Sensel, Inc.

Cirque Corporation

Shuangming Li

Ilya Daniel Rosenberg

John Aaron Zarraga

Ninad Sathe

Darren Lochun

James Junus

Tomer Daniel Moscovich

Eric Rosales

Scott Gregory Isaacson

Samuel Palomino

Alexander Meagher Grau

Jacob Terracina

Harsha Rao

Interpolation electrode patterning for capacitive-grid touch sensor is provided herein. Provided is a device that includes multiple column electrodes that include a first column electrode divided into a plurality of first column sub-electrodes and at least a second column electrode divided into a plurality of second column sub-electrodes. The first column electrode and the second column electrode are adjacent column electrodes. Further, first column sub-electrodes of the plurality of first column sub-electrodes are interleaved with second column sub-electrodes of the plurality of second column sub-electrodes in a first direction. A first layer of the device comprises the multiple column electrodes and a second layer of the device comprises the multiple row electrodes.

Interpolation electrode patterning for capacitive-grid touch sensor

One variation of a system includes a substrate including: a first layer including a first spiral trace coiled in a first direction; a second layer arranged below the first layer and including a second spiral trace coiled in a second direction and cooperating with the first spiral trace to form a multi-layer inductor; and a sensor layer including an array of drive and sense electrode pairs. The system also includes: a cover layer arranged over the substrate and defining a touch sensor surface; and a first magnetic element arranged below the substrate and defining a first polarity facing the multi-layer inductor. The system further includes a controller configured to drive an oscillating voltage across the multi-layer inductor to oscillate the substrate in response to detecting an input on the touch sensor surface based on electrical values from the set of drive and sense electrode pairs.

Haptic system for responding to touch inputs with haptic feedback

A system includes: a substrate including an edge supported by a chassis; a first electrode spanning a first area of the substrate and arranged proximal a center of the substrate; and a second electrode spanning a second area, greater than the first area, on the substrate and interposed between the first electrode and the edge of the substrate. The system further includes a first coupling region: facing the first electrode; and electrically coupling to the first electrode to yield a first electrical value at the first electrode responsive to application of a first force magnitude proximal the center of the substrate. The system also includes a second coupling region: facing the second electrode; and electrically coupling to the second electrode to yield a second electrical value, approximating the first electrical value, at the second electrode responsive to application of the first force magnitude proximal the center of the substrate.

System for detecting and characterizing touch inputs at a human-computer interface

One variation of a touch sensor system includes a set of touch layers: spanning a first area; and including a set of electrodes. The system further includes a set of inductor layers: arranged below the set of touch layers; spanning a second area less than the first area; and including a set of spiral traces defining an inductor. The system also includes a magnetic element arranged below the set of inductor layers and defining a first polarity facing the inductor. The system further includes a controller configured to: read a set of electrical values from the set of electrodes; interpret a force magnitude of a touch input based on the set of electrical values; and in response to the force magnitude exceeding a force magnitude, drive an oscillating voltage across the inductor to induce alternating magnetic coupling between the inductor and the magnetic element.

Human-computer interface system

System for detecting and responding to touch inputs with haptic feedback

One variation of a system for a touch sensor includes: a substrate; a cover layer; a spacer element; a second electrode; and a controller. The substrate includes: a support location arranged on the substrate; and a first electrode arranged proximal the support location. The cover layer defines a touch sensor surface arranged over the substrate. The spacer element: is coupled to the substrate at the support location; and yields to displacement of the substrate downward responsive to forces applied to the touch sensor surface. The second electrode: is arranged opposite the first electrode to define a nominal gap; and is configured to effect electrical values of the first electrode responsive to displacement of the substrate. The controller is configured to: read a set of electrical values from the first sense electrode; and interpret a first force magnitude of a first touch input based on the set of electrical values.

A method for calibrating a touch sensor includes: at a calibration system during a calibration routine, applying a probe, at a target selection force, to a sequence of locations on a touch sensor surface of a touch sensor; at the touch sensor, capturing a sequence of touch images representing magnitudes of forces detected on the touch sensor surface during the calibration routine; fusing the sequence of touch images into a response map representing magnitudes of forces detected on the touch sensor surface by the touch sensor responsive to application of the target selection force on the touch sensor surface by the probe during the calibration routine; generating a force compensation map defining threshold forces for detecting selections at the target selection force on the touch sensor surface based on the response map.

System and method for calibrating a touch sensor

One variation of a system includes: a frame; a sensor module; and a controller. The frame includes: a base structure that locates a display defining a front face of a device; and a lateral frame structure extending along and adjacent an edge of the display and supported on a side of the base structure. The base structure and the lateral frame structure cooperate to define a channel arranged behind the display and extending longitudinally between the lateral frame structure and the side of the base structure. The sensor module is arranged in the channel and includes: a substrate; and a linear array of sensors arranged on the substrate and outputting sense signals representing local deflections of the lateral frame structure. The controller detects locations and force magnitudes of side inputs on the device, proximal the edge of the display, based on sense signals output by the linear array of sensors.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Shuangming Li