Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to managing characteristics of a mobile device based upon capacitive detection of materials proximate the mobile device, a capacitive gesture system that can allow the same gestures be used in arbitrary locations within range of a mobile device. One such method includes receiving a first capacitive sensor measurement with a first capacitive sensor of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a value indicative of a material adjacent to the mobile device based on a correspondence between the first capacitive sensor measurement and stored values corresponding to different materials. The method further includes sending instructions to adjust a characteristic of the mobile device based on the determined value indicative of the material adjacent to the mobile device. In certain examples, gesture sensing can be performed using capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: An impedance measurement system for detecting an analyte in a sample is disclosed. The system includes first, second, and third electrodes, wherein at least a portion of the third electrode is positioned between the first and second electrodes, means for generating an electromagnetic field between the first and second electrodes, means for electrically controlling the third electrode, wherein the third electrode modifies the electromagnetic field, and a processor for detecting a presence of the analyte in the sample, based at least in part on a property of the electromagnetic field.

Abstract: An impedance sensing circuit includes three impedance elements and a sensing element arranged in a bridge configuration. A first input terminal is coupled to two of the impedance elements to apply a stimulus signal. In a mutual-sensing mode, a second input terminal is coupled to the third impedance element and the sensing impedance element to apply an opposite phase stimulus signal. The impedance sensing circuit may be configured in a self-sensing mode, in which the opposite phase stimulus signal is decoupled from the third impedance element and the sensing impedance element. At least one of the impedance elements is variable and may be adjusted to balance an offset impedance load on the sensing element.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to managing characteristics of a mobile device based upon capacitive detection of materials proximate the mobile device, a capacitive gesture system that can allow the same gestures be used in arbitrary locations within range of a mobile device. One such method includes receiving a first capacitive sensor measurement with a first capacitive sensor of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a value indicative of a material adjacent to the mobile device based on a correspondence between the first capacitive sensor measurement and stored values corresponding to different materials. The method further includes sending instructions to adjust a characteristic of the mobile device based on the determined value indicative of the material adjacent to the mobile device. In certain examples, gesture sensing can be performed using capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: An impedance measurement system for detecting an analyte in a sample is disclosed. The system includes first, second, and third electrodes, wherein at least a portion of the third electrode is positioned between the first and second electrodes, means for generating an electromagnetic field between the first and second electrodes, means for electrically controlling the third electrode, wherein the third electrode modifies the electromagnetic field, and a processor for detecting a presence of the analyte in the sample, based at least in part on a property of the electromagnetic field.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to managing characteristics of a mobile device based upon capacitive detection of materials proximate the mobile device, a capacitive gesture system that can allow the same gestures be used in arbitrary locations within range of a mobile device. One such method includes receiving a first capacitive sensor measurement with a first capacitive sensor of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a value indicative of a material adjacent to the mobile device based on a correspondence between the first capacitive sensor measurement and stored values corresponding to different materials. The method further includes sending instructions to adjust a characteristic of the mobile device based on the determined value indicative of the material adjacent to the mobile device. In certain examples, gesture sensing can be performed using capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: Sound waves cause pressure changes in the air, and the pressure changes cause changes in the dielectric constant of air. Capacitive sensor measurements indicative of the changes in the dielectric constant of air can be processed to extract features associated with sound waves in the air. The features can include sound pressure levels represented and recordable as audio samples. Furthermore, the features can help identify types of sounds, determine direction of travel of the sound waves, and/or determine the source location of the audio. Instead of relying on movement of a mechanical member to transduce sound waves through a port into an electrical signal, an improved microphone uses capacitive sensing to directly sample and sense static pressure as well as dynamic pressure or pressure changes in the air to derive audio samples. The resulting microphone avoids disadvantages of the conventional microphone having the moving mechanical member and port.

Abstract: Metal cases are increasingly in popularity in electronics such as smart phones, tablets, portable speakers, etc., since the look and feel of a metal case are appealing to the consumer. Unfortunately, the metal case is generally incompatible traditional capacitive sensing electrodes, which are usually provided on a printed circuit board or flex circuit and are only usable with plastic cases. To provide capacitive sensing with a metal case, a specialized material stack can be fabricated to embed capacitive sensors with the metal case. Specifically, a conductor (a conductive pad, or conductive layer) can be deposited over an oxide layer formed on the metal case (e.g., through anodization). An outer coating can be provided to protect the conductor. A further conductor and dielectric can be included in the material stack to form a double layer capacitive sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to managing characteristics of a mobile device based upon capacitive detection of materials proximate the mobile device, a capacitive gesture system that can allow the same gestures be used in arbitrary locations within range of a mobile device. One such method includes receiving a first capacitive sensor measurement with a first capacitive sensor of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a value indicative of a material adjacent to the mobile device based on a correspondence between the first capacitive sensor measurement and stored values corresponding to different materials. The method further includes sending instructions to adjust a characteristic of the mobile device based on the determined value indicative of the material adjacent to the mobile device. In certain examples, gesture sensing can be performed using capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: Conventional user interface for sensing gestures often require physical touching of a sensor pad, or an area filled with sensor pads. These conventional sensor pads take up precious real estate on a compact mobile device, interferes significantly with other components of the mobile device, complicates design, consumes power, and adds costs to the final product. With two or more small capacitive sensing electrodes placed on a mobile device (arbitrarily or with far less restrictions), capacitive sensing can provide a virtual sensor pad as a user interface. By implementing an algorithm which detects for three different conditions, the virtual sensor pad can be used effectively as a user interface modality to detect gestures such as a sliding gesture, drawing gesture, letters, writing, etc. The resulting virtual sensor pad can flexibly change to different desirable locations, and no longer suffers from the limitations of the conventional sensor pad.

Abstract: Mobile devices are increasing aware of the environment surrounding the mobile devices. In many applications, it is useful for the mobile device to be able to sense different types of hand grips and/or where fingers are positioned with respect to the mobile device. The present disclosure describes a capacitive sensing apparatus particularly suitable for sensing hand grips and/or finger tracking along edges of a mobile device. The capacitive sensing apparatus comprises strips arranged along two lines, and the respective lengths and spacing are designed to allow optimal response behavior for sensing hand grips and/or tracking fingers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to managing characteristics of a mobile device based upon capacitive detection of materials proximate the mobile device, a capacitive gesture system that can allow the same gestures be used in arbitrary locations within range of a mobile device. One such method includes receiving a first capacitive sensor measurement with a first capacitive sensor of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a value indicative of a material adjacent to the mobile device based on a correspondence between the first capacitive sensor measurement and stored values corresponding to different materials. The method further includes sending instructions to adjust a characteristic of the mobile device based on the determined value indicative of the material adjacent to the mobile device. In certain examples, gesture sensing can be performed using capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: Sound waves cause pressure changes in the air, and the pressure changes cause changes in the dielectric constant of air. Capacitive sensor measurements indicative of the changes in the dielectric constant of air can be processed to extract features associated with sound waves in the air. The features can include sound pressure levels represented and recordable as audio samples. Furthermore, the features can help identify types of sounds, determine direction of travel of the sound waves, and/or determine the source location of the audio. Instead of relying on movement of a mechanical member to transduce sound waves through a port into an electrical signal, an improved microphone uses capacitive sensing to directly sample and sense static pressure as well as dynamic pressure or pressure changes in the air to derive audio samples. The resulting microphone avoids disadvantages of the conventional microphone having the moving mechanical member and port.

Abstract: A scaled and configurable pre-processor array can allow minimal digital activity while maintaining hard real time performance. The pre-processor array is specially designed to process real-time sensor data. The interconnected processing units of the array can drastically reduce context swaps, memory accesses, main processor input/output accesses, and real time event management overhead.

Abstract: Metal cases are increasingly in popularity in electronics such as smart phones, tablets, portable speakers, etc., since the look and feel of a metal case are appealing to the consumer. Unfortunately, the metal case is generally incompatible traditional capacitive sensing electrodes, which are usually provided on a printed circuit board or flex circuit and are only usable with plastic cases. To provide capacitive sensing with a metal case, a specialized material stack can be fabricated to embed capacitive sensors with the metal case. Specifically, a conductor (a conductive pad, or conductive layer) can be deposited over an oxide layer formed on the metal case (e.g., through anodization). An outer coating can be provided to protect the conductor. A further conductor and dielectric can be included in the material stack to form a double layer capacitive sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to managing characteristics of a mobile device based upon capacitive detection of materials proximate the mobile device, a capacitive gesture system that can allow the same gestures be used in arbitrary locations within range of a mobile device. One such method includes receiving a first capacitive sensor measurement with a first capacitive sensor of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a value indicative of a material adjacent to the mobile device based on a correspondence between the first capacitive sensor measurement and stored values corresponding to different materials. The method further includes sending instructions to adjust a characteristic of the mobile device based on the determined value indicative of the material adjacent to the mobile device. In certain examples, gesture sensing can be performed using capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors.

Abstract: Conventional user interface for sensing gestures often require physical touching of a sensor pad, or an area filled with sensor pads. These conventional sensor pads take up precious real estate on a compact mobile device, interferes significantly with other components of the mobile device, complicates design, consumes power, and adds costs to the final product. With two or more small capacitive sensing electrodes placed on a mobile device (arbitrarily or with far less restrictions), capacitive sensing can provide a virtual sensor pad as a user interface. By implementing an algorithm which detects for three different conditions, the virtual sensor pad can be used effectively as a user interface modality to detect gestures such as a sliding gesture, drawing gesture, letters, writing, etc. The resulting virtual sensor pad can flexibly change to different desirable locations, and no longer suffers from the limitations of the conventional sensor pad.

Abstract: Mobile devices are increasing aware of the environment surrounding the mobile devices. In many applications, it is useful for the mobile device to be able to sense different types of hand grips and/or where fingers are positioned with respect to the mobile device. The present disclosure describes a capacitive sensing apparatus particularly suitable for sensing hand grips and/or finger tracking along edges of a mobile device. The capacitive sensing apparatus comprises strips arranged along two lines, and the respective lengths and spacing are designed to allow optimal response behavior for sensing hand grips and/or tracking fingers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to managing characteristics of a mobile device based upon capacitive detection of materials proximate the mobile device, a capacitive gesture system that can allow the same gestures be used in arbitrary locations within range of a mobile device. One such method includes receiving a first capacitive sensor measurement with a first capacitive sensor of the mobile device. The method further includes determining a value indicative of a material adjacent to the mobile device based on a correspondence between the first capacitive sensor measurement and stored values corresponding to different materials. The method further includes sending instructions to adjust a characteristic of the mobile device based on the determined value indicative of the material adjacent to the mobile device. In certain examples, gesture sensing can be performed using capacitive measurements from the capacitive sensors.