US 11,669,167 B2
Single-bracket support structure for force sensing and haptic feedback
Yeh-Cheng Tan, Fremont, CA (US); and Yi-Yun Chang, Taipei (TW)
Assigned to Synaptics Incorporated, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Synaptics Incorporated, San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/507,602.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/110,486, filed on Nov. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0147147 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G06F 3/044 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 3/016 (2013.01) [G06F 3/0412 (2013.01); G06F 3/0414 (2013.01); G06F 3/0443 (2019.05); G06F 3/0447 (2019.05); G06F 2203/04105 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04111 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A support structure for an input device, comprising:
one or more fixed surfaces configured to be mounted to a housing;
a dynamic surface configured to be mounted to a sensor layer of the input device;
a plurality of first deformable segments cantilevering from the one or more fixed surfaces and configured to deflect in a first direction responsive to an input force exerted on the sensor layer, the input force being orthogonal to an input surface of the input device;
a plurality of second deformable segments connecting the plurality of first deformable segments to the dynamic surface and configured to deflect in one or more second directions responsive to shear forces exerted on the dynamic surface, the shear forces being parallel to the input surface; and
a plurality of bridge elements at least partially overlaying the plurality of first deformable segments, respectively, the plurality of bridge elements being configured to transfer the input force from the sensor layer to the plurality of first deformable segments.