Flexible multi-layer sensing surface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10338753-B2
Application number	US-201615231757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2016
Priority date	Nov 3, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A flexible multi-layer sensing surface comprises a first flexible layer and a second flexible layer. The first flexible layer is a sensing layer and the second sensing layer is another sensing layer or an output layer. The sensing surface also comprises a calibration module which is configured to use the first flexible sensing layer to detect the relative position of the first and second flexible layers and this detected relative position is then used to update one or more stored operating parameters.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flexible multi-layer sensing surface comprising:
a first flexible sensing layer;
a second flexible layer comprising a second flexible sensing layer or a flexible output layer, wherein the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer comprise a first part; and
a calibration module in a second part arranged to use the first flexible sensing layer to detect a relative position of the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer and to update one or more stored operating parameters based, at least in part, on the detected relative position, wherein the one or more stored operating parameters comprises at least one offset parameter specifying a change in the relative position of the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer in two perpendicular directions in a plane of the flexible multi-layer sensing surface.

2. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 1 , wherein the calibration module is arranged to drive a signal into the second flexible layer while detecting the relative position of the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer.

3. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 1 , wherein the first flexible sensing layer comprises a capacitive sensing electrode array.

4. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 1 , wherein the second flexible layer comprises an array of RF antennas.

5. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more stored parameters comprises a parameter indicating whether the sensing surface is fully or partially unrolled.

6. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 1 , wherein the second flexible layer is both flexible and stretchable.

7. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 1 , further comprising a filler layer between the first flexible sensing layer and second flexible layer.

8. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 7 , wherein the first flexible sensing layer, filler layer and second flexible layer are bonded together to form a single composite layer.

9. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 8 , further comprising:
an upper filler layer and a lower filler layer formed from an elastic material, and wherein the single composite layer is positioned between the upper filler layer and the lower filler layer, all the layers are joined together by the second part along only one edge and the upper filler layer and the lower filler layer are joined together along at least one other edge.

10. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 7 , further comprising:
an upper filler layer and a lower filler layer formed from an elastic material, and wherein the first flexible sensing layer, filler layer and second flexible layer are positioned between the upper filler layer and the lower filler layer, all the layers are joined together by the second part along only one edge and the upper filler layer and the lower filler layer are joined together along at least one other edge.

11. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 1 , comprising a flexible sensing mat and a rigid portion, wherein the flexible sensing mat comprises the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer and the rigid portion comprises the calibration module.

12. A flexible sensing surface comprising:
a first flexible sensing layer;
a second flexible layer comprising a second flexible sensing layer or a flexible output layer; and
a rigid portion comprising a calibration module arranged to use the first flexible sensing layer to detect a relative position of the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer and to update one or more stored operating parameters based, at least in part, on the detected relative position;
an upper filler layer and a lower filler layer formed from an elastic material;
a single composite layer positioned between the upper filler layer and the lower filler layer; and
wherein all the layers are joined together along one edge by the rigid portion, and the upper filler layer and the lower filler layer are joined together along at least one other edge.

13. The flexible sensing surface according to claim 12 , wherein the calibration module is arranged to drive a signal into the second flexible layer while detecting the relative position of the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer.

14. The flexible sensing surface according to claim 12 , wherein the first flexible sensing layer comprises a capacitive sensing electrode array.

15. The flexible sensing surface according to claim 12 , wherein the second flexible layer comprises an array of RF antennas.

16. The flexible sensing surface according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more stored parameters comprises at least one offset parameter specifying a change in relative position of the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer.

17. The flexible sensing surface according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more stored parameters comprises a parameter indicating whether the sensing surface is fully or partially unrolled.

18. A flexible multi-layer sensing surface comprising:
a first flexible sensing layer;
a second flexible layer comprising a second flexible sensing layer or a flexible output layer, wherein the second flexible layer is an elastic piece of fabric; and
a rigid portion comprising a calibration module arranged to use the first flexible sensing layer to detect a relative position of the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer and to update one or more stored operating parameters based, at least in part, on the detected relative position; and
wherein the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer are joined together by the rigid portion along only one edge.

19. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 18 , wherein the calibration module is arranged to drive a signal into the second flexible layer while detecting the relative position of the first flexible sensing layer and the second flexible layer.

20. The flexible multi-layer sensing surface according to claim 18 , wherein the second flexible layer comprises an array of RF antennas.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Saul Greg
• Cletheroe Daniel
• Villar Nicolas
• Zhang Haiyan
• Salandin Oscar
• Holz Christian
• Fitzgibbon Andrew
• Hodges Stephen Edward

Classifications

• G06F3/044 Primary

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/0418 Primary

  for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment · CPC title

• G06F2203/04106

  Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection · CPC title

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title