Patent attributes
A capacitive ultrasonic device is capable of detecting an object and providing information regarding an orientation of the object. The capacitive ultrasonic device includes a power source configured to generate a voltage signal, an array of sensor elements, each of the sensor elements being configured to generate an ultrasonic wave during a first period of the voltage signal and detect whether a wave is reflected from the object during a second period of the voltage signal when the voltage signal is applied thereto, and a control unit configured to activate a first portion of the array of sensor elements through the power source, and activate a second portion of the array of sensor elements when at least one of the first portion of the sensor elements detects a wave reflected from the object.