ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 11 -- United States Patent no. 12,547,275, issued on Feb. 10, was assigned to Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.).
"Proximity detection for touch input devices" was invented by Tavys Q. Ashcroft (San Jose, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Sensors capable of detection of user objects within different detection zones can be used to reduce power consumption of a touch screen interface of an electronic device, even while the device is in a suspended or sleep state. At least one object sensor, such as a capacitive sensor, has a detection zone or range exceeding the range of a touch screen sensor, so the touch screen sensor can be placed into a low power state until the object...