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, 2017
Filed:
May. 29, 2013
Ingar Hanssen, Trondheim, NO;
Arild Rødland, Trondheim, NO;
Rian Whelan, Drogheda, IE;
Atmel Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensor, a button, a conductor between the button and the sensor, and a controller connected to the sensor. The sensor includes first and second electrode tracks. The button includes an electrically isolating material and is configured to capacitively couple with an object. The conductor is configured to capacitively couple with the sensor and form a galvanic connection between the first and second electrode tracks when the conductor comes into contact with the sensor. The controller is configured to measure a value associated with an amount of capacitive coupling between the conductor and the sensor and to detect first and second states of the button based on the value, the first state indicating that the object is in contact with the button and that the conductor is not contacting the sensor, and the second state indicating that the conductor is not contacting the sensor.