Abstract: An input device comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising non-linear circuitry; resistive circuitry including a force-sensitive resistor (FSR) coupled to the PCB in parallel with the non-linear circuitry; and a hinge coupled to the PCB and the FSR configured to strain the FSR in response to a force applied to a tip of the input device.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein takes the form of a wearable electronic device, such as a watch, including a housing, a memory and a processor located in the housing, and three or more sensors. Each sensor of the three or more sensors is configured to generate a measurement of a parameter. Each sensor of the three or more sensors is located in a different region in the housing. The processor is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory. In response to execution of the instructions by the processor, the processor is configured to generate an adjusted measurement of the biometric parameter using at least the measurements of the parameter generated by the three or more sensors. The parameter is a temperature, and the biometric parameter is a body temperature of a user.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electronic devices, including wearable electronic devices, and components and configurations thereof, having one or more temperature sensors separated from the point of contact of the electronic device and an object, such as a user, whose temperature is being measured. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes both a temperature sensor and a light (visible, UV, and/or IR) emitter and sensor. Various embodiments are disclosed by which a temperature sensor may be shielded or separated from a light emitter/detector. A spacer may be used to separate the temperature sensor from the device's housing that contacts the object. The spacer may include a thermal path from the housing to the temperature sensor, and may be opaque to the light detected by a light detector.

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 electronic device that senses home button inputs through ultrasonic force sensing. The electronic device may correlate that amount of force that a user applies to the home button with a specific home button command. In certain embodiments, the system may combine the force of touch information with other information that is sensed for a particular touch to correlate the touch input with a greater number of home button commands. A home button embodiment discussed herein may include a home button image that is displayed on a touch sensitive panel. In other embodiments, a home button may be located outside of the boundaries of a touch sensitive panel.

Abstract: Although embodiments have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the various embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The foregoing description has broad application. Accordingly, the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be an example and is not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to these examples.

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 optical 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: An optical force sensor, which may be used as input to an electronic device. The optical force sensor may be configured to compensate for variations in temperature using two or more force-sensitive components that are formed from materials having different temperature- and strain-dependent responses.

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: Although embodiments have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the various embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The foregoing description has broad application. Accordingly, the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be an example and is not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to these examples.

Abstract: Structures and methods are disclosed for an electronic device having an input surface that uses dual sensors to measure forces applied to the input surface. The forces can be estimated over a greater range of values than would be possible with either sensor alone. A second sensor can be used after a first sensor has reached a limit. A first sensor can be a strain sensor and a second sensor a pressure sensor. Both sensors may be resistance based, with signals from both sensors can be combined and measured by processing circuitry. Each sensor type may be part of planar arrays disposed beneath the input surface.

Abstract: An electronic device has a force sensor that determines a measure of applied force from a user contacting a cover glass of the device. In one embodiment, a frame at least partially encloses an interior of the electronic device and has an open end. A cover glass covers the open end of the frame and is movably connected to the frame to allow movement of the cover glass in response to one or more forces applied to an external surface of the cover glass. A plurality of strain probes is positioned under the cover glass, between the cover glass and the frame, and is arranged to output a plurality of strain signals response to the one or more forces applied to the cover glass. A force processing module is configured to at least calculate an amount of force applied to the cover glass based on the plurality of strain signals.

Abstract: A force sensor is disclosed. The force sensor includes a force-sensitive structure that compensates for temperature and other environmental changes through the use of a strain-sensitive element and one or more reference elements. An array of such force-sensitive structures forms a force-sensing layer.

Abstract: Systems for detecting an amount and/or location of a force applied to a device using a piezoelectric film are provided. One example system can include a transparent piezoelectric film for generating an electric charge in response to a deformation of the film. Electrodes positioned on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric film can be used to detect the generated electric charge and determine an amount and/or location of force applied to the film based on the generated electric charge. In another embodiment, the system can include a capacitive touch sensor for determining a location of a touch event on the device.

Abstract: Structures and methods are disclosed for an electronic device having an input surface that uses dual sensors to measure forces applied to the input surface. The forces can be estimated over a greater range of values than would be possible with either sensor alone. A second sensor can be used after a first sensor has reached a limit. A first sensor can be a strain sensor and a second sensor a pressure sensor. Both sensors may be resistance based, with signals from both sensors can be combined and measured by processing circuitry. Each sensor type may be part of planar arrays disposed beneath the input surface.

Abstract: One or more strain sensors can be included in an electronic device. Each strain sensor includes a strain sensitive element and one or more strain signal lines connected directly to the strain sensitive element. The strain sensor(s) are used to detect a force that is applied to the electronic device, to a component in the electronic device, and/or to an input region or surface of the electronic device. A strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first gauge factor and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second gauge factor. Additionally or alternatively, a strain sensitive element is formed or processed to have a first conductance and the strain signal line(s) is formed or processed to have a different second conductance.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a force sensor that includes an input surface and an array of sensing elements. The input has a number of test locations and is deformable under applied force. The force sensor is mounted in a predetermined test orientation. For each test location of the plurality of test locations on the input surface of the force sensor a predetermined test force to the test location. An element calibration value is measured for each sensing element of the array of sensing elements of the force sensor. An (x, y) deformation map of the input surface of the force sensor corresponding to the application of the predetermined test force to the test location is determined based on the measured element calibration values.

Abstract: Systems for detecting an amount and/or location of a force applied to a device using a piezoelectric film are provided. One example system can include a transparent piezoelectric film for generating an electric charge in response to a deformation of the film. Electrodes positioned on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric film can be used to detect the generated electric charge and determine an amount and/or location of force applied to the film based on the generated electric charge. In another embodiment, the system can include a capacitive touch sensor for determining a location of a touch event on the device.

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.