Apple Inc.

Michael Vosgueritchian

James E Pedder

John Stephen Smith

Sinan Filiz

Xiaonan Wen

Tingjun Xu

Chia Chi Wu

Ming Gao

Vikram Garg

Xiaofan Niu

Nan Chen

Vyom Sharma

Wenhao Wang

Zheng Gao

Stephen Robert McClure

Wei Lin

Derek William Wright

Paul Mansky

Qiliang Xu

Miguel C Christophy

Soyoung Kim

Xianwei Zhao

James C Clements

Elmar Gehlen

Sudirukkuge T Jinasundera

Saahil Mehra

Francois R Jacob

Prithu Sharma

Da Yu

Peng Lv

Ho Hyung Lee

Mahmut Tosun

Paul W Tsao

Anshuman Bhuyan

A transparent structure may have layers with curved cross-sectional profiles. The transparent structure may have inner and outer layers with curved portions formed by bending the layers. A display may be applied to one or more of the inner and outer layers. To reduce the strain applied to the display while being bent into a desired curvature, a carrier film may be used during bending operations. The carrier film may be modified with a patch or openings distribute the strain evenly across the display. Additionally or alternatively, a convex mold may be used to further decrease the strain on the display while being formed into the desired curvature.

Curved devices

An electronic device has a keyboard with an internal membrane. The membrane has a set of strain gauges configured to respond to a key press, such as when a collapsible dome collapses into contact with the membrane. The strain gauges are connected in a half Wheatstone bridge configuration and are positioned on the membrane in order to limit effects of temperature and subtle flexure of the membrane. The strain gauges are also configured to magnify detection of a resistance differential when a keycap is pressed with sufficient force.

Strain sensing key membrane

Embodiments include a temperature sensing device that includes a temperature sensor stack that includes a flexible substrate and an array of temperature sensors coupled to the flexible substrate. Each temperature sensor in the array of temperature sensors can include a conductive material defining a continuous pattern extending from a first node to a second node, a first set of conductive traces coupled to the flexible substrate, and a second set of conductive traces coupled to the flexible substrate. The temperature sensing device can include a processing circuit configured to apply an electrical signal across the conductive material of each temperature sensor using the first set of conductive traces, detect an effect of the conductive material of each temperature sensor on the electrical signal using the second set of conductive traces, and determine a temperature for the temperature sensors in the array using the detected effects of the conductive material on the electrical signal.

Flexible temperature sensing devices for body temperature sensing

An electronic input device is disclosed. The input device includes an adaptive input surface allowing for controllably definable input regions and frictional feedback indicating a location of the input regions. The input device generates an electrostatic charge at the adaptive input surface to provide frictional feedback. The input device may be connectable to or integrated with another electronic computing device.

Input device with tactile feedback

Structures and methods are disclosed for an electronic device having an input surface that uses dual sensors to measure forces applied to the input surface. The forces can be estimated over a greater range of values than would be possible with either sensor alone. A second sensor can be used after a first sensor has reached a limit. A first sensor can be a strain sensor and a second sensor a pressure sensor. Both sensors may be resistance based, with signals from both sensors can be combined and measured by processing circuitry. Each sensor type may be part of planar arrays disposed beneath the input surface.

Dual resistive strain and pressure sensor for force touch

A force sensor is disclosed. The force sensor includes a force-sensitive structure that compensates for temperature and other environmental changes through the use of a strain-sensitive element and one or more reference elements. An array of such force-sensitive structures forms a force-sensing layer.

Electronic device having direction-dependent strain elements

One or more strain sensors can be included in an electronic device. Each strain sensor includes a strain sensitive element and one or more strain signal lines connected directly to the strain sensitive element. The strain sensor(s) are used to detect a force that is applied to the electronic device, to a component in the electronic device, and/or to an input region or surface of the electronic device. A strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first gauge factor and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second gauge factor. Additionally or alternatively, a strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first conductance and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second conductance.

Strain sensors in an electronic device

A strain-responsive sensor incorporating a strain-sensitive element is disclosed. The strain-sensitive element includes a matched-pair of resistive structures disposed on opposite sides of a substrate. One resistive structure of the matched pair is coupled to a crossover, either a physical crossover or a soft crossover, such that current within the resistive structures of the matched pair flows in the same direction.

Magnetic interference avoidance in resistive sensors

One or more transparent transistor force sensitive structures can be included in an electronic device. The transistor force sensitive structures(s) is used to detect a force that is applied to the electronic device, to a component in the electronic device, and/or to an input region of the electronic device. As one example, the one or more transparent transistor force sensitive structures may be included in a display stack of a display in an electronic device.

Transparent force sensitive structures in an electronic device

An electronic device may have layers of glass for forming components such as a display. A display cover glass layer may overlap an array of pixels. A touch sensor may be formed under the display cover glass layer. Conductive structures such as transparent conductive electrodes or other conductive layers of material may be formed on the outer surface of the display cover glass layer. The electrodes on the outer surface of the display cover glass layer may be coupled to metal contacts and other circuitry on the inner surface of the display cover glass layer using conductive vias. Vias may be provided with barrier layers, opaque coatings, tapers, and other structures and may be formed using techniques that enhance compatibility with chemical strengthening processes.

Electronic device display vias

Transparent strain sensors in an electronic device

Growing community of inventors

Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Michael Vosgueritchian