US 12,422,943 B2
System for detecting and characterizing touch inputs at a human-computer interface
Ninad Sathe, Sunnyvale, CA (US); Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Kirsten Etzold, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Cirque Corporation, Sandy, UT (US)
Filed by Cirque Corporation, Sandy, UT (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/607,073.
Application 18/607,073 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/207,603, filed on Jun. 8, 2023, granted, now 12,164,690.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/452,327, filed on Jun. 8, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/452,527, filed on Mar. 16, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0288962 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 3/01 (2006.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G06F 3/044 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 3/04146 (2019.05) [G06F 3/04166 (2019.05); G06F 3/0445 (2019.05); G06F 3/0447 (2019.05); G06F 2203/04105 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for detecting force inputs comprising:
a substrate comprising a first edge;
a first electrode arranged on the substrate proximal a center of the substrate;
a second electrode arranged on the substrate and interposed between the first electrode and the first edge of the substrate;
a baseplate arranged below the substrate and comprising:
a first planar region below the first electrode on the substrate; and
a second planar region, offset above the first planar region, below the second electrode on the substrate;
a set of spacer elements:
interposed between the substrate and the baseplate; and
configured to support the substrate over the baseplate;
a first coupling region:
arranged on the first planar region of the baseplate;
aligned to the first electrode;
offset from the first electrode by a first nominal gap height; and
electrically coupling to the first electrode to yield a first change in electrical values at the first electrode responsive to application of a first force magnitude proximal the center of the substrate; and
a second coupling region:
arranged on the second planar region of the baseplate;
aligned to the second electrode;
offset from the second electrode by a second nominal gap height, less than the first nominal gap height; and
electrically coupling to the second electrode to yield a second change in electrical values, approximating the first change in electrical values, at the second electrode responsive to application of a second force magnitude, approximating the first force magnitude, proximal the first edge of the substrate.