Detecting Closure of an Electronic Device Using Capacitive Sensors

• US 20090058429A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Dutton, Drew J., Harris, Ian F., Gay, Kenneth W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,149,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/686
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

System and method for determining closure of an electronic device. The electronic device may include a top portion and a bottom portion, and may be connecting via a hinge or other closing mechanism. The top portion and/or the bottom portion may include one or more capacitive sensors which provide signals corresponding to physical contact and a controller coupled to the one or more capacitive sensors. The controller may operate to receive the signals from the one or more capacitive sensors, determine if the electronic device has been closed based on the received signals, and initiate a sequence of events corresponding to the closure of the electronic device. The sequence of events may result in the device entering a low power state.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a top portion;

a bottom portion, wherein the top portion and the bottom portion are connected using a closing mechanism, such that the top portion and the bottom portion come in contact when the electronic device is closed and do not come in full contact when the electronic device is open;

wherein the top portion and/or the bottom portion comprise;

one or more capacitive sensors which provide signals corresponding to physical contact; and

a controller coupled to the one or more capacitive sensors, wherein the controller is operable to;

receive the signals from the one or more capacitive sensors;

determine if the electronic device has been closed based on the received signals; and

initiate a sequence of events corresponding to the closure of the electronic device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sequence of events result in the electronic device entering a low power state.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a laptop, wherein the top portion comprises a display, and wherein the bottom portion comprises a keyboard.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the top portion comprises at least capacitive sensor of the one of the one or more capacitive sensors.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the bottom portion comprises a corresponding material for the at least one capacitive sensor, wherein the at least one capacitive sensor and the material are proximate to each other when the electronic device is closed, and wherein the at least one capacitive sensor is operable to provide a unique signal when the device is closed due to the proximity of the material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion comprises at least capacitive sensor of the one of the one or more capacitive sensors.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the top portion comprises a corresponding material for the at least one capacitive sensor, wherein the at least one capacitive sensor and the material are proximate to each other when the electronic device is closed, and wherein the at least one capacitive sensor is operable to provide a unique signal when the device is closed due to the proximity of the material.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the top portion comprises a first capacitive sensor of the one or more capacitive sensors and the bottom portion comprises a second capacitive sensor of the one or more capacitive sensors, wherein the first capacitive sensor and the second capacitive sensor are proximate to each other when the electronic device is closed, and wherein at least one of the first and the second capacitive sensor is operable to provide a unique signal when the device is closed due to the proximity of the corresponding first or second capacitive sensor.

9. A method for detecting closure of an electronic device, comprising:

receiving signals from one or more capacitive sensors comprised in the electronic device, wherein the signals correspond to detection of physical contact;

determining if the electronic device has been closed based on the received signals; and

initiating a sequence of events corresponding to the closure of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

performing the sequence of events; and

the electronic device entering a low power state after the sequence of events.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises a laptop.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the one or more capacitive sensors are comprised in a top portion of the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the one or more capacitive sensors are comprised in a bottom portion of the electronic device.