Texas Instruments Corporation

Benjamin Soheyl Kasemsadeh

James R Catt

A tilt switch based on differential threshold sensing includes a tilt track (such as a tilt tube), and a tilt/target element moveable along the tilt track by gravity between first/second ends based on tilt angle. An inductive sensor includes first/second sense coils at the ends of the tilt track, and sensor circuitry (a) to drive each sense coil to project a magnetic sensing field, and to measure a differential sensor to a position of the tilt/target element relative to the sense coils, based on a property corresponding to sense coil inductance (for example, relative to a pre-defined switching threshold position), and (b) to provide, in response to the differential sensor response, a tilt switch output corresponding to a tilt angle of the tilt track based on a position of the tilt/target element relative to the sense coils (or switching threshold), for example, with a pre-defined hysteresis.

Tilt switch based on differential sensing

A device such as a portable computing/communications device is configured with slotted touch-on-metal buttons integrated into an edge panel. A ToM button structure includes a structural fascia integrated into the edge panel, defining a touch-button area including a touch-button length. The structural fascia is slotted, with alternating sections that are respectively relatively-thinner and relatively-thicker. The ToM button can be integrated into curved for flat edge panels. Button-press detection can be based on, for example, either inductive and capacitive deformation sensing. The ToM button structure can be configured for a predetermined button-press deformation based on a defined touch-button length, defined slotting difference between the relatively-thinner sections and the relatively-thicker sections and a defined deformation pressure.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Benjamin Soheyl Kasemsadeh