Capacitive sensor panel having dynamically reconfigurable sensor size and shape
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorJeffrey Traer Bernstein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This relates to a capacitive sensor panel that is able to dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape for proximity and/or distance to enable hover and gesture detection. Thus, the size and/or shape of the sensors in the panel can differ according to present needs. The sensor panel may dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape based on an object's proximity to the panel. The sensor panel may dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape based on a gesture detected by the panel. The sensor panel may dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape based on an application executing on a device in communication with the panel.
Claims18
A method for dynamically reconfiguring sensor size and shape in a sensor panel, the sensor panel including a plurality of sensing pixels placed along the panel at a predetermined initial size and shape, the method comprising:
- determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the panel;
- and
- dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of the pixels based on the determination;
- wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.
A sensing device, comprising:
- a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels;
- and
- a processor programmed for
- determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and
- dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination;
- wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code for dynamically reconfiguring sensor size and shape in a sensor panel, the sensor panel including a plurality of sensing pixels placed along the panel at a predetermined initial size and shape, the program code for causing performance of a method comprising:
- determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the panel;
- and
- dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of the pixels based on the determination;
- wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.
A mobile telephone, comprising:
- a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels;
- and
- a processor programmed for
- determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and
- dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination;
- wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.
A media player, comprising:
- a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels;
- and
- a processor programmed for
- determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and
- dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination;
- wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.
A personal computer, comprising:
- a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels;
- and
- a processor programmed for
- determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and
- dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination;
- wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.