Proximity sensing for capacitive touch sensors
First Claim
1. An input device, comprising:
- an array of capacitive sensor electrodes configured to sense objects in a first sensing region of the input device;
a proximity sensor electrode configured to sense objects in a second sensing region of the input device, the second sensing region different from the first sensing region; and
a processing system communicatively coupled to the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and the proximity sensor electrode, wherein the processing system is configured to operate in a first mode comprising;
driving a sensing signal on a transmitter sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and receiving a first resulting signal from a receiver sensor electrode from only the array of capacitive sensor electrodes; and
generating an indication of an object presence in the first sensing region from the first resulting signal; and
wherein the processing system is configured to operate in a second mode comprising;
driving a sensing signal on a transmitter sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and receiving a second resulting signal from only the proximity sensor electrode; and
generating an indication of an object presence in the second sensing region based on at least the second resulting signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for operating an input device having an array of capacitive sensor electrodes and a proximity sensor electrode are disclosed herein. The input device includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and the proximity sensor electrode and configured to operate in an input mode and a proximity mode. When operating in the input mode, the processing system scans the array of capacitive sensor electrodes to detect input from an object in an active region of the input device. When operating in the proximity mode, the processing system drives a sensing signal on at least one sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and receives a resulting signal from the proximity sensor electrode. Based on the resulting signal, the processing system generates an indication of an object presence in a second sensing region from the resulting signal.
12 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An input device, comprising:
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an array of capacitive sensor electrodes configured to sense objects in a first sensing region of the input device; a proximity sensor electrode configured to sense objects in a second sensing region of the input device, the second sensing region different from the first sensing region; and a processing system communicatively coupled to the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and the proximity sensor electrode, wherein the processing system is configured to operate in a first mode comprising; driving a sensing signal on a transmitter sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and receiving a first resulting signal from a receiver sensor electrode from only the array of capacitive sensor electrodes; and generating an indication of an object presence in the first sensing region from the first resulting signal; and wherein the processing system is configured to operate in a second mode comprising; driving a sensing signal on a transmitter sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and receiving a second resulting signal from only the proximity sensor electrode; and generating an indication of an object presence in the second sensing region based on at least the second resulting signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A processing system for an input device, the processing system comprising:
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sensor circuitry configured to be communicatively coupled to a proximity sensor electrode and an array of capacitive sensor electrodes having a plurality of transmitter sensor electrodes and a plurality of receiver sensor electrodes; and control logic configured to; operate the input device in a first mode comprising; driving a sensing signal on at least one transmitter sensor electrode of the plurality of transmitter sensor electrodes; receiving a first resulting signal from at least one receiver sensor electrode from only the plurality of receiver sensor electrodes; and generating an indication of an object presence in a first sensing region from the first resulting signal; and operate the input device in a second mode comprising; driving a sensing signal on at least one sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes; receiving a second resulting signal from only the proximity sensor electrode; and generating an indication of an object presence in a second sensing region based on at least the second resulting signal, wherein the second sensing region is different from the first sensing region. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an input device having an array of capacitive sensor electrodes offset from a proximity sensor electrode, the method comprising:
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operating in a first mode, the first mode comprising; driving a sensing signal on a transmitter sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes; receiving a first resulting signal from a receiver sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and not from the proximity sensor electrode; and generating an indication of an object presence in a first sensing region from the first resulting signal; switching from the first mode to a second mode; and operating in the second mode, the second mode comprising; driving a sensing signal on at least one transmitter sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes; receiving a second resulting signal from the proximity sensor electrode and not from a receiver sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes; and generating an indication of an object presence in a second sensing region from the second resulting signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification