Proximity sensor module and electronic device using same

• US 8,571,472 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Chao, Chien-Yao, Lin, Ming-Chih, Ting, Chen-Fa
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US13/155,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20120164962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/456.1, 455/550.1, 455/566, 455/567, 455/572, 4555751-5757, 455/91, 455/127.1, 455/128, 455/129
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes

Abstract

A proximity sensor module used in an electronic device includes a combination sensing element and antenna, and a detecting circuit electrically connected to the combination sensing element and antenna. The combination sensing element and antenna is used to detect whether an external object is in vicinity of the combination sensing element and antenna according to capacitance changes of the combination sensing element and antenna in presence or absence of an external object in the vicinity, the detecting circuit detects the capacitance changes, and generates a signal associated with the changes to decrease or increase transmission power transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna.

Claims

1. A proximity sensor module, used in an electronic device comprising:

a combination sensing element and antenna, working as both an antenna and a sensing element, used to detect whether an external object is in vicinity of the combination sensing element and antenna according to capacitance changes of the combination sensing element and antenna in the presence or absence of an external object in the vicinity;

a detecting circuit, electrically connected to the combination sensing element and antenna, that detects the capacitance changes, and generates a signal associated with the changes to decrease or increase transmission power transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna; and

a filter circuit electrically connected between the detecting circuit and the combination sensing element and antenna to reduce noise induced between the detecting circuit and the combination sensing element and antenna.

2. The proximity sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower transmission power and a higher transmission power is transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna when the detected external object moves closer to and moves away from, respectively, from the combination sensing element and antenna.

3. The proximity sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter circuit is an RL filter circuit which includes a resistor and an inductor connected in series, the resistor has a terminal electrically connected to the detecting circuit, and the inductor has a terminal electrically connected to the combination antenna sensing element.

4. The proximity sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combination sensing element and antenna has a radiation body made of one of copper and iron.

5. An electronic device, comprising:

a CPU;

a radio frequency (RF) circuit;

a proximity sensor module comprising;

a combination sensing element and antenna, electrically connected to the RF circuit, working as both an antenna and a sensing element, used to detect whether an external object is in vicinity of the combination sensing element and antenna according to capacitance changes of the combination sensing element and antenna in presence or absence of the external object in the vicinity;

a detecting circuit, electrically connected to the combination sensing element and antenna and the CPU, detecting the capacitance changes, and generating a signal associated with the changes to the CPU, the CPU decreasing or increasing transmission power of the RF circuit transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna according to the signal; and

a filter circuit, wherein the filter circuit is electrically connected between the detecting circuit and the combination sensing element and antenna to reduce noise induced between the detecting circuit and the combination sensing element and antenna.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a lower transmission power and a higher transmission power is transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna when the detected external object moves closer to and moves away from, respectively, from the combination sensing element and antenna.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the filter circuit is an RL filter circuit which includes a resistor and an inductor connected in series, the resistor has a terminal electrically connected to the detecting circuit, and the inductor has a terminal electrically connected to the combination antenna sensing element.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the combination sensing element and antenna has a radiation body made of one of copper and iron.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electronic device is a notebook computer or a tablet personal computer.