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. 09, 2016
Filed:
Oct. 02, 2012
Microchip Technology Incorporated, Chandler, AZ (US);
Zeke Lundstrum, Chandler, AZ (US);
Keith Curtis, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Burke Davison, Chandler, AZ (US);
Sean Steedman, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Yann LeFaou, Tempe, AZ (US);
MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED, Chandler, AZ (US);
Abstract
A guard ring is provided around each capacitive sensor plate and charged to substantially the same voltage as a voltage on the capacitive sensor plate. The guard ring reduces parasitic capacitances of the capacitive sensor plate caused by differences in voltage potentials between the capacitive sensor plate, and adjacent circuit conductors, ground planes and power planes. Two digital outputs and associated voltage divider resistors are used to drive the guard ring voltage to substantially the same voltage as the voltage on the capacitive sensor plate.