Patent ID: 8786356
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: G01R,G06F,H03K

Abstract:
1. A device comprising: a capacitive touch sensor configured to store an amount of charge indicative of whether an object is within a range of the capacitive touch sensor; a conductive wire coupled to the capacitive touch sensor, the conductive wire configured to transport a first drive signal to the capacitive touch sensor to charge the capacitive touch sensor, the conductive wire generating a first electric field when transporting the first drive signal; a dielectric layer surrounding a first portion of the conductive wire; a conductive shield surrounding the dielectric layer and the first portion of the conductive wire, the conductive shield configured to transport a second drive signal, the conductive shield generating a second electric field when transporting the second drive signal, the second electric field shaping the first electric field generated by the conductive wire; a control unit coupled to the conductive wire and the conductive shield, the control unit configured to generate the first drive signal and the second drive signal; an amplifier configured to amplify the first drive signal to generate the second drive signal; a sensing unit configured to sense whether an object is within the range of the capacitive touch sensor based on the amount of charge stored by the capacitive touch sensor; and a logic circuit in communication with the sensing unit and configured to initiate an action of the device based upon a determination by the sensing unit of whether an object is within the range of the capacitive touch sensor.