Implementing a virtual controller outside an area of a touch sensor
In one embodiment, a method includes applying a drive signal to an electrode of a touch sensor of a device. The touch sensor extends across an area of a surface of the device, and the drive signal is configured to generate an electric field that extends outward from the area of the surface that the touch sensor extends across and reaches a pre-determined location on the device that is outside the area of the surface that the touch sensor extends across. The method includes receiving a sense signal from the touch sensor produced at least in part by the electric field. The sense signal indicates whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location.
1. A method comprising:
applying a drive signal to an electrode of a touch sensor of a device, wherein:
the touch sensor extends across an area of a first surface of the device; and
the drive signal is configured to generate an electric field that extends outward from the area of the first surface that the touch sensor extends across and reaches a pre-determined location at a second surface of the device that is outside the area of the first surface that the touch sensor extends across, the second surface of the device facing a different direction than the first surface of the device;
receiving a sense signal from the touch sensor, the sense signal produced at least in part by the electric field, the sense electrode intersecting the drive electrode at the area of the first surface, wherein the sense signal indicates whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location;
determining, based on comparing a value associated with the sense signal to a first threshold, whether the object has come within a pre-determined proximity of the first surface; and
determining, based on comparing the value associated with the sense signal to a second threshold, whether the object has come within the pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location at the second surface, wherein:
the second threshold is different from the first threshold; and
the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location at the second surface is distinguishable from the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the first surface.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the area of the first surface extends across an entirety of the first surface.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the area of the first surface extends across only a portion of the first surface.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the pre-determined location is:
adjacent to the touch sensor; and
at the first surface of the device, the first surface and the second surface being a same surface.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second surface is located on a side of the device that is tangential to the first surface that the touch sensor extends across an area of.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the electrode is a drive electrode; and
the sense signal is received from a sense electrode of the touch sensor.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
removing a pre-determined charge value from the sense signal; and
increasing a gain of a sense-measurement circuit that receives the sense signal from the touch sensor.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined location is associated with a virtual controller implemented on the device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is a smartphone.
10. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic that is configured when executed to:
apply a drive signal to an electrode of a touch sensor of a device, wherein:
the touch sensor extends across an area of a first surface of the device; and
the drive signal is configured to generate an electric field that extends outward from the area of the first surface that the touch sensor extends across and reaches a pre-determined location at a second surface of the device that is outside the area of the first surface that the touch sensor extends across, the second surface of the device facing a different direction than the first surface of the device;
receive a sense signal from the touch sensor produced at least in part by the electric field, wherein the sense signal indicates whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location;
determine, based on comparing a value associated with the sense signal to a first threshold, whether the object has come within a pre-determined proximity of the first surface; and
determine, based on comparing the value associated with the sense signal to a second threshold, whether the object has come within the pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location at the second surface, wherein:
the second threshold is different from the first threshold; and
the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location at the second surface is distinguishable from the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the first surface.
11. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the area of the first surface extends across an entirety of the first surface.
12. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the area of the first surface extends across only a portion of the first surface.
13. The medium of claim 12 , wherein the pre-determined location is:
adjacent to the touch sensor; and
at the first surface of the device, the first surface and the second surface being the same surface.
14. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the second surface is located on a side of the device that is tangential to the first surface that the touch sensor extends across an area of.
15. The medium of claim 10 , wherein:
the electrode is a drive electrode; and
the sense signal is received from a sense electrode of the touch sensor.
16. The medium of claim 15 , wherein the logic is further configured when executed to:
remove a pre-determined charge value from the sense signal; and
increase a gain of a sense-measurement circuit that receives the sense signal from the touch sensor.
17. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the pre-determined location is associated with a virtual controller implemented on the device.
18. A device comprising:
a touch sensor that extends across an area of a first surface of the device; and
a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium coupled to the touch sensor and embodying logic that is configured when executed to:
apply a drive signal to an electrode of the touch sensor of the device, wherein the drive signal is configured to generate an electric field that extends outward from the area of the first surface that the touch sensor extends across and reaches a pre-determined location at a second surface of the device that is outside the area of the first surface that the touch sensor extends across, the second surface of the device facing a different direction than the first surface of the device;
receive a sense signal from the touch sensor produced at least in part by the electric field, wherein the sense signal indicates whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location;
determine, based on comparing a value associated with the sense signal to a first threshold, whether the object has come within a pre-determined proximity of the first surface; and
determine, based on comparing the value associated with the sense signal to a second threshold, whether the object has come within the pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location at the second surface, wherein:
the second threshold is different from the first threshold; and
the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the pre-determined location at the second surface is distinguishable from the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the first surface.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the logic is further configured when executed to determine a first position of the object on the second surface of the device based at least in part on the received sense signal.
20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the logic is further configured when executed to track the object from the first position on the second surface of the device to a second position hovering away from the second surface of the device.