Synaptics has been granted a patent for a pointing stick assembly that includes multiple sensor layers for finger detection and navigation. The system uses capacitance changes to detect the presence of a finger on the top surface of the pointing stick assembly. The first sensor layer is positioned directly beneath the head of the assembly and is closer to the top surface compared to the other sensor layers. A processing system is also included to drive the sensors and interpret the resulting signals. GlobalData’s report on Synaptics gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Synaptics, Wearable computers was a key innovation area identified from patents. Synaptics's grant share as of September 2023 was 63%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
The patent is granted for a pointing stick assembly with multiple sensor layers
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11775092B2) describes a system and method for operating a pointing stick assembly. The system includes a pointing stick assembly with multiple sensor layers and a processing system. The first sensor layer, located directly beneath the head of the pointing stick assembly, includes a receiver electrode and a transmitter electrode. The processing system drives the transmitter electrode with sensing signals to detect the presence of a finger on the top surface of the pointing stick assembly. The resulting signals obtained via the receiver electrode are used to determine whether or not a finger is present.
Additionally, the processing system can drive the transmitter electrode of the second sensor layer with sensing signals for navigation detection. The second sensor layer and the third sensor layer, which includes multiple receiver electrodes, are part of a single flexible printed circuit (FPC) with a fold between them. The processing system can detect pressing and tilting operations performed on the pointing stick assembly by the finger based on resulting signals obtained via the receiver electrodes of the third sensor layer.
The patent also describes a pointing stick assembly that includes a head with a top surface, a shaft connected to the head for downward movement and tilting, and multiple sensor layers. The first sensor layer, located directly beneath the head, includes a receiver electrode and a transmitter electrode. The first sensor layer is configured to detect the presence of a finger based on changes in capacitance between the receiver and transmitter electrodes. The second and third sensor layers are configured to detect pressing and tilting operations based on changes in capacitance between the transmitter electrode of the second sensor layer and the receiver electrodes of the third sensor layer.
Overall, this patent presents a system and method for operating a pointing stick assembly that allows for the detection of finger presence, navigation, pressing, and tilting operations. The use of multiple sensor layers and a flexible printed circuit enables accurate and efficient operation of the pointing stick assembly.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Synaptics, buy the report here.
Premium Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
