Capacitance sensing apparatus
First Claim
1. A capacitance sensing apparatus for use in a position sensing apparatus comprising:
- a first set of electrodes;
a second set of electrodes;
a capacitance sensing circuit arranged to determine, in use in a normal operating mode, the capacitance between each pairing of electrodes comprising one electrode from the first set of electrodes and one electrode from the second set of electrodes;
at least one group switch arranged to selectively electrically connect together groups of said electrodes within said sets of electrodes to provide a low resolution operating mode of the apparatus with said capacitance sensing circuit arranged to determine the capacitance between each pairing of groups of electrodes in one set of electrodes and said electrodes of said other set of electrodes, anda control circuit arranged to switch the apparatus in use between its different resolution states, said control circuit being arranged so that, in use, the state of the apparatus is switched depending on information relating to the distance of an object from the apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitance sensing apparatus for use in a position sensing apparatus, comprising a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes and a capacitance sensing circuit arranged to determine, in use in a normal operating mode, the capacitance between each pairing of electrodes comprising one from the first set and one from the second set, in which the apparatus is further provided with at least one group switch arranged to selectively electrically connect together groups of the electrodes within the sets of electrodes, in which, in use in a low resolution mode of the apparatus the or each group switch connects together the groups of electrodes and the capacitance sensing circuit is arranged to determine the capacitance between the each pairing of groups of electrodes in one set and the electrodes or groups of electrodes of the other set. Typically, the apparatus is used in conjunction with a display to form a touch-sensitive display. It may be used in a position sensing apparatus for determining the proximity and position of an object to the apparatus, and is particularly applicable to use in a console of a motor vehicle of the type having the console centrally between two passenger seats.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A capacitance sensing apparatus for use in a position sensing apparatus comprising:
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a first set of electrodes; a second set of electrodes; a capacitance sensing circuit arranged to determine, in use in a normal operating mode, the capacitance between each pairing of electrodes comprising one electrode from the first set of electrodes and one electrode from the second set of electrodes; at least one group switch arranged to selectively electrically connect together groups of said electrodes within said sets of electrodes to provide a low resolution operating mode of the apparatus with said capacitance sensing circuit arranged to determine the capacitance between each pairing of groups of electrodes in one set of electrodes and said electrodes of said other set of electrodes, and a control circuit arranged to switch the apparatus in use between its different resolution states, said control circuit being arranged so that, in use, the state of the apparatus is switched depending on information relating to the distance of an object from the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification