Patent ID: 11874185
Assignee: NEXTINPUT, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC B  G  H | IPC G

Claim 10:
11. A force attenuator comprising:
a deformable slab;
a non-deformable slab, wherein:
the deformable slab defines a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface opposes the second surface;
the non-deformable slab defines a third surface and a fourth surface, wherein the third surface opposes the fourth surface;
the third surface provides a first surface area and the fourth surface of the non-deformable slab is disposed on the first surface of the deformable slab; and
the third surface defines the first surface area for receiving an applied force;
areas of the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface, are an identical size and an identical shape such that a relationship between sensitivity attenuation and an area ratio is linear, the areas include the first surface area and the area ratio is a ratio of the areas of the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface;

a cavity formed by the deformable slab such that an opening of the cavity is exposed at the second surface of the deformable slab so that the applied force is transferred to a force sensor within the cavity;
the force sensor provided in the cavity so as to be exposed from the second surface, wherein the force sensor comprises one or more piezoresistive sensing elements and one or more piezoelectric sensing elements, each piezoelectric sensing element comprising piezoelectric material between a first electrode and a second electrode;
a package substrate; and
one or more electrical connectors, wherein:
the force sensor is disposed on a surface of the cavity;
the package substrate is disposed opposite the force sensor in the cavity;
the one or more electrical connectors are disposed in the cavity and electrically connect the package substrate to the force sensor; and
the second electrode of at least one piezoelectric sensing element is disposed over a respective electrical connector and electrically connected to the respective electrical connector.