Capacitive position sensor
First Claim
1. A capacitive position sensor for setting a parameter or function to a desired value in a range of parameter or function values by determining the position of an object on a capacitive position sensor, the capacitive position sensor comprising:
- a sensing element comprising a sensing path;
at least one terminal connected to the sensing element;
at least one sensing channel connected to the at least one terminal in which the sensing channel is operable to generate a signal indicative of capacitance between the terminal and a system ground;
means to determine a position of an object on the sensing element;
means to further refine the position of the object corresponding to a value in the range of parameter or function values; and
a processor operable to interpret and process the signal to determine the approximate position of an object on the sensing path, the processor being configured to provide a first mode of the capacitive position sensor in which the range of parameter or function values is mapped onto the sensing path and in which the parameter or function can be set to approximately the desired value by a touch of the sensing path at a first point, and a second mode in which displacement of an object on the sensing element adjusts the parameter or function from the value initially set in the first mode, wherein the processor is configured to switch from the first mode to the second mode responsive to capacitive coupling caused by moving displacement of an object along the sensing path in relation to the first point of touch, and wherein the parameter or function being controlled by the capacitive position sensor is an aspect of color.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitive touch sensor is provided having sensing path for setting a color parameter to a desired value within a range, the color parameter being color hue, color saturation or color temperature. The sensor has a first mode of operation in which a parameter can be set approximately to a desired value and a second mode in which the value can be refined to the exact amount. In the first mode, the full range of possible values is mapped onto the sensing path and a user touch selects a value within the full range according to its position along the sensing path. In the second mode a finer adjustment is provided for, either by mapping a narrower sub-range of the full range onto the sensing path, or by allowing incremental adjustment of the parameter from the value initially set in the first mode, each incremental unit of adjustment being triggered by the object being displaced through a pre-determined threshold displacement along the sensing path. Switching from the first mode to the second mode is triggered if moving displacement of the object along the sensing path from the first point of touch exceeds a minimum threshold value. This provides an intuitive transition for the user from coarse to fine adjustment.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A capacitive position sensor for setting a parameter or function to a desired value in a range of parameter or function values by determining the position of an object on a capacitive position sensor, the capacitive position sensor comprising:
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a sensing element comprising a sensing path; at least one terminal connected to the sensing element; at least one sensing channel connected to the at least one terminal in which the sensing channel is operable to generate a signal indicative of capacitance between the terminal and a system ground; means to determine a position of an object on the sensing element; means to further refine the position of the object corresponding to a value in the range of parameter or function values; and a processor operable to interpret and process the signal to determine the approximate position of an object on the sensing path, the processor being configured to provide a first mode of the capacitive position sensor in which the range of parameter or function values is mapped onto the sensing path and in which the parameter or function can be set to approximately the desired value by a touch of the sensing path at a first point, and a second mode in which displacement of an object on the sensing element adjusts the parameter or function from the value initially set in the first mode, wherein the processor is configured to switch from the first mode to the second mode responsive to capacitive coupling caused by moving displacement of an object along the sensing path in relation to the first point of touch, and wherein the parameter or function being controlled by the capacitive position sensor is an aspect of color. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for setting a parameter or function to a desired value in a range of parameter or function values by determining the position of an object on a capacitive position sensor, the capacitive position sensor comprising:
- a sensing element comprising a sensing path;
at least one terminal connected to the sensing element;
at least one sensing channel connected to the at least one terminal in which the sensing channel is operable to generate a signal indicative of capacitance between the terminal and a system ground;
means to determine a position of an object on the sensing element; and
means to further refine the position of the object corresponding to a value in the range of parameter or function values, the method comprising;in a first mode of the capacitive position sensor in which the range of parameter or function values is mapped onto the sensing path bringing an object into proximity with the sensing element at a first point so as to determine a position of the object and thereby initially set the parameter or function to approximately the desired value; initiating a change in mode of the sensor from the first mode to a second mode responsive to capacitive coupling caused by moving displacement of the object along the sensing path in relation to the first point of touch of the object on the sensing element; in the second mode displacing the object on the sensing element to adjust the parameter or function from the value initially set to the desired value; and processing the signal to determine the selected parameter or function value, wherein the parameter or function being controlled by the capacitive position sensor is an aspect of color. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- a sensing element comprising a sensing path;
Specification