Capacitive sensing device

Abstract

A device and method include an enclosure having a top layer with an external touch surface and an oppositely disposed back surface, a flexible substrate including a first portion affixed to the back surface, a second portion separate from the first portion, and an intermediate portion between the first second portions. An array of capacitive sensors is configured to sense objects proximate the external surface. A processor mounted to the second portion is configured to obtain signals from the sensors, determine object motion proximate the external surface using the signals, cause scrolling in response the object moving along a first axis, cause continued scrolling in response to the object lifting with a substantially non-zero speed along the first axis, and to not cause continued scrolling in response the object lifting with a substantially zero speed along the first axis.

1 . A capacitive sensing device comprising:
 an enclosure including a top layer having an external surface and an internal surface opposite the external surface;   a substrate including a first portion affixed to the internal surface, a second portion spatially separate from the first portion and configured for communication with a processor, and a bendable portion between the first portion and the second portion; and   an array of capacitive sensors disposed on the first portion of the flexible substrate, the array of capacitive sensors configured to sense objects proximate the external surface.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor mounted to the second portion of the flexible substrate, the processor electrically coupled to the array of capacitive sensors, the processor configured to generate an output signal responsive to object motion capacitively detected by the array of capacitive sensors.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the external surface comprises a touch surface. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer includes a first region proximate the first portion of the substrate, and wherein the first region is relatively thinner compared to another region of the enclosure adjacent to the first region. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adhesive coupling the first portion of the substrate to the internal surface of the top layer.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the first portion of the substrate is disposed between the array of capacitive sensors and the internal surface of the top layer. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the array of capacitive sensors is disposed between the flexible substrate and the internal surface of the top layer. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the array of capacitive sensors comprises conductive ink. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the array of capacitive sensors comprises indium tin oxide. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a backing plate affixed to the substrate.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the array of capacitive sensors comprises a first plurality of capacitive sensors arranged along a first axis. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the array of capacitive sensors further comprises a second plurality of capacitive sensors arranged along a second axis, wherein the array of capacitive sensors is configured to sense the object motion in two dimensions. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is a mouse enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . A capacitive sensing device comprising:
 an enclosure, the enclosure including a top layer having an external surface and an internal surface opposite the external surface, wherein the external surface comprises a touch surface;   a substrate including a first portion affixed to the external surface by adhesive, a second portion spatially separate from the first portion, and a bendable portion extending between the first portion and the second portion; and   an array of capacitive sensors on the first portion of the substrate, the array of capacitive sensors configured to sense objects proximate the touch surface in at least one dimension.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , further comprising a processor mounted to the second portion of the flexible substrate, the processor electrically coupled with the array of capacitive sensors, the processor configured to generate an output in response to object motion capacitively detected by the array of capacitive sensors. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the array of capacitive sensors comprises a first plurality of capacitive sensors arranged along a first axis and a second plurality of capacitive sensors arranged along a second axis, wherein the array of capacitive sensors is configured to sense the object motion in two dimensions, and wherein the array of capacitive sensor is formed from indium tin oxide. 
     
     
         19 . A method of providing an output using a capacitive device comprising an enclosure, the enclosure including a top layer having an external touch surface and an oppositely disposed back surface, a flexible substrate including a first portion affixed to the back surface, a second portion spatially separate from the first portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, an array of capacitive sensors on the first portion of the flexible substrate configured to sense objects proximate the external surface, and a processor mounted to the second portion of the flexible substrate, the method comprising:
 obtaining signals from the array of capacitive sensors;   determining motion of an object proximate to the external surface using the signals;   causing scrolling in response the object moving along a first axis;   causing continued scrolling in response to the object lifting from the external surface with a substantially non-zero speed along the first axis; and   not causing continued scrolling in response the object lifting from the external surface with a substantially zero speed along the first axis.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising decaying the continued scrolling.