Pressure resistant force sensing enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10275069-B2
Application number	US-201816183343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2018
Priority date	Sep 22, 2017
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

A portable electronic device includes a cover glass, one or more strain gauges operable to indicate force exerted on the cover glass based on deformation of the cover glass, a housing that defines a sway space gap into which the cover glass deforms when the force is exerted on the cover glass, and an incompressible fluid positioned in the sway space gap. The incompressible fluid allows deformation of the cover glass into the sway space gap when the force is exerted on the cover glass and maintains a constant volume under hydrostatic pressure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a touch display comprising:
a cover glass;
a display layer; and
a force sensor operable to indicate force exerted on the cover glass based on deformation of the cover glass;

a housing that defines a gap beneath the display layer and the force sensor into which the cover glass deforms when the force is exerted on the cover glass;
an incompressible fluid positioned in the gap; and
a processing unit that is operable to determine a location of the force on the cover glass based on an indication from the force sensor.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an internal volume that is filled by the incompressible fluid.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the incompressible fluid comprises at least one of:
silicone;
silicone oil;
a nonconductive fluid;
dodecamethylpentasiloxane;
a fluorocarbon;
a perfluorocarbon;
Perfluorodecalin; or
polycyclic perfluoroalkane.

4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor indicates strain of the cover glass.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an air-filled interior volume outside of the gap.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a sealable port operable to connect the gap to an external environment.

7. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the incompressible fluid maintains a constant volume under external pressure.

8. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a force and touch sensitive input layer;
a sensor operable to indicate force exerted on the force and touch sensitive input layer based on deformation of the force and touch sensitive input layer;
an incompressible material positioned in a gap beneath the sensor and the force and touch sensitive input layer into which the force and touch sensitive input layer deforms when the force is exerted on the force and touch sensitive input layer; and
a processor operable to:
determine a location on which the force is exerted when a touch input is ignored; and
select an element of a user interface using the determined location.

9. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the incompressible material allows shifts in the force and touch sensitive input layer in order to equilibrate an internal pressure of the portable electronic device with an external pressure of an external environment.

10. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a vent that is operable to relieve pressure on the incompressible material.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a flexible enclosure that contains the incompressible material.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the incompressible material comprises a gel.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a battery; wherein
the force and touch sensitive input layer and the battery cooperate to define the gap.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises an array of strain gauges.

15. A portable electronic device, comprising:
a layer of material;
a sensor operable to indicate force exerted on the layer of material based on deformation of the layer of material;
a housing that defines a gap beneath the layer of material and the sensor into which the layer of material deforms when the force is exerted on the layer of material; and
an incompressible fluid positioned in the gap that allows deformation of the layer of material into the gap when the force is exerted on the layer of material and maintains a constant volume under hydrostatic pressure; wherein
the portable electronic device is operable to receive input based on a location of the force on the layer of material as determined using an indication from the sensor.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the layer of material is a component of a touch screen.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the incompressible fluid is conductive.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the incompressible fluid is positioned in multiple separate sections.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the portable electronic device is operable to receive the input while immersed in a liquid.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 15 , further comprising a processing unit that uses the sensor to determine strain.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Smith John Stephen

Classifications

• G06F3/0414 Primary

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title

• G06F3/0412

  Digitisers structurally integrated in a display · CPC title

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title

• G02F1/133308

  Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title