Patent ID: 11863173
Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
Field: Basic communication processes (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  F  G | IPC G  H

Claim 0:
1. A system, comprising:
a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an internal volume;
a sensing electrode disposed within the housing;
a connecting electrode disposed on the inner surface within the internal volume; and
a capacitive sensing circuit galvanically connected to the connecting electrode at a first port, but not to the sensing electrode, the capacitive sensing circuit configured to:
determine a first capacitance between the first port and a ground, the first capacitance including a variable capacitance between the connecting electrode and a person when the person is touching the housing;
determine a second capacitance between the first port and the ground associated with a time when the person is not touching the housing; and
determine a difference between the second capacitance and the first capacitance.