US 12,107,575 B2
Environmental sensor circuit having a capacitive proximity sensor and magnetic field probe
Chaouki Rouaissia, Neuchâtel (CH)
Assigned to SEMTECH CORPORATION, Camarillo, CA (US)
Filed by Semtech Corporation, Camarillo, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/894,837.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/249,770, filed on Sep. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0098109 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. G01B 7/14 (2006.01); H03K 17/95 (2006.01); H03K 17/955 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 17/955 (2013.01) [G01B 7/14 (2013.01); H03K 17/9512 (2013.01); H03K 17/9517 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An environmental sensor circuit for a portable connected wireless device, the circuit comprising: (a) a capacitive proximity sensor configured to determine whether a user is in proximity to the capacitive proximity sensor, by sensing variation in the capacitance of an electrode in electric connection with an environmental integrated circuit, (b) a magnetic field probe, providing a signal proportional to a magnetic field strength, wherein the environmental sensor circuit has an analogue/digital converter configured to produce proximity digital values representative of the capacitance of the electrode and magnetic field digital values representative of the magnetic field strength, the integrated circuit further comprising a digital processor configured for suppressing unwanted noise and drift components from the proximity digital values and from the magnetic field digital values.