# US 11,079,210 B2 · Sensing distance to terminal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,210 B2 - Document ID: US11079210B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/445,902 - Filed: 2019-06-19 - Published: 2019-12-26 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-20 - Assignees: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Chaoxi Chen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079210B2 ## CPC - G01B 7/023: {for measuring distance between sensor and object (G01B7/082 and G01B7/102 take precedence)} - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - H04M 1/6041: {Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use} - G06F 2203/04101: 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract The disclosure relates to a method of sensing a distance applicable to a terminal including capacitive touch sensors. The method includes, when the terminal enters a non-hands-free call state, increasing an electric field strength of the touch sensors and/or decreasing a preset threshold, wherein the touch sensors generate raw data based on sensed signals when the sensed signals are greater than the preset threshold; and determining a distance between an object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of sensing a distance, applicable to a touch screen terminal comprising capacitive touch sensors provided on the touch screen, the method comprising: when the terminal enters a non-hands-free call state, increasing an electric field strength of the touch sensors, or decreasing a preset threshold, or increasing an electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing a preset threshold; wherein the touch sensors generate raw data based on sensed signals when the sensed signals are greater than the preset threshold; and determining a distance between an object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; wherein determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors comprises: determining a number of the touch sensors from each of which a sensed signal is greater than the preset threshold; and when the number is greater than a preset number, determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; and the method further comprises: when, during a preset time period, the number is not greater than the preset number, decreasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increasing the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decreasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increasing the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously; so that the capacitive touch sensors restore a function of sensing a touch operation; or wherein determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors comprises: determining an area of the touch sensors from each of which a sensed signal is greater than the preset threshold; and when the area is greater than a preset area, determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; and the method further comprises: when, during a preset time period, the area is not greater than the preset area, decreasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increasing the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decreasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increasing the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously; so that the capacitive touch sensors restore a function of sensing a touch operation; or wherein determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors comprises: determining a number and an area of the touch sensors from each of which a sensed signal is greater than the preset threshold; and when the number is greater than a preset number and the area is greater than a preset area, determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; and the method further comprises: when, during a preset time period, the number is not greater than the preset number and the area is not greater than the preset area, decreasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increasing the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decreasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increasing the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously; so that the capacitive touch sensors restore a function of sensing a touch operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the terminal further comprises a receiver, and distances between the touch sensors and the receiver are less than a preset distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the touch sensors are located in a preset region of the terminal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: when the terminal enters a hands-free call state from the non-hands-free call state, decreasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increasing the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decreasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increasing the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously. ### Claim 5 An apparatus for sensing a distance, applicable to a terminal comprising capacitive touch sensors, the apparatus comprising: a processor, and a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor, wherein the processor is configured to: when the terminal enters a non-hands-free call state, increase an electric field strength of the touch sensors and/or decrease a preset threshold, wherein the touch sensors generate raw data based on sensed signals when the sensed signals are greater than the preset threshold; and determine a distance between an object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors, wherein, when determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors, the processor is further configured to: determine a number of the touch sensors from each of which a sensed signal is greater than the preset threshold; and when the number is greater than a preset number, determine the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; and the processor is further configured to: when, during a preset time period, the number is not greater than the preset number, decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increase the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increase the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously; so that the capacitive touch sensors restore a function of sensing a touch operation; or wherein, when determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors, the processor is further configured to: determine an area of the touch sensors from each of which a sensed signal is greater than the preset threshold; and when the area is greater than a preset area, determine the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; and the processor is further configured to: when, during a preset time period, the area is not greater than the preset area, decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increase the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increase the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously; so that the capacitive touch sensors restore a function of sensing a touch operation; or wherein, when determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors, the processor is further configured to: determine a number and an area of the touch sensors from each of which a sensed signal is greater than the preset threshold; and when the number is greater than a preset number and the area is greater than a preset area, determine the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; and the processor is further configured to: when, during a preset time period, the number is not greater than the preset number and the area is not greater than the preset area, decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increase the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increase the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously; so that the capacitive touch sensors restore a function of sensing a touch operation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the terminal further comprises a receiver, and distances between the touch sensors and the receiver are less than a preset distance. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the touch sensors are located in a preset region of the terminal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to, when the terminal enters a hands-free call state from the non-hands-free call state, decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increase the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increase the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously. ### Claim 9 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a terminal comprising capacitive touch sensors, cause the terminal to: when the terminal enters a non-hands-free call state, increase an electric field strength of the touch sensors and/or decrease a preset threshold, wherein the touch sensors generate raw data based on sensed signals when the sensed signals are greater than the preset threshold; and determine a distance between an object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; wherein, when determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors, the processor is further configured to: determine a number of the touch sensors from each of which a sensed signal is greater than the preset threshold; and when the number is greater than a preset number, determine the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; and the processor is further configured to: when, during a preset time period, the number is not greater than the preset number, decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increase the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increase the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously; so that the capacitive touch sensors restore a function of sensing a touch operation; or wherein, when determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors, the processor is further configured to: determine an area of the touch sensors from each of which a sensed signal is greater than the preset threshold; and when the area is greater than a preset area, determine the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; and the processor is further configured to: when, during a preset time period, the area is not greater than the preset area, decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increase the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increase the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously; so that the capacitive touch sensors restore a function of sensing a touch operation; or wherein, when determining the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors, the processor is further configured to: determine a number and an area of the touch sensors from each of which a sensed signal is greater than the preset threshold; and when the number is greater than a preset number and the area is greater than a preset area, determine the distance between the object and the terminal based on the raw data generated by the touch sensors; and the processor is further configured to: when, during a preset time period, the number is not greater than the preset number and the area is not greater than the preset area, decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors previously; or increase the preset threshold in response to decreasing the preset threshold previously; or decrease the electric field strength of the touch sensors and increase the preset threshold in response to increasing the electric field strength of the touch sensors and decreasing the preset threshold previously; so that the capacitive touch sensors restore a function of sensing a touch operation.