ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITH CAPACITIVE PROXIMITY SENSORS FOR PROXIMITY-BASED RADIO-FREQUENCY POWER CONTROL
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a housing;
an antenna window in the housing; and
metal structures that serve as an antenna resonating element and a capacitive proximity sensor electrode, wherein the metal structures are configured to transmit radio-frequency signals through the antenna window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic device may have a housing in which an antenna is mounted. An antenna window may be mounted in the housing to allow radio-frequency signals to be transmitted from the antenna and to allow the antenna to receive radio-frequency signals. Near-field radiation limits may be satisfied by reducing transmit power when an external object is detected in the vicinity of the dielectric antenna window and the antenna. A capacitive proximity sensor may be used in detecting external objects in the vicinity of the antenna. The proximity sensor may have conductive layers separated by a dielectric. A capacitance-to-digital converter may be coupled to the proximity sensor by inductors. The capacitive proximity sensor may be interposed between an antenna resonating element and the antenna window. The capacitive proximity sensor may serve as a parasitic antenna resonating element and may be coupled to the housing by a capacitor.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a housing; an antenna window in the housing; and metal structures that serve as an antenna resonating element and a capacitive proximity sensor electrode, wherein the metal structures are configured to transmit radio-frequency signals through the antenna window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electronic device comprising:
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a conductive housing; a dielectric antenna window in the conductive housing; conductive structures; transceiver circuitry that wirelessly transmits radio-frequency signals using the conductive structures; and proximity sensor circuitry that detects changes in capacitance using the conductive structures. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A wireless electronic device comprising:
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a housing; an antenna window in the housing; and capacitive proximity sensor electrode structures mounted in the housing; and antenna resonating element structures mounted in the housing and configured to transmit radio-frequency signals through the antenna window. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification