Gesturing architecture using proximity sensing
First Claim
1. A proximity sensing system, the system comprising:
- a plurality of antenna arrangements, each comprising an electrode and a shield electrode;
a plurality of spaced apart integrated circuit devices comprising proximity sensing circuits associated with the plurality of antenna arrangements,wherein each integrated circuit device comprises;
a first external connection which in a first mode is configured as an output to transmit an alternating signal to the electrode of an associated antenna arrangement and in a second mode is configured as an input to receive electromagnetic signals from said electrode of the associated antenna arrangement;
a shield driver configured in the first mode to generate a shield signal fed to said shield electrode; and
logic configured to collect digital data based on electromagnetic signals received from another proximity sensing circuit via an associated antenna arrangement;
a coordinating circuit, wherein the coordinating circuit is coupled to each of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits, wherein the coordinating circuit comprises logic configured to;
set one of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits into the first mode and remaining ones of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits into the second mode;
wherein the one of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits which is set into the first mode operates only as a transmitter while in the first mode, andthe remaining ones of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits operate only as receivers while in the second mode and receive through capacitive coupling an electric field emitted by the one of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits which is set into the first mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Proximity based system and method for detecting user gestures. Each of a plurality of proximity sensing circuits may collect digital data. Each proximity sensing circuit may include an antenna configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals and a shield driver configured to shield signals transmitted by the antenna in one or more directions. The digital data may be collected based on electromagnetic signals received from another proximity sensing circuit via the antenna. The received electromagnetic signals may be modified by one or more user proximity gestures. The digital data from each of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits may be received by a coordinating circuit. The coordinating circuit may produce coordinated digital data from the digital data received from each of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits. The coordinated digital data may be configured for use in determining that a user performed the one or more user proximity gestures.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A proximity sensing system, the system comprising:
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a plurality of antenna arrangements, each comprising an electrode and a shield electrode; a plurality of spaced apart integrated circuit devices comprising proximity sensing circuits associated with the plurality of antenna arrangements, wherein each integrated circuit device comprises; a first external connection which in a first mode is configured as an output to transmit an alternating signal to the electrode of an associated antenna arrangement and in a second mode is configured as an input to receive electromagnetic signals from said electrode of the associated antenna arrangement; a shield driver configured in the first mode to generate a shield signal fed to said shield electrode; and logic configured to collect digital data based on electromagnetic signals received from another proximity sensing circuit via an associated antenna arrangement; a coordinating circuit, wherein the coordinating circuit is coupled to each of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits, wherein the coordinating circuit comprises logic configured to; set one of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits into the first mode and remaining ones of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits into the second mode; wherein the one of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits which is set into the first mode operates only as a transmitter while in the first mode, and the remaining ones of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits operate only as receivers while in the second mode and receive through capacitive coupling an electric field emitted by the one of the plurality of proximity sensing circuits which is set into the first mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for collecting proximity sensing data using a plurality of spaced apart integrated circuit devices each comprising a proximity sensing circuit and associated antenna arrangements, wherein each antenna arrangement comprises an electrode and a shield electrode, the method comprising:
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configuring one of the plurality of integrated circuit devices as a transmitter, wherein an alternating transmission signal is fed to the electrode and a shield signal is fed to the shield electrode of an associated antenna arrangement; configuring remaining ones of the plurality of integrated circuit devices as receivers, wherein electromagnetic signals generated by the transmitter are received through capacitive coupling between the electrode of the transmitter and an electrode of an associated antenna arrangement of a receiver; collecting, by the remaining ones of the plurality of integrated circuit devices, digital data; receiving, by a coordinating circuit, the digital data from each of the remaining ones of the plurality of integrated circuit devices. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An integrated proximity sensing circuit device, comprising:
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a first external pin configured to be connected with a first electrode, wherein in a first mode the first external pin is configured as an output to only transmit an alternating signal and in a second mode the first external pin is configured as an input to only receive electromagnetic signals from said electrode; a shield driver connected to a second external pin configured to be connected with a shield electrode, wherein in the first mode the shield driver is configured to generate a shield signal; logic configured to collect digital data based on electromagnetic signals received through said first external pin; and a control interface, wherein the integrated proximity sensing circuit is configured as a slave device operable to receive configuration data to operate either in said first or said second mode, wherein the integrated proximity sensing device is configured to only connect with a single electrode and a single shield electrode.
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Specification