Touch-sensitive electronic device and sensor control method

A touch-sensitive electronic device comprising:

• a sensor part configured to detect a capacitance that varies according to a touch or a proximity of an operation body on or to an operation surface;
• a memory part that stores a reference value used as a basis of calculation of an amount of change in the capacitance and a threshold value used for detection of the touch or the proximity;
• a determination part configured to compare the amount of change in the capacitance calculated based on the reference value with the threshold value and to determine a state of the touch or the proximity with respect to the operation surface;
• and
• a controller configured to allow a touch sensing operation and a proximity sensing operation to be performed in the sensor part during a period when the proximity of the operation body to the operation surface is detected by the determination part, and to suspend the proximity sensing operation in the sensor part during a period when the touch of the operation body on the operation surface is detected by the determination part.

A sensor control method for a touch-sensitive electronic device having an operation surface, comprising:

• detecting a capacitance that varies according to a touch or a proximity of an operation body on or to the operation surface;
• determining a state of the touch or the proximity with respect to the operation surface by comparing an amount of change with a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• suspending a touch sensing operation with respect to the operation surface during a period when the proximity of the operation body to the operation surface is not detected, and suspending a proximity sensing operation with respect to the operation surface during a period when the touch of the operation body on the operation surface is detected.