Patent ID: 8411045
Filing Date: 2013-04-02
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
1. An electronic touch panel comprising: a plurality of spaced apart touch sensor pads arranged in a first direction on a planar layer; a proximity sensor pad on the planar layer that is electrically isolated from the touch sensor pads, wherein the proximity sensor pad has a greater surface area than a plurality of the touch sensor pads; and a position detection circuit that is configured to electrically charge the touch sensor pads to generate capacitive coupling to an adjacent user object and detect therefrom a location of the user object relative to the first direction across the planar layer, and configured to electrically charge the proximity sensor pad to generate a higher level of capacitive coupling to the user object than a plurality of the touch sensor pads and to detect therefrom a proximity of the user object in a perpendicular direction to the planar layer; the touch sensor pads are arranged in a plurality of spaced apart columns, with each of the touch sensor pads being serially connected in each column and electrically isolated from touch sensor pads in other columns; and the proximity sensor pad extends as a continuous line on the planar layer between adjacent ones of the spaced apart columns of touch sensor pads.