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Multi-state capacitive button

  • US 10,284,196 B2
  • Filed: 01/25/2017
  • Issued: 05/07/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:

  • a sensor comprising first and second electrode tracks;

    a button comprising an electrically isolating material, the button configured to capacitively couple with an object;

    a conductor between the button and the sensor, the conductor configured to;

    capacitively couple with a capacitive node formed by the first and second electrodes tracks of the sensor; and

    form a galvanic connection between the first and second electrode tracks when the conductor comes into contact with the sensor; and

    a controller connected to the sensor and configured to;

    measure a value of a capacitance at the capacitive node formed by the first and second electrode tracks of the sensor, the capacitance at the capacitive node reflecting an amount of capacitive coupling between the conductor and the capacitive node formed by the first and second electrode tracks of the sensor;

    detect, in response to the value meeting a first condition, a first state of the button, the first state indicating that the object is within a detectable distance of the button and that the object is not in contact with the button; and

    detect, in response to the value meeting a second condition, a second state of the button, the second state indicating that the object is in contact with the button and that the conductor is not in contact with the sensor.

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