Use based force auto-calibration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017242539-A1
Application number	US-201615199756-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2016
Priority date	Feb 18, 2016
Publication date	Aug 24, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A processing system for an input device, the processing system including sensor circuitry communicatively coupled to a plurality of position sensor electrodes and a plurality of force sensor electrodes, and a sensor module with circuitry. The sensor module is configured to acquire a plurality of changes in capacitance from the plurality of force sensor electrodes, which occurs in response to a deflection of the sensor electrodes by an input force. The system also includes a determination module configured to determine a force level based on the plurality of changes in capacitance of the force sensor electrodes, analyze the force level to update a force threshold based on the analysis, determine whether a current force level associated with the sensor electrodes exceeds the updated force threshold, and assign a force status to the input object based on the determination of whether the current force level exceeds the updated force threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A processing system for an input device, the processing system comprising:
sensor circuitry communicatively coupled to a plurality of position sensor electrodes and a plurality of force sensor electrodes; a sensor module comprising circuitry configured to:
acquire a plurality of changes in capacitance from the plurality of force sensor electrodes,
wherein the plurality of changes in capacitance occurs in response to a deflection of the plurality of sensor electrodes by an input force, and
wherein the input force is applied by an input object to an input surface of the input device; and

a determination module configured to:
determine a force level based on the plurality of changes in capacitance of the plurality of force sensor electrodes,
analyze the force level to update a force threshold based on the analysis,
determine whether a current force level associated with the plurality of sensor electrodes exceeds the updated force threshold, and
assign a force status to the input object based on the determination of whether the current force level exceeds the updated force threshold.

2 . The processing system of claim 1 , wherein updating the force threshold is based on data received from a host device.

3 . The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the force threshold is a press threshold.

4 . The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the determination module is further configured to receive an indication that the force level is acquired from a user using the input device for a non-force touch designated purpose.

5 . The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the force threshold is a maximum force value.

6 . The processing system of claim 5 , wherein the maximum force value is updated responsive to the at least one force level exceeding a current maximum force value.

7 . The processing system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor module further comprises circuitry configured to acquire, from the plurality of position sensor electrodes, positional information of the input object in a sensing region of the input device, and the determination module is further configured to determine the force level based on the positional information of the input object in combination with the plurality of changes in capacitance of the plurality of force sensor electrodes.

8 . A method for auto-calibrating an input device, comprising:
acquiring a plurality of changes of capacitance from a plurality of force sensor electrodes; determining a force level based on the plurality of changes in capacitance of the plurality of force sensor electrodes; analyzing the force level to update a force threshold based on the analysis; detecting an input object in a sensing region of the input device comprising the plurality of force sensor electrodes; determining whether a current force level associated with the input object exceeds the updated force threshold; and assigning a force status to the input object based on the determination.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
acquiring, from a plurality of position sensor electrodes, positional information of the input object in a sensing region of the input device; and determining the force level based on the positional information of the input object in combination with the plurality of changes in capacitance of the plurality of force sensor electrodes.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the auto-calibration method is performed while the input device is in use by a user.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the force threshold is a maximum force value.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the maximum force value is updated responsive to the at least one force level exceeding a current maximum force value.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the force threshold is a press threshold.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving an indication that the force level is acquired from a user using the input device for a non-force touch designated purpose.

15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein updating the force threshold is based on data received from a host device.

16 . An input device, comprising:
an input surface; a plurality of force sensor electrodes; and a processing system comprising circuitry configured to:
acquire a plurality of changes of capacitance at the plurality of force sensor electrodes,
determining a force level based on the plurality of changes in capacitance of the plurality of force sensor electrodes,
analyze the force level to update a force threshold based on the analysis,
detect an input object in a sensing region of an input device comprising the plurality of sensor electrodes,
determine whether a current force level associated with the input object exceeds the updated force threshold, and
assign a force status to the input object based on the determination of whether the current force level exceeds the updated force threshold.

17 . The input device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a plurality of position sensor electrodes, wherein the processing system further comprises circuitry configured to:
acquire, from the plurality of position sensor electrodes, positional information of the input object in a sensing region of the input device, and
determine the force level based on the positional information of the input object in combination with the plurality of changes in capacitance of the plurality of force sensor electrodes.

18 . The input device of claim 16 , wherein updating the force threshold is based on data received from a host device.

19 . The input device of claim 16 , wherein the force threshold is one selected from a group consisting of a maximum force value and a press threshold.

20 . The input device of claim 19 , wherein the maximum force value is updated responsive to the at least one force level exceeding a current maximum force value.

Assignees

• Synaptics Inc

Inventors

• Mani Sanjay

Classifications

• G06F2203/04108

  Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction · CPC title

• G06F2203/04105

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

• G06F3/0418 Primary

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

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/0447

  Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells · CPC title