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US 8,558,561 B2Granted
Multi-function sensor and method
AssigneeMethode Electronics, Inc.
InventorIan Sage
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-function sensor apparatus includes multiple sensing electrodes and a control circuit adapted to receive signals from each of the sensing electrodes and to deem whether the sensing electrodes are in a touched state or an untouched state. The control circuit also is adapted to selectively provide an output based on the sensor's states and the manner in which the sensors came to be in such states.
Claims17
A multi-function sensor apparatus comprising:
- a first sensing electrode;
- a second sensing electrode;
- and
- a control circuit adapted to:
- receive signals from said first sensing electrode;
- receive signals from said second sensing electrode;
- deem whether said first sensing electrode is in a touched state;
- deem whether said second sensing electrode is in a touched state;
- and
- provide an output;
- wherein said output of said control circuit is indicative of said control circuit:
- deeming fewer than both of said first and said second sensing electrodes to be in a touched state;
- deeming both of said first and said second sensing electrodes to be in a touched state simultaneously for at least a predetermined period of time, or
- deeming one of said first and said second sensing electrodes to be in a touched state and then, after the expiration of a second predetermined period of time but before the expiration of a third predetermined period of time, deeming the other of said first and said second sensing electrodes to be in a touched state.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.