Water immune user-actuatable touch control for an ear-worn electronic device

An ear-worn electronic device, comprising:

• a housing configured to be worn in, at or about an ear of a wearer;
• electronic circuitry disposed in or supported by the housing;
• a controller disposed in the housing and coupled to the electronic circuitry;
• a rechargeable power source and charging circuitry respectively disposed in the housing, the charging circuitry coupled to the controller and comprising first and second charge contacts situated at a wall of the housing;
• and
• a user-actuatable control operatively coupled to the controller and comprising a touch sensor coupled to the first and second charge contacts, the touch sensor comprising a threshold detector configured to:
• distinguish between a first, a second, and a third range of impedances respectively present at the first and second charge contacts;
• and
• generate a touch signal in response to detecting the first range of impedances present at the first and second charge contacts.

A method implemented by an ear-worn electronic device, comprising:

• sensing a touch event of unknown origin by a touch sensor of the device;
• activating a threshold detector in response to sensing the touch event;
• distinguishing, by the threshold detector, between skin contact with the touch sensor and contact between a conductive material more conductive than skin and the touch sensor;
• and
• initiating a device function or operation in response to the threshold detector detecting skin contact with the touch sensor.