US Patent 9118330 Directional capacitive proximity sensor

The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting an object near an electronic system, comprising steps of: forming electrodes around a central area, on an electrically insulating medium, determining measurements representative of the capacitance of the electrodes, and comparing the measurements with a detection threshold, and deducing whether or not an object is near the central area in a detection, the electrically insulating medium on which the electrodes are formed being deposited on an electrically conductive medium forming a shield, the capacitance measurements being taken by simultaneously activating all the electrodes.