Mechanical means for providing haptic feedback in connection with capacitive sensing mechanisms
View Patent ↗Method and apparatus for providing haptic feedback in connection with a capacitive sensing mechanism are described. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a convex, non-metallic structure arranged so as to maintain physical separation between an activator and the capacitive sensing mechanism until sufficient force is applied by the activator. The structure does not form a part of an electrical circuit comprising the capacitive sensing mechanism.
1. Apparatus for providing haptic feedback in connection with a capacitive sensing mechanism, the apparatus comprising a convex, non-metallic structure arranged between components of the capacitive sensing mechanism so as to maintain a distance between an activation means and a component of the capacitive sensing mechanism until sufficient force is applied by the activation means, wherein the structure does not form a part of an electrical circuit comprising the capacitive sensing mechanism.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structure is dome-shaped.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises non-metalized plastic.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a tube.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a plastic tube having deformable material disposed therein.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises a plastic sheet including a plurality of bubbles and wherein the plastic sheet is arranged such that each of the plastic bubbles overlies one of a plurality of touch areas of the capacitive sensing mechanism.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a switching threshold of the capacitive sensing mechanism is adjustable by a user.
8. Method for providing haptic feedback in connection with a capacitive sensing mechanism disposed in an electronic device, the method comprising arranging a non-metallic structure between components of the capacitive sensing mechanism in such manner as to maintain a distance between an activation means and a component of the capacitive sensing mechanism until sufficient force is applied with the activation means, wherein the structure does not form a part of an electrical circuit comprising the capacitive sensing mechanism.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the structure is dome-shaped.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the structure comprises non-metalized plastic.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the structure comprises a tube.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the structure comprises a tube having deformable material disposed therein.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the structure comprises a plastic sheet including a plurality of bubbles and wherein the plastic sheet is arranged such that each of the plastic bubbles overlies one of a plurality of touch areas of the capacitive sensing mechanism.
14. An electronic device comprising a printed circuit board (“PCB”) and an input device associated with the PCB, the input device including a capacitive sensing mechanism and a haptic feedback structure associated with the capacitive sensing mechanism, the haptic feedback structure providing a physical barrier between components of the capacitive sensing mechanism for preventing a touch to be detected by the capacitive sensing mechanism until sufficient force is applied with the activation means, wherein the structure does not form a part of an electrical circuit comprising the capacitive sensing mechanism.
15. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the structure is dome-shaped.
16. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the structure comprises non-metalized plastic.
17. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the structure comprises a tube.
18. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the structure comprises a plastic tube having deformable material disposed therein.
19. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the structure comprises a plastic sheet including a plurality of bubbles and wherein the plastic sheet is arranged such that each of the plastic bubbles overlies one of a plurality of touch areas of the capacitive sensing mechanism.
20. The electronic device of claim 14 wherein the activation means comprises a finger or a stylus.