Patent ID: 8547360

Claim:
A system comprising: a touch screen comprising multiple electrodes; a touch screen processor comprising: a drive signal generator, wherein the drive signal generator is configured to provide touch screen or electric field sensing drive signals to one or more of the electrodes; a detections unit, wherein the detection unit receives signals from one or more of the electrodes and is configured to analyze the signals received from one or more of the electrodes and perform capacitive touch screen sensing and electric field sensing; wherein the touch screen processor is configured to use the drive signal generator and the detection unit to: detect an object contacting the touch screen or within a first distance from the touch screen in a first mode; and detect the object within a second distance from the touch screen in a second mode, the second distance larger than the first distance; wherein the first mode is configured for: each of multiple pairs of electrodes, drive one of the electrodes in the pair and measure a mutual capacitance using another of the electrodes in the pair; and use mutual capacitance measurements to detect the object contacting the touch screen or within the first distance from the touch screen; and wherein the second mode is configured to: drive a first group of the electrodes and measure a self-capacitance of the group of electrodes; and use self-capacitance measurements on the first group of electrodes to detect the object within the second distance from the touch screen.