Capacitive Proximity Sensor Configuration Including an Antenna Ground Plane

A method comprising:

• determining an ambient light level based on a detection by a light sensor of ambient light of a control area for a playback device;
• adjusting, based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is configured to detect a physical movement in a first direction, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna ground plane oriented at a relative angle to the capacitive proximity sensor, wherein the RF antenna ground plane is coupled to the first metal electrode of the capacitive proximity sensor such that the capacitive proximity sensor is further configured to detect physical movement in a second direction, wherein the second direction is at substantially the relative angle to the first direction;
• determining, based on a detection of physical movement by the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device from one or more of the first direction and the second direction;
• and
• responsively causing the control area of the playback device to be illuminated.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor to cause a computing device to perform functions comprising:

• determining an ambient light level based on a detection by a light sensor of ambient light of a control area for a playback device;
• adjusting, based on the ambient light level, a sensitivity of a capacitive proximity sensor, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is configured to detect a physical movement in a first direction, wherein the capacitive proximity sensor is coupled to a radio frequency (RF) antenna ground plane oriented at a relative angle to the capacitive proximity sensor, wherein the RF antenna ground plane is coupled to the first metal electrode of the capacitive proximity sensor such that the capacitive proximity sensor is further configured to detect physical movement in a second direction, wherein the second direction is at substantially the relative angle to the first direction;
• determining, based on a detection of physical movement by the capacitive proximity sensor, a physical approach of an entity towards the playback device from one or more of the first direction and the second direction;
• and
• responsively causing the control area of the playback device to be illuminated.