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:
Mar. 27, 2018
Filed:
May. 05, 2014
Trond Pedersen, Trondheim, NO;
Steinar Myren, Vikhammer, NO;
Vemund Bakken, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Rune Watn, Trondheim, NO;
Trond Pedersen, Trondheim, NO;
Steinar Myren, Vikhammer, NO;
Vemund Bakken, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Rune Watn, Trondheim, NO;
Atmel Corporation, Chandler, AZ (US);
Abstract
In one embodiment, a method includes applying a drive signal to an electrode of a touch sensor of a device. The touch sensor extends across an area of a surface of the device, and the drive signal is configured to generate an electric field that extends outward from the area of the surface that the touch sensor extends across and reaches a pre-determined location on the device that is outside the area of the surface that the touch sensor extends across. The method includes receiving a sense signal from the touch sensor produced at least in part by the electric field. The sense signal indicates whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location.