Proximity sensor and proximity sensing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12422954-B2
Application number	US-202318333936-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2023
Priority date	Jul 10, 2018
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

A proximity sensor and a proximity sensing method are disclosed. The proximity sensor includes a sensing element and a sensing circuit. The sensing circuit is coupled to the sensing element and transmits a first driving signal and a second signal to the sensing element, respectively. The sensing element receives the first driving signal and the second driving signal, respectively, and generates a first sensing signal and a second sensing signal, respectively. The sensing circuit generates a proximity signal according to the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal. The accuracy of sensing the proximity of the human body whether near to the sensor is improved. In addition, the sensing circuit is further coupled to a radio-frequency circuit, and the sensing circuit transmits a driving signal or/and receives a sensing signal according to the state of the radio-frequency circuit, thereby reducing interference of the sensing circuit to the radio-frequency circuit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A proximity sensor, comprising:
a proximity sensing element, receiving at least one driving signal, and generating at least one sensing signal; and
a proximity sensing circuit, coupled to said proximity sensing element, transmitting said driving signal to said proximity sensing element, and generating a proximity signal according to said sensing signal;
wherein said proximity sensing circuit is further coupled to a radio-frequency circuit, and said proximity sensing circuit transmits said driving signal or/and receives said sensing signal according to an operation state of said radio-frequency circuit.

2. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein when said radio-frequency circuit is in an idle state, said proximity sensing circuit transmits said driving signal or/and receives said sensing signal.

3. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein said proximity sensing element is an antenna; said radio-frequency circuit is further coupled to said proximity sensing element; and when said radio-frequency circuit transmits a radio-frequency signal to said proximity sensing element, said proximity sensing circuit transmits said driving signal.

4. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein said proximity sensing element is an antenna; said radio-frequency circuit is further coupled to said proximity sensing element; and when said radio-frequency circuit receives a wireless signal received by said proximity sensing element, said proximity sensing circuit receives said sensing signal.

5. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein said radio-frequency circuit is further coupled to an antenna; when said radio-frequency circuit transmits a radio-frequency signal to said antenna, said proximity sensing circuit transmits said driving signal; and when said radio-frequency circuit receives a wireless signal received by said antenna, said proximity sensing circuit receives said sensing signal.

6. The proximity sensor of claim 1 , wherein a synchronization signal is transmitted between said radio-frequency circuit and said proximity sensing circuit.

Assignees

• Sensortek Tech Corp

Inventors

• Lin Chih-Yu

Classifications

• G06F3/046

  by electromagnetic means · CPC title

• H03K2017/9527

  Details of coils in the emitter or receiver; Magnetic detector comprising emitting and receiving coils · CPC title

• H03K2217/960775

  Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes · CPC title

• H03K17/955

  using a capacitive detector · CPC title

• G06F3/041662

  using alternate mutual and self-capacitive scanning · CPC title