US 11,989,378 B2
Passive pen with variable capacitor for pressure indication
Kevin Joseph Derichs, Buda, TX (US)
Assigned to SigmaSense, LLC., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by SigmaSense, LLC., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Apr. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/727,722.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/178,775, filed on Apr. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0342505 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 3/044 (2006.01); G06F 3/0354 (2013.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 3/0441 (2019.05) [G06F 3/03545 (2013.01); G06F 3/04186 (2019.05); G06F 3/0445 (2019.05); G06F 3/0447 (2019.05); G06F 3/0446 (2019.05); G06F 2203/04105 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04108 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A passive pen for interaction with a touch screen of a communication device, wherein the passive pen comprises:
a housing;
a conductive section, wherein when a user of the passive pen is in contact with the conductive section, a capacitive connection is established between the conductive section and the user;
a fixed conductive z-direction mounting section coupled to the conductive section;
a moveable conductive z-direction mounting section;
a variable capacitor positioned between the fixed conductive z-direction mounting section and the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section, wherein the variable capacitor includes at least one compressible conductive material, wherein the variable capacitor includes a dome-shaped body; and wherein the dome-shaped body includes an upper dome-shaped body coupled to the fixed conductive z-direction mounting section and a lower dome-shaped body coupled to the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section; and
a conductive tip coupled to the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section, wherein pressure on the conductive tip by the touch screen creates a z-direction force operable to move the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section in the z-direction, wherein when movement of the moveable conductive z-direction mounting section compresses the variable capacitor against the fixed conductive z-direction mounting section, the upper dome-shaped body compresses against the lower dome-shaped body and alters the domed shape of the upper dome-shaped body and the lower dome-shaped body, wherein when the domed shape of the upper dome-shaped body and the lower dome-shaped body are altered, the capacitance of the variable capacitor changes, and wherein the capacitance is interpretable as a pressure measurement by the touch screen.