Input device with capacitive antenna

• Main Authors: JUNOD PHILIPPE, KEHLSTADT FLORIAN MAX
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.09.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY; CALCULATING; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION ANDCOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION ANDCOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THIR OWNENERGY USE; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; PHYSICS; PULSE TECHNIQUE; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

An input device having a housing and electronic circuitry for detecting user inputs, and transmitting signals corresponding to those inputs to an electronic device, such as a computer. An antenna is provided for transmitting or receiving signals. A hand detection circuit is provided, which uses said antenna for detecting the proximity of a user's hand to the housing and producing a hand detect signal in response. In one embodiment, the antenna is a capacitive antenna. A capacitor is switched in parallel with the antenna when it is used in antenna mode, so that the impact on the antenna signaling of the capacitance of a user's hand is minimized. In one embodiment, a sleep mode is provided for the electronic circuitry to conserve power. The hand detect signal will awaken the input device from its sleep mode.