-axis ambient light rays.

Abstract translation: 一种接近和光感测装置，包括位于基板上的用于接近感测的辐射发射器。 该装置还包括位于基板上的辐射检测器，该辐射检测器被配置成检测来自发射器的辐射。 环境光检测器也位于基板上并且围绕辐射发射器，以便在辐射发射器周围形成边界并检测离轴环境光线。

公开(公告)号：US20160054826A1

公开(公告)日：2016-02-25

申请号：US14727839

申请日：2015-06-01

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Brian Q. Huppi ,  Martin P. Grunthaner ,  John G. Elias ,  Sinan Filiz ,  Steven P. Hotelling

IPC: G06F3/043 ,  G06F3/041

CPC classification number: G06F3/043 ,  G06F3/0414 ,  G06F3/0433 ,  G06F3/0436 ,  G06F2203/04106 ,  H03K17/96 ,  H03K17/9618 ,  H03K2217/96011 ,  H03K2217/96031

Abstract: A force sensing device for computer or electronic devices. The force sensing device is configured to determine an amount of force applied, and changes in amounts of force applied, by the user when contacting a device, such as a touch device, and which can be incorporated into devices using touch recognition, touch elements of a graphical user interface, and touch input or manipulation in an application program. Additionally, the force sensing device may determine an amount of force applied, and changes in amounts of force applied, by the user when contacting a device, such as a touch device, and in response thereto, provide additional functions available to a user of a touch device, track pad, or the like.

Abstract translation: 用于计算机或电子设备的力传感装置。 力感测装置被配置为确定当接触诸如触摸装置的装置时使用者施加的力的量和施加的力的变化，并且可以将其结合到使用触摸识别的装置中，触摸元件 图形用户界面，以及应用程序中的触摸输入或操纵。 此外，力感测装置可以确定当接触诸如触摸装置的装置时施加的力的量和施加的力的量的变化，并且响应于此，向用户提供可用于 触摸装置，轨迹板等。

公开(公告)号：US09262029B2

公开(公告)日：2016-02-16

申请号：US14464524

申请日：2014-08-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Steven P. Hotelling ,  Christoph H. Krah ,  Brian Q. Huppi

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  G06F3/044

CPC classification number: G06F3/0418 ,  G06F3/044 ,  G06F2203/04104

Abstract: A multipoint touch surface controller is disclosed herein. The controller includes an integrated circuit including output circuitry for driving a capacitive multi-touch sensor and input circuitry for reading the sensor. Also disclosed herein are various noise rejection and dynamic range enhancement techniques that permit the controller to be used with various sensors in various conditions without reconfiguring hardware.

Abstract translation: 本文公开了一种多点触摸表面控制器。 控制器包括集成电路，其包括用于驱动电容式多点触摸传感器的输出电路和用于读取传感器的输入电路。 本文还公开了各种噪声抑制和动态范围增强技术，其允许控制器在各种条件下与各种传感器一起使用，而无需重新配置硬件。

公开(公告)号：US09201461B2

公开(公告)日：2015-12-01

申请号：US14204427

申请日：2014-03-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Steven P. Hotelling ,  Joshua G. Wurzel ,  Steven J. Martisauskas ,  Thayne M. Miller ,  Kuo-Hua Sung

IPC: G02F1/1335 ,  G06F1/16 ,  G02F1/1333 ,  H01L27/32 ,  H05K1/14

CPC classification number: G06F3/0412 ,  G02F1/13338 ,  G06F1/1643 ,  G06F1/1658 ,  H01L27/323 ,  H05K1/028 ,  H05K1/147

Abstract: Flexible circuits for routing signals of a device, such as a touch sensor panel of a touch sensitive device, are provided. The flexible circuit can include a first set of traces for routing a first set of lines and a second set of traces for routing a second set of lines. The first set of traces can couple together the ends of at least a portion of the first set of lines. Additionally, the first set of traces can be non-intersecting or non-overlapping with the second set of traces. The flexible circuit can have a T-shape configuration and can be incorporated within a touch sensitive device, display device, printed circuit board, or the like. The flexible circuit can be placed over another flexible circuit, and can extend onto the device.

Abstract translation: 提供了用于路由设备信号的柔性电路，例如触敏设备的触摸传感器面板。 柔性电路可以包括用于路由第一组线路的第一组迹线和用于路由第二组线路的第二组迹线。 第一组迹线可以将第一组线的至少一部分的端部耦合在一起。 此外，第一组迹线可以与第二组迹线不相交或不重叠。 柔性电路可以具有T形构造，并且可以结合在触敏装置，显示装置，印刷电路板等中。 柔性电路可以放置在另一个柔性电路上，并且可以延伸到设备上。