METHOD OF DETECTING AN OBJECT WITH A PROXIMITY SENSOR
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- detecting an object using a detection signal supplied by a proximity sensor, the detection signal having a value that changes as a function of the proximity of the object to the proximity sensor, the detecting including;
generating a reference signal by filtering the detection signal;
defining a first detection threshold relative to the reference signal;
going from an object non-detecting state to an object detecting state in response to detecting a value of the detection signal crosses the first detection threshold in a first direction;
in response to detecting the value of the detection signal crossing the first detection threshold in the first direction, readjusting a value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal; and
while in the object detecting state and after readjusting the value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal;
detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction; and
again readjusting the value of the reference signal, in a manner such that the detection signal crosses the first detection threshold in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, in response to detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction.
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to a method of detecting an object using a detection signal supplied by a proximity sensor. The method comprises the steps of generating a reference signal by filtering the value of the detection signal, defining a first detection threshold, and going from an object non-detecting state to an object detecting state when the value of the detection signal becomes greater than the first detection threshold. When the value of the detection signal becomes greater than the first detection threshold, the value of the reference signal is readjusted in a manner such that the value of the detection signal again becomes less than or respectively greater than, the first detection threshold.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
detecting an object using a detection signal supplied by a proximity sensor, the detection signal having a value that changes as a function of the proximity of the object to the proximity sensor, the detecting including; generating a reference signal by filtering the detection signal; defining a first detection threshold relative to the reference signal; going from an object non-detecting state to an object detecting state in response to detecting a value of the detection signal crosses the first detection threshold in a first direction; in response to detecting the value of the detection signal crossing the first detection threshold in the first direction, readjusting a value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal; and while in the object detecting state and after readjusting the value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal; detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction; and again readjusting the value of the reference signal, in a manner such that the detection signal crosses the first detection threshold in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, in response to detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
detecting an object using a detection signal supplied by a proximity sensor, the detection signal having a value that changes as a function of the proximity of the object to the proximity sensor, the detecting including; generating a reference signal by filtering the detection signal; defining a first detection threshold relative to the reference signal, wherein defining the first detection threshold includes adding or subtracting an offset to the reference signal; going from an object non-detecting state to an object detecting state in response to detecting the detection signal crossing the first detection threshold in a first direction; and in response to detecting the detection signal crossing the first detection threshold in the first direction, readjusting a value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal such that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal includes adjusting the offset and adding or subtracting the adjusted offset to the reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising program code configured to cause one or more processors to implement a method that includes:
detecting an object using a detection signal supplied by a proximity sensor, the detection signal having a value that changes as a function of the proximity of the object to the proximity sensor, the detecting including; generating a reference signal by filtering the detection signal; defining a first detection threshold relative to the reference signal; going from an object non-detecting state to an object detecting state in response to detecting a value of the detection signal crosses the first detection threshold in a first direction; in response to detecting the value of the detection signal crossing the first detection threshold in the first direction, readjusting a value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal; and while in the object detecting state and after readjusting the value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal; detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction; and again readjusting the value of the reference signal, in a manner such that the detection signal crosses the first detection threshold in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, in response to detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A proximity detector comprising:
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a proximity sensor configured to supply a detection signal having a value that changes based on a proximity of an object to the sensor; and a processing unit configured to receive the detection signal, wherein the processing unit is configured to; generate a reference signal by filtering the detection signal; define a first detection threshold relative to the reference signal; go from an object non-detecting state to an object detecting state in response to detecting the detection signal crossing the first detection threshold in a first direction; in response to detecting the detection signal crossing the first detection threshold in the first direction, readjust a value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal; and while in the object detecting state and after readjusting the value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal; detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction; and again readjusting the value of the reference signal, in a manner such that the detection signal crosses the first detection threshold in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, in response to detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A portable device, comprising:
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a first element that can be activated and deactivated; and a first proximity detector configured to activate or deactivate the first element when an object is detected in proximity of the device, the first proximity detector including; a proximity sensor configured to supply a detection signal having a value that changes based on a proximity of an object to the sensor; and a processing unit configured to receive the detection signal, wherein the processing unit is configured to; generate a reference signal by filtering the detection signal; define a first detection threshold relative to the reference signal; go from an object non-detecting state to an object detecting state in response to detecting the detection signal crossing the first detection threshold in a first direction; in response to detecting the detection signal crossing the first detection threshold in the first direction, readjust a value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal; and while in the object detecting state and after readjusting the value of the reference signal based on the detection signal and setting the first detection threshold based on the readjusted value of the reference signal; detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction; and again readjusting the value of the reference signal, in a manner such that the detection signal crosses the first detection threshold in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, in response to detecting that the detection signal again crosses the first detection threshold in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification