Patent ID: 8232963
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: G06F,H01H,H03K

Abstract:
1. A mutual capacitance control and data entry apparatus, comprising: a tiltable member configured for tilting by a user or a mechanism; an electrically conductive member attached to the tiltable member; a substrate spaced apart from the electrically conductive member by a gap and having a plurality of mutually isolated electrically conductive sense electrodes disposed thereon; a drive signal circuit configured to provide an electrical drive signal to the electrically conductive member and operably connected thereto; a capacitance measurement circuit operably coupled to the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes, the circuit being configured to detect changes in capacitance occurring between the electrically conductive member and the sense electrodes when the tiltable member is tilted towards the sense electrodes, and a plurality of switches, each such switch being operably connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of sense electrodes and being configured to connect such sense electrode to ground upon being actuated or closed by a user; wherein tilting of the tiltable member by the user or the mechanism effects a first function in the device, and closing of one of the plurality of switches by the user effects a second function in the device.