Electronic device using electromagnetic field for user input

Abstract

An electronic device may include a multi-layer panel, a first upper electrode and a first lower electrode disposed in different respective layers of the multi-layer panel, a second upper electrode and a second lower electrode disposed in different layers respectively of the multi-layer panel. A first controller may detect a touch input by detecting a change in an electromagnetic field between the first upper electrode and the first lower electrode. A second controller may detect a hovering input by detecting a change in an electromagnetic field between the second upper electrode and the second lower electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising:
 a multi-layer panel;   a first upper electrode and a first lower electrode disposed in different respective layers of the multi-layer panel;   a second upper electrode and a second lower electrode disposed in different respective layers of the multi-layer panel;   a first controller configured to detect a touch input by detecting a change in an electromagnetic field between the first upper electrode and the first lower electrode; and   a second controller configured to detect a hovering input by detecting a change in an electromagnetic field between the second upper electrode and the second lower electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second upper electrode is disposed in the same layer as the first upper electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second upper electrode is disposed in the same layer as the first lower electrode. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein a layer comprising the first lower electrode is disposed between a layer comprising the first upper electrode and a layer comprising the second upper electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second upper electrode does not overlap the first upper electrode or the first lower electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the second upper electrode is disposed on an edge area of a layer of the multi-layer panel. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second lower electrode does not overlap the first upper electrode or the first lower electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the second lower electrode is disposed on an edge area of a layer of the multi-layer panel. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second lower electrode is disposed in an edge area of a layer of the multi-layer panel and partially overlaps the first upper electrode or the first lower electrode. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the multi-layer panel is interposed between a layer comprising the first upper electrode and a layer comprising the first lower electrode. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the multi-layer panel is interposed between a layer comprising the second upper electrode and a layer comprising the second lower electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the multi-layer panel is disposed below a layer comprising the first lower electrode, and comprises a ground plane. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein user inputs are detected above the multi-layer panel, and at least one layer of the multi-layer panel comprises a circuit board below a layer comprising the first lower electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper electrode comprises x electrode lines spaced at equal distances in a y-axis direction, and the first lower electrode comprises y electrode lines spaced at equal distances in an x-axis direction. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer panel forms at least part of one side of the electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the multi-layer panel forms at least part of a touch screen of the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a keyboard disposed on one side of the electronic device.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processor for performing at least one function corresponding to the touch input or the hovering input.   
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an input control module for disabling the first touch controller or the second touch controller.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the input control module disables the second controller for the touch input, and disables the first controller for the hovering input. 
     
     
         21 . A method for detecting user inputs in an electronic device having a keyboard and a touchpad, the method comprising:
 initially recognizing a hovering input by detecting a presence of a user appendage in proximity to a top surface of the touchpad at a region of the touchpad at which an electromagnetic field for contactless interaction is generated;   processing the hovering input as a gesture input if the presence of the user appendage is detected for less than or equal to a threshold period of time; and   ignoring the hovering input if the presence of the appendage is detected for greater than the threshold period of time.