Integrated normal sensing and proximity sensing on a multi-dimensional sensor array
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- detecting a presence of a conductive object on a surface of a device having a multi-dimensional sensory array by individually measuring a capacitance for each of a plurality of sensor elements of the multi-dimensional array;
coupling a group of sensor elements of the plurality of sensor elements together;
conductively coupling to the group of sensor elements another conductor substantially surrounding at least one of the plurality of sensor elements; and
detecting a presence of the conductive object in proximity to the surface of the device by applying a signal to the group of coupled sensor elements to measure a single collective capacitance for the group of coupled sensor elements while the group of coupled sensor elements is conductively coupled to the another conductor substantially surrounding the at least one of the plurality of sensor elements.
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for coupling a group of sensor elements together in one mode to collectively measure a capacitance on the group of sensor elements, in addition to individually measuring a capacitance on each of the sensor elements in another mode. The apparatus may include a processing device, and a plurality of sensor elements that are individually coupled in a first mode for normal sensing and collectively coupled in a second mode for proximity sensing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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detecting a presence of a conductive object on a surface of a device having a multi-dimensional sensory array by individually measuring a capacitance for each of a plurality of sensor elements of the multi-dimensional array; coupling a group of sensor elements of the plurality of sensor elements together; conductively coupling to the group of sensor elements another conductor substantially surrounding at least one of the plurality of sensor elements; and detecting a presence of the conductive object in proximity to the surface of the device by applying a signal to the group of coupled sensor elements to measure a single collective capacitance for the group of coupled sensor elements while the group of coupled sensor elements is conductively coupled to the another conductor substantially surrounding the at least one of the plurality of sensor elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of sensor elements disposed in a multi-dimensional sensor array; and a processing device coupled to the plurality of sensor elements in a first mode and coupled to a group of sensor elements of the plurality of sensor elements that is additionally conductively coupled to a conductor substantially surrounding at least one of the plurality of sensor elements in a second mode, wherein the processing device is configured to measure a capacitance for each of the plurality of sensor elements individually to detect a presence of a conductive object on a surface of the apparatus in the first mode and apply a signal to the group of sensor elements to measure a single collective capacitance for the group of sensor elements while the group of sensor elements is conductively coupled to the conductor to detect a presence of the conductive object in proximity to the surface of the apparatus in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus, comprising:
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a device having a touch-sensitive surface and a plurality of sensor elements of a multi-dimensional sensor array; means for coupling a group of sensor elements of the plurality of sensor elements together in a first mode; means for conductively coupling the group of sensor elements to a conductor that substantially surrounds at least one of the plurality of sensor elements; means for applying a signal to the group of sensor elements to measure a single collective capacitance for the group of sensor elements to detect a first presence of a conductive object in proximity to the touch-sensing surface while the group of sensor elements are coupled together and conductively coupled to the conductor that substantially surrounds the at least one of the plurality of sensor elements in the first mode; and means for measuring a capacitance for each of the plurality of sensor element individually to detect a second presence of the conductive object on the touch-sensing surface while the group of sensor elements are not coupled together in the a second mode. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification