The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 25, 2018

Filed:

Jul. 24, 2017
Applicant:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Inventors:

Yuta Kuboyama, Sunnyvale, CA (US);

Vikram Garg, San Francisco, CA (US);

Richard D. Shuma, San Jose, CA (US);

Assignee:

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G06F 3/044 (2006.01); G06F 3/045 (2006.01); G06F 3/0488 (2013.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 3/0414 (2013.01); G06F 1/163 (2013.01); G06F 3/044 (2013.01); G06F 3/045 (2013.01); G06F 3/0412 (2013.01); G06F 3/0416 (2013.01); G06F 3/0488 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04102 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04105 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04108 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04113 (2013.01);
Abstract

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.


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