Granted Patent B2

US 12,299,200 · App. 18/204,818 · Granted May 13, 2025

Inventors: James Junus (Sunnyvale, CA); Ninad Sathe (Sunnyvale, CA); Shuangming Li (Sunnyvale, CA); Ilya Daniel Rosenberg (Sunnyvale, CA); John Aaron Zarraga (Sunnyvale, CA); Eric Rosales (Sunnyvale, CA)

Assignee: Sensel, Inc.

G06F3/016G06F3/0416G06F3/045G06F2203/04105

Abstract

Claims (182)

1. A system for detecting and responding to touch inputs with haptic feedback comprising:

a substrate;

a first multi-layer inductor arranged across a set of inner layers of the substrate;

a cover layer arranged over the substrate and defining a touch sensor surface;

a first magnetic element coupled to the substrate and facing the multi-layer inductor; and

a controller configured to, in response to detecting a first input on the touch sensor surface, drive an oscillating voltage across the first multi-layer inductor to:

induce alternating magnetic coupling between the first multi-layer inductor and the first magnetic element; and

oscillate the substrate and the cover layer relative to first magnetic element.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first multi-layer inductor comprises:

a first spiral trace:

arranged across a first layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate; and

coiled in a first direction; and

a second spiral trace:

arranged across a second layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate, the second layer arranged below the first layer;

coiled in a second direction, opposite the first direction; and

coupled to the first spiral trace.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first multi-layer inductor comprises:

a first planar coil spiraling inwardly in a clockwise direction within a first layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate; and

a second planar coil:

spiraling outwardly in a counter-clockwise direction within a second layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate; and

cooperating with the first planar coil to pass current in a common direction about a center of the multi-layer inductor.

4. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the first multi-layer inductor comprises:

a first planar coil spiraling outwardly from a first end to a second end within a first layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate, the second end terminating at a periphery of the substrate; and

a second planar coil spiraling inwardly from a third end to a fourth end within a second layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate, the third end coupled to the second end proximal the periphery of the substrate, and the fourth end terminating proximal a center of the substrate; and

wherein the controller is configured to drive the oscillating voltage across the first end of the first planar coil and the fourth end of the second planar coil in response to detecting the first input.

5. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the first magnetic element defines a first polarity facing the first multi-layer inductor;

further comprising:

a second multi-layer inductor:

arranged across the set of inner layers of the substrate; and

arranged adjacent the first multi-layer inductor; and

a second magnetic element:

arranged adjacent the first magnetic element; and

defining a second polarity, opposite the first polarity, facing the second multi-layer inductor; and

wherein the controller is configured to, in response to detecting the first input, drive the oscillating voltage across the first multi-layer inductor and the second multi-layer inductor to:

induce alternating magnetic coupling between the first multi-layer inductor, the second multi-layer inductor, the first magnetic element, and the second magnetic element; and

oscillate the substrate and the cover layer relative the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element.

6. The system of claim 5 :

wherein the first multi-layer inductor comprises:

a first spiral trace:

arranged across a first layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate; and

coiled in a first direction; and

a second spiral trace:

arranged across a second layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate, the second layer arranged below the first layer;

coiled in a second direction, opposite the first direction; and

coupled to the first spiral trace; and

wherein the second multi-layer inductor comprises:

a third spiral trace:

arranged adjacent the first spiral trace in the first layer;

coiled in the second direction; and

coupled to the first spiral trace; and

a fourth spiral trace:

arranged adjacent the second spiral trace in the second layer;

coiled in the first direction; and

coupled to the third spiral trace.

7. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the first magnetic element defines a first polarity facing the first multi-layer inductor;

further comprising:

a second multi-layer inductor:

arranged across the set of inner layers of the substrate; and

arranged adjacent the first multi-layer inductor;

a second magnetic element:

arranged under the substrate; and

defining a second polarity, opposite the first polarity, facing the first multi-layer inductor;

a third magnetic element:

arranged under the substrate; and

defining the first polarity facing the second multi-layer inductor; and

wherein the controller is configured to, in response to detecting the first input, drive the oscillating voltage across the first multi-layer inductor and the second multi-layer inductor to:

induce alternating magnetic coupling the between the first multi-layer inductor, the second multi-layer inductor, the first magnetic element, the second magnetic element, and the third magnetic element; and

oscillate the substrate and the cover layer parallel to the touch sensor surface.

8. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the first multi-layer inductor comprises:

a first spiral trace:

arranged across a first layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate; and

coiled in a first direction; and

a second spiral trace:

arranged across a second layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate, the second layer arranged below the first layer;

coiled in a second direction, opposite the first direction; and

coupled to the first spiral trace; and

wherein the second multi-layer inductor comprises:

a third spiral trace:

arranged across a third layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate, the third layer arranged below the second layer and opposite the first layer;

coiled in the first direction; and

coupled to the second spiral trace; and

a fourth spiral trace:

arranged across a fourth layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate, the fourth layer arranged below the third layer and opposite the second layer;

coiled in the second direction; and

coupled to the third spiral trace.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to, in response to detecting the first input, drive the oscillating voltage across the first spiral trace and the fourth spiral trace to:

induce alternating magnetic coupling between the first multi-layer inductor, the second multi-layer inductor, and the first magnetic element; and

oscillate the substrate and the cover layer relative to the first magnetic element.

10. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the first multi-layer inductor defines:

a first length along a primary axis of the substrate; and

a first width, less than the first length, along a secondary axis of the substrate;

wherein the first magnetic element defines:

a second length parallel to and offset from the primary axis and approximating the first length; and

a second width parallel to the secondary axis and approximately half of the first width; and

wherein the controller is configured to, in response to detecting the first input, drive the oscillating voltage across the first multi-layer inductor to oscillate the substrate and the cover layer normal to the touch sensor surface.

11. The system of claim 1 :

further comprising a set of drive and sense electrode pairs arranged across a top layer of the substrate;

wherein the cover layer is arranged over the set of drive and sense electrode pairs on the top layer of the substrate; and

wherein the controller is configured to:

read a set of electrical values from the set of drive and sense electrode pairs; and

detect the first input at a first location on the touch sensor surface based on a deviation of a subset of electrical values, in the set of electrical values, from baseline electrical values across a subset of drive and sense electrode pairs proximal the first location.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the substrate comprises an intermediate layer:

interposed between the top layer and the set of inner layers; and

comprising a contiguous trace area defining an electrical shield configured to shield the set of drive and sense electrode pairs from electrical noise generated by the first multi-layer inductor during driving the oscillating voltage across the first multi-layer inductor.

13. The system of claim 11 :

further comprising:

a set of sensor traces:

arranged across a bottom layer, arranged below the set of inner layers, of the substrate and opposite the top layer of the substrate; and

located proximal a perimeter of the substrate; and

a set of deflection spacers coupled to the set of sensor traces and supporting the substrate on a chassis of a device; and

wherein the controller is further configured to:

read a second set of electrical values, representing compression of the set of deflection spacers during application of the first input;

interpret a force magnitude of the first input based on the second set of electrical values; and

drive the oscillating voltage across the first multi-layer inductor in response to the force magnitude of the first input exceeding a threshold input force.

14. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the substrate further comprises a sensor layer comprising a set of drive and sense electrode pairs; and

wherein the controller is configured to:

read electrical values from the set of drive and sense electrode pairs at a scan frequency during a first time period;

drive the oscillating voltage across the first multi-layer inductor during a haptic feedback cycle, following the first time period, in response to detecting the first input based on the set of electrical values read from the drive and sense electrode pairs during the first time period;

pause reading electrical values from the set of drive and sense electrode pairs during the haptic feedback cycle; and

resume reading electrical values from the set of drive and sense electrode pairs following completion of the haptic feedback cycle.

15. The system of claim 1 :

wherein the substrate further comprises a sensor layer comprising a set of drive and sense electrode pairs; and

wherein the controller is configured to:

read electrical values from the set of drive and sense electrode pairs at a scan frequency during a first time period;

drive the oscillating voltage, at a feedback frequency less than the scan frequency, across the multi-layer inductor during a haptic feedback cycle, following the first time period, in response to detecting the first input based on the set of electrical values read from the drive and sense electrode pairs during the first time period;

intermittently read electrical values from the set of drive and sense electrode pairs at the scan frequency, between voltage reversals across the multi-layer inductor at the feedback frequency, during the haptic feedback cycle; and

read electrical values from the set of drive and sense electrode pairs at the scan frequency following completion of the haptic feedback cycle.

16. A system for detecting and responding to touch inputs with haptic feedback comprising:

a substrate comprising;

a set of drive and sense electrode pairs arranged across a set of outer layers of the substrate; and

a first multi-layer inductor arranged across a set of inner layers, interposed between the set of outer layers, of the substrate;

a cover layer arranged over the substrate and defining a touch sensor surface;

a first magnetic element arranged under the substrate and defining a first polarity facing the first multi-layer inductor; and

a set of spacers:

coupling a bottom layer, in the set of outer layers, of the substrate to the first magnetic element; and

locating the first magnetic element opposite the first multi-layer inductor.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first multi-layer inductor comprises:

a first spiral trace:

arranged across a first layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate; and

coiled in a first direction; and

a second spiral trace:

arranged across a second layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate, the second layer arranged below the first layer;

coiled in a second direction, opposite the first direction; and

coupled to the first spiral trace.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a controller configured to:

read a set of electrical values from the set of drive and sense electrode pairs;

interpret a first input of a first force magnitude applied to a first location on the touch sensor surface based on the set of electrical values; and

in response to the first force magnitude exceeding a threshold force magnitude, drive an oscillating voltage across the first multi-layer inductor to:

induce alternating magnetic coupling between the first multi-layer inductor and the first magnetic element; and

oscillate the substrate and the cover layer relative to the first magnetic element.

19. The system of claim 16 :

wherein the first multi-layer inductor comprises:

a first spiral trace:

arranged across a first layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate; and

coiled in a first direction; and

a second spiral trace:

arranged across a second layer, in the set of inner layers, of the substrate, the second layer arranged below the first layer;

coiled in a second direction, opposite the first direction; and

coupled to the first spiral trace; and

wherein the second multi-layer inductor comprises:

a third spiral trace:

arranged adjacent the first spiral trace in the first layer;

coiled in the second direction; and

coupled to the first spiral trace; and

a fourth spiral trace:

arranged adjacent the second spiral trace in the second layer;

coiled in the first direction; and

coupled to the third spiral trace.

20. A system for detecting and responding to touch inputs with haptic feedback comprising:

a substrate comprising:

a first inductor layer comprising a first spiral trace coiled in a first direction; and

a second inductor layer arranged below the first inductor layer and comprising a second spiral trace:

coiled in a second direction opposite the first direction;

coupled to the first spiral trace; and

cooperating with the first spiral trace to form a multi-layer inductor; and

a magnetic element arranged below the substrate and defining a first polarity facing the multi-layer inductor.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (19)

References Cited (4)