PTO/SB/80 (11-08)
`Approved for use through 11/30/2011. OMB 06571-0035
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unlessit displays a valid OMB control number.
`
`POWER OF ATTORNEY TO PROSECUTEAPPLICATIONS BEFORE THE USPTO
`
`i hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney given in the application identified in the attached statement under
`37 CFR 3.73(b).
`| hereby appoint:
`
`Practitioners associated with the Customer Number:
`OR
`[| Practitioner(s) named below(if more than ten patentpractitioners are to be named, then a customer number must be used):
`
`12323
`
`Number
`
`4
`
`Number
`
`as attorney(s) or agent(s) to represent the undersigned before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)in connection with °
`any and all patent applications assigned only to the undersigned according to the USPTO assignment records or assignment documents
`attached to this form in accordance with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
`
`Please change the correspondence addressfor the application identified in the attached statement under 37 CFR 3.73(b)to:
`
`The address associated with Customer Number:
`
`12323
`
`OR
`
`Individual Name
`
`OEeeeeee
`
`
`
`
`
`Telephone
`
`Assignee Name and Address:
`
`Atmel Corporation
`2325 Orchard Parkway
`San Jose, CA 95131
`
`
`
`A copy of this form, together with a statement under 37 CFR 3.73(b) (Form PTO/SB/96 or equivalent) is required to be
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`the practitioners appointed in this form if the appointed practitioner is authorized to act on behalf of the assignee,
`and mustidentify the application in which this Power of Attorney is to befiled.
`
`Theindividua
`
`SIGNATURE ofAssignee of Record
`ignafdre ari
`tine is supplied below is authorized to act on behalfof the assignee
`
`|Name[7 Telephote/408-436-4229Scott Wornow
`
`
`
`Tite==6[(A Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
`
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 1.31, 1.32 and 1.33. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which Is to file (and
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`FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450,
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`CYPRESS 1004
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`PTO/SB/96 (07-09)
`Approved for use through 07/31/2012. OMB 0651-0031
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respondto a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.
`
`STATEMENT UNDER 37 CFR 3.73(b
`
`080900.1118
`Harald Philipp
`Applicant/Patent Owner:
`
`Application No./Patent No.; Unknown
`Filed/Issue Date: Herewith
`Titled:
`
`Capacitive Position Sensor
`
`
`Atmel Corporation
`.a Delaware corporation
`(Nameof Assignee)
`(Type of Assignee, e.g., corporation, partnership, university, government agency,etc.
`
`states that it is:
`
`1.
`
`the assignee of the entire right, title, and interest in;
`
`an assignee of less than the entire right, title, and interestin
`(The extent (by percentage) of its ownership interest is
`
`%); OF
`
`the assignee of an undivided interest in the entirety of (a complete assignmentfrom one ofthe joint inventors was made)
`3. [|
`the patent application/patent identified above, by virtue ofeither:
`
`A.[] An assignmentfrom the inventor(s) of the patent application/patent identified above. The assignment was recordedin
`the United States Patent and Trademark Office at Reel
`, Frame
`, of for which a
`copy therefore is attached.
`
`OR
`
`B.
`
`
`
`A chain oftitle from the inventor(s), of the patent application/patent identified above, to the current assignee as follows:
`1. From: Harald Philipp To: QRG Limited
`The document was recorded in the United States Patent and Trademark Office at
`
`Reel 021791
`
`,
`
`Frame 0040
`
`,
`
`orfor which a copy thereofis attached.
`
`2.From: QRG Limted
`
`To: Atmel Corporation
`
`The document was recorded in the United States Patent and Trademark Office at
`Reel 022608
`,
`Frame 0130
`,
`or for which a copy thereofis attached.
`
`3. From:
`
`To:
`
`The document wasrecordedin the United States Patent and Trademark Office at
`
`Reel
`
`,
`
`Frame
`
`,
`
`of for which a copythereofis attached.
`
`Attorney of Record Printed or Typed Name
`
`[] Additional documents in the chain oftitle are listed on a supplemental sheet(s).
`
`[] As required by 37 CFR 3.73(b)(1)(i), the documentary evidenceof the chainoftitle from the original ownerto the assignee was,
`or concurrently is being, submitted for recordation pursuant to 37 CFR 3.11.
`
`[NOTE: A separate copy(i.e., a true copy of the original assignment document(s)) must be submitted to Assignment Division in
`accordance with 37 CFR Part 3, to record the assignment in the records of the USPTO. See MPEP 302.08]
`
`The undersigned (whosetitle is supplied below) is authorized to act on behalf of the assignee.
`
`‘travis w. thomas/ REG. NO. 48667
`Signature
`
`27 May 2011
`Date
`
`Travis W. Thomas
`
`Title
`This collection of information is required by 37 CFR 3.73(b). The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public whichis to file (and by the USPTOto
`process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.11 and 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 12 minutes to complete,including
`gathering, preparing, and submitting the completed application form to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments on the amountoftime
`you require to complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S.
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`for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
`
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`
`3
`
`3
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`

`Privacy Act Statement
`
`The Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579) requires that you be given certain information in connection
`with your submission of the attached form related to a patent application or patent. Accordingly,
`pursuant to the requirements of the Act, please be advised that: (1) the general authority for the
`collection of this information is 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2); (2) furnishing of the information solicited is voluntary;
`and (3) the principal purpose for which the information is used by the U.S. Patent and Trademark
`Office is to process and/or examine your submission related to a patent application or patent. If you do
`not furnish the requested information, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office may not be able to
`process and/or examine your submission, which may result in termination of proceedings or
`abandonmentof the application or expiration of the patent.
`
`The information provided by you in this form will be subject to the following routine uses:
`
`1. The information on this form will be treated confidentially to the extent allowed under the
`Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C 552a). Records from
`this system of records may be disclosed to the Department of Justice to determine whether
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`in the course of
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`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use,
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`World Intellectual Property Organization, pursuant to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
`A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to another federal
`agency for purposes of National Security review (35 U.S.C. 181) and for review pursuant to
`the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. 218(c)).
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`General Services, or his/her designee, during an inspection of records conducted by GSA as
`part of that agency's responsibility to recommend improvements in records management
`practices and programs, under authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906. Such disclosure shall
`be made in accordance with the GSA regulations governing inspection of recordsforthis
`purpose, and any other relevant(i.e., GSA or Commerce) directive. Such disclosure shall not
`be used to make determinations aboutindividuals.
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the public after
`either publication of the application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 122(b) or issuance of a patent
`pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 151. Further, a record may be disclosed, subject to the limitations of 37
`CFR 1.14, as a routine use, to the public if the record was filed in an application which
`became abandonedor in which the proceedings were terminated and which application is
`referenced by either a published application, an application open to public inspection or an
`issued patent.
`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Federal, State,
`or local law enforcement agency, if the USPTO becomes awareof a violation or potential
`violation of law or regulation.
`
`4
`
`

`

`ATTORNEY DOCKET
`080900.1118
`P027102QRG-COA
`
`PATENT APPLICATION
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARKOFFICE
`
`First Named Inventor:
`
`Harald Philipp
`
`Application No.:
`
`Filing Date:
`
`Unassigned
`
`Herewith
`
`Confirmation No.:
`
`Unassigned
`
`Title:
`
`Capacitive Position Sensor
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`§
`Information Disclosure Statement under 37 C.F.R.
`this
`submits
`Applicant
`1.97(b)(3). Applicant respectfully requests the Examiner to consider and cite in the
`examination of this Application the documents listed in the attached Form PTO/SB/08. This
`Application is a continuing application under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. Patent Application No.
`12/703614, filed 10 February 2010. Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.98(d), Applicant has not provided
`copies of references previously submitted to or cited by the Office in U.S. Patent Application
`No. 12/703614. Moreover, under 37 C.F.R. § 1.98(a)(2)(ii), Applicant has not provided
`copies of U.S. patents and U.S. patent application publications.
`
`the filing of this IDS shall not be construed as a
`Under 37 C.F.R. § 1.97(g),
`representation that a search has been made. Moreover, under 37 C.F.R. § 1.97(h), the filing
`of this IDS shall not be construed to be an admission that the information cited in this IDS is
`or
`is considered to be material
`to patentability as defined by 37 C.F.R. §1.56(b).
`Furthermore,
`the filing of this IDS shall not be construed to be an admission that any
`information cited in this IDSis or is considered to be prior art under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102-103.
`
`The Commissioner may charge any fee due and credit any overpayment
`Application to Deposit Account No. 02-0384 of Baker Botts L.L.P.
`
`in this
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
`Attorneys for Applicant
`
`Travis Thomas
`Reg. No. 48,667
`
`Date: 27 May 2011
`
`DALO1:1163997
`
`5
`
`

`

`
`
`First Named Inventor:
`Application Number:
`
`PTO/SB/08 Unassigned Harald Phili
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE|Attorney Docket No:|Art Unit: Filing Date:
`STATEMENTBY APPLICANT Herewith 080900.1118 Unassigned
`
`
`
`
`
`ISSUED U.S. PATENTS AND PUBLISHEDU.S. APPLICATIONS
`
`A
`
`DOCUMENT
`
`NUMBER
`PUBLICATION OR ISSUE DATE
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`4,121,204
`10-17-1978
`Welchet al.
`Bigelow
`Hinckley et al.
`Lection et al.
`Kawaiet al.
`Macke
`Philipp
`
`
`I
`2006/0016800
`01-26-2006
`Paradisoetal.
`
`J
`2008/0094077
`04-24-2008
`Philipp
`
`K
`2009/0051660
`02-26-2009
`Felandetal.
`
`L Philipp 2009/0115431 05-07-2009
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DOCUMENT
`
`PUBLICATION OR ISSUE
`
`TRANSLATION
`eo
`
`~lolzlz
`
` 2|<|cla|4|zI|0o
`olpadVafi
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DE
`212004000044 U1
`06/07/2006
`
`DE
`102005002952 Al
`07-27-2006
`
`102005018298 Al
`10-19-2006
`DE
`1273851 A2
`01-08-2003
`EP
`1602882 Al
`12/07/2005
`EP
`
`2003088176 Al
`
`10-23-2003
`
`wo
`
`EXAMINER
`
`DATE CONSIDERED
`
`EXAMINER: Initial if citation considered, whetheror not citation is in conformance with MPEP § 609. Drawline through citation if not in conformance and not
`considered. Include copy
`of this form with next communication to the applicant.
`
`U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`DALO1:1164000
`
`Page | of 2
`
`6
`
`

`

`
`
`First Named Inventor:
`Application Number:
`
` PTO/SB/08 Unassigned Harald Phili
`
`
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE Attorney Docket No:|Art Unit: Filing Date:
`
`080900.1118 UnassignedSTATEMENTBY APPLICANT Herewith
`
`
`
`
`ISSUED U.S. PATENTS AND PUBLISHEDU.S. APPLICATIONS
`
`DOCUMENT
`
`PUBLICATION OR ISSUE DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`TRANSLATION
`PUBLICATION ORISSUE
`DOCUMENT
`(YES OR NO)
`COUNTRY
`DATE
`NUMBER
`
`
` EXAMINER: Initialifcitation considered, whether or not citation is in conformance with MPEP § 609. Drawline through citation if not in conformance and not
`
`
`DATE
`9
`February 22,
`UKIntellectual Property Office, Combined Search and Examination Report in
`
`Corresponding UK application. 2008
`Application Serial No. 11/868566, Non-Final Office Action mailed 10-01-09, 19
`October 1, 2009
`pages.
`Application Serial No. 12/317305, Non-Final Office Action mailed 10-01-09, 15
`October 1, 2009
`pages.
`Application Serial No. 12/317305, Interview Summary and Supplemental Office
`Action mailed 02-09-10, 12
`pages.
`Application Serial No. 12/317305, Responsefiled 03-01-10 to Non-Final Office
`Action mailed 10-01-09 and the Supplemental Office Action mailed 02-09-10, 14
`
`February 9, 2010
`
`March 1, 2010
`
`NON-PATENT LITERATURE (NPL)
`
`
`
`Titernational Application Serial No. PCT/US2009/069322, International Search
`7. 2010
`May
`Report mailed 05-07-10, 3 pages.
`y és
`
`International Application Serial No. PCT/US2009/069322, Written Opinion
`May7, 2010
`mailed 05/07/10, 5
`pages.
`German Application Serial No. 102007049559.7, Office Action mailed 01-04-11,
`10 pages.
`
`April 4, 2010
`
`January 4, 201]
`
`EXAMINER
`
`DATE CONSIDERED
`
`considered. Include copy of this form with next communication to the applicant,
`U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`DAL01:1164000
`
`Page 2 of 2
`
`
`
`7
`
`

`

`ATTORNEY DOCKET
`080900.1118
`P027102QRG-COB
`
`PATENT APPLICATION
`
`1 of 22
`
`CAPACITIVE POSITION SENSOR
`
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[1]
`
`This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 120 of U.S. Patent
`
`Application No. 12/703614, filed 10 February 2010, which is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §
`
`120 of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/868566, filed 8 October 2007, which claims the benefit
`
`under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/862358, filed 20 October
`
`2006.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`[2]
`
`This disclosure generally relates to touch sensors.
`
`DALO1:1163950.1
`
`8
`
`

`

`ATTORNEY DOCKET
`080900.1118
`P027102QRG-COB
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`PATENT APPLICATION
`
`2 of 22
`
`[3]
`
`Particular embodiments
`
`relate to capacitive position sensors.
`
`Particular
`
`embodiments relate more particularly to capacitive position sensors for detecting the position of
`
`an object around a curved path.
`
`[4]
`
`Capacitive position sensors are applicable to human interfaces as well as material
`
`displacement sensing in conjunction with controls and appliances, mechanisms and machinery,
`
`and computing.
`
`[5]
`
`Capacitive position sensors in general have recently become increasingly
`
`common and accepted in human interfaces and for machine control.
`
`In the field of home
`
`appliances, it is now quite commonto find capacitive touch controls operable through glass or
`
`plastic panels. These sensors are increasingly typified by U.S. Patent No. 6,452,514 which
`
`describes a matrix sensor approach employing charge-transfer principles. Electrical appliances,
`
`such as TVs, washing machines, and cooking ovens increasingly have capacitive sensor controls
`
`for adjusting various parameters, for example volume, time and temperature.
`
`[6]
`
`Due to increasing market demand for capacitive touch controls,
`
`there is an
`
`increased need for
`
`lower cost-per-function as well as greater
`
`flexibility in usage and
`
`configuration. There exists a substantial demand for new human interface technologies which
`
`can, at the right price, overcome the technical deficits of electromechanical controls on the one
`
`hand, and the cost of touch screens or other exotica on the other.
`
`[7]
`
`EP1273851A2 discloses a device for adjusting temperature settings, power
`
`settings or other parameters of a cooking apparatus. The device comprises a strip sensor which
`
`may be linear, curved or circular and may be a capacitive touch sensor or some other form of
`
`touch sensor. A linear display is arranged in parallel to the sensor. The capacitive touch sensor
`
`is sensitive to the touch of a finger and the display strip is made up of multiple display segments
`
`which illuminate to show the current touch setting as defined by a finger touch on the capacitive
`
`touch sensor. A predeterminedcalibration curve relating to a parameterto be adjusted is mapped
`
`onto the strip, the range extending from a minimum value to a maximum value. The minimum
`
`value may correspond to an off condition of the domestic appliance. Additional operational
`
`modes may be associated with the adjustment strip to ascribe new functions to the sensorstrip.
`
`DALO1:1163950.1
`
`9
`
`

`

`ATTORNEY DOCKET
`080900.1118
`P027102QRG-COB
`
`3 of 22
`
`PATENT APPLICATION
`
`These can be selected by touching the display for a certain time. For example, a first additional
`
`modecan be entered by touching for 5 seconds, and a second additional mode by touching for 10
`
`seconds. One of the additional operational modes is a zoom mode which provides for fine
`
`adjustment of the parameter value. The zoom operational mode can be activated by a contact
`
`time of, for example, 10 seconds.
`
`In the zoom mode an additional digital display is activated to
`
`show the current numerical value of the parameter being adjusted.
`
`In the zoom mode, only a
`
`fraction (e.g. 10%) of the original adjustment range is mapped onto the adjustment strip so that
`
`moving a finger across the full length of the sensor strip from left to right (or right to left) will
`
`only increase (decrease) the current setting of the parameter value, thereby providing a finer
`
`adjustment. During this fine adjustment, the display strip keeps its original function as a relative
`
`indicatorofthe full range between the minimum and maximum values.
`
`[8]
`
`More generally,
`
`linear, curved and circular sensor strips for adjusting cooker
`
`settings have been known for many years, for example see U.S. Patent No. 4,121,204 (resistive
`
`or capacitive sensor), DE19645907A1 (capacitive sensor), DE19903300A1 (resistive sensor),
`
`and EP1602882A 1 (optical sensor).
`
`[9]
`
`W02006/133976A1, WO2007/006624A1 and WO2007/023067A1 are more
`
`recent examples of work on touch-sensitive control strips for domestic appliances using
`
`capacitive sensors. These three patent applications were filed before the priority date of the
`
`present application, but first published after the priority date of the present application.
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`In
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`particular, WO2006/133976A1 and WO2007/023067A1 disclose sensors with a zoom function
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`similar to the abovedescribed EP1273851A2 which is used for setting a timer.
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`
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`[10]|W0O2006/133976A1 provides an adjustmentstrip with two operational modes. In
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`the first mode the full parameter value range is mapped acrossthe sensorstrip. For example 0 to
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`99 minutes in a timer function.
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`If a user wishes to set the timer to 30 minutes, he touches the
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`strip approximately one third way along. A parameter value of say 34 minutes is sensed by the
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`capacitive sensor, and displayed to the user on a numeric display. Once the initial value has been
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`set, the effect of touching the sensor field is automatically changed to a second mode in which
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`the parameter value is decreased (or increased) finely from the initially selected value by an
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`amount that depends on the distance moved by the finger along the sensorstrip. In the example,
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`080900.1118
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`4 of 22
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`the user can then slide his finger from right to left to reduce the time from 34 minutes to the
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`desired 30 minutes, using the display for visual feedback. In this way, the user can initially make
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`a rough selection of the desired parameter value with a point and touch action, and then refine it
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`to the exact value desired by a fingersliding action.
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`[11] W0O2007/023067A1 provides an adjustmentstrip with two operational modes that
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`switch between mappingthe full parameter value range across the sensorstrip and a partial range
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`selected to show the sub-range of parameter values between which the parameter is most often
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`set by auser. The exampleofsetting the timer on a cookeris given.
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`[12] While a zoom function is useful, prior art implementations of the zoom function
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`have limitations regarding the manner in which the transition is effected from the full range
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`mode to the zoom mode.
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`In EP1273851A2, the user is made to wait for a certain time, 10
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`seconds
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`in the specific example, until
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`the transition occurs.
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`On the other hand,
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`in
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`W02006/133976AIthe transition automatically occurs as soon as a value from the full range is
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`selected.
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`SUMMARY
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`[13]
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`Particular embodiments provide an improved capacitive position sensor for an
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`electrical appliance in which a desired parameter value can be moreefficiently and accurately
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`selected.
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`[14]
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`Particular embodiments provide a capacitive position sensor for detecting a
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`position of an object comprising: a sensing element comprising a sensing path; at least one
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`terminal connected to the sensing element; at least one sensing channel connected to theat least
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`one terminal
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`in which the sensing channel
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`is operable to generate a signal
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`indicative of
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`capacitance between the terminal and a system ground; means to determine a position of an
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`object on the sensing element; and means to further refine the position of the object
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`corresponding to a value in a parameter range ofvalues.
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`[15]
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`Particular embodiments provide a capacitive position sensor
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`for setting a
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`parameter or function to a desired value in a range of parameter or function values by
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`determining the position of an object on a capacitive position sensor, the capacitive position
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`sensor comprising: a sensing element comprising a sensing path; at least one terminal connected
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`to the sensing element; at least one sensing channel connected to the at least one terminal in
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`which the sensing channel is operable to generate a signal indicative of capacitance between the
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`terminal and a system ground; meansto determine a position of an object on the sensing element;
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`means to further refine the position of the object corresponding to a value in the range of
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`parameter or function values; and a processor operable to interpret and process the signal to
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`determine the approximate position of an object on the sensing path,
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`the processor being
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`configured to provide a first mode of the capacitive position sensor in which the range of
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`parameter or function values is mapped onto the sensing path and in which the parameter or
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`function can be set to approximately the desired value by a touch of the sensing path at a first
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`point, and a second modein which displacement of an object on the sensing element adjusts the
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`parameter or function from the value initially set in the first mode, wherein the processor is
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`configured to switch from the first mode to the second mode responsive to capacitive coupling
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`caused by moving displacement of an object along the sensing path in relation to the first point
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`of touch.
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`[16]
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`Particular embodiments provide a method for determining the position of an
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`object on a capacitive position sensor as hereinbefore defined, the method comprising bringing
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`an object into proximity with the sensing element so as to determine a position of the object,
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`initiating a change in mode of the sensor to respond to capacitive coupling caused by moving
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`displacement of an object on the sensor element, displacing an object on the sensing element to
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`select a value in a parameter range of values, and processing the signal to determine the selected
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`parametervalue.
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`[17]
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`Particular embodiments provide a method for setting a parameter or function to a
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`desired value in a range of parameter or function values by determining the position of an object
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`on a capacitive position sensor, the capacitive position sensor comprising: a sensing element
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`comprising a sensing path; at least one terminal connected to the sensing element; at least one
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`sensing channel connectedto the at least one terminal in which the sensing channelis operable to
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`generate a signal indicative of capacitance between the terminal and a system ground; meansto
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`determinea position of an object on the sensing element; and meansto furtherrefine the position
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`of the object corresponding to a value in the range of parameter or function values, the method
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`comprising: in a first mode of the capacitive position sensor in which the range of parameter or
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`function values is mapped onto the sensing path bringing an object into proximity with the
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`sensing elementat a first point so as to determine a position of the object and therebyinitially set
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`the parameter or function to approximately the desired value; initiating a change in modeofthe
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`sensor from thefirst mode to a second moderesponsive to capacitive coupling caused by moving
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`displacement of the object along the sensing path in relation to the first point of touch of the
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`object on the sensing element; in the second mode displacing the object on the sensing element
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`to adjust
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`the parameter or function from the value initially set
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`to the desired value; and
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`processing the signal to determine the selected parameter or function value.
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`[18]
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`In particular embodiments, the capacitive sensor may work in a first mode and a
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`second mode.
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`In a first mode, a signal may be generated which is indicative of capacitive
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`coupling of an object, for example a user’s finger, with the sensing element. The signal
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`generated in the first mode may provide an approximate position of an object in relation to a
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`desired parameter value the user wishes to select. A processor may be provided to interpret and
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`7 of 22
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`process the signal to determine the approximate position of an object on the sensing element.
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`In
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`the first mode of operation, the capacitive sensor may generate a signal indicative of capacitive
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`coupling caused by bringing an object into proximity with a desired location on the sensor or by
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`moving displacement of the object in proximity with the sensing element.
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`[19]
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`In particular embodiments, the capacitive sensor may enter a second mode of
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`operation if moving displacement of the object in proximity with the sensing element during a
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`first mode of operation exceeds a minimum threshold value. For example, for a sensing element
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`in the form of a rotary capacitive sensor, if a user displaces an object in proximity with the
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`sensing element during a