Abstract: Certain example embodiments include a press sensor element that includes a piezoelectric layer having a first surface in communication with a first layer, the first layer including a first conductive region, where the first conductive region covers at least a central portion the first surface. The sensor element includes a second surface in communication with a second layer, the second layer including a second conductive region, a third conductive region, and a first non-conductive void region separating the second conductive region and the third conductive region. An area of the first conductive region is configured in size relative to an area of the third conductive region to substantially reduce a thermally-induced voltage change between two or more of the first, second, and third conductive regions responsive to a corresponding temperature change of at least a portion of the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments include a press sensor element that includes a piezoelectric layer having a first surface in communication with a first layer, the first layer including a first conductive region, where the first conductive region covers at least a central portion the first surface. The sensor element includes a second surface in communication with a second layer, the second layer including a second conductive region, a third conductive region, and a first non-conductive void region separating the second conductive region and the third conductive region. An area of the first conductive region is configured in size relative to an area of the third conductive region to substantially reduce a thermally-induced voltage change between two or more of the first, second, and third conductive regions responsive to a corresponding temperature change of at least a portion of the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems, methods, and apparatus for common mode signal cancellation in force change detectors. An example embodiment of the disclosed technology includes a press sensor element configured to reduce or eliminate thermally induced signals. The sensor element includes a piezoelectric layer that includes a first surface in communication with a first layer. The first layer includes a first conductive region. The piezoelectric layer includes a second surface in communication with a second layer. The second layer includes a second conductive region, a third conductive region, and a non-conductive void region separating the second conductive region and the third conductive region.

Abstract: Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems, methods, and apparatus for common mode signal cancellation in force change detectors. An example embodiment of the disclosed technology includes a press sensor element configured to reduce or eliminate thermally induced signals. The sensor element includes a piezoelectric layer that includes a first surface in communication with a first layer. The first layer includes a first conductive region. The piezoelectric layer includes a second surface in communication with a second layer. The second layer includes a second conductive region, a third conductive region, and a non-conductive void region separating the second conductive region and the third conductive region.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a touch screen and a force sensor. The touch screen has a first and second surface and detects a first surface touch and converts it to data indicative of an X, Y coordinate position upon the touch screen first surface. The force sensor contacts the touch screen second surface and substantially extends around the perimeter of the touch screen second surface. The force sensor measures the force exerted by the first surface touch in the form of force data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using a scroll sensor providing a touch sensitive control input surface for a plurality of control functions is provided. The input surface is divided into a plurality of regions. Each region is assigned to one of the plurality of control functions. At least one of these control functions accepts parametric control input. A first touch is received at one of the regions on the input surface. The control function assigned to the touched region is selected. If the selected control function is one of the control functions accepting parametric control input, a second touch on the input surface is received as parametric control input during an activation period for the selected control function. The second touch may be received as parametric control input at any point of the input surface.

Abstract: A method for implementing a control function via a sensor having a touch sensitive control input surface. The method includes detecting a contact with the touch sensitive control input surface, determining a pressure value corresponding to the contact, and initiating a control function from a set of possible control functions based at least in part on the pressure value.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a touch screen and a force sensor. The touch screen has a first and second surface and detects a first surface touch and converts it to data indicative of an X, Y coordinate position upon the touch screen first surface. The force sensor contacts the touch screen second surface and substantially extends around the perimeter of the touch screen second surface. The force sensor measures the force exerted by the first surface touch in the form of force data.

Abstract: A touch input device includes two or more interleaved scroll sensors. A common area is interposed between two of the scroll sensors. A sense line snakes through the common area. Scrolling pressure applied to a sense layer causes the sense layer to contact and electrically connect the sense line to the scroll sensors thereby permitting the scrolling pressure position to be determined by measuring a voltage on the sense line. The scroll sensors are potentiometric and may be linear strip scroll sensors or rotary ring scroll sensors. The interleaved scroll sensors with the common area allow smooth scrolling action from one major leg to another major leg.

Abstract: A force sensing resistor (FSR) includes a substrate having separated electrically conductive traces and another substrate having a resistive layer in which the substrates are subjected to a biasing force such that the substrates contact one another with the resistive layer electrically connecting the traces with a resistance inversely dependent on the biasing force. Upon an external force applied towards a substrate, the substrates contact one another with a total force which is the sum of the forces with the resistive layer electrically connecting the traces with a resistance inversely dependent on the total force. An FSR output which is a function of the resistance is measured. Whether a change in magnitude of the FSR output during a time interval is greater than a threshold is determined. A touch applied on the FSR is detected during the time interval if the change is greater than the threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting an electronic signing ceremony is provided. The electronic signing ceremony may include a number of defined steps performed by one or more people on a number of documents in a predetermined order. An activity, such as providing a digital signature, may be associated with each document and/or page of each document. The electronic signing ceremony system and method consolidates and streamlines the process of originating, organizing, signing, verifying, storing, and retrieving multiple documents requiring multiple signatures from one or more people virtually anywhere and at any time.

Abstract: A touchpad includes a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible. A resistor on the first substrate has a narrow shape dividing the first substrate into two regions. A set of conductors in electrical contact with the resistor extend from the resistor into the two regions. A second resistor and at least one second substrate conductor in electrical contact with the second resistor are on the second substrate. This construction allows the touchpad to have an outer shape is not restricted by the need for rectangular coordinates.

Abstract: The present invention determines angular position using a potentiometric touch sensor. The sensor has an annular pattern of resistive material on a portion of a bottom substrate top surface. Conductive drive lines and fixed potential conductive traces radially traverse the bottom substrate top surface and are electrically coupled to the resistive material. Conductive sense traces radially traverse the bottom substrate top surface. A conductive layer on a bottom surface of a top substrate is positioned above the bottom substrate top surface. A pressure applied to the top substrate and/or the bottom substrate electrically couples a portion of a conductive sense trace to a portion of the annular pattern and/or a fixed potential conductive trace. The angular position of the applied pressure is determined by measuring at least one electrical parameter between a conductive drive line and a conductive sense line having the conductive sense traces.

Abstract: A force sensing resistor (FSR) includes a substrate having separated electrically conductive traces and another substrate having a resistive layer in which the substrates are subjected to a biasing force such that the substrates contact one another with the resistive layer electrically connecting the traces with a resistance inversely dependent on the biasing force. Upon an external force applied towards a substrate, the substrates contact one another with a total force which is the sum of the forces with the resistive layer electrically connecting the traces with a resistance inversely dependent on the total force. An FSR output which is a function of the resistance is measured. Whether a change in magnitude of the FSR output during a time interval is greater than a threshold is determined. A touch applied on the FSR is detected during the time interval if the change is greater than the threshold.

Abstract: A touchpad includes a first substrate and a second substrate, at least one of which is flexible. A resistor on the first substrate has a narrow shape dividing the first substrate into two regions. A set of conductors in electrical contact with the resistor extend from the resistor into the two regions. A second resistor and at least one second substrate conductor in electrical contact with the second resistor are on the second substrate. This construction allows the touchpad to have an outer shape is not restricted by the need for rectangular coordinates.

Abstract: The present invention determines angular position using a potentiometric touch sensor. The sensor has an annular pattern of resistive material on a bottom substrate top surface. Conductive drive lines radially traverse the resistive material so as to make electrical connection with the resistive material. A top substrate is spaced above the top surface of the bottom substrate. A conductive sense layer on a bottom surface of the top substrate is positioned above the resistive material. Pressure applied to either the top substrate or the bottom substrate, such as by the touch of a user, causes a portion of the conductive sense layer to contact a corresponding portion of the annular pattern of resistive material. The angular position of the applied pressure can be determined by measuring at least one electrical parameter between at least one of the conductive drive lines and the conductive sense layer.

Abstract: A touch input device includes two or more interleaved scroll sensors. A common area is interposed between two of the scroll sensors. A sense line snakes through the common area. Scrolling pressure applied to a sense layer causes the sense layer to contact and electrically connect the sense line to the scroll sensors thereby permitting the scrolling pressure position to be determined by measuring a voltage on the sense line. The scroll sensors are potentiometric and may be linear strip scroll sensors or rotary ring scroll sensors. The interleaved scroll sensors with the common area allow smooth scrolling action from one major leg to another major leg.

Abstract: The cost and complexity of an electronic pressure sensitive transducer are decreased by constructing such a transducer directly on a printed circuit board containing support electronics. Conductive traces are formed on the printed circuit board to define a contact area. A flexible substrate having an inner surface is positioned over the contact area. An adhesive spacer, substantially surrounding the contact area, attaches the flexible substrate to the printed circuit board. At least one resistive layer is deposited on the flexible substrate inner surface. In use, the resistive layer contacts at least two conductive traces in response to pressure applied to the flexible substrate to produce an electrical signal indicative of applied pressure.

Abstract: An input device for an electronic system includes a force sensor having conductive interdigitated traces on a bottom substrate and a flexible substrate spaced apart from the bottom substrate. The flexible substrate has a resistive layer deposited on a bottom side facing the interdigitated traces. A snap dome is positioned over a portion of the force sensor flexible substrate. A flexible keymat membrane is positioned over the force sensor and the snap dome. The keymat membrane bottom surface faces the force sensor flexible substrate. The keymat membrane bottom surface has a protruding region surrounding the snap dome and spaced above the force sensor flexible substrate. A center keycap on the keymat membrane top surface is positioned over the snap dome. A surrounding keycap on the keymat membrane encloses the center keycap and is positioned over the keymat membrane protruding region.

Abstract: A method for implementing a control function via a sensor having a touch sensitive control input surface. The method includes detecting a contact with the touch sensitive control input surface, determining a pressure value corresponding to the contact, and initiating a control function from a set of possible control functions based at least in part on the pressure value.