Atmel Corporation

Amtel Corporation

Paul Clements

Matthew Trend

William Liddell

Thomas Souche

Thomas Matthew Bell

Nigel Hinson

Carl Carley

Karl Attrill

The embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to techniques for identifying elements in a user interface (UI), and more particularly, techniques for determining UI elements selected on a contact-sensitive user interface and using those techniques to provide one or more haptic responses.

Techniques for identifying user interface elements and systems and devices using the same

In one embodiment, a touch screen device includes a controller, a force sensing layer, a cushion layer, and a reference layer. The controller includes a processor to determine a distance between the force sensing layer and the reference layer. The cushion layer is between the force sensing layer and the reference layer. The cushion layer may include a plurality of holes at selected locations devoid of material of which the cushion layer is made. The reference layer may include a plurality of raised areas at selected locations.

Touch sensor with force sensor response normalization, and related method and apparatus

Assemblies include a chassis having a first side configured to receive a force-sensitive surface, a support structure including first electrode portions, and resilient mounting elements attached to the chassis and to the support structure. The mounting elements include second electrode portions positioned adjacent to the first electrode portions. Force-sensitive systems include force sensors including portions of a support structure and portions of a mounting element that are adapted to relatively move responsive to one or more applied forces, and a controller configured to identify the one or more applied forces by determining movement between the support structure and the mounting element. Methods include detecting changes in capacitances of respective capacitors formed by first electrode portions on a support structure and second electrode portions defined by mounting elements coupling a chassis to the support structure. Force values and force locations are determined from the detected changes in capacitances.

Force sensor mount and related housings and systems that incorporate the same

According to one embodiment, a touch sensor has a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge. The touch sensor includes a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge, and a second plurality of electrodes. Each of the second plurality of electrodes has a spine that is approximately parallel to the second edge and a plurality of conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and in physical contact with the spine. At least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge. The spine of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of the spine of at least one of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes.

Touch sensor

According to one embodiment, a touch sensor has a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge. The touch sensor includes a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge, and a second plurality of electrodes. Each of the second plurality of electrodes has a spine that is approximately parallel to the second edge and a plurality of conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and in physical contact with the spine. At least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge. The touch sensor further includes a plurality of nodes. Each node is formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes. The capacitance of each node is approximately the same.

Growing community of inventors

Meonstoke, United Kingdom

Paul Clements