Abstract: A tactile feedback apparatus for a capacitive sensing device is comprised of a dielectric insulator having a surface. A finger receiving recess is defined in the surface. The finger receiving recess is configured for receiving a deflected portion of a finger. The finger receiving recess is comprised of a finger deflecting feature and a tactile feedback feature. The finger deflecting feature is coupled to the surface and structured such that a variety of finger sizes pressed into the finger receiving recess would deflect into a predictable and repeatable shape for affecting the capacitive sensing device in a substantially uniform manner. The tactile feedback element is coupled to the surface and disposed such that the tactile feedback element contacts the deflected portion of the finger to provide tactile feedback to the finger only when the finger is sufficiently deflected into the finger receiving recess to actuate the capacitive sensing device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for production testing of a capacitive touch sensing device is disclosed. In this embodiment, the present technology for production testing of a capacitive touch sensing device samples a first value corresponding to a first channel of a capacitive touch sensing device when the capacitive touch sensing device is in production. The present embodiment also samples a second value corresponding to the first channel of the capacitive touch sensing device when the capacitive touch sensing device has a self-test capacitive circuit applying a signal thereto. The present embodiment compares the first value and the second value to determine a production testing result for the first channel of the capacitive touch sensing device, wherein the sampling of the second value and the comparing the first value and the second value occur during production of the capacitive touch sensing device.

Abstract: In a method for determining capacitance, a set of sensor electrodes is employed. The set of sensor electrodes comprises at least three sensor electrodes including first, second, and third sensor electrodes. The first sensor electrode meets the second sensor electrode at a first activation region of a plurality of activation regions. The first sensor electrode meets the third sensor at a second activation region of the plurality of activation regions. The second sensor electrode meets the third sensor electrode at a third activation region of the plurality of activation regions. The third sensor electrode transmits while first indicia are received with the first and the second sensor electrodes. The first sensor electrode transmits while second indicia are received with the second sensor electrode. Capacitances associated with the first, second and third activation regions are determined using at least the first indicia and second indicia.

Abstract: In a method for determining capacitance, a set of sensor electrodes is employed. The set of sensor electrodes comprises at least three sensor electrodes including first, second, and third sensor electrodes. The first sensor electrode meets the second sensor electrode at a first activation region of a plurality of activation regions. The first sensor electrode meets the third sensor at a second activation region of the plurality of activation regions. The second sensor electrode meets the third sensor electrode at a third activation region of the plurality of activation regions. The third sensor electrode transmits while first indicia are received with the first and the second sensor electrodes. The first sensor electrode transmits while second indicia are received with the second sensor electrode. Capacitances associated with the first, second and third activation regions are determined using at least the first indicia and second indicia.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing device for sensing a user input comprises a resistive sheet, a plurality of electrodes, at least one sensing node, and at least one charge integrator. The plurality of electrodes is disposed on a plurality of edge regions of the resistive sheet and configured for applying excitation voltages to the resistive sheet such that a substantially steady state voltage gradient is established on the resistive sheet. At least one of the sensing nodes is disposed on at least one of the plurality of edge regions of the resistive sheet and configured for sensing a resulting charge on the resistive sheet after establishment of the substantially steady state voltage gradient and a cessation of application of the excitation voltages. At least one of the charge integrators is coupled to the at least one sensing node and configured for measuring the resulting charge to produce a measurement.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing apparatus includes capacitive sensor electrodes, and a combined guard and sensing electrode that is disposed proximate to the capacitive sensor electrodes. The combined guard and sensing electrode has at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the combined guard and sensing electrode can detect an object at a distance that is greater than the distance at which the object can be sensed by the capacitive sensor electrodes. In the second operating mode, the combined guard and sensing electrode can electrically guard the capacitive sensor electrodes.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing apparatus includes capacitive sensor electrodes, and a combined guard and sensing electrode that is disposed proximate to the capacitive sensor electrodes. The combined guard and sensing electrode has at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the combined guard and sensing electrode can detect an object at a distance that is greater than the distance at which the object can be sensed by the capacitive sensor electrodes. In the second operating mode, the combined guard and sensing electrode can electrically guard the capacitive sensor electrodes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention receives sensitivity data corresponding to a plurality of first sensor channels of a respective plurality of capacitive sensing devices and utilizes the sensitivity data to determine a range of expected variation pertaining to the plurality of first sensor channels. The range of expected variation has an upper and a lower limit. The present embodiment also relates the range of expected variation to a sensitivity value corresponding to one of the plurality of first sensor channels. The present embodiment determines at least one performance characteristic of the one of the plurality of first sensor channels near at least one of the upper limit and the lower limit. In this embodiment, the at least one performance characteristic enables the tuning of the plurality of first sensor channels of the respective plurality of capacitive sensing devices.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for production testing of a capacitive touch sensing device is disclosed. In this embodiment, the present technology for production testing of a capacitive touch sensing device samples a first value corresponding to a first channel of a capacitive touch sensing device when the capacitive touch sensing device is in production. The present embodiment also samples a second value corresponding to the first channel of the capacitive touch sensing device when the capacitive touch sensing device has a self-test capacitive circuit applying a signal thereto. The present embodiment compares the first value and the second value to determine a production testing result for the first channel of the capacitive touch sensing device, wherein the sampling of the second value and the comparing the first value and the second value occur during production of the capacitive touch sensing device.

Abstract: A tactile feedback apparatus for a capacitive sensing device is comprised of a dielectric insulator having a surface. A finger receiving recess is defined in the surface. The finger receiving recess is configured for receiving a deflected portion of a finger. The finger receiving recess is comprised of a finger deflecting feature and a tactile feedback feature. The finger deflecting feature is coupled to the surface and structured such that a variety of finger sizes pressed into the finger receiving recess would deflect into a predictable and repeatable shape for affecting the capacitive sensing device in a substantially uniform manner. The tactile feedback element is coupled to the surface and disposed such that the tactile feedback element contacts the deflected portion of the finger to provide tactile feedback to the finger only when the finger is sufficiently deflected into the finger receiving recess to actuate the capacitive sensing device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention receives sensitivity data corresponding to a plurality of first sensor channels of a respective plurality of capacitive sensing devices and utilizes the sensitivity data to determine a range of expected variation pertaining to the plurality of first sensor channels. The range of expected variation has an upper and a lower limit. The present embodiment also relates the range of expected variation to a sensitivity value corresponding to one of the plurality of first sensor channels. The present embodiment determines at least one performance characteristic of the one of the plurality of first sensor channels near at least one of the upper limit and the lower limit. In this embodiment, the at least one performance characteristic enables the tuning of the plurality of first sensor channels of the respective plurality of capacitive sensing devices.

Abstract: The use of a dual element approach provides high resolution position sensors based on electron tunneling. This approach allows miniaturization while utilizing the position sensitivity of electron tunneling to give high resolution. The dual-element tunneling structure overcomes the narrow bandwidth limitations of a single-element structure. A sensor with an operating range of 5 Hz to 10 kHz, which can have applications as an acoustic sensor, is disclosed. Noise is analyzed for fundamental thermal vibration of the suspended masses and is compared to electronic noise. It is shown that miniature tunnel accelerometers can achieve resolution such that thermal noise in the suspended masses is the dominant cause of the resolution limit. With a proof mass of order 100 mg, noise analysis predicts limiting resolutions approaching 10.sup.-9 g/.sqroot.Hz in a 300 Hz band and 10.sup.-8 g/.sqroot.Hz at 1 kHz.

Abstract: An uncooled infrared tunneling sensor in which the only moving part is a diaphragm which is deflected into contact with a micromachined silicon tip electrode prepared by a novel lithographic process. Similarly prepared deflection electrodes employ electrostatic force to control the deflection of a silicon nitride, flat diaphragm membrane. The diaphragm exhibits a high resonant frequency which reduces the sensor's sensitivity to vibration. A high bandwidth feedback circuit controls the tunneling current by adjusting the deflection voltage to maintain a constant deflection of the membrane which would otherwise change deflection depending upon incident infrared radiation. The resulting infrared sensor will meet or exceed the performance of all other broadband, uncooled, infrared sensors and can be miniaturized to pixel dimensions smaller than 100 .mu.m. The technology is readily implemented as a small-format linear array suitable for commercial and spacecraft applications.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving performance of a sensor having a sensor proof mass elastically suspended at an initial equilibrium position by a suspension force, provide a tunable force opposing that suspension force and preset the proof mass with that tunable force to a second equilibrium position less stable than the initial equilibrium position. The sensor is then operated from that preset second equilibrium position of the proof mass short of instability. The spring constant of the elastic suspension may be continually monitored, and such continually monitored spring constant may be continually adjusted to maintain the sensor at a substantially constant sensitivity during its operation.