Abstract: A capacitive proximity sensor with a stacked electrode structure where an inner electrode is partially screened by an upper one. The self-capacitances of selected electrodes is measured while other electrodes are held to ground or to a shield potential. In this manner, the proximity sensor estimates a value of the dielectric permittivity of the approaching body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capacitive sensor device comprising a capacitance-measuring circuit, a main sense input and a reference sense input, wherein the capacitive sensor device is configured to measure, using the capacitance-measuring circuit, a current main value of capacitance seen by the main sense input and a current reference value of capacitance seen by the reference sense input, wherein the capacitive sensor device is configured to at least temporarily store at least one previously measured reference value, and wherein the capacitive sensor device is configured to use 1) the current main value, 2) the current reference value and the at least one previously measured reference value, and 3) at least one current correction coefficient, with the capacitive sensor device being configured to adaptively determine the at least one current correction coefficient based on at least the current reference value and the at least one previously measured reference value, for determining a corrected current

Abstract: A proximity sensor for a portable connected wireless device generating an immediate proximity status signal (PROXSTAT, 310) that becomes active when a part of a user's body is close to the proximity sensor, an averaging unit (259) that may include a FIFO buffer, averaging the immediate proximity status flag in a predetermined time window, and a decision unit generating a time-averaged proximity status flag (350) based on an averaged value of the immediate proximity status flag in the time window, for example when the averaged value exceeds a predetermined threshold. In embodiments, the sensor is configured to switch temporarily and repeatedly the time-averaged proximity status flag to an inactive state when the value of the averaged or accumulated value yields an active state of the time-averaged proximity status flag. This feature improves the connectivity when the sensor is used to limit the RF emission of mobile devices.

Abstract: A proximity sensor, and a portable device equipped therewith, with at least two superposed sense electrodes, one partially screening the other. By reading the capacity first of one electrode, then of the other, while setting the potential of the counter-electrode either to ground or to guard, the sensor of the invention discriminates between a body part, or another electrically equivalent object, and water drops at closer distance.

Abstract: A portable device including drift-compensated capacitive proximity sensor that exploits a special method of drift compensation based on the variation of the measured proximity signal. The drift is tracked when the variation is within a stated interval, and frozen when the variation is outside. The sensor is capable of following a drift not only when the phone is inactive, but also when it is close to the body of the user, by freezing the tracking when the capacity varies steeply, as when the user moves the device, and resuming it when the variation is within acceptable limits.

Abstract: A proximity sensor, and a portable device equipped therewith, with at least two superposed sense electrodes, one partially screening the other. By reading the capacity first of one electrode, then of the other, while setting the potential of the counter-electrode either to ground or to guard, the sensor of the invention discriminates between a body part, or another electrically equivalent object, and water drops at closer distance.

Abstract: A portable device including drift-compensated capacitive proximity sensor that exploits a special method of drift compensation based on the variation of the measured proximity signal. The drift is tracked when the variation is within a stated interval, and frozen when the variation is outside. The sensor is capable of following a drift not only when the phone is inactive, but also when it is close to the body of the user, by freezing the tracking when the capacity varies steeply, as when the user moves the device, and resuming it when the variation is within acceptable limits.

Abstract: A proximity sensor for detecting proximity of a body portion in a first region while avoiding unwanted detection of a body portion in a second region, based on the capacities seen by a plurality of electrodes. An application of the inventive detector to a mobile phone, whereby the display is switched off, or various energy saving measure are taken, when the proximity sensor determines directional proximity with a body part, indicating that the user has brought the phone to the ear for placing a call.

Abstract: A proximity sensor for detecting proximity of a body portion in a first region while avoiding unwanted detection of a body portion in a second region, based on the capacities seen by a plurality of electrodes. An application of the inventive detector to a mobile phone, whereby the display is switched off, or various energy saving measure are taken, when the proximity sensor determines directional proximity with a body part, indicating that the user has brought the phone to the ear for placing a call.