Synaptics Corporation

Yi-Yun Chang

Yeh-Cheng Tan

Tzeng-Fu Kao

Chris Rehn

The present implementations relate to a support structure for an input device that supports deflection of an input surface responsive to input forces exerted thereon and vibration of the input surface responsive to haptic feedback generated by a haptic actuator. The support structure includes one or more fixed structures mounted to a housing and a dynamic surface mounted to a sensor layer of the input device. A number of first deformable segments cantilever from the one or more fixed surfaces and deflect in a vertical direction when an input force is exerted on the sensor layer, where the input force is orthogonal to the input surface. A number of second deformable segments connect the plurality of first deformable segments to the dynamic surface and deflect in a horizontal direction when shear forces are exerted on the dynamic surface, where the shear forces are parallel to the input surface.

Single-bracket support structure for force sensing and haptic feedback

A force pad sensor includes a face sheet including a force sensing resister, and a printed circuit board assembly. The printed circuit board assembly includes a proximity sensor layer including a proximity receiver electrode and a proximity transmitter electrode, and a force sensor layer including a force receiver electrode and a force transmitter electrode. The force receiver electrode and the FSR intersect a same vertical plane, the vertical plane being perpendicular to the face sheet.

Three layer force pad

An input device for an electronic system includes: an input surface, configured to provide an interface for determining positional information for an input object in a sensing region of the input device; a biometric sensor, configured to determine biometric information about a user; and a processing system, configured to: in response to placement of a valid biometric object on the biometric sensor, enable access to a secure object of the electronic system while the valid biometric object is maintained on the biometric sensor; and disable access to the secure object of the electronic system in response to removal of the valid biometric object from the biometric sensor.

Temporary secure access via input object remaining in place

The embodiments described herein are related to capacitive input device, including a substrate, first sensor electrodes deposited on the substrate and arranged in a first direction, an insulating layer, connecting elements deposited on the insulating layer, and second sensor electrodes. The second sensor electrodes includes sensor electrode elements deposited on the substrate ohmically isolated from the first sensor electrodes. Each of the sensor electrode elements are connected to at least one other sensor electrode element. The capacitive input device may further include a routing elements deposited on the insulating layer, where each of the routing elements are coupled to one of the second sensor electrodes and is substantially disposed in the first direction.

Single substrate touch sensor

A sensor substrate for use with an input device of an electronic system includes a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on the sensor substrate; a first segment for use with a touch pad area of the input device; and a second segment for use with a button area of the input device; wherein the touch pad area and the button area do not overlap, and further wherein the first and second segments comprise a single, contiguous sheet of material.

Input device including fold over sensor substrate

A capacitive input device including a substrate, a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed proximate a top surface of the substrate and extending along a first direction, a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed proximate a bottom surface of the substrate and extending along a second direction different from the first direction, and a plurality of routing traces coupled to the second sensor electrodes. Each routing trace is configured to extend along the first direction between respective first sensor electrodes, and to extend along the second direction underneath a second sensor electrode.

Methods and apparatus for arranging electrode layers and associated routing traces in a sensor device

The embodiments described herein are related to capacitive input device, including a substrate, a plurality of first sensor electrodes deposited on the substrate and arranged in a first direction, an insulating layer, a plurality of connecting elements deposited on the insulating layer, a plurality of second sensor electrodes. The plurality of second sensor electrodes includes a plurality of sensor electrode elements deposited on the substrate ohmically isolated from the plurality of first sensor electrodes. Each of the plurality of sensor electrode elements are connected to at least one other sensor electrode element arranged in a second direction by one of the plurality of connecting elements. The capacitive input device may further include a plurality of routing elements deposited on the insulating layer, wherein each of the plurality of routing elements coupled to one of the plurality of second sensor electrodes and is substantially disposed in the first direction.

Growing community of inventors

Taipei, Taiwan

Yi-Yun Chang