Electronic device including grip sensor and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025035470-A1
Application number	US-202418913239-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2024
Priority date	May 6, 2022
Publication date	Jan 30, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a grip sensor, memory storing one or more computer programs, one or more processors communicatively coupled to the grip sensor and the memory, wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to adjust a capacitance of a capacitor in the grip sensor to change a voltage outputted from the grip sensor, based on a first capacitance stored in the memory, after the capacitance of the capacitor is adjusted to a second capacitance greater than the first capacitance, detect a grip on the electronic device using the voltage changed by the capacitor, based on identifying that the capacitance of the capacitor is decreased to a third capacitance smaller than the first capacitance, change the first capacitance stored in the memory to the third capacitance, and based on a number of the capacitance of the capacitor adjusted smaller than the second capacitance, change the first capacitance stored in the memory to the second capacitance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a grip sensor; memory storing one or more computer programs; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the grip sensor and the memory, wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to:
adjust a capacitance of a capacitor in the grip sensor to change a voltage outputted from the grip sensor, based on a first capacitance stored in the memory,
after the capacitance of the capacitor is adjusted to a second capacitance greater than the first capacitance, detect a grip on the electronic device using the voltage changed by the capacitor,
based on identifying that the capacitance of the capacitor is decreased to a third capacitance smaller than the first capacitance, change the first capacitance stored in the memory to the third capacitance, and
based on a number of the capacitance of the capacitor adjusted smaller than the second capacitance, change the first capacitance stored in the memory to the second capacitance.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to:
in response to occurrence of a preset event that the capacitance of the capacitor adjusted to the second capacitance, detect the grip based on the first capacitance stored in the memory, and the voltage outputted from the grip sensor.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:
based on identifying the voltage greater than a preset voltage, detect the grip, and in a state detecting the grip, detect a release of the grip based on identifying that the voltage is decreased to the preset voltage.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the preset event occurred based on at least one of an establishment of a connection by a port of the electronic device, booting of the electronic device, or identification of an external object being contacted on the electronic device.

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:
based on that the establishment of a connection by the port of the electronic device is disconnected, maintain one of the first capacitance or the third capacitance.

6 . The electronic device of claim 5 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the grip sensor.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:
identify a temperature of the grip sensor from the temperature sensor, and identify the first capacitance based on a parameter corresponding to the identified temperature among parameters mapped to different temperatures which are stored in the memory.

8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:
based on identifying that the capacitance of the capacitor is decreased to the third capacitance, change a parameter, corresponding to the identified temperature among the parameters, based on the third capacitance.

9 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the grip sensor include:
an amplifier including a noninverted input that is grounded, an inverted input connected to an end of the capacitor which is a first capacitor, and an output node connected to a preset node; a second capacitor including an end connected to the inverted input, and another end connected to the preset node; a third capacitor including an end connected to the inverted input, and another end that is grounded; integrated circuitry including an end connected to the preset node, and another end connected to the one or more processors; and a controller to charge the first capacitor.

10 . The electronic device of claim 9 ,
wherein the preset node is a node to output the voltage to detect the grip on the electronic device, and wherein the integrated circuitry include a digital signal generator to output a digital value indicating the voltage.

11 . The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to:
detect the grip on the electronic device using the digital signal obtained through the digital signal generator.

12 . A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
adjusting a capacitance of a capacitor in a grip sensor to change a voltage outputted from the grip sensor, based on a first capacitance stored in memory; after the capacitance of the capacitor is adjusted to a second capacitance greater than the first capacitance, detecting a grip on the electronic device using the voltage changed by the capacitor; based on identifying that the capacitance of the capacitor is decreased to a third capacitance smaller than the first capacitance, changing the first capacitance stored in the memory to the third capacitance; and based on a number of the capacitance of the capacitor adjusted smaller than the second capacitance, changing the first capacitance stored in the memory to the second capacitance.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
while the capacitance of the capacitor adjusted to the second capacitance is changed based on occurrence of a preset event, detecting the grip based on the first capacitance stored in the memory, and the voltage outputted from the grip sensor.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
based on identifying the voltage greater than a preset voltage, detecting the grip; and in a state detecting the grip, detecting a release of the grip based on identifying that the voltage is decreased to the preset voltage.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
identifying a temperature of the grip sensor from a temperature sensor; and identifying the first capacitance based on a parameter corresponding to the identified temperature among parameters mapped to different temperatures which are stored in the memory.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
based on identifying that the capacitance of the capacitor is decreased to the third capacitance, changing a parameter, corresponding to the identified temperature among the parameters, based on the third capacitance.

17 . An electronic device comprising:
a grip sensor; memory storing one or more computer programs; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the grip sensor and the memory, wherein the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to:
adjust a capacitance of a capacitor in the grip sensor, in a range indicated by a first capacitance stored in the memory,
based on whether a voltage outputted from the grip sensor maintains a preset voltage by a second capacitance in the range, detect a grip

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Jongwon
• Han Janghoon
• Kwon Heejun
• Park Seohyeon
• Park Daehee

Classifications

• G01D5/24 Primary

  by varying capacitance · CPC title

• H04M2250/12

  including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion · CPC title

• H04M1/72454 Primary

  according to context-related or environment-related conditions · CPC title

• H04M1/02

  Constructional features of telephone sets · CPC title

• H03K17/96

  Touch switches (specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08) · CPC title