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 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 values; and
a processor operable to interpret and process the signal to determine a 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 values is mapped onto the sensing path and to set a parameter to approximately the desired value by a touch of the sensing path at a first point, and a second mode in which displacement of the object on the sensing element adjusts the parameter 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 the object along the sensing path in relation to the first point of touch, and wherein the parameter being controlled by the capacitive position sensor is an aspect of color,wherein the aspect of color is selected from color hue, color saturation, and color temperature.
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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 includes a sensing element having a sensing path, a terminal connecting the sensing element to a sensing channel, and a processor configured to interpret a signal indicative of a capacitance of the terminal. The processor has a first mode configured to set a parameter to a desired value. The desired value is related to a first position of an object sensed along the sensing path and a range of parameter values mapped to a length of the sensing path. A second mode adjusts the parameter based on a displacement of the object along the sensing path.
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Citations
25 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 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 values; and a processor operable to interpret and process the signal to determine a 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 values is mapped onto the sensing path and to set a parameter to approximately the desired value by a touch of the sensing path at a first point, and a second mode in which displacement of the object on the sensing element adjusts the parameter 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 the object along the sensing path in relation to the first point of touch, and wherein the parameter being controlled by the capacitive position sensor is an aspect of color, wherein the aspect of color is selected from color hue, color saturation, and color temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for setting a parameter to a desired value in a range of parameter 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 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 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 from the value initially set to the desired value; and processing the signal to determine the parameter value, wherein the parameter being controlled by the capacitive position sensor is an aspect of color selected from the group consisting of color hue, color saturation, and color temperature. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a sensing element comprising a sensing path;
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20. A sensor comprising:
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a sensing element comprising a sensing path having a length; at least one sensing channel operable to generate a signal indicative of capacitance between the sensing path and a system ground; a processor having a first mode and a second mode, the processor configured to determine a first position of an object along the sensing path using the signal and to set a parameter to an initial value in the first mode, wherein the initial value is a function of the first position along the sensing path and to a range of parameter values associated with the length of the sensing path, the processor further configured to adjust the parameter in a second mode in response to a displacement of the object along the sensing path from the first position, wherein the processor is configured to switch from the first mode to the second mode when the signal indicates displacement of the object proximate the sensing element and along the sensing path, and wherein the processor uses the value of the parameter value to control at least one aspect of color selected from the group consisting of color hue, color saturation, and color temperature. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification