Capacitive sensor

• US 8,502,547 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Philipp, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Vincent Q
• Application Number:
  US12/939,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20110043226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 324/658, 324/686, 324/681
• US Class Current: 324/686
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96066 Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch

Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided for a capacitive sensor. In an example, a capacitive sensor can include a first sensing element, a sensing channel operable to generate a first signal indicative of first capacitance between the sensing element and a system ground, and a processor responsive to a change in the first capacitance between the first sensing element and ground. The processor can be configured to adjust a parameter value based on a first duration of the change in the first capacitance.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first sensing element;

a sensing channel operable to generate a first signal indicative of a first capacitance between the sensing element and a system ground; and

a processor responsive to a change in the first capacitance between the first sensing element and ground, the processor configured to adjust a value of a parameter based on a first duration of the change in the first capacitance.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to increase the value of the parameter based on the first duration of the change in the first capacitance.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to decrease the value of the parameter based on the first duration of the change in first capacitance.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parameter includes an aspect of color parameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the parameter includes a color brightness parameter.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the parameter includes color saturation parameter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, including:

a second sensing element;

a second sensing channel operable to generate a second signal indicative of capacitance between the sensing element and a system ground; and

wherein the processor is responsive to a change in a second capacitance between the second sensing element and ground, the processor configured to adjust the value of the parameter based on a second duration of the change in the second capacitance.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to increase the value of the parameter in response to the first duration of the change in the first capacitance.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to decrease the value of the parameter in response to the second duration of the change in the second capacitance.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the value of the parameter includes a first state and a second state, the first state configured to turn on a light, and the second state configured to turn off the light.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the parameter includes an aspect of color parameter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the parameter includes a color saturation parameter.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the parameter includes color brightness parameter.

14. A system comprising:

color illumination device;

a controller configured to control the color illumination device, the controller including

a first sensing element;

a second sensing element;

a sensing channel, the sensing channel operable to generate a first signal indicative of a first capacitance between the sensing element and a system ground, and operable to generate a second signal indicative of a second capacitance between the second sensing element and the system ground;

a processor, wherein the processor is responsive to a change in the first capacitance between the first sensing element and ground;

wherein the processor is configured to adjust a value of a parameter based on a first duration of the change in the first capacitance,

wherein the processor is responsive to a change in the second capacitance; and

wherein the processor is configured to adjust the value of the parameter based on a second duration of the change in the second capacitance.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller includes a wireless communication module, the controller configured to remotely control the color illumination device using the wireless communications module.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the color illumination device includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

17. A method comprising:

detecting a first touch of a first sensing element using a change in capacitance of the first sensing element;

monitoring a first duration of the detected first touch;

changing a value of a parameter if the first duration exceeds a first predetermined interval, wherein changing the value of the parameter includes increasing the value of the parameter if the first duration exceeds the first predetermined interval;

detecting a second touch of a second sensing element;

monitoring a second duration of the detected second touch;

decreasing the value of the parameter if the second duration exceeds a second predetermined interval; and

controlling an aspect of color of a color illumination device based on the value of the parameter.