Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for sensing

US7986153B2 · kind B2 · utility

22Cited by
5References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 2, 2009
Grant dateJul 26, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 10, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K17/9622
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for sensing a change in capacitance of a sensing electrode to a system ground, such as that which may be used to form a touch sensor, with the sensing electrode forming touch sensitive surface is arranged to include a sleep mode of operation. The apparatus includes a sample capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the sensing electrode, and a second terminal coupled to a voltage measurement circuit. The voltage measurement circuit is arranged in operation to determine a voltage at the second terminal of the sample capacitor. A voltage biasing arrangement is arranged under the control of a controller to apply a biasing voltage or the system ground to the first terminal or the second terminal of the sample capacitor in accordance with a measurement cycle.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.