# US 8,571,472 B2 · Proximity sensor module and electronic device using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,472 B2 - Document ID: US8571472B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/155,322 - Filed: 2011-06-07 - Published: 2012-06-28 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-28 - Assignees: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Ming-Chih Lin; Chen-Fa Ting; Chien-Yao Chao - Inventors: Ming-Chih Lin; Chen-Fa Ting; Chien-Yao Chao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571472B2 ## CPC - H03K 17/955: using a capacitive detector - G06F 1/1684: {Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675} - H03K 2017/9602: {characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes} - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A proximity sensor module used in an electronic device includes a combination sensing element and antenna, and a detecting circuit electrically connected to the combination sensing element and antenna. The combination sensing element and antenna is used to detect whether an external object is in vicinity of the combination sensing element and antenna according to capacitance changes of the combination sensing element and antenna in presence or absence of an external object in the vicinity, the detecting circuit detects the capacitance changes, and generates a signal associated with the changes to decrease or increase transmission power transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A proximity sensor module, used in an electronic device comprising: a combination sensing element and antenna, working as both an antenna and a sensing element, used to detect whether an external object is in vicinity of the combination sensing element and antenna according to capacitance changes of the combination sensing element and antenna in the presence or absence of an external object in the vicinity; a detecting circuit, electrically connected to the combination sensing element and antenna, that detects the capacitance changes, and generates a signal associated with the changes to decrease or increase transmission power transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna; and a filter circuit electrically connected between the detecting circuit and the combination sensing element and antenna to reduce noise induced between the detecting circuit and the combination sensing element and antenna. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The proximity sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a lower transmission power and a higher transmission power is transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna when the detected external object moves closer to and moves away from, respectively, from the combination sensing element and antenna. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The proximity sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter circuit is an RL filter circuit which includes a resistor and an inductor connected in series, the resistor has a terminal electrically connected to the detecting circuit, and the inductor has a terminal electrically connected to the combination antenna sensing element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The proximity sensor module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the combination sensing element and antenna has a radiation body made of one of copper and iron. ### Claim 5 An electronic device, comprising: a CPU; a radio frequency (RF) circuit; a proximity sensor module comprising: a combination sensing element and antenna, electrically connected to the RF circuit, working as both an antenna and a sensing element, used to detect whether an external object is in vicinity of the combination sensing element and antenna according to capacitance changes of the combination sensing element and antenna in presence or absence of the external object in the vicinity; a detecting circuit, electrically connected to the combination sensing element and antenna and the CPU, detecting the capacitance changes, and generating a signal associated with the changes to the CPU, the CPU decreasing or increasing transmission power of the RF circuit transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna according to the signal; and a filter circuit, wherein the filter circuit is electrically connected between the detecting circuit and the combination sensing element and antenna to reduce noise induced between the detecting circuit and the combination sensing element and antenna. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a lower transmission power and a higher transmission power is transmitted to the combination sensing element and antenna when the detected external object moves closer to and moves away from, respectively, from the combination sensing element and antenna. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the filter circuit is an RL filter circuit which includes a resistor and an inductor connected in series, the resistor has a terminal electrically connected to the detecting circuit, and the inductor has a terminal electrically connected to the combination antenna sensing element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the combination sensing element and antenna has a radiation body made of one of copper and iron. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electronic device is a notebook computer or a tablet personal computer.