Capacitive control panel

摘要

A control panel for proximity and force sensing, includes a cover layer, a first electrode layer including a first force sensor electrode, a second force sensor electrode positioned in a second electrode layer or on a support layer, and a dielectric substrate at least a portion of which is compressible and is positioned between the first and second force sensor electrodes. The support layer is positioned to support at the vicinity of the second force sensor electrode support location so that compression of the dielectric substrate and the separation of the first and second force sensor electrodes depends on the magnitude of a force applied to the cover layer. Touch sensor electrodes are positioned on one or more of the electrode layers such that their capacitance depends on proximity of an object such as a finger. Controllers measure the capacitance of the force and touch sensor electrodes respectively and output force and touch proximity signals.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first force sensor electrode configured within a first electrode layer; a second force sensor electrode configured within a second electrode layer; and a touch sensor electrode configured laterally to the first force sensor electrode within the first electrode layer or to the second force sensor electrode within the second electrode layer; and a dielectric substrate layer configured between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer such that a distance between at least a portion of the first electrode layer and at least a portion of the second electrode layer changes based on a force applied by an object to a cover layer.