Differential proximity sensing and side detection for an electronic device
First Claim
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
- a housing;
a first capacitive proximity sensor on a front of the electronic device included in the housing;
a second capacitive proximity sensor on a back of the electronic device included in the housing, the second capacitive proximity sensor employing a near field communication (NFC) loop antenna conductor as a capacitive sensing surface and including at least one blocking coil configured to separate NFC sensing circuitry of the electronic device from capacitive proximity touch sensing circuitry of the electronic device; and
an open loop conductor surrounding the NFC loop antenna conductor and in close proximity to the NFC loop antenna conductor,wherein the electronic device is configured to;
monitor a signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor;
monitor a signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor;
compare the signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor with the signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor; and
based on the comparison, determine a differential amount of change between the signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor relative to the signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor to determine an orientation of the electronic device.
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Abstract
An electronic device includes a housing enclosing a motion sensor and a first capacitive proximity sensor on a first planar side of the electronic device. A second capacitive proximity sensor on a second planar side of the electronic device within the housing is monitored for determining the differential amount of signal change of the first capacitive proximity sensor relative to the second capacitive proximity sensor.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing; a first capacitive proximity sensor on a front of the electronic device included in the housing;
a second capacitive proximity sensor on a back of the electronic device included in the housing, the second capacitive proximity sensor employing a near field communication (NFC) loop antenna conductor as a capacitive sensing surface and including at least one blocking coil configured to separate NFC sensing circuitry of the electronic device from capacitive proximity touch sensing circuitry of the electronic device; andan open loop conductor surrounding the NFC loop antenna conductor and in close proximity to the NFC loop antenna conductor, wherein the electronic device is configured to; monitor a signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor;
monitor a signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor;compare the signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor with the signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor; and based on the comparison, determine a differential amount of change between the signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor relative to the signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor to determine an orientation of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method performed by an electronic device, the method comprising:
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monitoring a signal produced by a motion sensor within a housing of an electronic device; monitoring a signal produced by a first capacitive proximity sensor on a front of the electronic device included in the housing; monitoring a signal produced by a second capacitive proximity sensor on a back of the electronic device included in the housing; monitoring a signal produced by a third capacitive proximity sensor on a side of the electronic device; comparing the signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor and the signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor; based on the comparing, determining a differential amount of change between the signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor relative to the signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor; determining whether the electronic device is in a pocket of a user based on; the determined differential amount of change; and a positional orientation of the electronic device based on the signal produced by the motion sensor; and adaptively increasing capacitive proximity gain or sensitivity of the first capacitive proximity sensor and the second capacitive proximity sensor based on whether the third capacitive proximity sensor detects a perimeter touch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic device, comprising:
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a housing; a first capacitive proximity sensor on a front of the electronic device included in the housing; a second capacitive proximity sensor on a back of the electronic device included in the housing, the second capacitive proximity sensor comprising an impedance matching circuit including a near field communication (NFC) loop; and an open loop conductor surrounding the NFC loop and in close proximity to the NFC loop, wherein the electronic device is configured to; monitor a signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor; monitor a signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor; compare the signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor with the signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor; based on the comparison, determine a differential amount of change between the signal produced by the first capacitive proximity sensor relative to the signal produced by the second capacitive proximity sensor; and determine whether the front of the electronic device is in a user'"'"'s pocket based on the differential amount of change. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification