Force Sensor and Coplanar Display

Abstract

Embodiments described herein generally take the form of an electronic device including a primary and secondary display; at least the secondary display is force-sensitive and further has its force-sensing circuitry in-plane with the display. The secondary display and force-sensing circuitry may be encapsulated between two glass layers that are bonded to one another by a frit. In some embodiments the force-sensing circuitry is formed from, or constitutes part of, the frit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing device, comprising:
 an enclosure;   a display positioned at least partially within the enclosure and comprising:   a display layer;   a top encapsulant above the display layer;   a bottom encapsulant below the display layer; and   a sidewall connecting the top encapsulant to the bottom encapsulant and extending about the display layer;   force-sensing circuitry positioned at least partially about the display layer; and   a circuit extending from the force-sensing circuitry through a portion of the sidewall;   wherein:   the force-sensing circuitry is positioned either within the sidewall or between the display and the sidewall.   
     
     
         2 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the enclosure comprises:
 a top portion; 
 a bottom portion comprising: 
   a top case; and   a bottom case connected to the top case; and
 a hinge connecting the top portion to the bottom portion; 
   the display is a secondary display;   the secondary display is visible through the top case;   the top encapsulant is glass;   the bottom encapsulant is glass;   the force-sensing circuitry is at least partially encapsulated by the sidewall; and   the computing device further comprises:
 a primary display at least partially within the top portion of the enclosure; and 
 a keyboard at least partially extending through the top case. 
   
     
     
         3 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the force-sensing circuitry is configured to measure a change in capacitance with respect to the enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The computing device of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the enclosure comprises:
 a top case; and 
 a bottom case attached to a top case, thereby defining at least a portion of the enclosure; and 
   the force-sensing circuitry is configured to measure a change in capacitance with respect to the bottom case.   
     
     
         5 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the force-sensing circuitry is coplanar with the display layer. 
     
     
         6 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sidewall is formed from glass; and   the force-sensing circuitry is at least partially within the sidewall.   
     
     
         7 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 top encapsulant and sidewall are formed from glass;   the bottom encapsulant is a substrate on which the display layer is formed; and   the top encapsulant, bottom encapsulant, and sidewall cooperate to surround the display layer and the force-sensing circuitry.   
     
     
         8 . The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the force-sensing circuitry comprises a frit metal. 
     
     
         9 . A portable computing device, comprising:
 an enclosure;   a display at least partially within the enclosure;   a force sensor coplanar with a portion of the display and within the enclosure;   an encapsulant surrounding the force sensor and within the enclosure; wherein:   the force sensor is configured to measure a change in capacitance in response to an input force exerted on the display; and   the force sensor is configured to measure the change in capacitance with respect to the enclosure.   
     
     
         10 . The portable computing device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the display comprises a display layer;   the encapsulant is part of the display; and   the encapsulant surrounds the display layer.   
     
     
         11 . The portable computing device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the encapsulant is formed from glass;
 the display layer is visible through the encapsulant; and 
 the force sensor is not visible through the encapsulant. 
   
     
     
         12 . The portable computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the display layer comprises low-temperature polysilicon. 
     
     
         13 . The portable computing device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the display further comprises a touch sensor; and   the display layer is visible through the touch sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The portable computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the force sensor comprises:
 first force-sensing circuitry positioned along a first side of the display; and   second force-sensing circuitry position along a second side of the display.   
     
     
         15 . The portable computing device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first force-sensing circuitry and second force-sensing circuitry are each at least partially within the encapsulant; and   an electrical circuit extends from the first force-sensing circuitry through the encapsulant.   
     
     
         16 . The portable computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the encapsulant flexes in response to an input force on the display. 
     
     
         17 . A computing device, comprising:
 a touch-sensitive display configured comprising a display layer and configured to accept an input;   force-sensing circuitry configured to detect a force of the input;   a processing unit operably connected to the force-sensing circuitry and configured to estimate an amount of the force based on an output of the force-sensing circuitry;   an encapsulant forming a portion of the display and encapsulating the force-sensing circuitry;   an enclosure enclosing the force-sensing circuitry, processing unit, and at least a portion of the touch-sensitive display; wherein:   the force-sensing circuitry surrounds at least a portion of the display; and   the force-sensing circuitry is coplanar with the display layer.   
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 17 , further comprising a frit metal within the encapsulant. 
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the force-sensing circuitry is formed from the frit metal. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the portion of the force-sensing circuitry formed from the frit metal is capacitively coupled to the enclosure; and   a capacitance between the force-sensing circuitry and the enclosure varies as the force varies.