The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 14, 2012
Filed:
May. 22, 2009
Bryce T. Osoinach, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Tak Kwan Vincent Ko, Tsuen Wan, HK;
Bryce T. Osoinach, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Tak Kwan Vincent Ko, Tsuen Wan, HK;
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
The electrical equivalent of a relatively large area proximity detection capability is provided in a space limited electronic device () with many individual input electrodes () by dynamically coupling parallel groups of the individual electrodes () and applying a proximity and/or contact test thereto. The parallel grouped electrodes act like a single large electrode and permit proximity detection at greater distances and with greater sensitivity. A multiplexer () automatically couples individual input electrodes () and then parallel grouped electrodes to the proximity (or contact) sensor(s) (), so that they are scanned and sensed individually and collectively in a time less than human reaction time, whereby the proximity sense function appears as if provided by a separate large area electrode. Proximity spatial detection accuracy is increased by using some of the electrodes () as driven shields to remove positional ambiguity.