Detecting presence of an object in the vicinity of a touch interface of a device

摘要

A system includes a controller situated on a circuit board and a touch sensor coupled to the controller. The touch sensor includes a plurality of electrodes configured to capacitively coupled to a surface. The system also includes a drive element that is coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to send a drive signal to the drive element and, after sending the drive signal to the drive element, receive a set of sense signals from the touch sensor. The controller is further configured to determine whether an object that is not contact with the surface is in a vicinity of the surface the set of sense signals.

主权项

1. A system, comprising:
a touch sensor, the touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes arranged adjacent to a surface, the touch sensor arranged in a first region, the first region consisting of a first area that includes the touch sensor and a second area between the touch sensor and a circuit board; a drive element situated external to the first area and the second area; a controller disposed on the circuit board and coupled to the touch sensor using a first set of conductors and to the drive element using a second set of conductors, the controller being configured to:
send a drive signal to the drive element using the second set of conductors;after sending the drive signal to the drive element, receive a set of sense signals from the touch sensor; andusing the set of sense signals, determine whether an object that is not in contact with the surface is in a vicinity of the surface.