Apple Inc.

Vikram Garg

Sinan Filiz

John Stephen Smith

Tyler S Bushnell

Nima Ferdosi

James E Pedder

Yuta Kuboyama

Guangtao Zhang

Michael Vosgueritchian

Tavys Q Ashcroft

Apexit Shah

Richard D Shuma

Mayank Garg

Heemin Yang

William J Esposito

Kevin D Spratt

Brian Quentin Huppi

Peter W Richards

Miguel C Christophy

Kai Wang

Anshuman Bhuyan

Computing devices and methods are used to detect and compensate for the presence of a cover layer on a touch input device. A computing device includes a processing device, a touch input device in electronic communication with the processing device, and a memory device in electronic communication with the processing device and having electronic instructions encoded thereon. The electronic instructions, when executed by the processing device, cause the processor to receive a first signal obtained from the touch input device over a first duration of time, the first signal including a first signal pattern, receive a second signal obtained from the touch input device over a second duration of time separate from the first duration of time, the second signal including a second signal pattern, determine a difference between the first signal pattern and the second signal pattern, and adjust a touch input detection setting based on the difference.

Cover layer detection for touch input devices

An electronic watch is described. The watch has one or more sensors, including a sensor that may be used to detect a force applied to a cover of the watch. The sensor may variously include a capacitive sensor assembly configured to detect a deflected position of the cover; a sensor having electrical components that move toward one another in response to an input applied to the cover; or a deformable component that is configured to compress in response to a press input, thereby allowing first and second electrical traces to move toward one another. Portions or all of the various sensors may be obscured by an ink layer on an underside of the cover.

Electronic watch with obscured sensor for detecting an applied force

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

In various implementations, a sensor operates in a force sensing mode by determining an applied force based on a first change in capacitance between first and second electrodes related to compression of a compressible material positioned between while the third electrode functions as a shield and in a proximity sensing mode by sensing proximity of an object based on a second change in capacitance of the third electrode while the first and/or second electrodes function as a shield. In some implementations, a device has a cover glass including a surface having a display area, an edge surface, and a cavity; a touch sensing electrode oriented toward the surface; an electrode positioned in the cavity oriented toward the edge surface; and a processing unit operable to detect touch or proximity of an object to the edge surface based on a change in capacitance between the electrode and the object.

Proximity edge sensing

Capacitive sensor assemblies for electronic devices, and methods of forming capacitive sensor assemblies. The capacitive sensor assembly may include a top component having an intermediate layer formed on the top component, a bottom component positioned opposite the top component, a silicone layer positioned between the top component and the bottom component, and a first electrical trace positioned adjacent the silicone layer.

Capacitive sensors for electronic devices and methods of forming the same

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

Systems and methods related to piezoelectric based force sensing in touch devices are presented. One embodiment, for example, may take the form of an apparatus including a touch device having a deformable device stack and a piezoelectric element positioned relative to the deformable device stack such that the piezoelectric element deforms with the deformable stack. Deformation of the piezoelectric element generates a signal having a magnitude discernable as representative of an amount of force applied to the touch device.

Force detection in touch devices using piezoelectric sensors

Growing community of inventors

Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Vikram Garg