Synaptics Incorporated
Partial guarding for a sensing device

Abstract:

A system and method for operating sensor electrodes comprises driving, during a first period, a first portion of the sensor electrodes with a sensing signal. A second portion of the sensor electrodes is driven with a guarding signal during the first period. The second portion is adjacent to the first portion. The guarding signal and the sensing signal have at least one characteristic in common that is selected from a group consisting of amplitude, phase, and frequency. A third portion of the sensor electrodes is electrically floated or driven with a direct current signal during the first period. The third portion is adjacent to the second portion but not adjacent to the first portion.