Patent ID: 9507466
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: G06F,H03K

Claim Text:
1. A method for performing intrusion detection through monitoring of changes in an environment of a housing for a touch and proximity sensitive device, said method comprising the steps of: providing a touch and proximity sensitive device disposed on or within a housing and including a sense electrode that extends beyond a touch sensitive surface and that is dedicated to detection of the environment around the device and the housing and is capable of touch and proximity detection of conductive or dielectric objects that cause an imbalance of electrical charges on at least one electrode of the device; creating a compensation matrix by transmitting at least one signal pattern from the at least one electrode, receiving at least one response on the sense electrode, and storing the at least one response in the compensation matrix to show an initial imbalance of electrical charges on the at least one electrode as detected by the sense electrode, the compensation matrix being stored in non-volatile memory that is not erased when the device is shut off; performing an intrusion detection procedure by transmitting the at least one signal pattern from the at least one electrode, receiving at least one new response on the sense electrode and comparing the at least one new response to the initial imbalance stored in the compensation matrix stored in the non-volatile memory to determine if the environment around the device or the housing has changed; performing an action apart from normal touch and proximity sensitive device operation of detection and tracking of objects on a surface thereof, if it is determined that the at least one new response is different from the initial imbalance stored in the compensation matrix, the action being selected from the group of actions comprised of taking no action and letting the touch and proximity sensitive device to continue operating, sending an alert signal, shutting down the device, or a combination of these actions.