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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 01, 2019
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2013
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Steven P. Hotelling, Cupertino, CA (US);
Martin P. Grunthaner, Cupertino, CA (US);
Peter W. Richards, San Francisco, CA (US);
Romain A. Teil, Cupertino, CA (US);
Charley T. Ogata, Cupertino, CA (US);
Michael B. Wittenberg, Cupertino, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A force sensing device for electronic device. The force inputs may be detected by measuring changes in capacitance, as measured by surface flex of a device having a flexible touchable surface, causing flex at a compressible gap within the device. A capacitive sensor responsive to changes in distance across the compressible gap. The sensor can be positioned above or below, or within, a display element, and above or below, or within, a backlight unit. The device can respond to bending, twisting, or other deformation, to adjust those zero force measurements. The device can use measure of surface flux that appear at positions on the surface not directly the subject of applied force, such as when the user presses on a part of the frame or a surface without capacitive sensors.