Polar sensor patterns
First Claim
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1. A capacitance sensing apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sensor elements extending in a radial direction from a shared center, said plurality of sensor elements comprising;
a first subset of sensor elements that extend spiral-like in a clockwise direction; and
a second subset of sensor elements that extend spiral-like in a counterclockwise direction, said second subset of sensor elements electrically insulated from said first subset of sensor elements, wherein a capacitance induced in a first sensor element of said first subset if an object is at a distance from said first sensor element and a capacitance induced in a second sensor element of said second subset if said object is at said distance from said second sensor element are substantially equal.
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Abstract
Patterns of sensor elements that can be used in capacitance sensing devices are described. A plurality of sensor elements extends in a radial direction from a shared center. A first subset of the sensor elements extend like spirals in a clockwise direction, and a second subset of the sensor elements extend like spirals in a counterclockwise direction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A capacitance sensing apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of sensor elements extending in a radial direction from a shared center, said plurality of sensor elements comprising; a first subset of sensor elements that extend spiral-like in a clockwise direction; and a second subset of sensor elements that extend spiral-like in a counterclockwise direction, said second subset of sensor elements electrically insulated from said first subset of sensor elements, wherein a capacitance induced in a first sensor element of said first subset if an object is at a distance from said first sensor element and a capacitance induced in a second sensor element of said second subset if said object is at said distance from said second sensor element are substantially equal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of sensing an object, said method comprising:
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receiving output signals from one or more of a plurality of sensor elements, wherein said sensor elements extend from a central position to the edges of said sensing region, wherein said sensor elements comprise a first subset of sensor elements that extend spiral-like in a clockwise direction about said central position and a second subset of sensor elements that extend spiral-like in a counterclockwise direction about said central position, and wherein said second subset of sensor elements is electrically insulated from said first subset of sensor elements, and wherein a deformable conductive surface is disposed in proximity to said plurality of sensor elements, wherein said sensor elements measure a change in capacitance induced if said conductive surface is deformed; and determining a position within said sensing region by comparing measures of said output signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A capacitance sensing apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of sensor elements extending in a radial direction from a shared center, said plurality of sensor elements comprising; a first subset of sensor elements that extend spiral-like in a clockwise direction; and a second subset of sensor elements that extend spiral-like in a counterclockwise direction, said second subset of sensor elements electrically insulated from said first subset of sensor elements, wherein a measure of capacitance, if measured in the absence of an object to be sensed, is substantially equal for each sensor element of said plurality of sensor elements. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification