Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
  • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
  • H03K17/945—Proximity switches
  • H03K17/955—Proximity switches using a capacitive detector
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
  • G06F1/1626—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
  • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
  • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
  • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
  • G06F1/1637—Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
  • G06F1/1643—Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
  • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
  • H03K17/96—Touch switches
  • H03K17/962—Capacitive touch switches
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
  • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
  • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
  • H03K2217/960755—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
  • H03K2217/960765—Details of shielding arrangements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
  • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
  • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
  • H03K2217/960755—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
  • H03K2217/96077—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches comprising an electrode which is floating
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
  • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
  • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
  • H03K2217/960755—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
  • H03K2217/960775—Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes

Definitions

• the invention relates to a sensor device and a method for providing a detection signal.
• the detection signal may be used for controlling a device state of an electric device.
• sensor devices which may be arranged for example on a hand-held device, in order to detect quantitatively measurement parameters.
• infrared sensors in a mobile phone in the area of the loudspeaker, with which the distance to an object may be detected. So for example it may be detected how far is the mobile phone to an ear.
• the display of the mobile phone may be then switched on or off.
• the infrared sensors are visible from the outside, because at least the probe must be arranged at the surface of the mobile phone.
• the possibilities of the design of the mobile phone are limited.
• it cannot be reliably detected if the mobile phone lies in fact at the ear or if the infrared sensor or the probe is not covered by e.g. a hand.
• the object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a sensor device, which avoids at least partially the disadvantages known from prior art.
• a sensor device which comprises:
• At least one first sensor element for detecting a touch and/or an approach which is configured as a capacitive sensor element and which comprises a first electrode structure, comprising a transmitting electrode and a reception electrode, wherein a first alternating electric field emitted by the transmitting electrode may be coupled into the reception electrode,
• an evaluating device which is coupled with the at least one first sensor element and with the at least one second sensor element, wherein the evaluating device is configured to evaluate a first signal tapped from the reception electrode of the first sensor element and at least one second signal provided by the second sensor element and to generate at least one detection signal depending on the evaluation.
• an operating mode of an electric device may be changed, which is not only depending on the touch of the device and/or on the proximity to the device, but is also depending on other sensor values.
• the ergonomics, particularly of electronic hand devices may be clearly improved.
• the first electrode structure may comprise a compensation electrode
• the evaluating device comprises a signal transmitter for supplying the transmitting electrode with a first alternating electrical signal and for supplying the compensation electrode with a second alternating electrical signal, and wherein a second alternating electric field emitted by the compensation electrode may be coupled into the reception electrode.
• the transmitting electrode, the reception electrode and the compensation electrode on a hand-held device the detection of an encompassing of the hand-held device by a hand may be realized in a particularly advantageous way.
• the compensation electrode may be arranged substantially between the transmitting electrode and the reception electrode.
• the second alternating electrical signal may be dephased to the first alternating electrical signal.
• the first sensor element may comprise a second electrode structure, comprising a number of field sensing electrodes, wherein the reception electrode, the transmitting electrode, the compensation electrode and the field sensing electrodes are arranged with respect to each other in such a way, that
• the first alternating electric field emitted by the transmitting electrode may also be coupled into at least one of the field sensing electrodes, and
• the second alternating electric field emitted by the compensation electrode may be coupled substantially only into the reception electrode
• the evaluating device is configured to evaluate a third signal tapped from at least one of the field sensing electrodes.
• the observation area of the capacitive sensor element at a hand-held device may be clearly enlarged, wherein at the same time it is also guaranteed that an approach to only the field sensing electrodes does not lead to a detection, because a detection of an approach to the field sensing electrodes is only reached when the alternating field emitted at the transmitting electrode is coupled into the field sensing electrodes over the hand, which corresponds to an enlarged capacitive coupling between transmitting electrode and field sensing electrodes.
• the amplitude of the first alternating electrical signal may be greater than the amplitude of the second alternating electrical signal.
• An approach of an object to the first electrode structure may lead to a change in a level of the first signal tapped from the reception electrode, which is indicative for an approach of an object to the first electrode structure.
• An additional approach to the second electrode structure of the object may lead to a change in a level of the of at least one third signal tapped from the field sensing electrodes, wherein the level change of the third signal indicates that the object approaches to both the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure.
• An auxiliary electrode may be assigned to at least one of the field sensing electrodes, wherein the auxiliary electrode may be galvanically or capacitively coupled with the at least one field sensing electrode.
• the second sensor element may comprise at least one of position sensor, acceleration sensor, photosensor, and temperature sensor.
• the invention also provides a method for providing a detection signal, wherein
• a first signal is tapped from a reception electrode of a first sensor element, wherein the first sensor element is configured as a capacitive sensor element and comprises a first electrode structure comprising a transmitting electrode and the reception electrode, wherein a first alternating electric field emitted by the transmitting electrode is coupled into the reception electrode, - the first signal is evaluated,
• a detection signal is generated, which depends on the evaluated first signal and on the evaluated second signal.
• the first sensor element may comprise a second electrode structure comprising a number of field sensing electrodes, wherein
• the first alternating electric field emitted by the transmitting electrode is coupled into at least one field sensing electrode
• the detection signal depends on the evaluated third signal.
• the first electrode structure comprises a compensation electrode, wherein the transmitting electrode is supplied with a first alternating electrical signal and the compensation electrode is supplied with a second alternating electrical signal.
• the second alternating electrical signal may be dephased to the first alternating electrical signal.
• the reception electrode, the transmitting electrode, the compensation electrode and the field sensing electrodes are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that a second alternating electric field emitted by the compensation electrode is coupled substantially only into the reception electrode.
• control information is derived, which is used for controlling the device state.
• the control information may include e.g.:
• an electric hand-held device which comprises a sensor device according to the invention.
• the electrodes of the first electrode structure may be arranged on the hand-held device in such a way that in case of an encompassing of the hand-held device by a hand these are at least partially covered by the hand.
• the electric hand-held device may include at least of mobile phone, input means for games console, portable minicomputer, headphone, computer mouse, and remote control.
• Fig. 1 an electrode arrangement of a capacitive sensor element
• Fig. 2 the electrode arrangement of Fig. 1 as well as the effect of a body approaching to the electrode arrangement on the field lines of the capacitive near field;
• Fig. 3 a block scheme of a possible embodiment of the sensor device according to the invention with an acceleration sensor
• Fig. 4 an arrangement of the electrodes of a sensor device according to the invention on an electric hand-held device
• Fig. 5 an application example for an evaluation of several detection signals of a sensor device according to the invention in an electric hand-held device
• Fig. 6a, b examples of an arrangement of the electrodes of a sensor device according to the invention on an electric hand-held device with two field sensing electrodes or three field sensing electrodes;
• Fig. 7 two signal curves at a field sensing electrode one for one finger approaching to the field sensing electrode and one for one finger touching the surface of the field sensing electrode;
• Fig. 8 the signal curves from Fig. 7, but in a field sensing electrode, which is assigned to an auxiliary electrode;
• Fig. 9 the arrangement of the electrodes for a detection of an encompassing at a hand-held device.
• Fig. 1 shows an example of the arrangement of the electrodes of a sensor device according to the invention on the surface of a casing G, for example of a hand-held device.
• the electrodes arranged on the surface G are formed by two electrode structures.
• the first electrode structure comprises one transmitting electrode SE, one compensation electrode KE and one reception electrode EE.
• the compensation electrode KE is arranged substantially between the transmitting electrode SE and the reception electrode EE.
• the second electrode structure comprises four field sensing electrodes FE.
• the field sensing electrodes FE are arranged so relative to the first electrode structure, that an alternating electric field WK emitted by the compensation electrode KE is coupled substantially only into the reception electrode EE, but not into the field sensing electrodes FE.
• the reception electrode EE of the first electrode structure is connected to a signal input of an evaluating device or a control means.
• the transmitting electrode SE and the compensation electrode KE of the first electrode structure are each supplied with an alternating electric quantity of a determined frequency and amplitude. This alternating electric quantity is denoted in the following as alternating signal or alternating electrical signal.
• the alternating electrical signal supplied to the transmission electrode SE has a frequency of approximately between 50 kHz and 300 kHz.
• the alternating electrical signal supplied to the transmitting electrode SE has a frequency of between 75 kHz and 150 kHz.
• the alternating electrical signal supplied to the compensation electrode KE preferably shows the waveform and the frequency of the alternating electrical signal, with which the transmitting electrode SE is supplied.
• the alternating electrical signal, with which the compensation electrode KE is supplied is dephased to the alternating electrical signal of the transmitting electrode SE.
• the phase shift may be done for example with a phase shifter, which is arranged between a signal generator and the transmitting electrode or the compensation electrode (see Fig. 3).
• the transmitting electrode SE or the alternating electrical signal supplied to this is so configured, that the alternating electric field WS emitted by the transmitting electrode SE may be coupled into the reception electrode EE.
• the compensation electrode KE or the alternating electrical signal supplied to this is so configured, that the alternating electric field WK emitted at the compensation electrode KE may be also coupled into the reception electrode EE.
• the alternating electric field WK emitted at the compensation electrode KE which is dephased to the electric alternating field WS emitted by the transmission electrode SE, the level of the alternating electric field acting at the reception electrode EE, which results from the electric alternating fields WS and WK, is reduced or erased by a phase superposition, i.e. by a phase shift of 180° (almost).
• the alternating electric fields WK and WS coupled at the reception electrode EE cause that a current flows in the reception electrode EE, which may be supervised or evaluated by the evaluation electronics.
• This current is indicative for the approach, for example of a hand, to the first electrode structure or for the touch of the first electrode structure by a hand.
• the current flowing through the reception electrode EE presents a level, which lies below a predetermined switching level. Only by a sufficient approach of an object, for example of a hand, to the first electrode structure, the current flowing through the reception electrode EE exceeds the predetermined switching level, so that an approach to the first electrode structure is detected.
• the transmitting electrode SE, the compensation electrode KE and the reception electrode EE of the first electrode structure may be arranged on a hand-held device in such a way that, instead of an approach to the first electrode structure, a touch of the first electrode structure is detected.
• a hand-held device is described in more detail in regard to Fig. 9.
• the field sensing electrodes FE of the second electrode structure are arranged with respect to the first electrode structure in such a way that the alternating electric field WK emitted by the compensation electrode KE of the first electrode structure is not coupled into the field sensing electrodes FE of the second electrode structure.
• the alternating electrical signal supplied to the compensation electrode KE may also be set in such a way that the alternating electric field WK emitted at the compensation electrode KE is small enough not to be coupled into the field sensing electrodes FE of the second electrode structure.
• the field sensing electrodes FE of the second electrode structure may be provided in order to detect, at the same time as a contact detected over the first electrode structure of the first electrode structure, also an approach or a touch of the second electrode structure.
• the field sensing electrodes FE comprises a surface that is smaller than the reception electrode EE of the first electrode structure.
• the alternating electric field WS emitted at the transmitting electrode SE of the first electrode structure may couple into the field sensing electrodes FE of the second electrode structure.
• this capacitative coupling is indeed very small or insignificantly small.
• the alternating electric field WS coupled at the field sensing electrodes FE causes that an electric current flows through the field sensing electrodes FE, which may be detected and evaluated with an evaluating device.
• a signal level may be also defined, wherein an excess of this signal level indicates an approach of an object to the field sensing electrodes FE.
• the sensor device according to the invention as well as the electrode arrangement according to the invention may be used in a particularly advantageous way to detect, simultaneously to an encompassing of a hand-held device by a hand, also an approach to the hand-held device by a second hand.
• Fig. 2 shows the electrode arrangement represented in Fig. 1 , in which the field lines among the single electrodes are influenced by a body K.
• the body K may be for example an approaching hand.
• the coupling between the transmission electrode SE and the reception electrode EE is increasingly better, because the alternating electric field WS emitted at the transmitting electrode SE is partially coupled over the approaching hand K into the reception electrode EE and thus withdraws the sphere of action of the alternating electric field WK emitted at the compensation electrode KE.
• This increasingly better coupling between the transmitting electrode SE and the reception electrode EE causes the level of the current flowing through the reception electrode to be significantly enlarged.
• the approaching hand K acts almost as a bridge for the compensation electrode KE.
• the distance between the transmitting electrode on the one hand and the reception electrode or the compensation electrode on the other hand may be selected in such a way that the bridging effect between the transmitting electrode SE and the reception electrode EE may not be produced with a single finger.
• Such an arrangement is described in more detail in regard to Fig. 9.
• the encompassing of the hand-held device may be thus reliably detected.
• the coupling between the transmitting electrode SE of the first electrode structure and the field sensing electrode FE of the second electrode structure is increased.
• Exceeding this level may be an indication for the approach of an object, for example of a hand to the field sensing electrodes and to the transmitting electrode SE.
• the encompassing of the hand-held device by a hand and the approach of an object, for example a second hand, to the hand-held device may be in this way reliably detected.
• the electrodes of the first electrode structure may be arranged on the hand-held device in such a way that in case of an encompassing by a hand the transmitting electrode SE and the reception electrode EE are at least partially covered.
• the field sensing electrodes of the second electrode structure may be arranged on the hand-held device in such a way that they are not covered by the hand encompassing the hand-held device. Thus it may be reliably detected if the second hand approaches the hand-held device already encompassed by a hand.
• FIG. 3 shows a block scheme of a sensor device according to the invention.
• the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure are each coupled with an evaluating device A.
• the field sensing electrodes FE of the second electrode structure are coupled with the evaluating device A in such a way as to conduct an electric signal S3 adjacent to the respective field sensing electrodes FE to the evaluating device A.
• the reception electrode EE of the first electrode structure is also coupled with the evaluating device A in such a way as to conduct an electric signal S 1 detected at the reception electrode EE to the evaluating device.
• the compensation electrode KE and the transmitting electrode SE of the first electrode structure are each supplied by the evaluating device A with an alternating electrical signal WS2 or WS 1.
• the alternating electrical signal WS1 is dephased to the alternating electrical signal WS2.
• the evaluating device may be provided with a signal generator G for producing and providing an alternating electrical signal.
• the alternating signal provided by the signal generator G may be supplied directly to the transmitting electrode SE.
• the signal provided by the signal generator may be conducted through a phase shifter ⁇ of the compensation electrode KE.
• the evaluating device A is configured to measure and evaluate the electric signal S 1 tapped from the reception electrode EE and at least one electric signal S3 tapped from the field sensing electrodes FE. As a result of this evaluation, the evaluating device A may provide a first detection signal DS l and/or a second detection signal DS2.
• the detection signals DSl , DS2 provided by the evaluating device A comprises information on whether an object lies in the observation area of the first electrode structure and/or in the observation area of the second electrode structure.
• the detection signals may be conducted for example to a control device of an electric hand-held device, which depending on the information comprised in the detection signals DSl , DS2 may control the electric hand-held device accordingly.
• the information comprised in the detection signals DS l, DS2 may also be provided in a single detection signal.
• the evaluating device A is configured to measure or evaluate the electric signals S3 tapped from the field sensing electrodes FE separately for each field sensing electrode FE.
• This has the advantage that a number of field sensing electrodes may be arranged for example on a hand-held device at different places, so that by virtue of the electric signals S3 of the field sensing electrodes FE it may be determined to which field sensing electrode FE a hand or a finger approaches.
• the outline of an object approaching the field sensing electrodes may be also be determined contactless and with a good precision.
• the electric signals S3 tapped from the field sensing electrodes FE may be evaluated sequentially for example in a time -division multiplex-method, as it is shown for example in Fig. 3.
• the sensor device according to the invention may have still further sensors.
• an acceleration sensor may be provided, whose sensor signal S2 is fed to the evaluating device A.
• the evaluating device A may be configured in such a way that, depending on the electric signals SI and/or S3, which are tapped from the reception electrode EE or from the field sensing electrodes FE, and the sensor signal S2 provided by the acceleration sensor, it provides a detection signal, which contains for example information on whether a hand-held device is touched and how the handheld device is then oriented.
• a detection signal which contains for example information on whether a hand-held device is touched and how the handheld device is then oriented.
• it may be detected if a mobile phone is encompassed by a hand and approached to the ear, because after an incoming call the mobile phone is not only encompassed by a hand, but because after the encompassing the position of the mobile phone is changed as well. Together with the signals of the field sensing electrodes, a particularly good detecting precision may be reached.
• An infrared sensor known from prior art is not needed here.
• the capacitive sensor according to the invention may be provided together with an acceleration sensor and/or a position sensor, in order to detect
• the device may be switched over into a mode, e.g. a camera mode.
• a mode e.g. a camera mode.
• the corresponding contextual menu may be viewed on the display.
• the device may be switched over e.g. into a play mode or into an e-Book-Reader- mode.
• the device state or the mode of operation of a device will be set depending on how the device is touched or taken and depending on how the device is oriented.
• the sensor device according to the invention may also comprise a photosensor, whose sensor signals may be evaluated together with the touch or approach.
• the following may be realized:
• An approach to the device causes the device to change from a sleeping mode into an active mode.
• the lighting for example of the display, may be switched on. In brightly lit environments the lighting is set clearer than in dark environments. But the lighting may also be switched on when the device is also really encompassed. For this purpose no manual inputs on the device by the user are necessary.
• the sensor device according to the invention may also be provided with temperature sensors, whose sensor signals may be evaluated together with the touch or the approach.
• An approach to the device causes the device to change from a sleeping mode into an active mode.
• the display lighting of an LCD-display may be switched on (the backlight of the LCD-display may depend again on an evaluated signal of the photosensor). If the temperature lies over a predetermined limit value, the contrast of the temperature sensitive LCD-display is readjusted.
• a signal of a timer together with the capacitive sensor may be evaluated.
• An approach to the device and/or a touch/encompass of the device causes that the device changes from a sleeping mode into an active mode.
• an acoustic signal may be emitted on the device.
• a "Guten Morgen” may be emitted, between 12 noon and 6 p.m.
• a "Guten Tag” may be emitted, and from 6 p.m. a "Guten court” may be emitted.
• the sensor device according to the invention is obviously not limited to the sensors shown here.
• the sensor device may also include other sensor elements, e.g. a torque sensor, humidity sensors or the like.
• the various sensors may be provided individually or combined in a sensor device.
• Fig. 4 shows by way of example an arrangement of the electrodes of a sensor device according to the invention on an electric hand-held device, for example a mobile phone.
• an electric hand-held device for example a mobile phone.
• the transmitting electrode SE and in the right edge zone the reception electrode EE and the compensation electrode KE of the first electrode structure are arranged.
• the transmitting electrode SE and the reception electrode EE are covered by the hand at least partially.
• the encompassing of the hand-held device by a hand causes a significant enlargement of the capacitive coupling between the transmitting electrode SE and the reception electrode EE, which has an effect on the current flowing through the reception electrode EE.
• the functioning has already been described in more detail in regard to Fig. 2.
• a field sensing electrode FE of the second electrode structure is arranged in the upper area of the electric hand-held device.
• the field sensing electrode FE is arranged in such a way that, in case of encompassing of the hand-held device by a hand, the capacitive coupling between the transmitting electrode SE and the field sensing electrode FE is not considerably influenced or is not considerably improved. If a second hand approaches now the field sensing electrode FE, the capacitive coupling between the transmitting electrode SE and the field sensing electrode FE is also significantly improved, which has again an effect on the current flowing through the field sensing electrode FE.
• the lower area of the hand-held device is denoted here as "Grip-Zone”
• the upper area of the hand-held device is denoted as "Prox-Zone”.
• a possible usage scenario of the electrode arrangement shown in Fig. 4 consists of the fact that, in case of a mobile phone, the encompassing of the mobile phone by a hand and the approach of the mobile phone to an ear of the user may be detected.
• the encompassing of the mobile phone is detected with the help of the transmitting electrode SE and the reception electrode EE of the first electrode structure.
• the approach to an ear is detected by the field sensing electrode FE.
• the capacitive coupling between the transmitting electrode SE and the field sensing electrode FE over the body of the user is constantly increasing, up to a certain distance of the field sensing electrode FE to the ear that the capacitive coupling becomes so large that the current flowing through the field sensing electrode FE exceeds a predetermined level.
• the detection signals provided by the evaluating device A may be then used for example in such a way that in case of an incoming call the ringing signal is set as soon as the mobile phone is encompassed by a hand and that the lighting of the mobile phone display is automatically turned off as soon as the mobile phone is held to the ear.
• Fig. 5 shows another usage scenario of a sensor device according to the invention in a hand-held device.
• the electrodes of the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure are arranged here substantially as it is already shown in regard to Fig. 4.
• the position of the mobile phone is evaluated as well.
• the mobile phone may be for example switched over automatically into a camera mode.
• the position of the mobile phone may be determined for example with an acceleration sensor.
• Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b show two more examples of the arrangement of the electrodes of a sensor device according to the invention.
• the transmitting electrode SE and the reception electrode EE are arranged in the lower area of the hand-held device.
• At both sides of the upper area of the hand-held device each time one field sensing electrode FE is arranged.
• the field sensing electrodes FE may be used as a replacement for conventional mechanical sensing device or switch.
• the field sensing electrodes FE or the detection signal assigned to the field sensing electrodes FE may be interlinked with a telephone book function of a mobile phone. If a user encompasses now the mobile phone with a hand and she/he approaches, for example with the thumb, the right or the left field sensing electrode FE, the mobile phone may be switched over automatically into a telephone book mode.
• both field sensing electrodes FE may also be used as release while the camera mode is on. A suitable arrangement of the field sensing electrodes FE for this purpose is shown in regard to Fig. 6b.
• the electric signals S2 of the field sensing electrodes FE may also be used in order to further improve the detection precision for example to take a call on a mobile phone. This may be reached for example providing an electric signal by at least two field sensing electrodes FE, which exceeds each time a predetermined level.
• the sensor device shown and described here may also be used in a hand-held device, for example a mobile phone, to switch it over from a first mode of operation into a second mode of operation.
• the first mode of operation may be for example a sleeping mode
• the second mode of operation may be an active mode. In this way the energy consumption of a mobile phone may be clearly reduced because the mobile phone is only in an active mode when it is really encompassed by a hand is or it is in use.
• the sensor device according to the invention may also be arranged for example in a computer mouse.
• the electrodes of the first electrode structure may be arranged at the computer mouse in such a way that an encompassing of the computer mouse is detected.
• the field sensing electrodes of the second electrode structure may be provided for example to define the approaching areas for a left mouse button and for a right mouse button. If the computer mouse is not encompassed by a hand, the computer mouse may be switched over into a sleeping mode. Because of the necessary capacitive coupling of the transmitting electrode and the field sensing electrodes, it may also be avoided that a computer mouse is switched over into an active mode only by approaching one of the two field sensing electrodes, without also being encompassed at the same time by the hand.
• a video camera may be equipped with the sensor device according to the invention. So for example in the area of the camera loop, in which the hand is introduced for the holding of the camera, the first electrode structure may be arranged. In this way it may be detected if the hand lies in the loop. In one embodiment of the invention a starting sequence of the camera or the camcorder may be started as soon as the hand lies in the loop. In this way the time lapse to starting a video recording may be considerably shortened.
• the camera system may be configured in such a way that when the hand is removed from the loop, then for example, if the camcorder is stopped, at least the display of the camcorder is switched off.
• one or several field sensing electrodes FE may be arranged on the video camera, with which different actions on the video camera may be produced, when a finger approaches near enough to a corresponding field sensing electrode.
• such actions are releasable by means of the field sensing electrodes on the video camera, which may be only produced when the hand lies in the loop of the video camera.
• Fig. 7 shows a signal curve of the electric signal of a field sensing electrode FE in the case of an approach to, for example, a case of a hand-held device and by touching the shell.
• the field sensing electrode FE in this respect is not arranged on the outer side of the casing G, but on the inner side of the casing G.
• the field sensing electrode is on the one hand protected from external influences and on the other hand the field sensing electrode has no influences on the design of the shell.
• the level of the electric signal at the field sensing electrode FE increases constantly, as it is shown on the left side of Fig. 7. If the finger K touches the housing surface G, the coupling surface of the finger is rapidly enlarged, so that the capacitive coupling between the transmission electrode SE and the corresponding field electrode iron grows rapidly as well. This rapid growth of the capacitive coupling causes in turn that the electric current measured at the field sensing electrode FE grows rapidly as well. This rapid level rise of the signal measured at the field sensing electrode FE may be used in order to distinguish an approach to the field sensing electrode FE from touching the field electrode.
• an auxiliary electrode HE may be arranged on the shell outer surface or directly below the shell outer surface. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 8.
• the auxiliary electrode HE is brought here in relation with the field sensing electrode FE arranged on the shell inner side. This may be done by means of a galvanic connection between the auxiliary electrode HE and the field sensing electrode FE.
• the galvanic connection has the advantage that the auxiliary electrode HE must not be arranged directly opposite the field sensing electrode FE.
• the coupling of the auxiliary electrode HE with the field sensing electrode FE may also take place on a capacitive basis, as shown in Fig. 8.
• the capacitative coupling has the advantage that no openings must be provided on the shell G in order to couple the field sensing electrode FE with the auxiliary electrode HE.
• the signal levels of the signals measured at the field sensing electrode FE are greater in case of an approaching finger, because the auxiliary electrode HE produces a better capacitive coupling between the field sensing electrode FE and the approaching finger.
• touching the auxiliary electrode HE with a finger K has a stronger effect on the signal level of the signal measured at the field sensing electrode FE, because between the finger and the field sensing electrode FE no housing working as dielectric is present. Therefore, the rapidly increasing coupling surface of the finger leads to a still greater level rise of the signal measured at the field sensing electrode FE.
• a distinction between an approach and a contact may be made with still more precision.
• an approach and a contact may be provided in order to produce, for example in case of an approach to a field sensing electrode, a focusing of the camera (see Fig. 5) and, in case of a touch at the field sensing electrode, a picture- taking.
• Fig. 9 the arrangement of the electrodes of the first electrode structure on a hand- held device is symbolically shown.
• the transmitting electrode SE is arranged on the left side of the hand-held device.
• the compensation electrode KE and the reception electrode EE are arranged on the right side of the hand-held device, wherein the reception electrode EE is arranged over the compensation electrode KE.
• the first electrode structure may also have several transmitting electrodes, several compensation electrodes and/or several reception electrodes.
• the sensor device may also include several first electrode structures, so that for example on a hand-held device, when several first electrode structures are arranged on a handheld device, the encompassing of the hand-held device may be detected at different areas of the hand-held device. Alternatively, it may also be detected if the hand-held device is encompassed or held by two hands.
• the hand-held device may be for example a mobile phone, a computer mouse, a remote control, an input means for a game console, a prtable minicomputer (PDA), a headphone, or the like.
• the sensor device according to the invention may also be provided for larger electrical appliances, in which it is for example necessary to detect a touch on the device and at the same time an approach to the device.
• the sensor device according to the invention may also be operated in such a way that the electric signals at the first electrode structure are evaluated independently of the electric signals measured at the second electrode structure.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electronic Switches (AREA)
• Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
• Measurement Of Length, Angles, Or The Like Using Electric Or Magnetic Means (AREA)
• Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)

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• 2009
  • 2009-12-11 DE DE102009057947A patent/DE102009057947A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2010
  • 2010-12-03 EP EP10790636A patent/EP2510619A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-12-03 JP JP2012542477A patent/JP5833017B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-12-03 US US13/512,935 patent/US9525416B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-12-03 KR KR1020127017671A patent/KR101718847B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-12-03 WO PCT/EP2010/068884 patent/WO2011069925A2/en active Application Filing

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