Multi-state capacitive button
First Claim
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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Abstract
In certain embodiments, a method includes applying voltage to a sensor that includes first and second electrode tracks, the sensor proximate to a conductor depressible relative to the sensor and located between a button and the sensor. The conductor can capacitively couple with a capacitive node formed by the tracks, and the button can capacitively couple with an object. A value of a capacitance at the node is measured, the capacitance reflecting an amount of capacitive coupling between the conductor and the node. In response to the value meeting a first condition, a first button state is detected, indicating the object is within a detectable distance of and not in contact with the button. In response to the value meeting a second condition, a second button state is detected, indicating the object is in contact with the button and the conductor is not in contact with the sensor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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applying, by a controller, voltage to a sensor, the sensor proximate to a conductor that is capable of being depressed relative to the sensor, the conductor located between a button and the sensor, the sensor comprising first and second electrode tracks, the conductor configured to capacitively couple with a capacitive node formed by the first and second electrode tracks of the sensor, the button configured to capacitively couple with an object; measuring, by the controller, 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; detecting, by the controller 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 detecting, by the controller 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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus, comprising:
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one or more processors; and one or more storage units coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more storage units storing logic configured to, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising; applying, by a controller, voltage to a sensor, the sensor proximate to a conductor that is capable of being depressed relative to the sensor, the conductor located between a button and the sensor, the sensor comprising first and second electrode tracks, the conductor configured to capacitively couple with a capacitive node formed by the first and second electrode tracks of the sensor, the button configured to capacitively couple with an object; measuring, by the controller, 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; detecting, by the controller 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 detecting, by the controller 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. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification