Abstract: An optically transparent force sensor that may compensate for environmental effects, including, for example, variations in temperature of the device or the surroundings. In some examples, two force-sensitive layers are separated by a compliant layer. The relative electrical response of the two force-sensitive layers may be used to compute an estimate of the force of a touch that reduces the effect of variations in temperature. In some examples, piezoelectric films having anisotropic strain properties are used to reduce the effects of temperature.

Abstract: A device configured to sense a touch on a surface of the device. The device includes a cover and a force-sensing structure disposed below the cover. The force-sensing structure may be positioned below a display and used in combination with other force-sensing elements to estimate the force of a touch on the cover of a device.

Abstract: An object can depress an input device, such as, for example, a function button in an electronic device. A resistive element having a mechanically resistive force can be disposed to resist the depression or movement of the input device. One or more electrodes can be disposed to provide a measure of capacitance based on the depression of the input device. A shield can be disposed to reduce the parasitic capacitance between the one or more electrodes and the object. The electronic device can include a fingerprint sensor operably connected to at least one of the one or more electrodes.

Abstract: A test probe system including a test probe structure. The test probe system may include the test probe structure including a probe support, and a conductive, conformable component coupled to the probe support. The conductive, conformable component may be configured to: directly contact a test surface of a test structure, or couple a conductive element to the probe support. The conductive element may directly contact the test surface of the test structure. The test probe system may also include a conductive liquid dispensing system coupled to the test probe structure. The conductive liquid dispensing system may be configured to supply a conductive liquid to the test surface of the test structure.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for transmitting data using invisible light via a display assembly of an electronic device are provided. This may enable more data to be transmitted simultaneously via a single display assembly of a limited size. For example, a single display assembly may simultaneously transmit a first type of data using visible light that may be comprehensible to a user (e.g., textual information that may be legible to a human) as well as a second type of data using invisible light that may be machine-readable (e.g., a barcode that may be detected by a scanner device but that may not be seen by a human).

Abstract: Capacitive multi-touch sensor panels in which both row and column traces may be formed on a single conducting surface are disclosed. These stack-ups may be made thinner and more flexible allowing them to be particularly well-suited for curved or other non-flat touch sensor panels, such as those that might be present on a mouse or other device designed to be grasped by a user's hand. Curved sensor panel arrays that may be formed from flat substrates are also disclosed. These sensor panel configurations may include channels around the periphery of the array. These channels allow the flat array to lie flat when applied to a curved surface, such as the inside of the curved surface. The pattern of the touch sensor elements may be adjusted across the array to avoid the channels.

Abstract: Capacitive multi-touch sensor panels in which both row and column traces may be formed on a single conducting surface are disclosed. These stack-ups may be made thinner and more flexible allowing them to be particularly well-suited for curved or other non-flat touch sensor panels, such as those that might be present on a mouse or other device designed to be grasped by a user's hand. Curved sensor panel arrays that may be formed from flat substrates are also disclosed. These sensor panel configurations may include channels around the periphery of the array. These channels allow the flat array to lie flat when applied to a curved surface, such as the inside of the curved surface. The pattern of the touch sensor elements may be adjusted across the array to avoid the channels.

Abstract: A compact touch sensor and a touch sensor stack are disclosed. The touch sensor can include a touch sensor circuit integrated with a ground layer on a single substrate. The touch sensor circuit can include two sets of conductive traces separated by a first insulation layer. A second insulation layer can be deposited over the top set of conductive traces of the touch sensor circuit. One or more vias can be included within the first insulation layer to route one or more conductive traces through the first insulation layer. One or more vias can also be included within the substrate to couple one or more conductive traces to the grounding layer. The touch sensor can be laminated to a cover material to form the touch sensor stack. Processes for making the touch sensor and touch sensor stack are also disclosed.

Abstract: Injection molding for a touch surface of a touch sensitive device is disclosed. A single-shot injection molding method can include molding an injected material to encapsulate a touch sensor at a substantially uniform distance from a touch surface of the molded material. A double-shot injection molding method can include molding a first shot of an injected material to contact a portion of a touch sensor and molding a second shot of an injected material to encapsulate at least the remaining portions of the touch sensor to form a touch surface at a substantially uniform distance from the touch sensor. Another molding method can include molding a coating on a touch sensor to having a substantially uniform thickness. The injection molded material can provide a substantially uniform capacitive dielectric for the device. The injection molded touch surface can be incorporated into an electronic mouse, a mobile telephone, a digital media player, or a computer.

Abstract: Injection molding for a touch surface of a touch sensitive device is disclosed. A single-shot injection molding method can include molding an injected material to encapsulate a touch sensor at a substantially uniform distance from a touch surface of the molded material. A double-shot injection molding method can include molding a first shot of an injected material to contact a portion of a touch sensor and molding a second shot of an injected material to encapsulate at least the remaining portions of the touch sensor to form a touch surface at a substantially uniform distance from the touch sensor. Another molding method can include molding a coating on a touch sensor to having a substantially uniform thickness. The injection molded material can provide a substantially uniform capacitive dielectric for the device. The injection molded touch surface can be incorporated into an electronic mouse, a mobile telephone, a digital media player, or a computer.

Abstract: Thinned-portion substrates and processing of thinned-portion substrates is provided. A portion of a substrate, such as a mother glass used in touch screen manufacturing, can be thinned by forming a cavity in a surface of the substrate. Surface structures, such as touch sensing circuitry and/or display circuitry, can then be formed on the thinned portion of the substrate. For example, touch screen components can be formed as surface structures including touch sensing circuitry and display circuitry on one or more thinned substrate portions through processes including depositing, masking, etching, doping, etc. The thinned substrate portion, including the surface structures formed thereon, can then be detached from the surrounding thicker part of the substrate. In this way, for example, the surrounding thicker part of the substrate can provide structural integrity during various other manufacturing processes, while allowing surface structures to be formed directly on a thinner substrate.

Abstract: A touch sensitive device having a dielectric layer between a cover layer and a touch sensor layer is disclosed. The dielectric layer can reduce a negative pixel effect associated with poor grounding of an object touching the device. The dielectric layer can reduce a capacitance per unit area of the device to less than about 0.0305 picofarads per square millimeter, thereby reducing the negative pixel effect. The dielectric layer can have a thickness of about 0.50 millimeters or more and/or a dielectric constant of about 2.3 or less to reduce the negative pixel effect.

Abstract: Capacitive multi-touch sensor panels in which both row and column traces may be formed on a single conducting surface are disclosed. These stack-ups may be made thinner and more flexible allowing them to be particularly well-suited for curved or other non-flat touch sensor panels, such as those that might be present on a mouse or other device designed to be grasped by a user's hand. Curved sensor panel arrays that may be formed from flat substrates are also disclosed. These sensor panel configurations may include channels around the periphery of the array. These channels allow the flat array to lie flat when applied to a curved surface, such as the inside of the curved surface. The pattern of the touch sensor elements may be adjusted across the array to avoid the channels.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for securing a disk drive to a frame of a computer is provided herein. The mounting assembly includes three rigid mounts and a single flexible mount. Each rigid mount rigidly secures the drive housing to the frame and prevents degradation of performance of the disk drive. The flexible mount diminishes the level of vibration transferred from the frame to drive housing. Further, the flexible mount facilitates flexing of the drive housing intermediate the flexible mount and the rigid mounts. This reduces the effects of a shock pulse to the disk drive and inhibits head slap between a transducer head and a storage disk.

Abstract: The apparatus immobilizes a wheel of a vehicle. A chock is connected to a facing bar. Also connected to the facing bar, spaced away from the chock is an engaging bar. The engaging bar has a first, generally elongated straight section and a second section that is shorter than the first straight section, and that is joined to one end of the first section such that the angle between the first section and a portion of the second section is between -45.degree. and +45.degree., preferably 0.degree.. The engaging bar is attached to the facing bar, such that the first straight section is generally perpendicular to the facing bar, the engaging bar is movable along its first section relative to the facing bar and the second section is rotatable around an axis coaxial with the first section. A lock locks the engaging bar at a desired position relative to the facing bar.