Abstract: A handheld device includes a housing, an elongated rod movable with respect to the housing, a pyramid structure and a circuit. The elongated rod includes a tip at a first end and a compressible element at a second end. The compressible element includes conductive material configured to press against the electrodes based on a force vector applied on the tip. The pyramid structure includes at least three walls and an electrode on each of the at least three walls and is fixed or integrated with the housing. The circuit transmit signals on the compressible element or the electrodes, detect outputs from the electrodes and provide pressure related information based on the outputs.

Abstract: A resistive force sensor may be configured with two exposed pads, each exposed pad electrically connected to a terminal. When a force is applied to a force applicator, a conductive pad moves into contact with the exposed pads, thus completing an electrical circuit and providing a precise measurement of the point in time when a user has supplied sufficient force to switch the apparatus from one mode of operation to another. In another implementation, two resistive sensors may be disposed above and below portions of a conductive pad with an elastic member disposed between the two resistive sensors. When a force is applied to the force applicator of the apparatus, a differential resistance may be calculated between the two resistive sensors. Since resistive sensors may experience thermal drift due to changes in environmental temperature conditions, the differential resistance between the two resistive sensors allows a temperature-independent measurement of force.

Abstract: The described technology provides a force sensor apparatus. An elastic pad may be disposed between two force sensors with a force applicator extending at least partially into the elastic pad. When a force is applied to a force applicator, the force applicator transmits the force to one or both of the force sensors via the elastic pad. In an implementation, the force sensors may be resistive sensors. Since resistive sensors may experience thermal drift due to changes in environmental temperature conditions, the differential resistance between the two resistive sensors allows a temperature-independent measurement of the applied force.

Abstract: A handheld device includes a housing, an elongated rod movable with respect to the housing, a pyramid structure and a circuit. The elongated rod includes a tip at a first end and a compressible element at a second end. The compressible element includes conductive material configured to press against the electrodes based on a force vector applied on the tip. The pyramid structure includes at least three walls and an electrode on each of the at least three walls and is fixed or integrated with the housing. The circuit transmit signals on the compressible element or the electrodes, detect outputs from the electrodes and provide pressure related information based on the outputs.

Abstract: A method for detecting a signal transmitted by a handheld device includes detecting a signal on first electrodes along a first axis and on second electrodes along a second axis of the digitizer sensor. The method additionally includes detecting hand input on the first electrodes and on third electrodes along the second axis and detecting no hand input on the second electrodes. The hand input detection is based on self-capacitive detection. The signal transmitted by the handheld device on the first electrodes is estimated based on the hand input detected on each of the first and third electrodes, the signal from the handheld device detected on the second electrodes and based on a pre-defined constant. Coordinates of the handheld device are determined based on the signal detected on the second electrodes and the signal estimated. The coordinates are reported to a host computing device associated with the digitizer sensor.