Atmel Corporation

Adrian Woolley

John R Logan

Kent Long

Paul A Iannacito

In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by a capacitive touch sensor of a device, a presence of an object; activating an optical sensor of the device in response to determining the presence of the object; and determining, by the optical sensor of the device, a touch or proximity input within a proximity-sensing volume.

Proximity detection using multiple inputs

In one embodiment, a touch-sensitive device includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to a plurality of electrodes. The controller is operable to access data from a motion sensor of the touch-sensitive device. The controller is further operable to access a plurality of signals from the plurality of electrodes. The signals are indicative of an amount of capacitance between the touch sensor and one or more fingers of a user. The controller is further operable to determine, based on the data from the motion sensor and the plurality of signals from the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor, a particular hand of the user that is holding the touch-sensitive device.

Method and system to determine when a device is being held

In one embodiment, a method includes controlling a touch sensor of a device. The control of the touch sensor includes a first processing cycle executed by the controller that comprises acquisition of touch-sensor signals from the touch sensor; a second processing cycle executed by the controller that comprises pre-processing of the touch-sensor signals; and a third processing cycle executed by the controller that comprises processing of the touch-sensor signals to determine whether a touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor. If the touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor, a location of the touch or proximity input is determined. The method also includes controlling other sensors of the device. The control of the other sensors includes one or more fourth processing cycles executed by the controller concurrently with the first processing cycle or the second processing cycle.

Touch-sensor-controller sensor hub

The disclosed software framework and development platform facilitates software development for multi-sensor systems. In some implementations, developers can select a sensor board that includes a desired combination of sensor devices. The sensor board can be coupled to a development board that includes a target processor and other circuitry to facilitate development and testing of a system that includes the target processor and the sensors. Various software support tools are provided including an Application Programming Interface (API) that provides API abstractions for software drivers for the sensors on the sensor board. By using the abstractions of the API, a software developer does not have to write code ('glue') to interact with the various software drivers. Additionally, the API provides access to a variety of software library functions for performing data scaling, unit conversion and mathematical functions and algorithms.

Growing community of inventors

Pleasanton, CA, United States of America

Adrian Woolley