Capacitive Sensor Panel having Dynamically Reconfigurable Sensor Size and Shape

Apple has received a Granted Patent that relates to a capacitive sensor panel that is able to dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape for proximity and/or distance to enable hover and gesture detection. Thus, the size and/or shape of the sensors in the panel could differ according to present needs.

The sensor panel may dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape based on an object's proximity to the panel. The sensor panel may dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape based on a gesture detected by the panel. The sensor panel may dynamically reconfigure its sensor size and shape based on an application executing on a device in communication with the panel.

About the First Round of Apple's Patent Figures: Apple's patent FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary computing system including a capacitive sensor panel having dynamically reconfigurable sensor size and shape; Patent FIG. 3a illustrates an exemplary mutual capacitance scheme for dynamically reconfiguring sensor size and shape using intersecting composite drive lines and sense lines to form a composite electrode; Patent FIGS. 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, and 8e are exemplary illustrations of a sensor panel having dynamically reconfigurable sensor size and shape according to a predetermined factor based on an object's proximity to the panel.

About the Second Round of Apple's Patent Figures: FIGS. 10a and 10b are exemplary illustrations of a sensor panel having dynamically reconfigurable sensor size and shape based on a gesture detected by the panel; FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary method for dynamically reconfiguring sensor size and shape of a sensor panel based on an application; FIGS. 12a, 12b, and 12c are exemplary illustrations of a sensor panel having dynamically reconfigurable sensor size and shape based on an application.

Considering that every Touch related granted patent becomes a potential weapon for Apple, we present you with some of the notable patent claims below for your review. All patent infringement cases, legal counsel points to the patent claims that are being violated.

Apple's First Claim: A method for dynamically reconfiguring sensor size and shape in a sensor panel, the sensor panel including a plurality of sensing pixels placed along the panel at a predetermined initial size and shape, the method comprising: determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the panel; and dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of the pixels based on the determination; wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.

Apple's Sixth Claim: A sensing device, comprising: a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels; and a processor programmed for determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination; wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.

Apple's Sixteenth Claim: A mobile telephone, comprising: a sensor panel including one or more sensing pixels having a size and shape, the sensor panel being dynamically reconfigurable to change the size and shape of one or more of the sensing pixels; and a processor programmed for determining that an object is within a predetermined distance of the sensor panel, and dynamically reconfiguring at least one of the size or shape of one or more sensing pixels based on the determination; wherein reconfiguring the size or shape of the pixels includes coupling two or more rows or two or more columns of the sensor panel.

Apple's seventeenth and eighteenth Claims are identical to their sixteenth claim but covering "A Media Player" and "A Personal Computer." The latter category is debated in the Mac community, but one that I believe is likely to surface sometime in the future. For now, Apple is just protecting the ability to cover such in the future.

Apple credits Jeffrey Bernstein as the sole inventor of this patent titled "Capacitive sensor panel having dynamically reconfigurable sensor size and shape." It was originally filed in Q2 2008.

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