US 12,411,562 B2
Passive device with compressible pressure assembly for z-direction capacitance detection
Kevin Joseph Derichs, Buda, TX (US); Michael Shawn Gray, Elgin, TX (US); and Grant Howard McGibney, Calgary (CA)
Assigned to SigmaSense, LLC., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by SigmaSense, LLC., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/785,957.
Application 18/785,957 is a continuation of application No. 18/191,932, filed on Mar. 29, 2023, granted, now 12,050,740.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/385,286, filed on Nov. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0385703 A1, Nov. 21, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 3/0354 (2013.01); G06F 3/039 (2013.01)
CPC G06F 3/03545 (2013.01) [G06F 3/0393 (2019.05)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for execution by a touch screen controller, the method comprises:
detecting, by the touch screen controller, contact of a passive device with a touch screen at a touch screen contact point by:
detecting capacitance of a user's body via the passive device at the touch screen contact point, wherein the capacitance of the user's body is coupled through a non-conductive housing, a conductive section, and a pressure assembly of the passive device; and
determining, by the touch screen controller, pressure of the passive device at the touch screen contact point by:
determining a variance in the detected capacitance of the user's body as the pressure of the passive device varies, wherein the variance of the detected capacitance occurs based on variance of pressure applied via the non-conductive housing to a compressible conductor of the pressure assembly, which transfers at least some of the pressure to a first spherical conductor of the pressure assembly, wherein the first spherical conductor contacts the touch screen at the touch screen contact point; and
interpreting the variance in the detected capacitance to determine the pressure of the passive device.