Drift suppression method, proximity sensor and wireless device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023349731-A1
Application number	US-202318138997-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 25, 2023
Priority date	Apr 27, 2022
Publication date	Nov 2, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A portable device including a capacitive proximity sensor can suppress a drift superimposed to the capacitive proximity signal and the corresponding method. A processor generates a baseline value by integrating a series of values that are derived from the slope of the proximity signal, when the slope is within stated limits, or a fixed value outside of the stated limits.

First claim

1 . A method of suppressing a drift superimposed to a proximity signal generated by a capacitive sensor, the method including:
receiving a series of samples of the proximity signal, computing repeatedly an average slope of the proximity signal from the received samples comparing the average slope with a threshold, updating a baseline value by adding a value derived from the proximity signal when the average slope is below the threshold or a fixed value when the average slope is above the threshold, obtain a drift-suppressed proximity signal by subtracting the baseline value from the proximity signal.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the comparison of the average slope with the threshold, the average slope is compared with an upper threshold and with a lower threshold, and in the updating of the baseline value, the added value is derived from the proximity signal when the average slope is between the upper and lower thresholds, is a first fixed value when the average slope is below the lower threshold, and a second fixed value when the average slope is above the upper threshold.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the value derived from the proximity signal is an instantaneous slope of the proximity signal or the average slope of the proximity signal.

4 . The method of claim 1 , comprising a step of comparing the baseline value against the proximity signal and setting the baseline value equal to the proximity signal if the baseline value goes above the proximity signal.

5 . The method of claim 2 , comprising a step of comparing the drift-suppressed proximity signal with a proximity threshold to generate a logic proximity flag, wherein the values of the upper threshold and/or of the lower threshold and/or of the first fixed value and/or of the second fixed value are altered when the proximity flag is raised and set back to a previous value when the proximity flag is lowered.

6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the first fixed value and/or the second fixed value are positive, zero or negative.

7 . A capacitive proximity sensor for a portable device, comprising a sense electrode and a readout circuit configured to read a self-capacitance of the sense electrode and provide a proximity signal including a series of capacitance values, the capacitive proximity sensor comprising a drift suppression unit configured to suppressing a drift superimposed on the proximity signals by the steps of:
computing repeatedly an average slope of the proximity signal from the capacitance values comparing the average slope with a threshold, updating a baseline value by adding a value derived from the proximity signal when the average slope is below the threshold or a fixed value when the average slope is above the threshold, obtain a drift-suppressed proximity signal by subtracting the baseline value from the proximity signal.

8 . The proximity sensor of claim 7 , wherein, in the comparison of the average slope with the threshold, the average slope is compared with an upper threshold and with a lower threshold, and in the updating of the baseline value, the added value is derived from the proximity signal when the average slope is between the upper and lower thresholds, is a first fixed value when the average slope is below the lower threshold, and a second fixed value when the average slope is above the upper threshold.

9 . The proximity sensor of claim 7 , wherein the value derived from the proximity signal is an instantaneous slope of the proximity signal or the average slope of the proximity signal.

10 . The proximity sensor of claim 7 , the processor being configured for comparing the baseline value against the proximity signal and setting the baseline value equal to the proximity signal if the baseline value goes above the proximity signal.

11 . The proximity sensor of claim 8 , the processor being configured for comparing the drift-suppressed proximity signal with a proximity threshold to generate a logic proximity flag, wherein the values of the upper threshold and/or of the lower threshold and/or of the first fixed value and/or of the second fixed value are altered when the proximity flag is raised and set back to a previous value when the proximity flag is lowered.

12 . The proximity sensor of claim 8 , wherein the first fixed value and/or the second fixed value are positive, zero or negative.

13 . A portable wireless device comprising a proximity sensor having sense electrode and a readout circuit configured to read a self-capacitance of the sense electrode and provide a proximity signal including a series of capacitance values, the capacitive proximity sensor comprising an electronic processor configured to suppressing a drift superimposed on the proximity signals by the steps of:
computing repeatedly an average slope of the proximity signal from the capacitance values comparing the average slope with a threshold, updating a baseline value by adding a value derived from the proximity signal when the average slope is below the threshold or a fixed value when the average slope is above the threshold, obtain a drift-suppressed proximity signal by subtracting the baseline value from the proximity signal.

14 . The portable wireless device of claim 13 , the processor being configured for comparing the drift-suppressed proximity signal with the proximity threshold to generate a logic proximity flag, wherein the portable wireless device is configured to take a specific action when the logic proximity flag is asserted.

15 . The portable wireless device of claim 14 , wherein the action is one of: reducing a transmission power of a wireless data interface, switching off or reducing the luminosity of a display, inhibiting a tactile input.

16 . The portable wireless device of claim 13 , wherein, in the comparison of the average slope with the threshold, the average slope is compared with an upper threshold and with a lower threshold, and in the updating of the baseline value, the added value is derived from the proximity signal when the average slope is between the upper and lower thresholds, is a first fixed value when the average slope is below the lower threshold, and a second fixed value when the average slope is above the upper threshold, wherein the values of the upper threshold and/or of the lower threshold and/or of the first fixed value and/or of the second fixed value are altered when the proximity flag is raised and set back to a previous value when the proximity flag is lowered.

Assignees

• Semtech Corp

Inventors

• Rouaissia Chaouki

Classifications

• G01R27/2605

  Measuring capacitance (capacitive sensors G01D5/24) · CPC title

• G01D5/24 Primary

  by varying capacitance · CPC title

• H03K17/955 Primary

  using a capacitive detector · CPC title

• H03K2217/94026

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

• H03K2217/94031

  Calibration involving digital processing · CPC title