Implementing a virtual controller outside an area of a touch sensor
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more sense signals from a touch sensor of a device, comparing a value associated with the one or more sense signals to a first threshold, and determining, based on comparing the value to the first threshold, whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a first pre-determined location at a surface of the device. The method further includes comparing the value associated with the one or more sense signals to a second threshold and determining, based on comparing the value to the second threshold, whether the object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a second pre-determined location at the surface of the device.
1. A method comprising:
receiving one or more sense signals from a touch sensor of a device;
comparing a value associated with the one or more sense signals to a first threshold;
determining, based on comparing the value to the first threshold, whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a first pre-determined location at a first surface of the device;
comparing the value associated with the one or more sense signals to a second threshold; and
determining, based on comparing the value to the second threshold, whether the object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a second pre-determined location at a second surface of the device, the second surface facing a different direction than the first surface;
wherein:
the second threshold is different from the first threshold; and
the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the first pre-determined location is distinguishable from the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the second pre-determined location.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor of the device is a capacitive touch sensor that extends across at least a portion of the surface of the device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pre-determined location and the second pre-determined location are associated with a virtual controller implemented on the device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pre-determined location and the second pre-determined location are adjacent to the touch sensor.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pre-determined location is at a touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor and the second pre-determined location is outside the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a drive signal to a drive electrode of the touch sensor of the device, wherein:
the one or more sense signals are received from corresponding sense electrodes of the touch sensor; and
the drive electrode and the one or more sense electrodes intersect to form one or more capacitive nodes.
7. The method of claim 1 , 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 , further comprising initiating a pre-determined function of the device based at least in part on the determination that the object has come within the pre-determined proximity of the second pre-determined location, wherein the pre-determined function is one of the following:
changing an operation mode of the device;
changing a display content of the device;
changing a user interface of the device; and
triggering a haptic feedback from 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:
receive one or more sense signals from a touch sensor of a device;
compare a value associated with the one or more sense signals to a first threshold;
determine, based on comparing the value to the first threshold, whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a first pre-determined location at a first surface of the device;
compare the value associated with the one or more sense signals to a second threshold; and
determine, based on comparing the value to the second threshold, whether the object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a second pre-determined location at a second surface of the device, the second surface facing a different direction than the first surface;
wherein:
the second threshold is different from the first threshold; and
the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the first pre-determined location is distinguishable from the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the second pre-determined location.
11. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the touch sensor of the device is a capacitive touch sensor that extends across at least a portion of the surface of the device.
12. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the first pre-determined location and the second pre-determined location are associated with a virtual controller implemented on the device.
13. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the first pre-determined location and the second pre-determined location are adjacent to the touch sensor.
14. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the first pre-determined location is at a touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor and the second pre-determined location is outside the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor.
15. The medium of claim 10 , the logic further configured when executed to apply a drive signal to a drive electrode of the touch sensor of the device, wherein:
the one or more sense signals are received from corresponding sense electrodes of the touch sensor; and
the drive electrode and the one or more sense electrodes intersect to form one or more capacitive nodes.
16. The medium of claim 10 , 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 , the logic further configured when executed to initiate a pre-determined function of the device based at least in part on the determination that the object has come within the pre-determined proximity of the second pre-determined location, wherein the pre-determined function is one of the following:
changing an operation mode of the device;
changing a display content of the device;
changing a user interface of the device; and
triggering a haptic feedback from the device.
18. A device comprising:
a touch sensor; and
a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium coupled to the touch sensor and embodying logic that is configured when executed to:
receive one or more sense signals from the touch sensor of the device;
compare a value associated with the one or more sense signals to a first threshold;
determine, based on comparing the value to the first threshold, whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a first predetermined location at a first surface of the device;
compare the value associated with the one or more sense signals to a second threshold; and
determine, based on comparing the value to the second threshold, whether the object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a second pre-determined location at a second surface of the device, the second surface facing a different direction than the first surface;
wherein:
the second threshold is different from the first threshold; and
the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the first pre-determined location is distinguishable from the object coming within the pre-determined proximity of the second pre-determined location.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the touch sensor of the device is a capacitive touch sensor that extends across at least a portion of the surface of the device.
20. The device of claim 18 , wherein the first predetermined location and the second pre-determined location are associated with a virtual controller implemented on the device.