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Capacitive Position Sensor

  • US 20070291016A1
  • Filed: 06/19/2007
  • Published: 12/20/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A capacitive position sensor for detecting a position of an object comprising:

  • (a) a sensing element comprising a sensing path, the sensing path having one or more designated sensing areas along its length;

    (b) a plurality of terminals connected to the sensing element at different locations along the sensing path to subdivide it into a plurality of sections;

    (c) a plurality of sensing channels connected to respective ones of the terminals, wherein each sensing channel is operable to generate a signal indicative of capacitance between its terminal and a system ground; and

    (d) a processor operable to determine over which section the object is positioned by comparing the signals from the sensing channels, and to determine the position of the object within that section by comparing at least the signals from the terminals spanning that section, wherein the processor is operable to distinguish between a button touch in an absolute position on one of the plurality of sensing areas and a scroll touch caused by a moving displacement along the sensing path, respectively based on duration of touch and distance of displacement along the sensing path.

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