Patent Publication Number: US-2021165509-A1

Title: Pressure sensors and non-planar surfaces

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     A pointing device may be coupled to a computing device to control aspects of computing device. For instance, a pointing device may control a position of a cursor on a display of a computing device and/or otherwise facilitate interaction with the display of a computing device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a diagram of an example of a system according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a pointing device according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic view of an example of a pointing device according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic view of another example of a pointing device according to the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a diagram of an example of a controller according to the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As mentioned, a pointing device may control a position of a cursor on a display of a computing device and/or otherwise facilitate interaction with the display of a computing device. For instance, a pointing device may be moved in a given direction by a user to cause a cursor on a display of a computing device to move in the same direction on the display. A user may also manipulate a pointing device with a finger to initiate right or left-click operations on a depressible button of the pointing device to allow the user to drag objects on the screen and/or select items on a display. Some pointing devices such as joysticks may be designed to be employed on a planar surface (i.e., a flat surface) such as on a desktop. As used herein, the term “planar” refers to surface with all vertices taken across a dimension of the object in the same plane (i.e., a flat non-curved surface). Some pointing devices may employ a planar force transducer located in and/or adjacent to a computing keyboard such as a keyboard in a laptop screen. 
     However, a portion of the population may experience difficulties moving a pointing device in given direction. For instance, senior citizens may have a decline in motor skills/fine muscle control and therefore may experience difficulties with moving a pointer device in a given direction. As a result, senior citizens or others may experience difficulty operating pointing devices such as those designed to be operated on flat surfaces and/or those employing a planar force transducer. 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to pressure sensors and non-planar surfaces. For example, a system may include a non-planar surface and a plurality of pressure sensors coupled to respective portions of the non-planar surface to measure a location of a force applied to the respective portions of the non-planar surface and responsive to measuring the location of the force, output a signal to cause a cursor to move in a direction corresponding to the location of the force. As used herein, the term “non-planar surface” refers to a surface with more than three vertices, and at least one of the vertices do not lie in the same plane, Examples of non-planar surfaces include curved surfaces and spherical surfaces, among other types of non-planar surfaces. 
     Notably, such non-planar surfaces may facilitate ergonomic pointing devices. For instance, pointer devices herein may be employed on either a planar surface (e.g., a desk) or on a non-planar surface (e.g., in a lap of the user). Additionally, pointer devices herein may permit application of a force at two distinct locations on the non-planar surface at the same time and/or permit two-handed operation, in contrast to other pointing devices such as those designed to be operated on flat surfaces and/or those that employ a planar force transducer. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a diagram of an example of a system  100  according to the disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the system  100  may include a non-planar surface  106  and a plurality of pressure sensors  110 - 1 , . . .  110 -S among other possible components including those described herein. 
     As mentioned, the term “non-planar surface” refers to a surface with more than three vertices and at least one of the vertices do not lie in the same plane. For instance, the non-planar surface  106  may be spherical as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . However, the disclosure is not so limited. Rather, the non-planar surface  106  may be a different shape. For instance, the non-planar surface  106  may be shaped as various other non-planar surfaces such as a prolate spheroid (i.e., a football), among other possibilities. 
     The non-planar surface  106  may be formed of a metal, plastic, fibers, or combinations thereof, among other possible materials. For instance, in some examples the non-planar surface may be formed of a metal such as aluminum, steel, titanium, or combinations thereof, among other types of metals. The non-planar surface  106  may be continuous, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or may include an opening such as a hole, slot, or other type of opening. 
     As used herein a pressure sensor refers to a device that has a capability to sense a pressure and converts the sensed pressure into an electric signal where a magnitude of the electrical signal depends upon an amount of the pressure applied. Examples of pressure sensors include strain gauges and/or piezoelectric films, among other types of pressure sensors. For instance, in some examples the pressure sensors  110 - 1 , . . .  110 -S may include strain gauges. For instance, in some examples each of the pressure sensors  110 - 1 , . . .  110 -S may be a respective strain gauge. That is, a user may move a pointer on a display screen by applying a force at a pressure sensor of the pressure sensors  110  with a finger and/or a palm. Responsive to application of such as force the pressure sensors  110  may measure a location of a force applied and/or an amount of the force applied. 
     The pressure sensors  110  may output a signal to cause a cursor to move in a direction corresponding to the location of the force, as detailed herein. For instance, the pressure sensors  110  may output a signal to cause a cursor to move in a direction corresponding to the location of the force responsive to measuring the location of the force and/or the amount of the force. That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pressure sensors  110 - 1 , . . .  110 -S (collectively referred to as pressure sensors  110 ) may be coupled to respective portions  109 - 1 ,  109 - 2 ,  109 - 3 , . . . ,  109 -P of the non-planar surface  106 . 
     While  FIG. 1  illustrates four total portions of the non-planar surface  106  it is understood that the total number of the portions may be increased or decreased depending upon an application of the non-planar device and/or a location/total number of pressure sensors, etc. Additionally, the non-planar surface  106  may include additional portions (e.g., portions  309 - 4  and  309 - 5  as described herein with respect to  FIG. 3 ) that may not be visible from the view point of  FIG. 1 . In any case, determination of a location of a force such as a force applied to a portion (e.g., portion  109 - 1 ) via a pressure sensor (e.g., pressure sensor  110 - 2 ) a cursor may be caused to move in a direction (e.g., in a left direction on a display relative to a user viewing the display) corresponding to the location of the force and/or may cause an action to occur such as selection of an icon by the cursor or other type of action. 
     In some examples, the pressure sensors  110  may sense application of a force to at the two distinct locations. In such examples, an action may occur responsive to the force being applied at the two distinct locations. For instance, a force on a first portion  109 - 1  may result in first action (e.g., a cursor moving up on a display screen), a force on a second portion  109 - 2  may result in a second action (the cursor moving left on a display screen), while application of a force to both the first portion  109 - 1  and the second portion  109 - 2  may result in a third action (e.g., selection of a graphical icon at or near a location of the cursor), among other possible actions. 
     In various examples, the plurality of pressure sensors  110  on respective portions  109 - 1 , . . .  109 -P of the non-planar surface  106  may measure a location of a force applied in a direction substantially normal to the non-planar surface. As used herein, the term “direction substantially normal” refers to a direction that is orthogonal to a point on non-planar surface  106 , as described herein with greater detail with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in some examples the plurality of pressure sensors may include a first set  111 - 1  of pressure sensors (e.g., strain gauges) spaced substantially equidistant from adjacent pressure sensors in the first set substantially along a first axis  113 - 1 . As used herein, the term “substantially” refers have to in this manner, a force applied to the non-planar surface  106  as a given location may be attributed to a pressure sensor located most proximate (e.g., registering a largest pressure signal) and thereby provide a location of the applied force in the first axis. 
     Similarly, in some examples the plurality of pressure sensors  110  may include a second set  111 - 2  of pressure sensors that are spaced substantially equidistant from adjacent pressure sensors (e.g., strain gauges) in the second set  111 - 2  substantially along a second axis  113 - 2 . In this manner, a force applied to the non-planar surface  106  as a given location may be attributed to a pressure sensor located most proximate (e.g., registering a largest pressure signal) and thereby provide a location of the applied force in the first axis  113 - 1  and/or the second axis  113 - 2 . That is, a location of a force may be determined by an individual pressure sensor or a plurality of pressure sensors, as described herein. It is noted that a total number of pressure sensors, a distance between adjacent pressure sensors in a set of pressure sensors, and/or a relative orientation between different sets of pressure sensors may be varied. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a diagram of an example of a pointing device  202  according to the disclosure. The pointing device  202  may include a flexible material  212 . The flexible material may include rubber, silicone rubber, and/or combinations thereof, among other possible materials. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the flexible material  212  may overlay an entire surface area of the non-planar surface (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). However, in some examples the flexible material may overlay a some but not all of, an entire surface area of the non-planar surface. For instance, in some examples the flexible material may overlay pressure sensors on the non-planar surface but may not overlay a portion of the flexible material that is without a pressure sensor, among other possibilities. For example, the flexible material may overlay a surface area of a subset of a portion (e.g., portion  109 - 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) but may not overlay an entire surface area of the portion. In any case, as used herein the term “overlay” refers to covering another surface. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a schematic view of an example of a cross-section of pointing device  304  according to the disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the pointing device may include a non-planar surface  306 , a plurality of pressure sensors  310 , a flexible material  312 , and a controller  314 , among other components including those described herein. The non-planar surface  306  may be analogous or similar to the non-planar surface  106  and/or  406  referenced in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , respectively. The pressure sensors  310  may be analogous or similar to the pressure sensors  110  and/or  410  referenced in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 , respectively. The flexible material  312  may be analogous or similar to the flexible material  212  and/or  412  referenced in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , respectively. The controller  314  may be analogous or similar to the controller  414  and/or  514  referenced in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , respectively. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in various examples the flexible material  312  may overlay a portion of the non-planar surface  306 , and a plurality of pressure sensors  310  (represented as an individual pressure sensor  310  for ease of illustration). As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the flexible material may directly overlay the non-planar surface and/or the pressure sensors  310  without an intervening element between the non-planar surface and/or the pressure sensors  310 . However, the disclosure is not so limited. In some examples, an intervening element such as a barrier layer (e.g., a liquid/moisture, electrical, and/or mechanical barrier layer) may be present between the non-planar surface and the flexible material. 
     As mentioned, the pressure sensors  310  may be coupled to respective portions  309 - 1 ,  309 - 2 ,  309 - 4 ,  309 - 5  of the non-planar surface  312  to measure a location of a force  315  applied in a direction substantially normal to the non-planar surface. For instance, the force may be applied at a location of a pressure sensor or may be applied at a location adjacent to a pressure sensor. If a force is applied directly to a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor receiving the force may determine a location of the force as coinciding with a location of the pressure sensor. 
     If a force is applied indirectly to a pressure sensor (via deformation of the non-planar surface  306  and/or deformation of the flexible material  312  cause be the force), the pressure sensor may determine a location of the force as being adjacent to the pressure sensor. In this manner, if two or more pressure sensors experience a force at or near the same time the pressure sensors may be provide respective signal which may be employed to infer a location of the applied force. 
     For example, triangulation or other methodology may be used between adjacent pressure sensors to infer a location, an intensity, and/or a duration of an applied force. For instance, in some examples, the controller  314  may include instructions to measure an amount of force applied to two or more pressure sensors of the plurality of pressure sensors and infer a location of the applied force based on the respective forces applied to each pressure sensor of the two or more pressure sensors. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another a schematic view of another example of a cross-section (taken along a first axis  213 - 2  of pointing device  202 ) pointing device  405  according to the disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a controller  414  may be disposed in an internal volume defined by the non-planar surface  406 . Similarly, in some examples an amplification circuit  416  and/or a wireless transmitter  418  may be disposed in an internal volume defined by the non-planar surface  406 . As used herein, “disposed” means a location at which something is physically positioned. 
     The amplification circuit  416  refers to device with a functionality to alter (e.g., increase) an electrical signal. For instance, the amplification circuit  416  may to increase a voltage and/or current of a signal of a force measured by a pressure sensor to form an amplified signal having a comparatively greater voltage and/or current than a signal measured by the pressure sensor. For example, the amplification circuit  416  may be coupled to a battery or other energy source (not illustrated) included in the pointing device  405  to power the amplification circuit and thereby alter an electrical signal provided from the pressure sensors  410  to the amplification circuit. Similarly, the pressure sensors  410  may be coupled to the battery or other energy source included in the pointing device to power the pressure sensors  410 . 
     In various examples, the pointing device  405  may wireless output a signal. For instance, the pointing device  405  may include a digital to analog converter (DAC) and/or analog to digital converter to translate an amplified signal from the amplification circuit  416  to an output signal that may be output by the wireless transmitter  418 , among other possibilities. Such translations may include translating the amplified signal into representative bits, among other possibilities. 
     The wireless transmitter  418  refers to a device with a functionality to wirelessly transmit a signal. For instance, the wireless transmitter  418  may transmit a signal representative of a measured location, intensity, and/or duration of a force applied to a pressure sensor  410  of the pointing device  405  and/or the transmitter may transmit a signal to cause a pointer to move on a display screen in a direction corresponding with the location, intensity, and/or the duration of the force. That is, the pointing device  405  may wirelessly transmit a signal indicative of an action such as selecting and/or moving a cursor on a screen. For instance, the transmitter may transmit a signal accordance with an 802.11 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers protocol, a BLUETOOTH ® protocol, and/or a near-field communication (NFC) protocol, among other possibilities. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the pointing device  405  may be free of depressible buttons. Stated differently, the pointing device  405  may be without a switch on the non-planar surface  406  or otherwise included in the pointing device  405 . As used herein, the term “depressible button” refers to a switch which may be actuated from between an “on” or “off” state. Examples of depressible buttons include keycaps and manual switch having an “on” and “off” position. By having the pointing device  405  free of a depressible button a greater amount of surface area may be instrumented with pressure sensors such as those described herein and/or may provide a more ergonomic pointing device as compared to pointing devices that employ a depressible button. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a diagram of an example of a controller  514  according to the disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the controller  514  may include a processing resource  532  and a non-transitory computer readable medium  534 . 
     The processing resource  532  may be a central processing unit (CPU), a semiconductor based micro-processing resource, and/or other hardware devices suitable for retrieval and execution of computer-readable instructions such as those stored on the non-transitory computer readable medium  534 . 
     The non-transitory computer readable medium  534  may be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that stores executable instructions. Thus, non-transitory computer readable medium  534  may be, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), an Electrically-Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), a storage drive, an optical disc, and the like. 
     The executable instructions may be “installed” on the controller  514  illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Non-transitory computer readable medium  534  may be a portable, external, or remote storage medium, for example, that allows the controller  514  to download the instructions from the portable/external/remote storage medium. In this situation, the executable instructions may be part of an “installation package”, As described herein, non-transitory computer readable medium  534  may be encoded with executable instructions related to pressure sensors and non-planar surfaces. 
     In various examples, the processing resource  532  may execute determine instructions  540  to receive a measured location of a force. For instance, the determine instructions  540  may include instructions to receive a measured location, magnitude, and/or a duration of a force measured by a pressure sensor such as those described herein. For instance, in some examples, the controller  514  may include instructions (not illustrated) to determine, via a pressure sensor, a location of a force applied to the respective portions of the non-planar surface. 
     In various examples, the processing resources  532  may execute move instructions  542  to output a signal to cause a cursor to move in a direction corresponding to the location of the force. For instance, the move instructions  542  may output a signal to cause a cursor to move in a direction corresponding to the location of the force responsive to receipt of the measured location of the force, among other possibilities. 
     In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure may be practiced. The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. For example, reference numeral  106  may refer to element  106  in  FIG. 1  and an analogous element may be identified by reference numeral  206  in  FIG. 2 . Elements shown in the various figures herein may be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated to provide additional examples of the disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense.