Capacitive sensor panel having dynamically reconfigurable sensor size and shape

• US 8,054,300 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bernstein, Jeffrey Traer
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherman; Stephen
• Application Number:
  US12/140,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20090309851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 178 1801- 1809, 178/18.11
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

This relates to a capacitive sensor panel that is able to dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape for proximity and/or distance to enable hover and gesture detection. Thus, the size and/or shape of the sensors in the panel can differ according to present needs. The sensor panel may dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape based on an object'"'"'s proximity to the panel. The sensor panel may dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape based on a gesture detected by the panel. The sensor panel may dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape based on an application executing on a device in communication with the panel.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically reconfiguring sensor size and shape in a sensor panel, the sensor panel including a plurality of sensing pixels placed along the panel at a predetermined initial size and shape, the method comprising:

determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the panel; and

dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of the pixels based on the determination;

wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises:

responsive to a detection signal, estimating a distance of the object from the panel based on the signal; and

comparing the estimated distance to the predetermined distance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconfiguring comprises:

dynamically decreasing the size of the pixels if the object is within the predetermined distance of the panel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconfiguring comprises:

dynamically changing the shape of the pixels if the object is within the predetermined distance of the panel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises a hand or a finger.

6. A sensing device, comprising:

a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels; and

a processor programmed for

determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and

dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination;

wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.

7. The sensing device of claim 6, the processor further programmed for determining that the object is within the predetermined distance of the sensor panel by:

responsive to a detection signal, estimating a distance of the object from the sensor panel based on the signal; and

comparing the estimated distance to the predetermined distance.

8. The sensing device of claim 6, the processor further programmed for reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels by:

dynamically decreasing the size of one or more sensing pixels if the object is within the predetermined distance of the sensor panel.

9. The sensing device of claim 6, the processor further programmed for reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels by:

dynamically changing the shape of one or more sensing pixels if the object is within the predetermined distance of the panel.

10. The sensing device of claim 6, wherein the object comprises a hand or a finger.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code for dynamically reconfiguring sensor size and shape in a sensor panel, the sensor panel including a plurality of sensing pixels placed along the panel at a predetermined initial size and shape, the program code for causing performance of a method comprising:

determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the panel; and

dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of the pixels based on the determination;

wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein determining that the object is within the predetermined distance of the panel comprises:

responsive to a detection signal, estimating a distance of the object from the panel based on the signal; and

comparing the estimated distance to the predetermined distance.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of the pixels comprises:

dynamically decreasing the size of the pixels if the object is within the predetermined distance of the panel.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of the pixels comprises:

dynamically changing the shape of the pixels if the object is within the predetermined distance of the panel.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the object comprises a hand or a finger.

16. A mobile telephone, comprising:

a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels; and

a processor programmed for

determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and

dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination;

wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.

17. A media player, comprising:

a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels; and

a processor programmed for

determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and

dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination;

wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.

18. A personal computer, comprising:

a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels; and

a processor programmed for

determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and

dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination;

wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.