KR20150107422A - Device and method for sensing capacitance - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for sensing capacitance, comprising: a touch key including a first sensor unit measuring a change amount of capacitance according to a touch of a user and outputting a first sensed value, which is the measured change amount of the capacitance and a second sensor unit measuring a change amount of capacitance according to the touch of the user and outputting a second sensed value, which is the measured change amount of the capacitance, and positioned near the first sensor unit while being spaced in the outside of the first sensor unit at a regular interval; an operation unit calculating a sensing ratio value (the first sensed value/the second sensed value), which is a ratio of the first sensed value with respect to the second sensed value; and a determining unit determining whether the touch of the user is inputted as a key based on the first sensed value and the sensing ratio value. The apparatus and the method for sensing the capacitance, disclosed, have an advantage of implementing the sensing device and method including the touch key, which can sense even a small change amount of the capacitance by a stylus pen even if not sensing a user′s unintentional input by inhibiting a hovering touch.

Description

[0001] DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SENSING CAPACITANCE [0002]

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for sensing capacitance. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for sensing a capacitance more efficiently by using a sensing ratio value measured in a capacitive touch key of a capacitance sensing apparatus.

A personal computer (PC), a personal digital assistant (PDA), or other personal-purpose information processing device performs text input, command execution, and graphic processing using various input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a digitizer. These input devices have been variously changed in use and environment of the information processing device, and as the devices have become smaller, the keyboard and mouse, which are typical input devices of the related art, can not satisfy users' needs. In order to overcome these limitations, new input devices have been steadily developed which are simpler and smaller in size and easier and more convenient for anyone to use. Beyond meeting the needs associated with the general functionality of these input devices, design and manufacturing techniques, including new features and materials to meet the needs of durability and consumer sensitivity, I got attention.

As the related art develops, a touch key that solves the problems of malfunction, durability, and productivity of the conventional input device has been used as an input device of a portable terminal device. Due to the design considerations, it has become a typical input device for the latest electronic devices including smart phones. Among them, touch keys using capacitive capacitors are used as keypad and switches for MP3, mobile phone, smart phone, TV, monitor, and the like, and are more reliable than mechanical touch keys. It is high and has a long life span and can be applied to new designs, so the usage range is gradually increasing.

The touch key using the electrostatic capacity is a button on which an input is performed by a user's touch. A typical example of the touch of the user is touching the touch key using the user's finger. Thus, A change occurs in the capacitance between the finger and the touch key electrode, and it is possible to detect whether or not the touch input is performed by measuring the change in the capacitance thus generated. The input of the user may include an input using a stylus pen as well as a touch input using a user's finger.

Since the change in capacitance is proportional to the contact area of the user's finger and the touch key and inversely proportional to the distance between them, a stylus pen (e.g., a stylus pen having a circular tip with a diameter of 2.5 mm , The change in the capacitance caused by the contact of the stylus pen is inevitably less than the change in the capacitance caused by the contact of the user's finger. Therefore, in order to realize a touch key capable of sensing the input by the stylus pen as well as the touch key sensing only the input by the user's finger, even if the change amount of the capacitance is relatively small, Be able to detect.

Meanwhile, in order for the touch key to sensitively detect the input of the stylus pen, the threshold value of the capacitance change amount recognized as the user's input should be set to a low value. However, if the threshold value of the electrostatic capacitance change amount is lowered to detect the touch by the stylus pen, the change in the electrostatic capacitance caused by the proximity of the large area electrode (the palm of the user, the finger or the conductor having a large area) A phenomenon of recognition as a user input occurs in the touch key alone.

That is, if the threshold value for recognizing the change in capacitance of the touch key is lowered so as to detect the input of the stylus pen, if the user's palm or finger approaches the touch key even when the user does not intend to input the touch key, There is a problem in that it is recognized as the input of When the user's palm and fingers approach the touch key without such direct contact, detection of this is called "proximity touch" or "HOVERING TOUCH ". Such a "proximity touch" or "hovering touch" may be used when the user wants to input without touching the touch panel directly. However, when the proximity touch function is used in the touch key, the user may unintentionally occur in the process of using the device, and when the unintended input is performed, various side effects may be caused.

6 shows the amount of capacitance change measured at the sensor portion 602 when the user's finger 600 touches the conventional capacitive touch key 601. Fig. In the conventional touch key 601, only one sensor unit is formed. When the change amount of the capacitance detected by the sensor unit is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the change is recognized as an input of the key, Changes in capacitance were not recognized as key inputs. Therefore, when the preset threshold value is set to be larger than the change amount of the electrostatic capacity by the stylus pen, there arises a problem that the user's input by the stylus pen can not be recognized.

In addition, in order to solve the problem that the input by the stylus pen is not recognized, if the sensitivity of the sensor unit is set high (that is, even if the capacitance change is small, Even when a palm or a finger is approached to the touch key, it is mistakenly recognized as an input of the touch key.

Therefore, when it is desired to realize a touch key that recognizes only the case of directly touching through the finger or the stylus pen as input, it is possible to detect the touch by the hovering touch, Technology will be required.

The present invention provides a capacitive sensing device that can be used for a user input including a stylus pen, which can detect a small amount of change in capacitance due to a stylus pen without sensing by hovering touch Sensing device and method.

In the present invention, an apparatus for sensing capacitance is provided. The apparatus includes a first sensor unit for measuring a change amount of capacitance of the first sensor unit according to a user's touch and outputting a first sensing value from a change amount of the capacitance measured by the first sensor unit, A second sensing value is output from the change amount of the capacitance measured by the second sensor unit, and a predetermined interval is provided outside the first sensor unit And a second sensor unit disposed adjacent to the first sensor unit. The apparatus further includes an arithmetic unit for calculating a sensing ratio value (first sensing value / second sensing value) that is a ratio of the first sensing value to a second sensing value, and a second sensing value based on the first sensing value and the sensing ratio value And a determination unit for determining whether the user's touch is to be input by a key.

In one embodiment, the determination unit of the capacitance sensing apparatus may determine that the user's touch is a key input to the touch key when the first sensing value is equal to or greater than a preset first threshold value.

In one embodiment, the determination unit of the capacitance sensing device may be configured such that, when the first sensing value is less than the first threshold value and is greater than or equal to a preset second threshold value, the sensing rate value is equal to or greater than a third threshold value , It may be determined that the touch of the user is a key input to the touch key.

In one embodiment, the determination unit of the capacitance sensing device may be configured such that when the first sensing value is less than the first threshold value and is greater than or equal to a preset second threshold value, the sensing rate value is less than a predetermined third threshold value , It can be determined that the touch of the user is not the key input of the touch key.

In an embodiment, the third threshold value of the capacitance sensing device may be two or more.

In one embodiment, the third threshold value of the capacitance sensing device may be 5 or more.

In one embodiment, the touch of the user of the capacitive sensing device may include a touch of the user's finger or a stylus pen.

In one embodiment, the first sensor portion of the capacitance sensing device may be formed in a rectangular shape of a square, a circle, or a rounded corner.

In one embodiment, the second sensor portion of the electrostatic capacity sensing device is formed in a rectangular shape having a rectangular, circular, or rounded corner, and a rectangular, circular, or round It is also possible to form a predetermined space in the form of a square of corners.

In one embodiment, a predetermined space of a rectangular shape, a square shape, a round shape or a rounded shape may be formed in the first sensor unit.

In the present invention, a method for sensing a capacitance performed by a capacitance sensing apparatus is provided. In this method, the first sensor unit measures a change amount of capacitance of the first sensor unit in accordance with a user's touch, and outputs a first sensing value from the change amount of the capacitance measured by the first sensor unit And a second sensor unit for measuring a change amount of capacitance of the second sensor unit in accordance with a touch of a user and outputting a second sensing value from a change amount of the capacitance measured by the second sensor unit Wherein the second sensor unit is located outside the first sensor unit with a predetermined gap therebetween. The method may further include calculating a sensing ratio value (first sensing value / second sensing value) that is a ratio of a first sensing value to a second sensing value, calculating a sensing ratio value based on the first sensing value and the sensing ratio value And determining whether or not the touch of the user is to be input by the key.

In one embodiment, the determining of the capacitance sensing method may determine the touch of the user as a key input when the first sensing value is equal to or greater than a preset first threshold value.

In one embodiment, the step of determining the capacitance sensing method may further comprise the steps of: when the first sensing value is less than the first threshold value and is greater than or equal to a preset second threshold value, Value, the touch of the user may be determined as a key input.

In one embodiment, the step of determining the capacitance sensing method may further comprise the steps of: when the first sensing value is less than the first threshold value and is greater than or equal to a preset second threshold value, Value, it may be determined that the touch of the user is not a key input.

In one embodiment, the third threshold value of the capacitance sensing method may be two or more.

In one embodiment, the third threshold value of the capacitance sensing method may be 5 or more.

In one embodiment, the touch of the user may include a touch by a user's finger or a stylus pen.

Other aspects will become apparent after review of the following brief description of the drawings, the description, and the claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the detection by the hovering touch and to detect a small change amount of the electrostatic capacity by the stylus pen without sensing the input as the unintended touch by the user A capacitance sensing device and a method including the same.

The foregoing aspects described herein will become more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for sensing capacitance.
Figures 2a and 2b show an exemplary embodiment of a touch key of an apparatus for sensing capacitance.
Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary method for sensing capacitance.
FIG. 4A shows a capacitance change amount measured by the sensor unit when the user's finger touches the touch key shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
FIG. 4B shows the amount of capacitance change measured by the sensor unit when the user's finger approaches the touch key shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
4C shows the amount of capacitance change measured by the sensor unit when the stylus pen touches the touch key shown in Fig.
Figures 5A-5E illustrate an exemplary form of a touch key.
FIG. 6 shows a capacitance change amount measured by a sensor unit when a user's finger touches a conventional touch key.

For the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, specific structural and functional descriptions are set forth for the purpose of describing an embodiment of the invention only, and it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention may be practiced in various forms, The present invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described in Figs. Reference throughout this specification to "one example", "one feature", "instance" or "feature" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the feature and / Quot; is meant to be included in at least one feature and / or example of the claimed subject matter. Accordingly, appearances of the phrase "in one example," " an example, "" in one feature," or "feature" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same features and / In addition, certain features, structures, or characteristics may be combined with one or more examples and / or features.

The present invention is capable of various modifications and various forms, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. It is to be understood, however, that these examples are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but are to be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms may be used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "adjacent" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . In addition, it should be understood that even if it is "connected," it is not necessarily physically connected, for example, there may be a case where it is connected wirelessly. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between. Other expressions that describe the relationship between components, such as "between" and "between" or "neighboring to" and "directly adjacent to" should be interpreted as well.

The terminology used in this application is used only to describe a specific embodiment and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present application, the terms "comprise", "having", and the like are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, , Steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, as a matter of principle.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be construed as meaning consistent with meaning in the context of the relevant art and are not to be construed as ideal or overly formal in meaning unless expressly defined in the present application .

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same constituent elements in the drawings and redundant explanations for the same constituent elements are omitted.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for sensing capacitance.

1, the capacitance sensing apparatus 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a touch key 101, an operation unit 102, and a determination unit 103, Quot ;. It should be noted that FIG. 1 shows only the components related to the present invention among the components of the capacitance sensing apparatus 100 of the present invention. The touch key 101 shown in FIG. 1 may sense a change in capacitance due to a touch from a user and output a sensed value. The touch key 101 may be in various forms. The arithmetic unit 102 of FIG. 1 may calculate a plurality of sensing values output from the touch key 101. The determination unit 103 of FIG. 1 may determine whether the user's touch is an input to the touch key based on the calculated sensing values.

2A shows an exemplary embodiment of a touch key of an apparatus for sensing capacitance. The touch key 200 of FIG. 2A includes a first sensor unit 201 for measuring a change amount of a capacitance according to a user's touch and outputting a first sensing value, which is a change amount of the measured capacitance, And outputs a second sensed value which is a change amount of the measured electrostatic capacitance. The second sensor unit 201, which is located adjacent to the first sensor unit 201 with a predetermined gap outside the first sensor unit 201, (202). The second sensor unit 202 may include a first sensor unit 201 and a second sensor unit 201. The first sensor unit 201 may include a rectangular shape having rounded corners for arranging LED lights for a touch key, And a rectangular space having rounded corners may be formed in the interior of the first sensor unit so that the LED illumination for disposing the first sensor unit is disposed therein. The first sensor unit and the second sensor unit may be formed in adjacent shapes that do not have a predetermined gap as needed.

Figure 2b shows another exemplary embodiment of a touch key of an apparatus for sensing capacitance. The touch key 210 of FIG. 2B shows the shape of the sensor unit when the LED illumination is not disposed inside the first sensor unit 211. The shapes of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit are not limited to the rectangles of rounded corners, and may be implemented in various shapes including rectangles and circles. 4 to 5 are illustrated using the touch keys of FIG. 2A, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that the touch keys shown in FIGS. And the like.

Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary method of recognizing a user's touch in an apparatus for sensing capacitance. The first sensor unit and the second sensor unit of the touch key measure a change amount of the capacitance according to the touch of the user and output the change amounts of the measured capacitance as a first sensing value and a second sensing value, respectively. In addition, the calculation unit calculates a sensing ratio value (sensing ratio value = first sensing value / second sensing value), which is a ratio of the first sensing value to the second sensing value, based on the first sensing value and the second sensing value, (Step 302). For example, when the magnitude of the first sensing value is twice the magnitude of the second sensing value, the sensing ratio value is a ratio of the sensing ratio Value is 2, and if the magnitude of the first sensing value is five times the magnitude of the second sensing value, the sensing ratio value will be five.

In order to determine whether or not the touch of the user is a key input, the first sensing value is compared with a first threshold value set in advance and the first sensing value measured by the first sensor unit is compared with a preset first threshold value (Step 303). The preset first threshold value is the minimum value of the capacitance change amount for recognizing the touch of the user as the key input by the first sensor unit.

When the user touches the first sensor unit located at the center of the touch key to input a key, for example, when the first sensor unit contacts the finger, the first sensing value, which is the change amount of the measured capacitance, In this case, the user's touch is judged as key input (step 306).

The first threshold value for determining whether the touch of the user is an input of the key is determined by the user's intention (for example, when the user uses the smartphone including the touch key, Is set to a value larger than the amount of change in the capacitance caused by the finger or the palm of the user (i.e., when the finger or the palm approaches). The first threshold value may be variously determined according to the size of the touch key and the input type of the user.

On the other hand, when the first sensing value is less than the first threshold value, i) the first sensing value, which is the variation amount of the capacitance caused by the unintended approach of the user, is less than the first threshold value, and ii) Such as a change in capacitance caused by touching the first sensor unit of the input unit, even though the input is a key input intended by the user. When such a situation occurs, a change in capacitance caused by a user's unintended approach may not be judged as a key input, and a process for judging an input by a stylus pen or the like may be required.

Accordingly, when the first sensing value is less than the first threshold value, the determination unit may determine again whether the first sensing value is equal to or greater than a preset second threshold value (operation 304). If the first sensing value is less than the second threshold value, the change in capacitance of the first sensing value is not determined as a key input. The second threshold is a value set to prevent recognition of a change in capacitance caused by unintended access by the user as a key input, and the second threshold is less than the first threshold.

If the first sensing value is less than the first threshold value and the second sensing value is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, the determination unit compares the sensing ratio value with a preset third threshold value again. That is, whether the change in sensed capacitance is a change caused by an unintended touch of a user or a key input by a user via a stylus pen or the like, through comparison of the sensing ratio value and the third threshold value Can be distinguished. Since the contact area of the stylus pen or the like is narrow, the first sensing value measured by the first sensor unit may be lower than the touch by the user's finger. However, the ratio of the first sensing value to the second sensing value may be higher than the touch by the user's finger because the second sensor portion of the touch key does not touch and can touch only the first sensor portion.

If the sensed ratio value is equal to or greater than a preset third threshold value, the determination unit determines that the user's touch is a key input (step 305), even if the first sensing value is less than the first threshold value. At this time, the third threshold value may be set to a value of two or more. For example, when the third threshold value is 2, when the first sensing value has a value twice or more of the second sensing value, the user's touch is judged as the input of the key. When the third threshold value is 5, when the first sensing value has a value five times or more of the second sensing value, the touch of the user is determined as the input of the key.

Accordingly, when the first sensing value is equal to or greater than the first threshold value or when the sensing ratio value is equal to or greater than the third threshold value, the user's touch is determined as key input (operation 306).

4A shows the amount of capacitance change measured by the sensor unit when the user's finger 400 touches the touch key shown in FIG. The first sensor unit 402 and the second sensor unit 403 of the touch key 401 measure the amount of change in capacitance when the user's finger touches the touch key 401. [ The change amount 404 of the first sensor unit and the change amount 405 of the second sensor unit are proportional to the area where the sensor unit faces the user's finger and inversely proportional to the distance, The first sensing value second sensing value is determined from the amount of change in capacitance in the two sensor units. For example, when the first sensor unit 402 and the second sensor unit 403 are in contact with the user's fingers in the same area, and the distance between the user's finger and the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit is the same , The capacitance of the first sensor unit and the capacitance of the second sensor unit may be the same, and the total amount of capacitance change of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit measured in this manner may be the same as the first sensing value And may be output as a second sensing value. In FIG. 4A, since the first sensor portion change amount 404 is equal to or greater than the preset first threshold value 410, the user's touch can be determined as a key input. When the user touches the touch key with the finger, the first threshold value must be set so that the user can determine the key input.

FIG. 4B shows the amount of capacitance change measured by the sensor unit when the user's finger 400 approaches the touch key shown in FIG. 2 at a certain distance. The amount of change in capacitance is proportional to the area of the sensor unit facing the finger of the user and in inverse proportion to the distance. When the user's finger touches the touch key 401, The variation amount 406 of the first sensor portion and the variation amount 407 of the second sensor portion in FIG. 4B are larger than the variation amount 404 of the first sensor portion shown in FIG. 4A, And the change amount of the electrostatic capacity can be increased as the user's finger 400 approaches the touch key 401. [ 4B, when the first sensing value output by the variation amount 405 of the first sensor unit is less than the first threshold value 410, it is determined again whether the first sensing value is equal to or greater than the preset second threshold value 420 can do. As a result of the comparison between the first sensing value and the second threshold value, when the first sensing value is less than the second threshold value 420, it may not be determined as a key input. It will be appreciated that such first and second thresholds can be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

When the first sensing value is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, it can be determined again whether the first sensing rate value is equal to or greater than a preset third threshold value. 4B, in order not to determine that the touch by the user's approach is a key input, the sensing ratio value, which is the ratio of the first sensor portion change amount 406 to the second sensor portion change amount 407, is less than the third threshold value The third threshold value can be set. It will be appreciated that such a third threshold can be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

4C shows the capacitance change amount measured by the sensor unit when the stylus pen 410 touches the touch key shown in FIG. Since the stylus pen 410 is in contact with the touch key and a small area (for example, a stylus pen having a circular tip with a diameter of 2.5 mm) as compared with the user's finger 400, The amount of change 404 of the first sensor portion and the amount of change 405 of the second sensor portion in FIG. 4A which contact the key 410 can be reduced.

On the other hand, when the stylus pen comes into contact with the center portion of the first sensor unit, the first sensing value 408, which is the measured value at the first sensor unit 402, The value 409 may be larger than a predetermined magnification. When the stylus pen comes into contact with the center portion of the first sensor portion, the change in capacitance due to the contact of the stylus pen occurs in the first sensor portion, while the change in capacitance due to the contact of the stylus pen occurs in the second sensor portion And the capacitance change may occur due to the approach to the second sensor unit.

When the first sensed value output from the electrostatic capacity change amount 408 of the first sensor unit generated by the contact of the stylus pen is equal to or greater than the preset first threshold value 410, the touch of the stylus pen is input to the key input for the touch key It can be judged. However, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the electrostatic capacitance change amount 408 of the first sensor portion generated by the contact of the stylus pen is less than the first threshold value 410 and is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, If the sensing ratio value (sensing ratio value = first sensing value / second sensing value), which is a ratio of the first sensing value to the first sensing value, is greater than or equal to the third threshold value, the contact of the stylus pen can be determined as a key input for the touch key . In order to determine the input of the stylus pen as a key input of the user as shown in FIG. 4C, it is possible to set the sensing rate value generated by the user's touch to be equal to or greater than the third threshold value. By measuring the change amount of the capacitance through the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit and judging whether the key is inputted or not according to the ratio, it is possible to determine whether or not the stylus pen Can be recognized as a key input.

The sensing ratio value, which is the ratio of the first sensing value to the capacitance variation amount second sensing value of the first sensor unit, may be variously determined according to the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit.

5A to 5E illustrate an exemplary form of a touch key including a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit. 5A through 5C show that the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit are formed in the form of rectangles 501 and 502, circles 503 and 504 and rectangles 505 and 506 having rounded corners, respectively, And a space is formed inside. 5D illustrates that the second sensor units 508 and 509 are formed in the shape of a quadrangle but are formed on both sides of the first sensor unit 507 instead of forming a space therein.

That is, the first sensor unit may be formed in the shape of a quadrangle having a quadrangle, a circle or a rounded corner, and a quadrangle having a quadrangle, a circle, or a rounded corner in the first sensor unit. As described above, various types of LED lights capable of indicating a touch key may be disposed in a space formed inside the first sensor unit. Also, the second sensor unit may be formed in the form of a quadrangle having a square, a circle or a rounded corner, and a quadrangle having a first sensor unit in the second sensor unit, a square having a round or rounded corner, . The second sensor unit may be formed adjacent to the first sensor unit with a predetermined gap therebetween. The shapes of the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit may be variously modified, and are not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

5E includes a first sensor unit 510 and a second sensor unit 511 and has a rectangular shape similar to the first sensor unit 501 and the second sensor unit 502 of FIG. 1 shows a state in which no space is formed in the sensor unit 501. FIG. Also, it will be understood that the first sensor units 503 and 505 shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C may have various modifications and changes without having a space formed therein.

The first sensor portion and the second sensor portion may be formed in various forms without being limited to the embodiments shown in Figs. 5A to 5E.

In one or more examples, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, these functions may be stored or transmitted on one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium and executed by a hardware-based processing unit. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable medium, such as a data storage medium, or any medium that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one place to another, for example, in accordance with a communication protocol . ≪ / RTI > In this way, the computer-readable medium may generally correspond to (1) a non-transitory type computer-readable medium or (2) a communication medium such as a signal or a carrier wave. A data storage medium is any available medium that can be accessed by one or more computers or one or more processors to retrieve instructions, code, and / or data structures for implementation of the techniques described in this disclosure. It is possible. The computer program product may comprise a computer-readable medium.

By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can be RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, flash memory, Or any other medium that can be used to store data in the form of instructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection is properly referred to as a computer-readable medium. For example, the instructions may be transmitted from a web site, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and / Wireless technologies such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of the medium. It should be understood, however, that the computer-readable storage medium and the data storage medium do not include connections, carriers, signals or other temporary media, but instead are non-volatile and tangible storage media. As used herein, a disk and a disc include a compact disc (CD), a laser disc, an optical disc, a digital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disc and a Blu-ray disc, Normally the data is reproduced magnetically, but discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media.

The instructions may be implemented in one or more processors, such as one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), general purpose microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable logic arrays (FPGAs), or other equivalent integrated or discrete logic circuitry Lt; / RTI > Correspondingly, the term "processor ", as used herein, may refer to any of the foregoing structures or any other structure suitable for implementation of the techniques described herein. Further, in some aspects, the functionality described herein may be provided within dedicated hardware and / or software modules configured for encoding and decoding, or may be incorporated within a combined codec. In addition, the techniques may be fully implemented within one or more circuits or logic elements.

The techniques of this disclosure may be implemented in a wide variety of devices or devices including a wireless handset, including an smart phone, an integrated circuit (IC) or a set of ICs (e.g., a chipset). The various components, modules, or units are described in this disclosure to emphasize the functional aspects of the devices configured to perform the disclosed techniques, but are not necessarily implemented by different hardware units. Rather, as described above, the various units may be provided by a collection of interoperable hardware units, including one or more processors as described above, in conjunction with suitable software and / or firmware, .

Various examples have been described. These and other examples fall within the scope of the following claims.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. It will be understood.

Claims (17)

As a capacitance sensing device,
A first sensor unit for measuring a change amount of capacitance of the first sensor unit according to a touch of a user and outputting a first sensing value from a change amount of the capacitance measured by the first sensor unit,
A second sensing unit for sensing a change in capacitance of the second sensor unit in response to a touch of the user and outputting a second sensing value based on a change in the capacitance measured by the second sensor unit, A touch key including a second sensor unit positioned adjacent to the first sensor unit with an interval therebetween;
A calculation unit for calculating a sensing ratio value (first sensing value / second sensing value) which is a ratio of the first sensing value to the second sensing value; And
And a determination unit for determining whether or not the touch of the user is to be input as a key based on the first sensing value and the sensing ratio value. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein, when the first sensing value is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value,
And determines the touch of the user as a key input to the touch key. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein, when the first sensing value is less than a predetermined first threshold value and is greater than or equal to a preset second threshold value,
And determines the touch of the user as a key input to the touch key if the sensed ratio value is equal to or greater than a preset third threshold value. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein, when the first sensing value is less than a predetermined first threshold value and is greater than or equal to a preset second threshold value,
And determines that the touch of the user is not a key input to the touch key if the sensed ratio value is less than a preset third threshold value. The method according to claim 3 or 4,
And the third threshold value is 2 or more. The method according to claim 3 or 4,
And the third threshold value is 5 or more. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the touch of the user includes a touch by a user's finger or a stylus pen. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first sensor unit is formed in a rectangular shape of a quadrangle, a circle, or a rounded corner. 9. The method of claim 8,
The second sensor unit may be formed in a rectangular shape of a square, a circle, or a rounded corner,
Wherein a predetermined space of a rectangular shape, a square shape, a round shape or a rounded shape is formed in the second sensor part so that the first sensor part is formed. 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9,
Wherein a predetermined space of a quadrangular, circular, or rounded square shape is formed in the first sensor unit. A capacitance sensing method performed by a capacitance sensing device,
Measuring a change amount of capacitance of the first sensor unit in response to a user's touch by the first sensor unit and outputting a first sensing value from a change amount of the capacitance measured by the first sensor unit;
Measuring a change amount of capacitance of the second sensor unit according to the touch of the user by the second sensor unit and outputting a second sensing value from the change amount of the capacitance measured by the second sensor unit Wherein the second sensor unit is located adjacent to the first sensor unit at a predetermined interval apart from the first sensor unit;
Calculating a sensing ratio value (first sensing value / second sensing value) that is a ratio of the first sensing value to the second sensing value; And
And determining whether the touch of the user is to be input as a key based on the first sensing value and the sensing ratio value. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein, when the first sensing value is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value,
And judging the touch of the user as a key input. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein when the first sensing value is less than a preset first threshold value and is greater than or equal to a preset second threshold value,
And judging the touch of the user as a key input when the sensed ratio value is equal to or greater than a preset third threshold value. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein when the first sensing value is less than a preset first threshold value and is greater than or equal to a preset second threshold value,
And determines that the touch of the user is not a key input when the sensed ratio value is less than a preset third threshold value. The method according to claim 13 or 14,
And the third threshold value is 2 or more. The method according to claim 13 or 14,
And the third threshold value is 5 or more. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the touch of the user includes a touch by a user's finger or a stylus pen.

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