公开(公告)号：US20220061699A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-03

申请号：US17008240

申请日：2020-08-31

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Daniel W. LaBove ,  Chin San Han ,  Ali M. Amin ,  Henry Rimminen ,  Riley E. Brandt ,  Timothy L. Weadon ,  Yindar Chuo ,  Zijing Zeng

IPC: A61B5/11 ,  G01L1/14 ,  A61B5/00 ,  A47C21/00

Abstract: Disclosed herein are capacitive sensors, and methods for their operation, that determine the presence of a user by detecting input forces and/or pressures. Capacitive sensors may be in the form of a flexible capacitive sensing mat. An electronic device incorporating a flexible capacitive sensing mat may include spacer fabric disposed between conductive layers. The spacer fabric may have a first thickness and may be configured to compress to at least a second thickness when a threshold pressure is applied to the layered sensor and revert to the first thickness when the threshold pressure is no longer applied to the flexible mat. A capacitive sense circuit electrically coupled to the second conductive layer and configured to generate a presence detection signal when the spacer fabric layer compresses to the second thickness may additionally be provided.

公开(公告)号：US20210041287A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-11

申请号：US16930125

申请日：2020-07-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Henry Rimminen ,  Ali M. Amin ,  Timothy L. Weadon ,  Yindar Chuo ,  Zijing Zeng ,  Erno Klaassen

IPC: G01H11/08 ,  A61B5/00 ,  H01L41/047 ,  H01L41/113 ,  A61B5/08 ,  A61B5/0205

Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor stack, a differential amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter, and a processor. The sensor stack includes a piezoelectric material having a first side opposing a second side, a first electrode connected to the first side, and a second electrode connected to the second side. The differential amplifier is coupled to the first and second electrodes and is configured to generate a differential output indicative of vibrations sensed by the piezoelectric material. The analog-to-differential converter is configured to digitize the differential output. The processor is configured to identify a type of biological vibration included in the digitized differential output.