Method and apparatus for operating sensor of electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016299010-A1
Application number	US-201615079737-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	Apr 9, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device and method are provided for sensing a touch or hovering event, where sensor variations due to environmental temperatures are minimized. The method includes operations for measuring a temperature of a portion of an electronic device, setting a sensing state reference level of a grip sensor according to the measured temperature, and determining a sensing state of an external object for the electronic device according to a result of a comparison between an output level from the grip sensor and the sensing state reference level of the grip sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
measuring a temperature of a portion of the electronic device; setting a sensing state reference level of a sensor according to the measured temperature; and determining a sensing state of an external object for the electronic device according to a result of a comparison between an output level from the sensor and the sensing state reference level of the sensor.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the measuring of the temperature comprises:
receiving external temperature information based on a position of the electronic device; and using the received temperature information to measure the temperature.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensing state reference level is a preset value differentiated for each temperature section of a plurality of temperature sections.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the sensing state reference level is set as a slope linearly increasing or decreasing across each temperature section of the plurality of temperature sections.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein each temperature section of the plurality of temperature sections has a different interval.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensing state reference level includes at least one of a reference level corresponding to a state where the external object is not in proximity to the electronic device, a reference level corresponding to a state where the external object is in contact with the electronic device, or a reference level corresponding to a state where the external object is in a hovering position with respect to the electronic device.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the determining of the sensing state of the external object further comprises determining whether the external object is in contact or is in a hovering position with respect to the electronic device.

8 . A method for operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
measuring a temperature of a portion of the electronic device; correcting a sensing level applied to a sensor according to the measured temperature; and determining a sensing state of an external object for the electronic device according to a result of a comparison between an output level from the sensor at the corrected sensing level and a preset sensing state reference level of the sensor.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the measuring of the temperature comprises:
receiving external temperature information based on a position of the electronic device; and using the received temperature information to measure the temperature.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the correcting of the sensing level comprises reflecting a preset correction value differentiated for each temperature section of a plurality of temperature sections.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the correction value is set as a different value for each temperature section of the plurality of temperature sections.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each temperature section has a different interval for the plurality of temperature sections.

13 . An electronic device, the device comprising:
a conductive pattern; a first sensor configured to sense a capacitive component of the conductive pattern; a second sensor configured to measure a temperature of a portion of the electronic device; and a controller configured to:
receive temperature information from the second sensor or temperature information based on a position of the electronic device to set a sensing state reference level of the first sensor, and
determine a sensing state of an external object for the electronic device according to a result of a comparison between an output level from the first sensor and the sensing state reference level of the sensor.

14 . The electronic device of claim 13 ,
wherein the second sensor is disposed around the first sensor or the conductive pattern, and wherein the second sensor is spaced apart from a heating part of the electronic device.

15 . The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the conductive pattern includes at least a portion of an antenna pattern.

16 . The electronic device of claim 15 , further comprising:
a communication unit electrically connected with the antenna pattern, configured to control signal communication through the antenna pattern; and a low pass filter between the antenna pattern and the first sensor, configured to block transfer of a signal from the communication unit to the first sensor.

17 . An electronic device, the device comprising:
a conductive pattern; a first sensor configured to sense a capacitive component of the conductive pattern; a second sensor configured to measure a temperature of a portion of the electronic device; and a controller configured to:
receive temperature information from the second sensor or temperature information based on a position of the electronic device to correct a sensing level applied to the first sensor, and
determine a sensing state of an external object for the electronic device according to a result of a comparison between an output level from the first sensor at the corrected sensing level and a preset sensing state reference level of the first sensor.

18 . The electronic device of claim 17 ,
wherein the second sensor is disposed around the first sensor or the conductive pattern, and wherein the second sensor is spaced apart from a heating part of the electronic device.

19 . The electronic device of claim 17 , further comprising a variable capacitor disposed between the first sensor and the conductive pattern, configured to vary the sensing level applied to the first sensor.

20 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the conductive pattern includes at least a portion of an antenna pattern.

21 . The electronic device of claim 20 , further comprising:
a communication unit electrically connected with the antenna pattern, configured to control signal communication through the antenna pattern; a low pass filter disposed between the antenna pattern and the first sensor, configured to block transfer of a signal from the communication unit to the first sensor; and a variable capacitor disposed between the low pass filter and the first sensor, configured to vary the sensing level applied to the first sensor.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Mi-Ra
• Yun Yong-Sang
• Kwak Myung-Hoon

Classifications

• H03K2217/94026

  Automatic threshold calibration; e.g. threshold automatically adapts to ambient conditions or follows variation of input · CPC title

• G06F2203/04106

  Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection · CPC title

• G06F3/041

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• H03K17/945 Primary

  Proximity switches (H03K17/96 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04L67/10

  in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network (software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46) · CPC title