Touch and hover switching
First Claim
1. A capacitive sensing device comprising:
- a control system configured to control switching between a mutual capacitance mode and a self-capacitance mode, wherein;
the control system comprises;
a mutual capacitance sensing circuit configured to measure mutual capacitance at the sensing device,a self-capacitance sensing circuit configured to measure self-capacitance at the sensing device, anda switching mechanism configured to couple at least one sensor capable of detecting mutual capacitance or self-capacitance to either the mutual capacitance sensing circuit or the self-capacitance sensing circuit, the switching mechanism coupling the at least one sensor to the mutual capacitance sensing circuit during the mutual capacitance mode and to the self-capacitance sensing circuit during the self-capacitance mode, andthe control system is configured to;
operate the at least one sensor in the self-capacitance mode, measure one or more self-capacitance measurements at the sensing device using the at least one sensor, and upon detecting that a first self-capacitance measurement of the one or more self-capacitance measurements crosses a self-capacitance measurement threshold corresponding to a first distance between an object and the capacitive sensing device, switch to the mutual capacitance mode; and
operate the at least one sensor in the mutual capacitance mode, measure one or more mutual capacitance measurements at the sensing device using the at least one sensor, and upon detecting that a first mutual capacitance measurement of the one or more mutual capacitance measurements crosses a mutual capacitance measurement threshold corresponding to a second distance between the object and the capacitive sensing device, different from the first distance corresponding to the self-capacitance measurement threshold, switch to the self-capacitance mode.
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Abstract
Touch and hover switching is disclosed. A touch and hover sensing device can switch between a touch mode and a hover mode. During a touch mode, the device can be switched to sense one or more objects touching the device. During a hover mode, the device can be switched to sense one or more objects hovering over the device. The device can include a panel having multiple sensors for sensing a touching object and/or a hovering object and a touch and hover control system for switching the device between the touch and hover modes. The device'"'"'s touch and hover control system can include a touch sensing circuit for coupling to the sensors to measure a capacitance indicative of a touching object during the touch mode, a hover sensing circuit for coupling to the sensors to measure a capacitance indicative of a hovering object during the hover mode, and a switching mechanism for switching the sensors to couple to either the touch sensing circuit or the hover sensing circuit. The device can switch modes based on a condition of the device, such as an expiration of a timer or a relative distance of an object from the panel.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A capacitive sensing device comprising:
a control system configured to control switching between a mutual capacitance mode and a self-capacitance mode, wherein; the control system comprises; a mutual capacitance sensing circuit configured to measure mutual capacitance at the sensing device, a self-capacitance sensing circuit configured to measure self-capacitance at the sensing device, and a switching mechanism configured to couple at least one sensor capable of detecting mutual capacitance or self-capacitance to either the mutual capacitance sensing circuit or the self-capacitance sensing circuit, the switching mechanism coupling the at least one sensor to the mutual capacitance sensing circuit during the mutual capacitance mode and to the self-capacitance sensing circuit during the self-capacitance mode, and the control system is configured to; operate the at least one sensor in the self-capacitance mode, measure one or more self-capacitance measurements at the sensing device using the at least one sensor, and upon detecting that a first self-capacitance measurement of the one or more self-capacitance measurements crosses a self-capacitance measurement threshold corresponding to a first distance between an object and the capacitive sensing device, switch to the mutual capacitance mode; and operate the at least one sensor in the mutual capacitance mode, measure one or more mutual capacitance measurements at the sensing device using the at least one sensor, and upon detecting that a first mutual capacitance measurement of the one or more mutual capacitance measurements crosses a mutual capacitance measurement threshold corresponding to a second distance between the object and the capacitive sensing device, different from the first distance corresponding to the self-capacitance measurement threshold, switch to the self-capacitance mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of switching between a mutual capacitance sensing mode and a self-capacitance sensing mode of a sensing device, the method comprising:
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operating the at least one sensor in the self-capacitance mode; measuring one or more self-capacitance measurements at the sensing device using at least one sensor, and upon detecting that a first self-capacitance measurement of the one or more self-capacitance measurements crosses a self-capacitance measurement threshold corresponding to a first distance between an object and the sensing device, switching to the mutual capacitance mode; and operating the at least one sensor in the mutual capacitance mode; measuring one or more mutual capacitance measurements at the sensing device using the at least one sensor, and upon detecting that a first mutual capacitance measurement of the one or more mutual capacitance measurements crosses a mutual capacitance measurement threshold corresponding to a second distance between the object and the capacitive sensing device, different from the first distance corresponding to the self-capacitance measurement threshold, switching to the self-capacitance mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A capacitive sensing device comprising:
a sensing panel having multiple sensors, each capable of detecting mutual capacitance or self-capacitance and configured to detect one or more objects proximate to the panel; and a control system configured to measure capacitance associated with the proximate objects and to switch the sensors between a mutual capacitance detection mode and a self-capacitance detection mode, wherein the control system is configured to; operate the at least one sensor in the self-capacitance mode, measure one or more self-capacitance measurements at the sensing device using the at least one sensor, and upon detecting that a first self-capacitance measurement of the one or more self-capacitance measurements crosses a self-capacitance measurement threshold corresponding to a first distance between an object and the sensing device, switch to the mutual capacitance mode; and operate the at least one sensor in the mutual capacitance mode, measure one or more mutual capacitance measurements at the sensing device using the at least one sensor, and upon detecting that a first mutual capacitance measurement of the one or more mutual capacitance measurements crosses a mutual capacitance measurement threshold corresponding to a second distance between the object and the capacitive sensing device, different from the first distance corresponding to the self-capacitance measurement threshold, switch to the self-capacitance mode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
Specification