Guard accessory device for an electronic and/or computer apparatus, and apparatus equipped with such an accessory device

• US 9,798,433 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2014
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quickstep Technologies, LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quickstep Technologies, LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blondin, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Xavier, Antonio
• Application Number:
  US14/905,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20160179247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04107 Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements

Abstract

An accessory device for use with an electronic user apparatus is disclosed. The electronic user apparatus includes at least one capacitive sensor for detection of at least one control object with respect to a control surface, and at least one apparatus guard placed at an alternating guard potential (V_G), different from a ground potential of the at least one control object, and identical to a potential of the capacitive sensor. The accessory device includes at least one accessory guard capable of being set to the alternating guard potential (V_G) by coupling with the electronic user apparatus.

Claims

1. An accessory device for use with an electronic apparatus, said user apparatus including

at least one capacitive sensor for detection of at least one control object with respect to a control surface, and

at least one apparatus guard, placed at an alternating guard potential (V_G), different from a ground potential, of said at least one control object, and referenced to a potential of said at least one capacitive sensor,

characterized in that said accessory device comprises:

at least one accessory guard capable of being set to said alternating guard potential (V_G) by coupling with said user apparatus.

2. The accessory device according to claim 1, characterized in that the accessory guard forms, at least in part, an electrically conductive plane.

3. The accessory device according to claim 1, characterized in that the accessory guard is integrated, at least in part, with a surface that is substantially in plane with said device.

4. The accessory device according to claim 1, characterized in that in use, the accessory guard is designed to form a plane substantially parallel to the control surface.

5. The accessory device according to claim 1, characterized in that the accessory guard has at least one of a width and length greater than that of at least one of the control surface and the user apparatus.

6. The accessory device according to claim 1, characterized in that the accessory device comprises at least one attachment means enabling said device to be removably attached to the user apparatus.

7. The accessory device according to claim 1, characterized in that the accessory device comprises at least one coupling interface capable of providing a coupling, wired or wireless, of said device to said apparatus in order to place said accessory guard at a potential substantially identical to the guard potential (V_G).

8. The accessory device according to the preceding claim 7, characterized in that the coupling interface performs a capacitive coupling.

9. The accessory device according to claim 7, characterized in that the coupling interface comprises a removable wired connection between said device and the user apparatus, said wired connection carrying a synchronization signal of the alternating guard potential.

10. The accessory device according to claim 1, characterized in that the accessory device is in the form of one of:

a mat on which the apparatus can be placed during use,

a wireless charger comprising a surface on which to place the apparatus while the is charging;

a protection means for the user apparatus,

a data entry means;

or

a support comprising a housing/accommodation surface which the apparatus can be placed.

11. The accessory device according to claim 1, the accessory device incorporated with an electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus comprising the user apparatus.

12. The accessory device according to claim 11, characterized in that the electronic apparatus comprises at least one coupling means interface capable of providing a coupling, wired or wireless, of said user apparatus with the accessory device in order to place said accessory guard at a potential substantially identical to the guard potential (V_G).

13. The accessory device according to any one of claim 11, characterized in that the at least one capacitive sensor is integrated into/onto the control surface.

14. The accessory device according to claim 13, characterized in that the control surface is a touch-sensitive surface.

15. The accessory device according to claim 11, characterized in that the user apparatus comprises a display screen, and the at least one capacitive sensor is integrated with display screen in such a way that the control surface is formed by at least one of a part of said display screen a plane parallel to said display screen.