SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160098146 | OPERATING A TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL SYSTEM ACCORDING TO A PLURALITY OF RULE SETS - A touch screen control system communicates with a host processing system (HPS). The touch screen control system includes a memory and control circuitry. The control circuitry operates a touch screen according to rules stored in the memory by: during a first time period and in response to detecting a first type of user input with a touch sensor of the touch screen, updating a display screen of the touch screen autonomously without requiring intervention from the HPS following the detection of the first type of user input; during the first time period and in response to detecting a second type of user input with the touch sensor, updating the display screen according to directions provided by the HPS; and during a second time period and in response to detecting the first type of user input with the touch sensor, updating the display screen according to directions provided by the HPS. | 04-07-2016 |
20160055990 | RETRACTABLE KEYBOARD KEYS - A laptop computer comprising a keyboard including a bezel having a plurality of key openings and a plurality of key holding features configured adjacent to the plurality of key openings on a bottom side of the bezel. The laptop computer also includes a plurality of keycaps having a touch surface for receiving a press force, each keycap positioned within a respective one of the plurality of key openings. The laptop computer also includes a chassis having a plurality of planar-translation effecting mechanisms each supporting a respective one of the plurality of keycaps such that, in response to receiving the press force, the respective keycap moves in a press direction and a second direction orthogonal to the press direction from an unpressed position toward a pressed position. | 02-25-2016 |
20150378498 | HYBRID CAPACITIVE SENSOR DEVICE - In an example, an input device includes: a plurality of transmitter electrodes including: a first transmitter electrode having a first set of sub-electrodes; and a second transmitter electrode having a second set of sub-electrodes, where the number of sub-electrodes in the first set is different than the number of sub-electrodes in the second set; a plurality of receiver electrodes; and a processing system, coupled to the plurality of transmitter electrodes and the plurality of receiver electrodes, the processing system configured to: drive, in a first mode, the plurality of transmitter electrodes with transmitter signals while receiving resulting signals from the plurality of receiver electrodes to determine changes in transcapacitance; and drive, in a second mode, the plurality of transmitter electrodes with absolute capacitive sensing signals to determine changes in absolute capacitance. | 12-31-2015 |
20150378468 | TECHNIQUES TO DETERMINE X-POSITION IN GRADIENT SENSORS - Embodiments of the invention generate a voltage gradient across a sensor electrode by driving a negative and positive voltage on respective ends of the electrode to identify a location of an input object. Because both negative and positive voltages are used, one location on the sensor electrode will be at a reference voltage (e.g., system ground). This location is used to divide the sensor electrode into two different regions. Based on measuring a change in charge relative to a baseline, the input device identifies in which of the two regions the input object is located. The input device can then generate a new voltage gradient to shift the location of the reference voltage into the identified region thereby dividing the region into two sub-regions. By iteratively repeating this process using progressively small sub-regions, the input device can identify the location of the input object. | 12-31-2015 |
20150355757 | CAPACITIVE SENSING PATTERN - A capacitive input device comprises a plurality of receiver electrodes and a plurality of transmitter electrodes. The plurality of receiver sensor electrodes is oriented substantially parallel to a first axis proximate to a sensing region of the capacitive input device. The plurality of transmitter sensor electrodes is oriented substantially parallel to a second axis proximate to the sensing region and configured to be capacitively coupled with the plurality of receiver sensor electrodes. At least one of a receiver sensor electrode of the plurality of receiver sensor electrodes and a transmitter sensor electrode of the plurality of transmitter sensor electrodes is disposed in a configuration forming multiple crossings with a line that is perpendicular to the first axis, the multiple crossings occurring proximate to the sensing region. | 12-10-2015 |
20150346896 | CURRENT FEEDBACK DIGITAL CHARGE ACCUMULATOR - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a method of input sensing with a sensor electrode. The method includes driving an input sensing signal to charge the sensor electrode and sampling a first voltage associated with the sensor electrode. The method further includes removing charge from the sensor electrode when the first voltage is above a threshold voltage, adding charge to the sensor electrode when the first voltage is below the threshold voltage, determining a number of times charge is removed from the sensor electrode, and determining a number of times charge is added to the sensor electrode. The method further includes determining positional information based on the number of times charge is removed from the sensor electrode and the number of times charge is added to the sensor electrode. | 12-03-2015 |
20150338937 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AN ACTIVE PEN WITH A MATRIX SENSOR - A processing system, input device, and method are disclosed to detect an active input device. The method includes operating a first portion of a plurality of sensor electrodes to receive an active input signal from an active input device, and operating a second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes to receive capacitive sensing data corresponding to a passive input device. The first and second portions include at least one sensor electrode in common. The method also includes driving a plurality of display electrodes to update a display image, wherein the plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least one of the plurality of display electrodes. | 11-26-2015 |
20150324036 | CAPACITIVE SENSING ON LARGE TOUCH SCREENS - An input device comprises a first plurality of sensor electrodes, a second plurality of sensor electrodes, and a processing system. The processing system comprises a first integrated circuit, a second integrated circuit, and a central controller. The first integrated circuit is coupled to the first plurality of sensor electrodes and configured to receive first resulting signals therewith. The second integrated circuit is coupled to the second plurality of sensor electrodes and configured to receive second resulting signals therewith. The central controller is communicatively coupled to the first and second integrated circuits. The central controller is configured to receive the first resulting signals from the first integrated circuit and the second resulting signals from the second integrated circuit and is configured to determine positional information from the first resulting signals and the second resulting signals and to communicate the positional information to a host processor. | 11-12-2015 |
20150323578 | CAPACITANCE MEASUREMENT - A capacitance measurement circuit comprises a differential amplifier with first and second inputs and an output, first and second feedback capacitances, and a reset mechanism. The first input is coupled to a modulated reference voltage and the second input is coupled with a sensor electrode. A first feedback capacitance is coupled between the output and the second input. A second feedback capacitance is coupled between the output and the second input. The reset mechanism resets the first feedback capacitance to a first level of charge and the second feedback capacitance to a second level of charge. During an absolute capacitance measurement phase, the differential amplifier charges the sensor electrode while balancing voltages on the first and second inputs to a voltage level associated with the modulated reference voltage and integrates charge on the sensor electrode to measure capacitance corresponding to a coupling between the sensor electrode and an input object. | 11-12-2015 |
20150309643 | SOURCE DRIVER TOUCH TRANSMITTER IN PARALLEL WITH DISPLAY DRIVE - Various embodiments enable driving one or more sub-pixels with a source voltage while concurrently modulating the voltage of one or more common electrodes coupled to the sub-pixels to perform input sensing with the common electrodes. The voltage driven onto the sub-pixel may be shifted while the common electrode is modulated by a value about equal to about the amplitude of the modulation applied to the common electrode. Thus, the potential difference between the source line and common electrode remains substantially unchanged so that display asperities are not introduced while input sensing while concurrently updating a sub-pixel with display information. Thus, the common electrode(s) may be modulated for input sensing without interfering with display updating of the one or more sub-pixels, greatly increasing the amount of time available for performing input sensing and/or display updating. | 10-29-2015 |
20150309618 | WEIGHTING FOR DISPLAY NOISE REMOVAL IN CAPACITIVE SENSORS - A processing system for a capacitive sensing input device comprises a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module acquires a plurality of capacitive resulting signals by operating a plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing. The determination module weights values of the plurality of capacitive resulting signals to achieve a plurality of weighted capacitive resulting signals, wherein a first capacitive resulting signal of the plurality of capacitive resulting signals is weighted according to a weighted noise parameter derived from a component of a variable noise associated with a respective sensor electrode used for acquisition of the first capacitive resulting signal, wherein the variable noise varies across the plurality of sensor electrodes. The determination module also determines positional information for an least input object in a sensing region of the capacitive sensing input device based on resulting signals processed from the weighted capacitive resulting signals. | 10-29-2015 |
20150302831 | SENSING DURING NON-DISPLAY UPDATE TIMES - A method of capacitive sensing using an integrated capacitive sensor device and display device comprising a plurality of combination electrodes comprises driving a first of the plurality of combination electrodes for capacitive sensing during a first non-display update time period of a first frame; driving a second of the plurality of combination electrodes for capacitive sensing during a second non-display update time period of the first frame; and driving a third of the plurality of combination electrodes for capacitive sensing during a third non-display update time period of the first frame, the plurality of combination electrodes configured for both capacitive sensing and display updating. Driving the first second, and third combination electrodes for capacitive sensing comprises driving the first, second, and third combination electrodes with a signal that transitions at least twice during each respective non-display update time period of the display device. | 10-22-2015 |
20150301658 | SENSOR ELECTRODE PATH ERROR DIAGNOSIS - A processing system for a capacitive sensing input device comprises a sensing module, a first internal diagnostic mechanism, and a determination module. The sensing module is configured to couple with a first sensor electrode path of a plurality of sensor electrode paths, and is configured to drive the first sensor electrode path with a first signal. The first internal diagnostic mechanism is configured to couple with a second sensor electrode path and to acquire a test signal output while the sensing module drives the first sensor electrode path with the first signal. The first internal diagnostic mechanism comprises a selectable current source configured to couple with the second sensor electrode path, and the selectable current source is enabled during acquisition of the test signal output. The determination module is configured to determine whether the first and second sensor electrode paths are ohmically coupled together based on the test signal output. | 10-22-2015 |
20150293643 | MATRIX SENSOR FOR IMAGE TOUCH SENSING - Embodiments described herein include an input device, a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, an input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a planar matrix array. Each sensor electrode is coupled to unique routing trace and has an identical geometric plan form that is symmetrical about a center of area of the sensor electrode. The geometric plan form of each sensor electrode includes core and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the core. The protrusions are configured to overlap with protrusions extending outward from each adjacent sensor electrode of the matrix array. | 10-15-2015 |
20150293642 | MATRIX SENSOR FOR IMAGE TOUCH SENSING - Embodiments described herein include an input device, a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, an input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a planar matrix array. Each sensor electrode is coupled to unique routing trace and has an identical geometric plan form that is symmetrical about a center of area of the sensor electrode. The geometric plan form of each sensor electrode includes core and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the core. The protrusions are configured to overlap with protrusions extending outward from each adjacent sensor electrode of the matrix array. | 10-15-2015 |
20150277650 | SERRATED INPUT SENSING INTERVALS - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a technique for input sensing using an input device having a display device with an integrated sensing device. Input sensing is performed over a long sensing interval to attain narrow-band filtering, and is temporarily suspended for short intervals (within the long sensing interval) to refresh the row selection logic of the display device. | 10-01-2015 |
20150277648 | ADAPTIVE TOUCH SENSING ELECTRODE - Techniques for varying aggregate area of a sensor electrode used for capacitive sensing. Sensor electrodes are driven for capacitive sensing. Resulting signals are received from the sensor electrodes. Based on signal strengths of the resulting signals, aggregate area of the sensor electrodes may be varied. The aggregate area of the sensor electrodes may be varied by connecting or disconnecting segments of the sensor electrodes from a sensor module that drives the sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing. The ability to vary the aggregate area of the sensor electrodes expands the overall dynamic range of a receiver module coupled to the sensor electrodes. | 10-01-2015 |
20150277619 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOW GROUND MASS CORRECTION - A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module coupled to first sensor electrodes and second sensor electrodes. The sensor module includes sensor circuitry and is configured to acquire mutual capacitive measurements between the first sensor electrodes and the second sensor electrodes, and acquire absolute capacitive measurements of the first sensor electrodes and the second sensor electrodes. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to determine a projection from the mutual capacitive measurements and a profile from the absolute capacitive measurements, and determine a low ground mass correction factor based on a good ground value, the projection, and the profile. | 10-01-2015 |
20150277618 | LOW GROUND MASS CORRECTION MECHANISM - A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module coupled to sensor electrodes. The sensor module includes sensor circuitry and configured to acquire first capacitive measurements when the input device is in a first state, and acquire second capacitive measurements when the input device is in a second state. The second state has an increased ground as compared to the first state. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to determine positional information for an input object based on the first capacitive measurements and the second capacitive measurements. | 10-01-2015 |
20150268784 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LOCALIZED FORCE SENSING - A device and method for operating a capacitive touch screen input device configured to sense input objects and their applied force in a sensing region, the device including a pliable component having an input surface and characterized by a bending stiffness, and first and second arrays of sensor electrodes. The input device further includes a third array of sensor electrodes and a spacing layer disposed between the third array. The pliable component is characterized by a compressive stiffness and configured to deform in response to a force applied to the input surface and to deflect the second array of sensor electrodes towards the third array of sensor electrodes, wherein the deformation of the input surface and the deflection of the second array of sensor electrodes is a function of the ratio of the bending stiffness of the pliable component and the compressive stiffness of the spacing layer. | 09-24-2015 |
20150268759 | FLEXIBLE PROCESSING MODULE FOR DIFFERENT INTEGRATED TOUCH AND DISPLAY CONFIGURATIONS - Embodiments described herein include a processing system for a display device comprising an integrated capacitive sensing device that includes at least one input/output pad that is selectable between providing source signals to the display device and operating a sensor electrode for capacitive sensing. Other embodiments include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, an input device having an integrated display and capacitive sensing device, and a method for operating an integrated display and capacitive sensing device. | 09-24-2015 |
20150261377 | COMBINED CAPACITIVE SENSING - A processing system comprises a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module comprises sensing circuitry coupled to sensor electrodes of a sensor electrode pattern. The sensor module is configured to: drive a modulated signal onto a first sensor electrode of the sensor electrode pattern; receive first resulting signals from the first sensor electrode; and receive second resulting signals from a second sensor electrode of the sensor electrode pattern. The second resulting signals comprise effects corresponding to the modulated signal, and the first resulting signals and the second resulting signals are simultaneously received. The determination module configured to determine a change in capacitive coupling between an input object and the first sensor electrode based on the first resulting signals and a change in capacitive coupling between the first and second sensor electrodes based on the second resulting signals. | 09-17-2015 |
20150261341 | ABSOLUTE CAPACITIVE SENSING USING SENSOR ELECTRODE PRE-EMPHASIS - A processing system comprises a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module is configured to drive a modulated signal on to a sensor electrode to achieve a target voltage on the sensor electrode during a first portion of a sensing cycle, wherein the modulated signal comprises a first voltage that is beyond a level of the target voltage and which is driven for a first period of time and a second voltage that is at the target voltage and which is driven for a second period of time that follows the first period of time. The determination module is configured to determine an absolute capacitance of the sensor electrode during the first portion of the sensing cycle after driving the second voltage. | 09-17-2015 |
20150227256 | INPUT DEVICE WITH FORCE SENSING - Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a first substrate with proximity sensor electrodes and at least a first force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate. A second substrate is physically coupled to the first substrate, where the second substrate comprises a spring feature and an electrode component. The electrode component at least partially overlaps the first force sensor electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first force sensor electrode and the electrode component. The spring feature is configured to facilitate deflection of the electrode component relative to the first force sensor electrode to change the variable capacitance. A measure of the variable capacitance may be calculated and used to determine force information regarding the force biasing the input device. | 08-13-2015 |
20150227229 | SENSOR MATRIX PAD FOR PERFORMING MULTIPLE CAPACITIVE SENSING TECHNIQUES - Embodiments in the present disclosure use various individual electrodes in a capacitive sensing pixel of an electrode matrix to perform two different techniques of capacitive sensing. For example, a capacitive sensing pixel may include at least two sensor electrodes that may be driven different by a processing system depending on the current capacitive technique being used to user interaction. When performing absolute capacitive sensing, a first one of the sensor electrodes may be driven with a modulated signal in order to measure a change in absolute capacitance between the driven sensor electrode and an input object. Alternatively, when performing transcapacitance sensing, the first sensor electrode is driven with a transmitter signal while a resulting signal is measured on a second sensor electrode in the capacitive pixel. In this manner, the individual electrodes in a capacitive sensing pixel may be driven differently depending on the current capacitive sensing technique. | 08-13-2015 |
20150226871 | CAPACITIVE SENSOR DRIVING TECHNIQUE THAT ENABLES HYBRID SENSING OR EQUALIZATION - Embodiments described herein include an input device that drives an equalization signal onto an electrode that may be capacitively coupled to a sensor electrode used for capacitive sensing. The equalization signal may include a plurality of pulses that are synchronized to be out of phase with a capacitive sensing signal driven on the sensor electrode. For example, as the capacitive sensing signal transitions from a low voltage to a high voltage, the equalization signal transitions from a high voltage to a low voltage. Doing so increases the voltage difference between the electrodes and increases the slew rate of the capacitive sensing signal. In further embodiments, where the input device includes a display device, the equalization signal may be driven onto display electrodes that are used when updating a display. | 08-13-2015 |
20150220093 | NEGATIVE VOLTAGE FEEDBACK GENERATOR - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an device that regulates a negative output voltage from a power supply using a positive representation of the negative output voltage. To convert the negative voltage to a positive voltage, the device changes the negative voltage into a current using, for example, a current generator that outputs a current corresponding to the negative voltage received from the power supply. This current is then transferred from the negative voltage domain to the positive voltage domain and is fed through a voltage generator that outputs a positive voltage corresponding to the current. By doing so, the negative voltage output is transformed into a corresponding positive voltage. This positive voltage may then be compared to a positive reference voltage to determine an error signal for adjusting the power supply. | 08-06-2015 |
20150193041 | MITIGATING ELECTRODE INTERFERENCE IN AN INTEGRATED INPUT DEVICE - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an integrated input device. The integrated input device includes a plurality of sensor electrode sets including a plurality of common electrode sets, a plurality of gate electrodes, and a gate selector. A processing system is configured to drive the sensor electrode sets for capacitive sensing during a plurality of sensing periods and update display lines by driving the common electrode sets during display update periods. A sensor electrode of a first sensor electrode set that is driven last during a first sensing period and a sensor electrode of a second sensor electrode set that is driven first during a second sensing period are spatially non-sequential sensor electrodes. The first display update period, second display update period, and third display update period are non-consecutive and non-overlapping with the first sensing period, the second sensing period, and the third display update period, respectively. | 07-09-2015 |
20150177869 | TRANSCAPACITIVE SENSOR USING TRANSMIT ON GATE LINES - Capacitive sensing is performed in an input device having an input sensor and associated display device using gate lines of the display device. A transmitter signal having a negative pulse is used to safely transmit a transcapacitive transmitter signal while not opening any of the access transistors in the display device. | 06-25-2015 |
20150177868 | ACTIVE PEN FOR MATRIX SENSOR - A capacitive sensing device detects the presence of an actively modulated input object, such as an active pen, using a matrix of sensor electrodes. The capacitive sensing device include receiver channels configured to perform capacitive sensing of the active pen based on one frequency, and other receiver channels configured to perform capacitive sensing of other input objects based on another frequency. The receiver channels for sensing the active pen may be multiplexed across the matrix of sensor electrodes to track the location of the active pen in a tracking window manner. The receiver channels for sensing the active pen may also be multiplexed across the matrix of sensor electrodes to broadly search for the location of the active pen. | 06-25-2015 |
20150149801 | COMPLEX WAKEUP GESTURE FRAMEWORK - A processing system for sensing includes a sensor module including sensor circuitry coupled to sensor electrodes, the sensor module configured to generate sensing signals received with the sensor electrodes. The processing system further includes a determination module that is configured to determine, from the sensing signals, a positional information for a gesture while a host device is in low power mode, determine, based on the positional information and while the host device is in the low power mode, that the gesture is deliberate input, send, in response to determining that the gesture is deliberate input, a wake signal to the host device to switch the host device out of the low power mode, and send the positional information to the host device after the host device receives the wake signal. | 05-28-2015 |
20150145774 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GESTURE IDENTIFICATION - A method for gesture identification includes determining a first gesture is performed on a surface sensing region. The first gesture includes at least one input object. The method further includes determining a first action corresponding to the first gesture, and issuing, based on performing the first gesture, a first report reporting the first gesture and the first action. The method further includes determining, within a first predefined length of time subsequent to performing the first gesture, a presence of the at least one input object in an above surface sensing region, determining a second action corresponding to the first gesture and the at least one input object being in the above surface sensing region within the predefined length of time, and issuing a second report reporting the second action. | 05-28-2015 |
20150143006 | MULTI-PROTOCOL COMBINED RECEIVER - A receiver circuit configured to operate in a DisplayPort (DP) mode and a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) mode. The receiver circuit includes: termination circuitry configured to receive a DP signal in the DP mode and an HDMI signal in the HDMI mode; and voltage common-mode (VCM) level shifter circuitry configured to operate as a pass-through for the DP signal in the DP mode and generate a converted HDMI signal from the HDMI signal in the HDMI mode. | 05-21-2015 |
20150116254 | SINGLE-LAYER MUTI-TOUCH CAPACITIVE IMAGING SENSOR - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device having a reduced system complexity and low production cost. As the size of input devices, such as touch pads and other similar devices increase, the need for an input device that is able to maintain or even improve the touch sensing accuracy without greatly increasing the manufacturing cost becomes increasingly important. Embodiments of the invention may provide an input device that includes an array of capacitive sensing pixels that each include a unique pair of sensor electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes in a first pixel is also in communication with another sensor electrode in at least one other pixel, which is not in the same row or column with the first pixel. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116253 | GHOST SUPPRESSION USING HYBRID CAPACITIVE SENSING - A processing system for a capacitive input device includes functionality to perform a trans capacitance measurement of an array of sensor electrodes, determine a presence of at least one input object in the sensing region from the trans capacitance measurement, perform an absolute capacitive measurement along a first axis of the array of sensor electrodes, and suppress the determined presence of at least one input object based on a lack of a correlated input object presence from the absolute capacitive measurement along the first axis. The capacitive input device includes the array of sensor electrodes configured to sense input objects in a sensing region of the input device. | 04-30-2015 |
20150115977 | CURRENT-MODE COARSE-BASELINE-CORRECTION - The embodiments herein are generally directed to using a current-mode CBC circuit to maintain a voltage bias setting at a receiver when performing capacitive sensing. To do so, the CBC circuit may compensate for the change in voltage at a receiver by providing a current at the input of the receiver. Instead of using a passive CBC capacitor for each receiver, the input device may use a single CBC capacitor and a plurality of current mirrors to source and sink the current required to correct the input voltage at a plurality of receivers. As a result, the current-mode CBC circuit includes only one passive capacitor (or bank of capacitors) and a plurality of current mirrors which may provide space and cost benefits relative to a CBC circuit that uses a passive capacitor (or bank of capacitors) for each receiver channel. | 04-30-2015 |
20150109233 | PARASITIC CAPACITANCE FILTER FOR SINGLE-LAYER CAPACITIVE IMAGING SENSORS - An approach is provided for estimating and correcting parasitic responses of a touch sensor device. The input device measures a first capacitance signal generated by a first pixel that is covered at least partially by an input object. The input device measures a second capacitance signal generated by a second pixel that is covered at least partially by the input object. The input device measures a third capacitance signal generated by a third pixel. Based on at least the first capacitance signal and the second capacitance signal, the input device identifies a position of the input object within the sensing region. Based on the position of the input object, the input device identifies a trace covered by the input object and associated with the third pixel. The input device calculates an updated third capacitance signal by subtracting a correction amount from the third capacitance signal. | 04-23-2015 |
20150103034 | IN-CELL LOW POWER MODES - Embodiments described herein include a method and apparatus for capacitive sensing in input devices integrated with a display device. In one embodiment, a processing system for a display device comprising an integrated capacitive sensing device is provided that includes a display driver module, a transmitter module, and a receiver module. The display driver and transmitter modules are configured to operate in a display update mode and a sleep mode. The receiver module is configured to, while operating in a doze mode, communicate with and trigger the transmitter module to enter the active sensing mode while the display driver module remains in the sleep mode when presence of an object is detected based on the resulting signals. | 04-16-2015 |
20150091872 | Non-Orthogonal Coding Techniques for Optical Sensing - A processing system includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module includes drives a first optical transmitter with a first optical coded signal based on a first code, and drives a second optical transmitter with a second optical coded signal based on a second code. The first code and the second code are non-orthogonal, and the first optical transmitter and the second optical transmitter transmit at overlapping times. The receiver module receives a resulting signal that includes effects corresponding to the first optical coded signal and the second optical coded signal. The determination module determines a first measurement between the first optical transmitter and the optical receiver, determines a second measurement between the second optical transmitter and the optical receiver, and determines positional information for an input object based on the first measurement and the second measurement. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091851 | SIMULTANEOUS DISPLAY UPDATING AND CAPACITIVE SENSING FOR AN INTEGRATED DEVICE - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device with an integrated display that drives a capacitance sensing signal on a sensor electrode in parallel with driving a display signal onto a display electrode. To mitigate the interference between the two signals, the input device synchronizes the frequency of the capacitance sensing signal to a line rate used when performing display updating—i.e., the time period used by the integrated display to update a row of pixels. In one example, the capacitance sensing cycles includes a plurality of sensing cycles. The time period of the sensing cycles may be synchronized with the line rate. In addition, in one embodiment, the input device may phase align the capacitance sensing signal with a periodic noise event in the display signal such as a voltage transition, charge share event, and the like. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091850 | MODULATED POWER SUPPLY FOR REDUCED PARASITIC CAPACITANCE - An input device comprising a display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device. The input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes a plurality of display electrodes, a modulated power supply configured to provide a modulated reference signal, and a processing system. The processing system includes a sensor module configured to drive a plurality of sensor electrodes with a modulated capacitive sensing signal that is based on the modulated reference signal for capacitive sensing during a first time period. The processing system also includes a display driver module configured to drive a plurality of display electrodes of a display device with modulated signals based on the modulated reference signal during the first time period. The modulated signals cause voltage between the plurality of display electrodes and the plurality of sensor electrodes to remain substantially constant. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091849 | MULTI-SENSOR TOUCH INTEGRATED DISPLAY DRIVER CONFIGURATION FOR CAPACITIVE SENSING DEVICES - Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide an integrated control system having an integrated controller that is configured to provide both display updating signals to a display device and a capacitive sensing signal to a sensor electrode that is disposed within the integrated input device. The internal and/or external signal routing configurations described herein can be adapted to reduce signal routing complexity typically found in conventional devices and reduce the effect of electrical interference created by the capacitive coupling formed between the display routing, capacitive sensing routing and/or other components within the integrated control system. Embodiments can also be used to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) on the display and touch sensing signals received, transmitted and processed within the integrated control system. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091848 | TARGETED TRANSCAPACITANCE SENSING FOR A MATRIX SENSOR - Embodiments described herein include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a matrix. The processing system performs absolute capacitive sensing with the matrix of sensor electrodes. When an area of interest is detected using the absolute capacitive sensing techniques, the processing system performs targeted transcapacitance sensing using a selected subset of the sensor electrodes in the area of interest. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091846 | MODULATED BACK PLATE FOR CAPACITIVE SENSING - Embodiments described herein include an input device comprising a display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device, a processing system, and a method for detecting presence of an input object. In each of these embodiments, a modulation source provides modulation signals between a back plate and a system ground of the input device. Other embodiments include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device, wherein the capacitive sensing device includes a matrix of discrete sensor electrodes. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091843 | DISPLAY GUARDING TECHNIQUES - Embodiments described herein mitigate the effect of a coupling capacitance between a sensor electrode in a touch sensor and a display electrode in a display screen. An input device, which includes the touch sensor and display screen, may transmit a guarding signal on the display electrodes when performing capacitive sensing. In one embodiment, the guarding signal may have similar characteristics as a modulated signal (e.g., similar amplitude and/or phase) driven on the sensor electrode to detect interaction between the input device and an input object. By driving a guarding signal that is similar to the modulated signal onto the display electrodes, the voltage difference between the sensor electrode and display electrode remains the same. Accordingly, the coupling capacitance between the sensor electrode and the display electrode does not affect a capacitance measurement used to detect the user interaction. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091842 | MATRIX SENSOR FOR IMAGE TOUCH SENSING - Embodiments described herein include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device, all of which include a grid electrode for improved absolute sensing. Other embodiments include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device, wherein the capacitive sensing device includes a matrix of discrete sensor electrodes. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091840 | FAR-FIELD SENSING WITH A DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING AN INTEGRATED SENSING DEVICE - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an input device comprising a display device integrated with a capacitive sensing device. The input device includes a plurality of transmitter electrodes, each transmitter electrode comprising one or more common electrodes configured to be driven for display updating and capacitive sensing, a plurality of near-field receiver electrodes configured to perform capacitive sensing in a near-field sensing region, and a plurality of far-field receiver electrodes configured to perform capacitive sensing in a far-field sensing region. The input device further includes a processing system coupled to the plurality of transmitter electrodes, the plurality of near-field receiver electrodes, and the plurality of far-field receiver electrodes. The processing system is configured to determine a near-field capacitive image based on the first resulting signals received from the near-field receiver electrodes and determine a far-field capacitive image based on the second resulting signals received from the far-field receiver electrodes. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091838 | TRANSCAPACITIVE INPUT OBJECT SENSING - In a method of input object sensing, a plurality of transmitter electrodes are driven in a first way to acquire a first sub-frame image with the plurality of transmitter electrodes and a plurality of receiver electrodes of a sensor electrode pattern during a first sub-frame of a transcapacitive sensing frame. The plurality of transmitter electrodes is also driven in a second way to acquire a second sub-frame image with the plurality of transmitter electrodes and the plurality of receiver electrodes during a second sub-frame of the transcapacitive sensing frame, wherein the first way and the second way differ. A capacitive image is determined by combining the first sub-frame image with the second sub-frame image such that a motion artifact associated with an input object and present in at least one of the sub-frame images is suppressed by the combining. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091587 | MATRIX SENSOR FOR IMAGE TOUCH SENSING - Embodiments described herein include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes, a field shaping electrode, and a processing system. Each sensor electrode includes at least one common electrode. Dimensions of each sensor electrode correspond to dimension of pixel elements of the display device. The field shaping electrode is disposed between two of the plurality of sensor electrodes. Dimensions of the field shaping electrode correspond to the dimension of pixel elements of the display device. The field shaping electrode is laterally spaced apart from the two sensor electrodes a distance corresponding to dimensions of the pixel elements. The processing system is coupled to the sensor electrodes and the field shaping electrode. The processing system is configured to, in a first processing mode, drive a transmitter signal onto a first sensor electrode of the sensor electrodes and receiving a resulting signal with the first sensor electrode of the sensor electrodes comprising effects corresponding to the transmitter signal. | 04-02-2015 |
20150084876 | USING A PRINTED CIRCUIT TO OFFSET CHARGE DURING CAPACITIVE SENSING - In a method of capacitive sensing an absolute capacitive sensing signal is driven through at least one of a plurality of routing traces of a printed circuit. Absolute capacitive sensing is performed with at least one sensor electrode of a plurality of sensor electrodes in a sensor electrode pattern. The at least one sensor electrode is coupled with the at least one of the plurality of routing traces. An offsetting signal is transmitted on a parallel conductor overlapping the at least one of the plurality of routing traces, such that charge is offset from the at least one of the plurality of routing traces during the absolute capacitive sensing. | 03-26-2015 |
20150062150 | DITHERING TO AVOID PIXEL VALUE CONVERSION ERRORS - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a method for processing an image. The method includes receiving a plurality of input pixel values associated with a video frame and determining that a first portion of pixel values included in the plurality of input pixel values is within a first set of excluded values. The method further includes dithering the first portion of pixel values to generate a first plurality of dithered values. Each dithered value included in the first plurality of dithered values is not within the first set of excluded values. Additionally, a first average pixel value associated with the plurality of input pixel values is substantially similar to a second average pixel value associated with both the first plurality of dithered values and a plurality of pixel values that are spatially proximate to the first plurality of dithered values. | 03-05-2015 |
20150054752 | SWITCHABLE AREA ENHANCEMENT FOR FLEXIBLE CAPACITIVE SENSING - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device having a plurality of sensor electrodes that can be configured to be scanned in a first direction or a second direction. The input device includes a set of sensor electrodes and first and second sets of buses. The first buses are oriented in a first direction and the second buses are oriented in a second direction. The input device also includes a set of switching elements that are each configured to couple one of the sensor electrodes to either a bus in the first set of buses or a bus in the second set of buses. These embodiments allow the sensor electrodes to be scanned in a variety of patterns for flexible sensing functionality. | 02-26-2015 |
20150049060 | CHARGE DISTRIBUTION - A processing system for an input device includes a receiver module and a charge distributor. The receiver module includes a first charge integrator coupled to a first sensor electrode and configured to integrate a charge on the first sensor electrode. The charge distributor includes a current conveyor and a plurality of output stages coupled to the current conveyor, wherein a first output stage of the plurality of output stages comprises a plurality of current mirrors and is configured to output a first scaled mirrored charge to offset the charge integrated by the first charge integrator, wherein the first scaled mirrored charge is based on a charge signal provided via the current conveyor. | 02-19-2015 |
20150042600 | CAPACITIVE SENSING USING A MATRIX ELECTRODE PATTERN - An electrode matrix that is used for capacitive sensing may be integrated into a display panel of an input device. In one embodiment, source drivers may be mounted on the display panel which drive the display signals and capacitive sensing signals into the display panel. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensing signals may be routed on traces or lines that are interleaved on the same layer as the source lines used for setting a voltage on the pixels in the display panel during display updating. Using the interleaved traces, the source drivers may drive the capacitive sensing signals in parallel to a plurality of the electrodes in the matrix in a predefined pattern that spans one or more sensing cycles. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042599 | CAPACITIVE SENSING USING A MATRIX ELECTRODE PATTERN - An electrode matrix that is used for capacitive sensing may be integrated into a display panel of an input device. In one embodiment, source drivers may be mounted on the display panel which drive the display signals and capacitive sensing signals into the display panel. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensing signals may be routed on wires or lines that are interleaved on the same layer as the source lines used for setting a voltage on the pixels in the display panel during display updating. Using the interleaved wires, the source drivers may drive the capacitive sensing signals in parallel to a plurality of the electrodes in the matrix in a predefined pattern that spans one or more touch cycles. | 02-12-2015 |
20150029128 | FACE DETECTION WITH TRANSCAPACITIVE SENSING - A processing system configured to detect large objects includes a sensor module with sensor circuitry coupled to transmitter electrodes and receiver electrodes, and configured to transmit transmitter signals with the transmitter electrode and receive resulting signals with the receiver electrodes, the resulting signals including effects corresponding to transmitter signals. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to determine a transition condition is present using a capacitive image, based on the resulting signals, having capacitive pixel values, and operate in large object mode based on the transition condition being present. | 01-29-2015 |
20150022989 | UTILIZING CHIP-ON-GLASS TECHNOLOGY TO JUMPER ROUTING TRACES - A chip-on-glass device comprises a chip-on-glass substrate, a metal layer, and a plurality of chip-on-glass connection bumps. The metal layer comprises a plurality of passive jumper routing traces. The plurality of chip-on-glass connection humps is coupled with passive jumper routing traces of the plurality of passive jumper routing traces. | 01-22-2015 |
20150015528 | HYBRID CAPACITIVE IMAGE DETERMINATION AND USE - In a method of determining a hybrid capacitive image a transcapacitive image, a first absolute capacitive profile, and a second absolute capacitive profile are acquired with a plurality of sensor electrodes. An absolute capacitive image is determined as a function of the first absolute capacitive profile and the second absolute capacitive profile. A hybrid capacitive image is determined as a function of the absolute capacitive image and the transcapacitive image. | 01-15-2015 |
20150009171 | DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING AN INTEGRATED SENSING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED PROXIMITY SENSING - Embodiments described herein include a method and apparatus for capacitive sensing in input devices integrated with a display device. In one embodiment, a processing system for a display device comprising an integrated capacitive sensing device is provided that includes a display driver module, a transmitter module, and a receiver module. The display driver and transmitter modules are configured to operate in a display update mode and a sleep mode. The receiver module is configured to, while operating in a doze mode, communicate with and trigger the transmitter module to enter the active sensing mode while the display driver module remains in the sleep mode when presence of an object is detected based on the resulting signals. | 01-08-2015 |
20140368462 | REDUCING DISPLAY ARTIFACTS WHEN RESUMING DISPLAY UPDATING IN AN INTEGRATED INPUT DEVICE - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a display line selection system. The display line selection system includes a first register element configured to select a first gate electrode to update a first display line during a first display update period and transfer charge to a second register element during the first display update period. The second register element is configured to select a second gate electrode to update a second display line during a second display update period. The display line selection system further includes a third register element configured to receive charge during a non-display update period and transfer charge to a fourth register element during the non-display update period. The fourth register element is configured to select a third gate electrode to update a third display line during a third display update period. | 12-18-2014 |
20140347310 | NON-LINEAR FEEDBACK CAPACITANCE SENSING - A processing system for an input device includes a comparator, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a feedback path coupling the DAC to the comparator. The comparator generates a first comparison signal associated with a resulting signal and a first output signal of the DAC; and generates a second comparison signal associated with the resulting signal and a second output signal of the DAC. The processing system also includes a control module and a determination module. The control module is coupled to the DAC and to the comparator's output and modifies a rising reference value and a falling reference value based on the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal, respectively. The determination module determines positional information for an input object in a sensing region of the input device based on the rising reference value and the falling reference value. | 11-27-2014 |
20140333368 | CHARGE DISTRIBUTION - A charge distributor comprises a charge generator configured to output a charge, a current conveyor, and a plurality of output stages. The current conveyor is configured to receive the charge from the charge generator as an input and to couple this charge to a plurality of output stages. A first output stage, of the plurality of output stages, comprises a plurality of current mirrors. The plurality of current mirrors is configured to mirror and scale the charge received from the current conveyor into a scaled mirrored charge. The first output stage is configured to provide the scaled mirrored charge as an output. | 11-13-2014 |
20140300332 | ADAPTIVE FREQUENCY COMPENSATION FOR HIGH SPEED LINEAR VOLTAGE REGULATOR - In a linear voltage regulator, a first stage outputs an output signal. The first stage is configured with a first switchable bias current, and is configured to receive a feedback signal. A second stage provides a regulated voltage output. A decoupling capacitor is coupled to the regulated voltage output. A feedback circuit is coupled with the second stage and configured to generate the feedback signal. A frequency compensation circuit includes a second switchable bias current. The frequency compensation circuit: pushes away an existing pole to a higher frequency when the first and second switchable bias currents are operated in a sleep mode; and creates a left-hand-side zero when the first and second switchable bias currents are operated in an active mode. The active mode comprises the first and second switchable bias currents supplying greater currents than are provided in the sleep mode. | 10-09-2014 |
20140278173 | BASELINE MANAGEMENT FOR SENSING DEVICE - A processing system for baseline management includes a sensor module comprising sensor circuitry coupled to sensor electrodes, where the sensor module is configured to receive resulting signals with at least a portion of the sensor electrodes. The processing system further includes a determination module operatively connected to the sensor electrodes. The determination module is configured to obtain a first profile from the resulting signals, calculate, using the first profile, a first statistic and a second statistic for the first profile, and select, according to a first range of the first statistic and a second range of the second statistic, a baseline relaxation technique from a plurality of baseline relaxation techniques to obtain a selected baseline relaxation technique. The determination module is further configured to adjust a baseline for the capacitance sensing input device according to the selected baseline relaxation technique. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267349 | BLACK IMAGE INSERTION FOR CAPACITIVE SENSING - Embodiments of the invention generally provide, when performing capacitive sensing, driving a modulated signal on transmitter electrodes located only within a black image of the display device. When updating a display screen based on a newly received display frame, an input device may first insert the black image on the display screen. Once the black image is displayed, the input device may use the electrodes within the area of the screen displaying the black image to track the input object using capacitive sensing (e.g., determine if the user is pressing a finger or stylus on the screen). In this manner, performing capacitive sensing affects only the pixels displaying the black image which is not perceived by the user. After performing capacitive sensing using the electrodes, the input device may replace the black image with display data from the new display frame. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267217 | REDUCING DISPLAY ARTIFACTS AFTER NON-DISPLAY UPDATE PERIODS - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for a display device having an integrated sensing device. The processing system includes a driver module coupled to a plurality of source lines and a plurality of transmitter electrodes. Each transmitter electrode includes one or more common electrodes configured for display updating and input sensing. The driver module is configured for selecting a first display line for display updating and driving the sources lines with first display update signals to update the first display line. The drive module is further configured for driving a first transmitter electrode of the plurality of transmitter electrodes for input sensing during a non-display update period and driving the source lines with restore signals during a restart period. The processing system further includes a receiver module coupled to a plurality of receiver electrodes and configured for receiving resulting signals with the receiver electrodes. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267143 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A TRANSCAPACITIVE PROXIMITY SENSING DEVICE - A processing system for a transcapacitive input device configured to detect input objects in a sensing region of the input device includes a transmitter module including transmitter circuitry, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module is configured to simultaneously transmit, using a plurality of transmitter electrodes, a plurality of transmitter signals according to a plurality of significantly non-orthogonal digital codes. At least two codes of the plurality of significantly non-orthogonal digital codes are significantly non-orthogonal. The receiver module is configured to receive, with a plurality of receiver electrodes, a plurality of resulting signals. Each resulting signal of the plurality of resulting signals comprises multiple effects corresponding to multiple transmitter signals of the plurality of transmitter signals. The determination module is configured to determine object information for input in the sensing region using the plurality of resulting signals. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267137 | PROXIMITY SENSING USING DRIVEN GROUND PLANE - A method and apparatus for operating an input device having an array of capacitive sensor electrodes disposed on a substrate with a ground plane, and a proximity sensor electrode are disclosed herein. The input device includes a processing system configured to operate in an input mode and a proximity mode. When operating in the input mode, the processing system drives the ground plane to a grounding voltage and scans the array of capacitive sensor electrodes to detect input from an object in an active region of the input device. When operating in the proximity mode, the processing system drives a sensing signal on the ground plane, and optionally, one or more sensor electrodes of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and receives a resulting signal from the proximity sensor electrode. The processing system generates an indication of an object presence in a second sensing region based on the resulting signal. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267134 | SHEAR FORCE DETECTION USING CAPACITIVE SENSORS - An input device having a sensing region overlapping an input surface includes a first substrate, a second substrate physically coupled to the first substrate, and a sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate and configured to detect input objects in the sensing region. A first force sensor includes a first electrode disposed on the first substrate and a first conductive portion of the second substrate capacitively coupled with the first electrode. The first conductive portion is configured to move relative to the first electrode such that a first variable capacitance of the first force sensor changes in response to force applied to the input surface in a first direction parallel to the touch surface. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267131 | PROXIMITY SENSING - A processing system for capacitance sensing includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module includes sensor circuitry coupled to sensor electrodes, the sensor module configured to generate sensing signals received with the sensor electrodes. The determination module is connected to the sensor electrodes and configured to obtain, for a predetermined timeframe, a profile from the sensing signals, obtain, for the predetermined timeframe, a noise statistic, and calculate, for the predetermined timeframe, a data signal statistic for the predetermined timeframe using the profile. The determination module is further configured to calculate a signal to noise ratio (SNR) by dividing the data signal statistic by the noise statistic. When the SNR satisfies a predetermined detection threshold, an input object is detected in a sensing region of the capacitance sensing input device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267128 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LOCALIZED FORCE AND PROXIMITY SENSING - Methods, systems and devices are described for operating an electronic system which includes a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a first layer and configured to detect input objects at an input surface of the input device, the first plurality of sensor electrodes including a first subset of transmitter electrodes; a second plurality of sensor electrodes configured to detect a force imparted to the input surface and configured for capacitive coupling with the first subset of transmitter electrodes; and a compressible dielectric configured to compress in response to force applied to the input surface. The capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes is configured to vary in response to the applied force. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267127 | SINGLE-LAYER CAPACITIVE SENSOR AND CAPACITIVE SENSING INPUT DEVICE - A single-layer capacitive sensor comprises a user input region and a border region proximate to and outside of the user input region. The user input region includes a plurality of transmitter electrodes that are disposed within the user input region. The user input region also comprises a plurality of receiver electrodes disposed in a common stackup layer with the plurality of transmitter electrodes within the user input region such that the transmitter electrodes and the receiver electrodes make no crossings of one another in the common stackup layer or in any other layer within the user input region. The border region comprises a plurality of routing traces extending from the border region into the user input region to couple with the transmitter electrodes and the receiver electrodes. The border region also comprises a plurality of transmission traces disposed entirely within the border region. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267080 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMAGE FILTERING IN SENSOR DEVICES - A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module, a filter module, and a determination module. The sensor module is configured to drive a plurality of transmitter electrodes with transmitter signals; receive, with a plurality of receiver electrodes, resulting signals comprising effects corresponding to the transmitter signals; and produce a first sensor image based on the resulting signals. The filter module is configured to produce a transformed sensor image by applying a spatial filter to the first sensor image. The determination module is configured to positional information and/or the validity of a baseline for the input device based on the transformed sensor image. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267061 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRE-TOUCH GESTURES IN SENSOR DEVICES - A processing system for an input device is configured to communicate with a host system and comprises a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module comprises sensor circuitry and is configured to transmit transmitter signals with a plurality of transmitter electrodes and receive resulting signals comprising effects corresponding to the transmitter signals. The determination module is configured to determine, based on the resulting signals and a touch threshold, first positional information associated with a pre-touch state of an input object and second positional information associated with a touch event by the input object. The determination module is further configured to communicate data associated with the first positional information to the host system only upon occurrence of the touch event. | 09-18-2014 |
20140238152 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LOCALIZED FORCE SENSING - A device and method for operating a capacitive input device configured to sense input objects and their applied force in a sensing region, the device including a pliable component having an input surface and characterized by a bending stiffness, and first and second arrays of sensor electrodes. The input device further includes a third array of sensor electrodes and a spacing layer disposed between the third array. The pliable component is characterized by a compressive stiffness and configured to deform in response to a force applied to the input surface and to deflect the second array of sensor electrodes towards the third array of sensor electrodes, wherein the deformation of the input surface and the deflection of the second array of sensor electrodes is a function of the ratio of the bending stiffness of the pliable component and the compressive stiffness of the spacing layer. | 08-28-2014 |
20140219523 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FINGERPRINTING SENSING - A biometric sensor apparatus and method are disclosed, which may comprise a flexible substrate comprising a first side surface and a second side surface opposing the first side surface; a biometric sensor portion comprising biometric image sensing elements formed on the second side surface forming at least part of a biometric sensor array sensing capacitively induced changes induced by a biometric in the vicinity of the biometric image sensing elements; a biometric sensor controller integrated circuit mounted to the flexible substrate on one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the flexible substrate; an edge surface of the flexible substrate including at least one conductively plated perforation in the flexible substrate; and an electro-static discharge element formed on or as part of the flexible substrate and electrically connected to the at least one conductively plated perforation. | 08-07-2014 |
20140210764 | INPUT DEVICE - An input device comprises a first and second pluralities of capacitive sensor electrodes. The first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes is oriented along a first axis, disposed in a first layer, and configured to update a display screen of the input device. The second plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes is oriented along a second axis that differs from the first axis. A display region of the display screen has a first dimension along the first axis and a second dimension the second axis. At least one sensor electrode of the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes extends fully across the first dimension of the display region. Individual sensor electrodes of the second plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes do not extend fully across the second dimension of the display region. | 07-31-2014 |
20140198960 | TIERED WAKEUP STRATEGY - A biometric authentication apparatus and method is disclosed which may comprise a biometric authentication unit which may comprise: a biometric object sensor comprising sensor elements and a sensor computing device; a wake-on-event logic controller maintaining the sensor computing device in one of a powered-off or powered down mode, and including a bulk biometric object detector configured to detect a biometric object on or in the vicinity of the sensor elements and to power-on or power-up the sensor computing device responsive to the detection of the biometric object on or in the vicinity of the sensor elements; the sensor computing device configured to analyze one or more lines of biometric object image comprising a partial biometric object image and determine if the partial biometric image belongs to a biometric object desired to be imaged to obtain a complete biometric object image, and to provide a power-on or power-up signal to a host electronic device computing device when the partial biometric image is determined to belong to a biometric object desired to be imaged. | 07-17-2014 |
20140198087 | METHOD AND CIRCUIT TO OPTIMIZE N-LINE LCD POWER CONSUMPTION - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device that includes one or more source drivers that are coupled to a display screen. Specifically, one of the source drivers may be coupled to a plurality of source lines (or column lines) on the display screen which the source driver uses to set voltages associated with one or more sub-pixels that determine the color displayed by the pixel. When driving voltages onto subsequent source lines, the input device may precharge the source driver using a latent voltage stored on the source lines. That is, if the source line was previously driven to a particular voltage by the source driver, the input device uses that latent voltage to precharge the output of the source driver to the same voltage. The source driver may then adjust its output to a desired voltage and drive the desired voltage onto the source line and sub-pixel. | 07-17-2014 |
20140195815 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FINGERPRINT TEMPLATE ENROLLMENT AND DISTRIBUTION PROCESS - A system and method may comprise providing a database comprising a user list and a user device list, the user list comprising a list of user biometric identifiers, each extracted from and unique to a respective template of a user biometric of a verified user, and the user device list comprising a list of user biometric identifiers each extracted from and unique to a respective template of a user biometric of a verified user device associated with the verified user; and determining one of (1) whether a user biometric identifier of a known user biometric received from an unverified user device matches a user biometric identifier on the user device list and (2) whether a user biometric identifier extracted from and unique to a new user biometric template received from a verified user device matches a user biometric identifier in the stored user list. | 07-10-2014 |
20140184552 | NEAR-FIELD AND FAR-FIELD CAPACITIVE SENSING - A capacitive input device processing system includes a transmitter module with transmitter circuitry configured to drive a plurality of transmitter electrodes with transmitter signals. A first receiver module is configured to receive near-field resulting signals from a plurality of near-field receiver electrodes. The near-field resulting signals comprise near-field effects corresponding to the transmitter signals and related to a first portion of a sensing region which is at or near a surface of a capacitive input device. A second receiver module is configured to receive far-field resulting signals from a plurality of far-field receiver electrodes. The far-field resulting signals comprise far-field effects corresponding to the transmitter signals and related to a second portion of the sensing region which extends further from the surface of the capacitive input device than the first portion of the sensing region. The processing system is configured to simultaneously receive the near-field and far-field resulting signals. | 07-03-2014 |
20140177929 | SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SECURING A USER DEVICE COMPONENT BY AUTHENTICATING THE USER OF A BIOMETRIC SENSOR BY PERFORMANCE OF A REPLICATION OF A PORTION OF AN AUTHENTICATION PROCESS PERFORMED AT A REMOTE COMPUTING LOCATION - A novel system, device and method of validation is provided for sensing a biometric such as a fingerprint, where biometric data corresponding to the biometric entity such as a fingerprint is then transmitted to a host configured to perform a plurality of authentication processes to authenticate the biometric data. At least one of the plurality of authentication steps is then validated. Alternatively, a portion of the biometric data may be retained, where biometric data corresponding to the biometric is then transmitted to a host configured to perform a plurality of authentication steps to authenticate the biometric data. At least one of the plurality of authentication steps is then validated | 06-26-2014 |
20140176480 | COMPENSATION FOR AIR GAP IN AN INPUT DEVICE - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for a display device integrated with a capacitive sensing device. The processing system includes a driver module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The driver module is coupled to a plurality of common electrodes configured to be driven for display updating and capacitive sensing. The receiver module is coupled to a plurality of receiver electrodes and configured for receiving resulting signals with the receiver electrodes. The determination module is configured for comparing a delta capacitive image to one or more saturation capacitance values and replacing the saturation capacitance values with one or more capacitance values from the delta capacitive image. The determination module is further configured for determining calibration values based on the saturation capacitance values. The calibration values calibrate for an air gap defined between a cover lens of a display device and the plurality of common electrodes. | 06-26-2014 |
20140176448 | DETECTING A GESTURE - A method for detecting a gesture includes detecting a first input object, a second input object, and a movement of the first input object, a movement of the second input object in a sensing region during a first time period. The method further includes detecting a third input object and movement for the third input object in the sensing region during a second time period, the second time period occurring after the first time period, and the third input object only detected after the first time period. The method further includes identifying a first gesture based on the movement of the first input object, the movement of the second input object, and the movement of the third input object, and outputting gesture information identifying the first gesture. | 06-26-2014 |
20140160056 | SENSOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING PROXIMITY EVENTS - Methods, systems and devices are described for determining positional information for objects using an input device. The various embodiments provide improved user interface functionality by facilitating user input with input objects that are at the surface and objects that are away from the surface. The input device includes a processing system and an array of sensor electrodes adapted to capacitively sense objects in a sensing region. The processing system is configured to determine first positional information for an input object in a first portion of the sensing region based on a difference between a first frame of the first plurality of frames and a filtered frame even when the input object is determined to be in the sensing region when the first plurality of frames are acquired, wherein the filtered frame is based on one or more of the first plurality of frames | 06-12-2014 |
20140159742 | INPUT DEVICE TRANSMITTER PATH ERROR DIAGNOSIS - A processing system configured for capacitive sensing comprises transmitter circuitry, a first internal diagnostic mechanism, and a determination module. The transmitter circuitry is coupled with a first transmitter path of a plurality of transmitter paths and configured to transmit a first transmitter signal with the first transmitter path, wherein each transmitter path of the plurality of transmitter paths is configured for capacitive sensing. The first internal diagnostic mechanism is coupled to a second transmitter path of the plurality of transmitter paths. The first internal diagnostic mechanism is configured to acquire a first resulting signal while the transmitter circuitry transmits the first transmitter signal with the first transmitter path, wherein the first internal diagnostic mechanism comprises a selectable leakage path coupled to the transmitter circuitry. The determination module is further configured to determine that the first transmitter path is ohmically coupled to the second transmitter path of the plurality of transmitter paths based upon the first resulting signal. | 06-12-2014 |
20140152324 | TRANSCAPACITIVE SENSOR DEVICES WITH SEAMS - A processing system for a transcapacitive sensing device comprises a plurality of sensor electrodes sectioned by a seam, a first sensor electrode integrated circuit, and a second sensor electrode integrated circuit. The plurality of sensor electrodes comprises a plurality of transmitter electrodes intersecting a plurality of receiver electrodes. The first sensor electrode integrated circuit is communicatively coupled to a first subset of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The second sensor electrode integrated circuit is communicatively coupled to a second subset of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The first sensor electrode integrated circuit and the second sensor electrode integrated circuit are configured to operate the plurality of sensor electrodes in synchrony to transmit with the plurality of transmitter electrodes a set of transmitter signals and receive with the plurality of receiver electrodes a set of responses corresponding to the set of transmitter signals. | 06-05-2014 |
20140132552 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FINITE ELEMENT IMAGING SENSOR DEVICES - A processing system includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module is configured to drive a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact of a first transmitter electrode, wherein the first contact is disposed between the second contact and the third contact. This produces a first voltage gradient between the first contact and the second contact, and produces a second voltage gradient between the first contact and the third contact. The receiver module receives, with a first receiver electrode, a first resulting signal including effects of the first voltage gradient, and to receive, with a second receiver electrode, a second resulting signal comprising effects of the second voltage gradient. The determination module determines positional information for an input object located within a sensing region based on the first resulting signal and the second resulting signal. | 05-15-2014 |
20140132287 | CAPACITIVE SENSOR DEVICE - A processing system for a capacitive sensor device comprises circuitry and logic; and the capacitive sensor device comprises a first plurality of sensor electrodes and a second plurality of sensor electrodes. The processing system is configured to acquire a first plurality of capacitive measurements by emitting and receiving first electrical signals with the first plurality of sensor electrodes of the capacitive sensor device. The processing system is also configured to select a first set of the first plurality of sensor electrodes based on the first plurality of capacitive measurements. The processing system is further configured to acquire a second plurality of capacitive measurements by emitting second electrical signals with the first set of the first plurality of sensor electrodes and receiving the second electrical signals with the second plurality of sensor electrodes. | 05-15-2014 |
20140125598 | USER INTERFACE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING MULTIPLE REGIONS - A user interface system includes a plane registration module configured to identify a first plane within an environment, and a gesture and posture recognition (GPR) module configured to observe a first allocation gesture, a second allocation gesture, a first modal gesture, a second modal gesture, and a third modal gesture within the environment. A region definition module is configured to determine a first region comprising a first portion of the first plane based on the first allocation gesture, and to determine a second region comprising a second portion of the first plane based on the second allocation gesture. A mode determination module is configured to determine different interaction modes for the various regions. A visual feedback module is configured to provide visual feedback associated with a parameter of the first region. | 05-08-2014 |
20140103943 | FINGERPRINT SENSOR AND BUTTON COMBINATIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME - It will be understood by those skilled in the art that there is disclosed in the present application a biometric sensor that may comprise a plurality of a first type of signal traces formed on a first surface of a first layer of a multi-layer laminate package; at least one trace of a second type, formed on a second surface of the first layer or on a first surface of a second layer of the multi-layer laminate package; and connection vias in at least the first layer electrically connecting the signal traces of the first type or the signal traces of the second type to respective circuitry of the respective first or second type contained in an integrated circuit physically and electrically connected to one of the first layer, the second layer or a third layer of the multilayer laminate package. | 04-17-2014 |
20140092051 | REDUCING ION-MIGRATION AND CORROSION IN ELECTRODES - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for an input device including a sensor module having sensor circuitry. The sensor module may be coupled to transmitter electrodes, receiver electrodes, and a shield electrode. The sensor module may be configured for transmitting transmitter signals with the transmitter electrodes, receiving resulting signals with the receiver electrodes, and transitioning the shield electrode from a first voltage to a second voltage during a non-sensing time period. The resulting signals may include effects which correspond to the transmitter signals. The input device may further include a determination module configured for determining positional information for an input object based at least in part on the resulting signals. | 04-03-2014 |
20140092031 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOW POWER INPUT OBJECT DETECTION AND INTERACTION - In a method of operating a touch screen, an object interaction is detected with the touch screen while in a first doze mode. It is determined if a detected object interaction with the touch screen is a valid input object interaction with the touch screen. In response to determining the object interaction is a valid input object interaction, the touch screen is transitioned from the first doze mode to a gesture recognition mode. The touch screen is transitioned from the gesture recognition mode to an active mode in response to a determination of a valid gesture interaction with the touch screen by the input object. | 04-03-2014 |
20140085249 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DECOUPLING IMAGE GENERATION RATE FROM REPORTING RATE IN CAPACITIVE SENSING - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device resistance to the effects of errors that may be caused by the motion of detected objects on such input devices, and in particular, to the effect of blurring and/or fragmenting. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of such errors by decoupling the image generating interval from the reporting interval. Specifically, the devices and methods enable the determination of the reporting rate independently of the period over which images of sensor values are generated. The devices and methods enable independent determination of the reporting rate by facilitating the setting of a second period, where images of sensor values are generated over a first period and the reporting interval is determined to include at least the sum of the first period and the second period. | 03-27-2014 |
20140078097 | CONCURRENT INPUT SENSING AND DISPLAY UPDATING - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for a display device integrated with a capacitive sensing device. The processing system includes a driver module having driver circuitry and coupled to a sub-pixel with a first source line and a first common electrode. The driver module is configured to simultaneously update the sub-pixel by driving the first source line with a first voltage, and drive the first common electrode for capacitive sensing by modulating the first common electrode between a second voltage and a third voltage. The processing system further includes a receiver module coupled to a plurality of receiver electrodes. The receiver module is configured to receive resulting signals from the receiver electrodes while the first common electrode is modulated between the second voltage and the third voltage. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to determine positional information based on the resulting signals. | 03-20-2014 |
20140070875 | ROUTING TRACE COMPENSATION - A capacitive input device includes first and second pluralities of sensor electrodes disposed in a first region of a substrate. The first and second pluralities of sensor electrodes are substantially orthogonal to one another. The first region is configured to overlap a display screen. At least one routing trace is disposed in a second region of the substrate and is ohmically coupled to a sensor electrode of one of the first and second pluralities of sensor electrodes and also to a processing system. The second region comprises a non-display screen overlapping portion of the substrate. A compensation trace is disposed in the second region and ohmically coupled to the processing system. The compensation trace has substantially the same length as and is substantially parallel and proximate to the at least one routing trace. The compensation trace is not ohmically coupled to any sensor electrode located in the first region. | 03-13-2014 |
20140062938 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING EFFECTS OF INTERFERENCE IN INPUT DEVICES - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effect of interference on input devices, and in particular, to the effect of unison noise on proximity sensors that use capacitive techniques to generate images of sensor values. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of interface by using images of sensor values and one or more profiles of sensor values. An image of sensor values is combined with one or more profiles of sensor values to produce a modified image of sensor values, the modified image having reduced errors due to noise. This reduction in errors due to noise can improve the accuracy and performance of the input device. | 03-06-2014 |
20140062937 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED INPUT SENSING USING A DISPLAY PROCESSOR REFERENCE SIGNAL - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus that is configured to reduce the effects of interference that is undesirably provided to a transmitter signal that is delivered from a transmitter signal generating device to a sensor processor to determine if an input object is disposed within a touch sensing region of a touch sensing device. In one embodiment, the sensor processor includes a receiver channel that has circuitry that is configured to separately receive a transmitter signal delivered from a display processor and a sensor processor reference signal that is based on a display processor reference signal to reliably sense the presence of an object. Embodiments of the invention described herein thus provide an improved apparatus and method for reliably sensing the presence of an object by a touch sensing device. | 03-06-2014 |
20140049509 | METHOD FOR DRIVING TOUCH SENSOR TO ACHIEVE FASTER SENSOR SETTLING - A method and system for driving capacitive pixels in a touch sensor device using a multi-level drive scheme. The drive scheme includes driving a transmitter electrode with a boosted voltage for a first period, and driving the transmitter electrode with a second voltage for a second period. The multi-level transmitter signal is determined based on different settling responses associated with the capacitive pixels of the touch sensor device. | 02-20-2014 |
20140049507 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFERENCE AVOIDANCE FOR A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING AN INTEGRATED SENSING DEVICE - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device with display screens that periodically update (refresh) the screen by selectively driving electrodes corresponding to pixels in a display line. In addition to updating the display, the input device may perform capacitive sensing using the display screen as a touch area. To do this, the input device uses common electrodes for both updating the display and performing capacitive sensing, and interleaves periods of capacitive sensing between periods of updating the display lines (and pixels) based on a display frame. To avoid noise and mitigate interference during capacitive sensing, the input device may change the capacitive frame rate relative to the display frame rate based on measurements of interference. The changed capacitive frame rate may result in re-timed periods of capacitive sensing based on each display frame. | 02-20-2014 |
20140035857 | OPERATING A TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL SYSTEM ACCORDING TO A PLURALITY OF RULE SETS - A touch screen control system comprising a memory and control circuitry is configured to communicate with a host processing system. The control circuitry comprises a blended image generator and a display screen updater, and operates a touch sensor for detecting user input in a sensing region of the touch sensor. The sensing region overlaps a display screen. In response to detection of user input in the sensing region, the blended image generator autonomously generates a blended image by blending primary image and secondary images held in the memory. The display screen updater autonomously updates the display screen with the blended image. The display screen is updated at a higher rate when updated autonomously by the display screen updater than when directed by the host processing system. The autonomous updating of the display screen by the display screen updater reduces processing of the host processing system. | 02-06-2014 |
20140034470 | TOUCHSURFACE ASSEMBLY WITH LEVEL AND PLANAR TRANSLATIONAL RESPONSIVENESS VIA A BUCKLING ELASTIC COMPONENT - Methods and apparatus for a touchsurface assembly such as a key assembly are described. The touchsurface assembly includes a keycap, a base and an elastic component coupled to the keycap and the base. The elastic component supports the keycap away from the base in an unpressed position, and directionally buckles during movement of the keycap toward a pressed position responsive to a press force. The press force moves the keycap in a press direction toward the pressed position, and the directionally buckling of the elastic component allows the keycap to move in a second direction orthogonal to the press direction. Upon release of the press force, the elastic component moves the keycap toward the unpressed position after release of the press force. | 02-06-2014 |
20140034469 | TOUCHSURFACE ASSEMBLY WITH DEFLECTABLE SPRING MECHANISM - A touchsurface assembly comprises a base, a pressable touchsurface, and a deflectable spring. The pressable touchsurface is configured to move between an unpressed position and a pressed position relative to the base. The deflectable spring comprises a fixed portion and a contact portion. The contact portion is configured to contact a spring guiding profile. As the touchsurface moves from the unpressed position to the pressed position, the contact portion physically interacts with different sections of the spring guiding profile. This interaction causes different deflections of the deflectable spring and produces reaction forces that resist keycap motion toward the pressed position and bias the keycap toward the unpressed position. | 02-06-2014 |
20140034468 | TOUCHSURFACE ASSEMBLIES WITH LINKAGES - A key assembly in accordance with embodiments of the invention comprises a base, a keycap, a biasing mechanism, a first linkage, and a second linkage. The keycap is spaced from the base along a press direction and configured to move between an unpressed position and a pressed position relative to the base. The unpressed and pressed positions are separated by a first amount in the press direction and a second amount in a lateral direction orthogonal to the press direction. The first amount is at least as much as the second amount and no larger than twice the second amount. The biasing mechanism is configured to bias the keycap away from the base. The first and second linkages are rotatably coupled to the base and the keycap. | 02-06-2014 |
20140021966 | CAPACITANCE MEASUREMENT - A differential amplifier has an output and differential first and second inputs. A switch disposed between a sensor electrode and the second input is opened to initiate a reset phase where the sensor electrode and the differential amplifier are decoupled. A feedback capacitance disposed between the second input and the output is reset to a first level of charge. The switch is closed to initiate a measurement phase where the second input and sensor electrode are coupled. In the measurement phase: charge is balanced between the sensor electrode and the feedback capacitance such that a sensor electrode voltage equals a voltage of the first input equals a voltage of the second input, and the sensor electrode is charged; and the differential amplifier is utilized to integrate charge on the sensor electrode, such that an absolute capacitance corresponding to a coupling between the sensor electrode and an input object is measured. | 01-23-2014 |
20140015751 | CAPACITIVE SENSING DEVICE - A device and method include an enclosure having a top layer with an external touch surface and an oppositely disposed back surface, a flexible substrate including a first portion affixed to the back surface, a second portion separate from the first portion, and an intermediate portion between the first second portions. An array of capacitive sensors is configured to sense objects proximate the external surface. A processor mounted to the second portion is configured to obtain signals from the sensors, determine object motion proximate the external surface using the signals, cause scrolling in response the object moving along a first axis, cause continued scrolling in response to the object lifting with a substantially non-zero speed along the first axis, and to not cause continued scrolling in response the object lifting with a substantially zero speed along the first axis. | 01-16-2014 |
20140015746 | SINGLE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CONFIGURED TO OPERATE BOTH A CAPACITIVE PROXIMITY SENSOR DEVICE AND A RESISTIVE POINTING STICK - A single integrated circuit for operating both a capacitive proximity sensor device and a resistive pointing stick comprises sensor circuitry to drive a first varying voltage signal onto a transmitter electrode of the capacitive proximity sensor device. The sensor circuitry is also configured to drive a second varying voltage signal onto a voltage divider of the pointing stick and a third varying voltage signal onto the voltage divider of the pointing stick. The sensor circuitry is configured to receive a first resulting signal from a receiver electrode of the proximity sensor device and receive a second resulting signal from the pointing stick. The single integrated circuit includes determining circuitry configured to determine positional information for input received in a sensing region of the proximity sensor device based on the first resulting signal; and to determine force information received as input to the pointing stick based on the second resulting signal. | 01-16-2014 |
20140002433 | VOLTAGE INTERPOLATING CIRCUIT | 01-02-2014 |
20140002410 | FULLY ADDRESSABLE TRANSMITTER ELECTRODE CONTROL | 01-02-2014 |
20140002340 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SWITCHING SENSING REGIMES FOR GLOVED AND UNGLOVED USER INPUT | 01-02-2014 |
20140002114 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING TYPES OF USER INPUT | 01-02-2014 |
20140002113 | FORCE ENHANCED INPUT DEVICE | 01-02-2014 |
20130346008 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING EFFECTS OF INTERFERENCE IN INPUT DEVICES - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effect of interference on input devices, and in particular, to the effect of unison noise on proximity sensors that use capacitive techniques to generate images of sensor values. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of interface by using multiple images of sensor values, where the multiple images of sensor values are captured at different times along two different axes. The multiple images of sensor values are combined to produce a modified image of sensor values, the modified image having reduced errors due to noise. This reduction in errors due to noise can improve the accuracy and performance of the input device. | 12-26-2013 |
20130335252 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SENSOR DEVICES HAVING A NON-COMMENSURATE NUMBER OF TRANSMITTER ELECTRODES - A processing system for an input device includes a transmitter modules coupled to a plurality of transmitter electrodes including a first set and a second set of transmitter electrodes, the first set and second set being disjoint and having different sizes. The transmitter module is configured to simultaneously transmit a first plurality of transmitter signals with the first set of transmitter electrodes during a first period, and to simultaneously transmit a second plurality of transmitter signals with the second set of transmitter electrodes during a second period, wherein the first period and the second period are non-overlapping. Each of the first plurality of transmitter signals is based on a different sequence of a code, which includes a set of mathematically independent sequences and has a size equal to the size of the first set of transmitter electrodes. | 12-19-2013 |
20130328821 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GRADIENT IMAGING SENSORS - A processing system for an input device includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module, which includes transmitter circuitry, is coupled to a plurality of transmitter electrodes and configured to drive a first end of a first transmitter electrode of the plurality of transmitter electrodes to produce a first voltage gradient across the first transmitter electrode. The receiver module is configured to receive a plurality of resulting signals with a plurality of receiver electrodes, the plurality of resulting signals each comprising effects of the first voltage gradient. The determination module is configured to determine a two-dimensional capacitive image based on the plurality of resulting signals, and determine positional information for a first input object located within a sensing region based on the capacitive image. | 12-12-2013 |
20130271161 | REDUCING BENDING EFFECTS IN TOUCH SENSOR DEVICES - A capacitive image sensor for detecting an input object includes a first substrate and a second substrate. A compressible region is defined between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate is deflectable towards the second substrate. A transmitter electrode, receiver electrode, and bending effect electrode are disposed on the first substrate. The bending effect electrode is disposed between the transmitter electrode and receiver electrode and is configured to reduce a change in resulting signals detected from the receiver electrode caused by deflection of the first substrate towards the second substrate. | 10-17-2013 |
20130271160 | REDUCING BENDING EFFECTS IN TOUCH SENSOR DEVICES - A capacitive image sensor for detecting an input object includes a first substrate and a second substrate. A compressible region is defined between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate is deflectable towards the second substrate. A transmitter electrode, receiver electrode, and bending effect electrode are disposed on the first substrate. The bending effect electrode is disposed between the transmitter electrode and receiver electrode and is configured to reduce a change in resulting signals detected from the receiver electrode caused by deflection of the first substrate towards the second substrate. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270095 | TWO LAYER CAPACITIVE SENSOR - The embodiments described herein provide improved sensor devices and methods that facilitate improved sensor devices. Specifically, the devices and methods provide capacitive image sensors that require only two layers of conductive elements formed on a single substrate. The ability to provide an image sensor using only a single substrate with two layers of conductive elements may substantially reduce the cost and complexity of the capacitive image sensor. In one embodiment, an input device is provided that comprises a first substrate having a first and second side. Each of the second array of second sensor electrodes comprises a plurality of isolated components disposed on the first side and a plurality of connectors disposed on the second side. The connectors and isolated components of the second sensor electrodes are arranged such that adjacent pairs of connectors along the first direction are separated by a distance substantially greater than the first pitch. | 10-17-2013 |
20130257792 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING USER INPUT USING POSITION INFORMATION AND FORCE SENSING - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of errors that may be caused by the motion of detected objects on such input devices, and in particular, to the effect of aliasing errors on input devices that use capacitive techniques to generate images of sensor values. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of aliasing errors by using force values indicative of force applied to the input surface. Specifically, the devices and methods use the force value to disambiguate determined position information for objects detected in the images of sensor values. This disambiguation of position information can lead to a reduction in the effects of aliasing errors and can thus improve the accuracy and usability of the input device. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257784 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING OBJECT INFORMATION USING SELECTIVELY FLOATED ELECTRODES - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved sensor devices. In one embodiment, a capacitive input device is provided that includes a processing system, a plurality of sensing electrodes configured to sense objects in a sensing region, a conductor, and a shield layer comprising at least one shield electrode, where the at least one shield electrode is disposed between the plurality of sensing electrodes and the conductor. The processing system is configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode. When operating in the first mode the processing system is configured to determine position information for objects in the sensing region using the plurality of sensing electrodes. When operating in a second mode the processing system is configured to electrically float the at least one shield electrode and to determine force information for objects in the sensing region using the plurality of sensing electrodes. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257769 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DYNAMICALLY MODULATING A USER INTERFACE PARAMETER USING AN INPUT DEVICE - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide an input device configured to determine positional and force information for input objects interacting with a sensing region. The system is configured to detect a variable force imparted to an input surface of the sensing region by at least one input object. The variable force dynamically modulates, within a modulation range, a user interface parameter. The dynamic modulation of the interface parameter is modified in response to an additional input object contacting the input surface | 10-03-2013 |
20130257745 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING TRANSMITTER POWER CONSUMPTION - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and system that is able to reduce the power consumption needed to drive sensor electrodes included within an input device. The power consumption of the input device is reduced by providing an intermediate electronic storage device that partially drives a sensor electrode before a driver module drives the sensor electrode the remaining amount to the second voltage potential. | 10-03-2013 |
20130253863 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENSING MULTIPLE INPUT OBJECTS WITH GRADIENT SENSOR DEVICES - A processing system for an input device includes a transmitter module including transmitter circuitry, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module is configured to drive the transmitter electrode with a first drive signal to produce a first voltage gradient across the transmitter electrode, wherein the first voltage gradient is non-linear. The receiver module is configured to receive a first resulting signal with a receiver electrode, the resulting signal comprising effects of the first voltage gradient. The determination module is configured to determine positional information for a plurality input objects located simultaneously within a sensing region along the transmitter electrode based on the first resulting signal. | 09-26-2013 |
20130249850 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING RESISTANCE IN AN INPUT DEVICE - A processing system for an input device includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module includes transmitter circuitry and is configured to apply a first differential drive signal across a transmitter electrode to produce a first voltage variation across the transmitter electrode. The receiver module is configured to receive a first resulting signal with a receiver electrode when the first voltage variation is produced across the transmitter electrode. The determination module is configured to determine at least one of a resistance of the transmitter electrode and a resistance of a conductive trace coupled to the transmitter electrode based on the first resulting signal. As a result, an error in the position of an input object can be corrected. | 09-26-2013 |
20130194229 | NOISE-ADAPTING TOUCH SENSING WINDOW - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device with display screens that periodically update (refresh) the screen by selectively driving electrodes corresponding to pixels in a display line, while also using the display screen as a touch area for capacitive sensing. To do this, the input device uses common electrodes for both updating the display and performing capacitive sensing, and interleaves periods of capacitive sensing between periods of updating the display lines (and pixels) based on a display frame. To avoid noise and mitigate interference during capacitive sensing, the input device may switch which windows of time in a display frame are used as capacitive sensing periods based on measurements of interference. | 08-01-2013 |
20130181943 | SINGLE LAYER CAPACITIVE IMAGING SENSORS - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device that includes a plurality of sensing elements that are interconnected in desired way to acquire positional information of an input object, so that the acquired positional information can be used by other system components to control a display or other useful system components. One or more of the embodiments described herein, utilizes one or more of the techniques and sensor electrode array configuration disclosed herein to reduce or minimize the number of traces and/or electrodes required to sense the position of an input object within a sensing region of the input device. | 07-18-2013 |
20130181942 | SINGLE LAYER CAPACITIVE IMAGING SENSORS - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device that includes a plurality of sensing elements that are interconnected in desired way to acquire positional information of an input object, so that the acquired positional information can be used by other system components to control a display or other useful system components. One or more of the embodiments described herein, utilizes one or more of the techniques and sensor electrode array configuration disclosed herein to reduce or minimize the number of traces and/or electrodes required to sense the position of an input object within a sensing region of the input device. | 07-18-2013 |
20130176276 | VIRTUAL GEOMETRIES FOR INTEGRATED DISPLAY AND SENSING DEVICES - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a processing system for a display device integrated with a capacitive sensing device. The processing system includes a driver module including driving circuitry. The driver module is coupled to a plurality of common electrodes configured to be driven for display updating and capacitive sensing. A first transmitter electrode includes a first set of common electrodes of the plurality of common electrodes. A second transmitter electrode includes a second set of common electrodes of the plurality of common electrodes. A first common electrode of the second transmitter electrode is interleaved between a first pair of common electrodes of the first transmitter electrode. The processing system further includes a receiver module coupled to a plurality of receiver electrodes and configured for receiving resulting signals with the receiver electrodes and a determination module configured for determining positional information based on the resulting signals. | 07-11-2013 |
20130173211 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING LOW GROUND MASS CONDITIONS IN SENSOR DEVICES - A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module and a determination module. The sensor module includes sensor circuitry and is configured to acquire a first plurality of measurements of change in capacitive coupling between each sensor electrode of a first set of sensor electrodes and a second set of sensor electrodes. The sensor module is further configured to acquire a second plurality of measurements of change in capacitive coupling between each sensor electrode of the second set of sensor electrodes and an input object. The determination module is configured to determine a first combined measurement based on the first plurality of measurements, determine a second combined measurement based on the second plurality of measurements, and determine positional information for the input object based on a low ground mass parameter. The low ground mass parameter is based on the first combined measurement and the second combined measurement. | 07-04-2013 |
20130169581 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MATHEMATICALLY INDEPENDENT SIGNALING IN GRADIENT SENSOR DEVICES - A processing system for an input device includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module is configured to simultaneously drive a first end of a transmitter electrode with a first drive signal and drive a second end of the transmitter electrode with a second drive signal to produce a voltage gradient across the transmitter electrode, wherein the first drive signal and the second drive signal are mathematically independent. The receiver module is configured to receive a resulting signal with a receiver electrode, the resulting signal comprising effects of the voltage gradient. The determination module is configured to determine positional information for an input object based on the resulting signal. | 07-04-2013 |
20130162585 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING USER INPUT USING SIMULTANEOUS TRANSMISSION FROM MULTIPLE ELECTRODES - The embodiments described herein provide improved sensor devices. In one embodiment, an input device comprises a processing system, transmitter sensor electrodes, and a receiver sensor electrode. The processing system is configured to simultaneously transmit a first transmitter signal with a first transmitter electrode and a second transmitter signal with a second transmitter electrode. In one embodiment the first transmitter signal corresponds to an upper sideband and the second transmitter signal corresponds to a lower sideband. In another embodiment the first transmitter signal is in quadrature with the second transmitter signal. The processing system is further configured to receive a resulting signal with a receiver electrode, the resulting signal comprising effects corresponding to both the first transmitter signal and the second transmitter signal. The determination module is configured to demodulate the resulting signal to produce a first output signal and a second output signal and to determine positional information. | 06-27-2013 |
20130155018 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EMULATING A TOUCH SCREEN USING FORCE INFORMATION - Methods, systems and devices are described for operating an electronic system to emulate a touch sensitive interface using a touchpad and a display screen which does not overlap the touchpad. The method includes determining positional information and force information for an input object in a sensing region of the touchpad; positioning an input object representation on the display screen based on the positional information; selecting a user selectable item on the display screen based on the force information satisfying a first force threshold; and activating the selected item based on the force information satisfying at least one of the first force threshold and a second force threshold. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155017 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A CLICKABLE INPUT DEVICE - An input device includes a capacitive sensing device including a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed on a substrate, the capacitive sensing device having an edge region, a support structure, and a separation device coupled to the support structure and the capacitive sensing device. The separation device is configured to allow non-uniform displacement of the capacitive sensing device and activation of a button in response to a force applied to the capacitive sensing device by a user. The separation device includes a first flexure mechanism coupled to a first portion of the edge region of the capacitive sensing device, and a second flexure mechanism coupled to a second portion of the edge region of the capacitive sensing device, the first portion being remote from the second portion. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154948 | FORCE SENSING INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING FORCE INFORMATION - The embodiments described herein provide devices, systems and methods that facilitate improved performance in an input device. The input device, for example, may include an input surface configured to rotate about a first axis, a proximity sensor configured to sense an input object in a sensing region proximate to the input surface of the input device, a force sensor configured to sense a force applied to the input surface of the input device, and a processing system communicatively coupled to the proximity sensor and the force sensor. The processing system may be configured to determine a position of the input object in the sensing region, and determine force information for the input object based upon the position of the input object, the force applied to the input surface, and a location of the force sensor relative to the first axis. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154938 | COMBINED TOUCHPAD AND KEYPAD USING FORCE INPUT - Methods, systems and devices are described for determining positional information and force information for input objects using an input device. The various embodiments provide improved user interface functionality by detecting positional information and force information at a sensing surface having a configurable sub-region, and operating the input device in either a touchpad mode or a keypad mode based on whether the force information exceeds a threshold value. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154933 | FORCE TOUCH MOUSE - Methods, systems and devices are described for operating an electronic device with a mouse, wherein the mouse includes a mouse movement sensor, a force sensor, and an input object position sensor. Operation of the mouse involves generating a first signal representing movement of the mouse relative to a working surface, generating a second signal representing force manually applied to the mouse, generating a third signal based on an input object in a sensing region of the mouse, and processing the first, second, and third signals to determine an interface action represented on a display of the electronic device. | 06-20-2013 |
20130127779 | FLEXIBLE TIMING AND MULTIPLEXING FOR A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING AN INTEGRATED CAPACITIVE SENSING DEVICE - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device that simultaneously transmits a multiplexed signal across two or more transmitter electrodes used in touch detection. The multiplexed includes two or more component signals that are transmitted on respective electrodes (or channels). The component signals are then decoded and correlated to indicate a positional location of an input object. Various multiplexing schemas—e.g., code division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, and the like—may be used to generate the multiplex signal and then demultiplex the received results. | 05-23-2013 |
20130113752 | SINGLE SUBSTRATE TOUCH SENSOR - The embodiments described herein are related to capacitive input device, including a substrate, a plurality of first sensor electrodes deposited on the substrate and arranged in a first direction, an insulating layer, a plurality of connecting elements deposited on the insulating layer, a plurality of second sensor electrodes. The plurality of second sensor electrodes includes a plurality of sensor electrode elements deposited on the substrate ohmically isolated from the plurality of first sensor electrodes. Each of the plurality of sensor electrode elements are connected to at least one other sensor electrode element arranged in a second direction by one of the plurality of connecting elements. The capacitive input device may further include a plurality of routing elements deposited on the insulating layer, wherein each of the plurality of routing elements coupled to one of the plurality of second sensor electrodes and is substantially disposed in the first direction. | 05-09-2013 |
20130099805 | DETERMINING ACTUATION OF MULTI-SENSOR-ELECTRODE CAPACITIVE BUTTONS - In a method for determining actuation of a first capacitive button having a first set of at least three sensor electrode elements associated with at least three distinct sensor electrodes, and wherein a sensor electrode element of the first set of sensor electrode elements and a sensor electrode element of a second set of at least three sensor electrode elements of a second capacitive button share at least one sensor electrode in common, indicia is received from the at least three distinct sensor electrodes comprising the first capacitive button. At least three electrode values are generated from the indicia. The at least three electrode values are utilized to determine actuation of the capacitive button. | 04-25-2013 |
20130099802 | INPUT DEVICE WITH FORCE SENSING - Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a first substrate with proximity sensor electrodes and at least a first force sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate. A second substrate is physically coupled to the first substrate, where the second substrate comprises a spring feature and an electrode component. The electrode component at least partially overlaps the first force sensor electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first force sensor electrode and the electrode component. The spring feature is configured to facilitate deflection of the electrode component relative to the first force sensor electrode to change the variable capacitance. A measure of the variable capacitance may be calculated and used to determine force information regarding the force biasing the input device. | 04-25-2013 |
20130093725 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING A POSITION-BASED ATTRIBUTE OF AN OBJECT USING DIGITAL CODES - Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a position-based attribute of a finger, stylus or other object with a touchpad or other sensor having a touch-sensitive region that includes a plurality of electrodes. Modulation signals for one or more electrodes are produced as a function of any number of distinct digital codes. The modulation signals are applied to an associated at least one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the object. The resultant signal is demodulated using the plurality of distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the object. The position-based attribute of the object is then determined with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects. | 04-18-2013 |
20130068602 | TOUCH PAD WITH FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATE - A touch sensor device is provided that uses a flexible circuit substrate to provide an improved input device. Specifically, the present invention uses a touch sensor controller affixed to the flexible circuit substrate, which is coupled to a sensor component to provide a flexible, reliable and cost effective touch sensor suitable for a wide variety of applications. In one embodiment the touch sensor uses a flexible circuit substrate that provides relatively high temperature resistance. This allows the touch sensor controller to be affixed using reliable techniques, such as various types of soldering. The sensor component can comprise a relatively low-temperature-resistant substrate that can provide a cost effective solution. Taken together, this embodiment of the touch sensor provides reliability and flexibility at relatively low cost. | 03-21-2013 |
20130068038 | INPUT DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED DEFORMABLE ELECTRODE STRUCTURE FOR FORCE SENSING - Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on a first substrate and a deformable electrode structure. The deformable electrode structure overlaps the first electrode and the second electrode to define a variable capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode that changes with the deformation of the deformable electrode structure. The deformable electrode structure comprises a spacing component configured to provide spacing between the deformable electrode structure and the first electrode and the second electrode. Finally, a transmission component is configured such that biasing the transmission component causes the deformable electrode structure to deform and change the variable capacitance. A measurement of the variable capacitance can be used to determine force information regarding the force biasing the transmission component. | 03-21-2013 |
20130057512 | DISTRIBUTED BLANKING FOR TOUCH OPTIMIZATION - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device with display screens that periodically update (refresh) the screen by selectively driving common electrodes corresponding to pixels in a display line. In general, the input devices drive each electrode until each display line (and each pixel) of a display frame is updated. In addition to updating the display, the input device may perform capacitive sensing using the display screen as a proximity sensing area. To do this, the input device may interleave periods of capacitive sensing between periods of updating the display based on a display frame. For example, the input device may update the first half of display lines of the display screen, pause display updating, perform capacitive sensing, and finish updating the rest of the display lines. Further still, the input device may use common electrodes for both updating the display and performing capacitive sensing. | 03-07-2013 |
20130050144 | INTERFERENCE SENSING WITHIN A DISPLAY DEVICE WITH AN INTEGRATED SENSING DEVICE - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a method and system for sensing interference in a display device having integrated input sensing. In various embodiments of the invention, input sensing performed on one or more rows of common electrodes may be operated for interference sensing, and, during the blanking period, some or all of the common electrodes may be operated for interference sensing. Interference measurements acquired during blanking periods may be used to increase the accuracy with which input sensing is performed, for example, by establishing one or more baseline interference values and/or determining that one or more common electrodes should be driven at a different frequency. In some embodiments, all of the common electrodes may be operated for interference sensing during a blanking period, while in other embodiments a portion of the common electrodes (e.g., one-third, one-half, etc.) may be operated for interference sensing during a blanking period. | 02-28-2013 |
20130030740 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VOLTAGE GRADIENT SENSOR DEVICES - A processing system for an input device includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module including transmitter circuitry, and is configured to drive a first end of a transmitter electrode such that the transmitter electrode exhibits a first voltage gradient extending from the first end of the transmitter electrode toward a second end of the transmitter electrode, wherein the first voltage gradient comprises a set of substantially discrete voltage values. The receiver module includes receiver circuitry, the receiver module configured to receive a first resulting signal with a first receiver electrode while the transmitter module is driving the first end of the transmitter electrode. The determination module is configured to compute a first measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on the first resulting signal, and determine positional information for an input object based on the first measurement. | 01-31-2013 |
20130016065 | TRACE SHIELDING FOR INPUT DEVICES - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide shield electrodes for shielding one or more conductive routing traces from one or more receiver electrodes in an input device comprising a display device integrated with a sensing device to reduce the capacitive coupling between the conductive routing traces and the receiver electrodes. The shield electrode may be configured to reduce the effect of an input object on the capacitive coupling between the conductive routing traces and the receiver electrodes. In other embodiments, end portions of common electrodes shield the receiver electrodes from the conductive routing traces, thereby reducing the capacitive coupling between the receiver electrodes and the conductive routing traces. | 01-17-2013 |
20130002149 | HIGH VOLTAGE DRIVER USING MEDIUM VOLTAGE DEVICES - A voltage drive circuit is constructed by stacking NMOS and PMOS transistors to provide high voltage levels with an output voltage swing greater than the breakdown voltage of the individual transistors used to build the voltage drive circuit. The voltage drive circuit may include a series stack of capacitors connected between gates of the stacked PMOS and NMOS transistors. The capacitive loading causes the gate signals to change more synchronously. Errors in timing for these gate signals, which would otherwise result in damage from exceeding the breakdown voltage across a pair of terminals of one of the NMOS and PMOS transistors, are mollified. | 01-03-2013 |
20120330590 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIGNALING IN GRADIENT SENSOR DEVICES - A processing system includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module is configured to transmit in accordance with a first excitation mode with a transmitter electrode during a first interval and a third interval of a sensing frame period, wherein, during the first excitation mode, a first voltage variation is generated in the transmitter electrode. The transmitter module is further configured to transmit in accordance with a second excitation mode with the transmitter electrode during a second interval of the sensing frame, wherein, during the second excitation mode, a second voltage variation different from the first voltage variation is generated in the transmitter electrode. The receiver module is configured to receive a first resulting signal with a receiver electrode during the first interval, receive a second resulting signal with the receiver electrode during the second interval, and receive a third resulting signal with the receiver electrode during the third interval. The determination module is configured to compute a first measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on the first resulting signal, compute a second measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on the second resulting signal, compute a third measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on the third resulting signal, and combine the first and third measurements. The determination module is further configured to determine positional information for an input object based on the second measurement and a combination of the first and third measurements | 12-27-2012 |
20120327025 | Touchpad with Capacitive Force Sensing - Described herein are techniques related to a touchpad with capacitive force sensing. The described techniques may determine the point or region of a user-engagement surface contacted by a user. In addition, the described techniques may also determine a force of the user's finger press on the user-engagement surface using one or more capacitance force-sensors. Furthermore, the described techniques may offer active tactile feedback (i.e., haptics) to the user's finger touching the user-engagement surface. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 12-27-2012 |
20120326986 | Keyboard Adaptive Haptic Response - Various embodiments provide a keyboard that adaptively provides haptic feedback to a user. In at least some embodiments, an actuation of a key or keyboard element of the keyboard is detected. This can be accomplished by detecting the closure of an associated switch caused by a user depressing the key or keyboard element. In response to detecting the actuation, an electrically-deformable material is utilized as an actuating mechanism to impart single or multi-vectored movement to the key or keyboard element according to drive parameters. This movement produces a perceived acceleration of the key or keyboard element, thus providing haptic feedback which simulates a “snapover” effect. | 12-27-2012 |
20120326910 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIGNALING IN SENSOR DEVICES - A processing system includes transmitter module, receiver module, and a demodulating module. The transmitter module comprises transmitter circuitry and is configured to simultaneously transmit a first transmitter signal with a first transmitter electrode and a second transmitter signal with a second transmitter electrode. The first transmitter signal includes a combination of a first heterodyne frequency and a carrier frequency. The second transmitter signal comprises a combination of a second heterodyne frequency and the carrier frequency. The receiver module comprise receiver circuitry and is configured to receive a first resulting signal with a receiver electrode, wherein the first resulting signal comprises first effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal and second effects corresponding to the second transmitter signal. The demodulating module is configured to demodulate the first resulting signal to produce a plurality of demodulation signals, wherein the demodulating module comprises a first mixer, a second mixer, a third mixer, a first filter, a second filter and a third filter. The first mixer includes a mixing frequency corresponding to the carrier frequency, the second mixer includes a mixing frequency corresponding to the first heterodyne frequency, and the third mixer includes a mixing frequency corresponding to the second heterodyne frequency. | 12-27-2012 |
20120319988 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENSOR DEVICE SIGNALING USING A POLARITY RESET INTERVAL - A capacitive sensing method includes transmitting a first transmitter signal with a first transmitter electrode such that the first transmitter signal includes a first plurality of sensing cycles. A resulting signal is received with a receiver electrode, wherein the resulting signal comprises effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal. The polarity of each sensing cycle of the first plurality of sensing cycles corresponds to a respective bit within a bit sequence of a first spreading code, and each sensing cycle of the first plurality of sensing cycles comprises a measurement interval and a polarity reset interval. | 12-20-2012 |
20120319987 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING AN INPUT DEVICE - The embodiments described herein provide devices, systems and methods that facilitate improved performance in an input device. The input device, for example, may include an input surface configured to be touched by input objects, a haptic mechanism configured to provide a haptic effect to the input surface, a force sensor configured to sense force applied to the input surface, and a processing system communicatively coupled to the haptic mechanism and the force sensor. The processing system may be configured to actuate the haptic mechanism to apply a first force to the input surface, determine a representation of the first force using the force sensor, and determine a calibration parameter for at least one of the haptic mechanism and force sensor based at least in part upon the representation of the first force. | 12-20-2012 |
20120319966 | TOUCH AND DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING AN INTEGRATED SENSOR CONTROLLER - Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device having a smaller overall physical size and a lower production cost, and is minimally affected by electrical interference versus conventional input devices. Embodiments discussed herein include an input device that has a sensor controller disposed in close proximity to a plurality of sensing elements that are used to sense and acquire positional information of an input object. In one embodiment, the sensor controller and at least portions of the sensor electrodes are disposed between two transparent substrates that are positioned near a display device. In some embodiments, the sensor controller is disposed in an edge region of a substrate which has a sensing region through which the adjacently positioned sensor electrodes are configured to sense the presence of an input object. | 12-20-2012 |
20120310572 | SENSING AND DEFINING AN INPUT OBJECT - An input device comprises a display, a plurality of sensor electrodes, and a processing system. The plurality of sensor electrodes is configured to detect an input object in a sensing region of the input device. The sensing region overlaps the display. The processing system is coupled with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The processing system is configured for: acquiring a capacitive image from the plurality of sensor electrodes; and correlating a part of the capacitive image with at least one input object template image to determine a type of an input object interacting with the input device. | 12-06-2012 |
20120299832 | Touchsurface with Level and Planar Translational Travel Responsiveness - Described herein are one or more techniques related to a touchsurface with level and planar translational travel responsiveness. One or more of the described implementations include an input device having a rigid body including a touchsurface configured to travel along a depression path in response to being depressed by a user. The input device also includes a leveling mechanism that operates in manner to keep the touchsurface substantially level as the touchsurface travels along the depression path in response to being depressed by the user. Furthermore, the input device has a planar-translation-effecting mechanism that defines a planar translation component of the depression path, such that the touchsurface exhibits planar translation as the touchsurface travels along the depression path. | 11-29-2012 |
20120293190 | CAPACITIVE SENSOR INTERFERENCE DETERMINATION - A processing system for a capacitive input device is described. The capacitive input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes configured to detect input objects in a sensing region. The processing system configured to transmit a signal on a transmitter sensor channel of the capacitive input device. The processing system is also configured to receive the signal on a receiver sensor channel of the capacitive input device, wherein the receiver sensor channel is coupled with an amplifier. The processing system is also configured to determine if a level of interference has been received by the receiver sensor channel in conjunction with receipt of the signal. | 11-22-2012 |
20120283972 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING USER INPUT USING DUAL BASELINE MODES - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved performance. In one embodiment, an input device comprises a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes and a processing system coupled to the electrodes and configured to operate the electrodes to sense in a sensing region. Specifically, the processing system is configured to determine information about input objects in the sensing region based on comparisons of preliminary values with corresponding baseline values. The processing system is further configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode. While operating in the first mode, the processing system selectively changes a baseline value of the plurality of baseline values by a first amount in response to that baseline value being below a corresponding preliminary value. This selective changing of baseline values occurs even when the processing system determines that an input object is in the sensing region. | 11-08-2012 |
20120274599 | INPUT DEVICE WITH FORCE SENSING AND HAPTIC RESPONSE - Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a first electrode disposed on a first substrate, a second electrode coupled to a first side of a piezoelectric material and a third electrode coupled to a second side of the piezoelectric material. The second electrode and the third electrode are configured to facilitate actuation of the piezoelectric material, while the first electrode and the second electrode define at least part of a variable capacitance that facilitates force determination. A spacing element is coupled to the first substrate and defines a spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode. A transmission element is coupled to the third electrode and configured such that a force biasing the transmission element causes the second electrode to deflect relative to the first electrode, thus changing the variable capacitance. | 11-01-2012 |
20120242606 | TRACE DESIGN FOR REDUCED VISIBILITY IN TOUCH SCREEN DEVICES - An input device having a plurality of low-visibility sensor electrodes and method for using the same are provided. In one embodiment, an input device includes a display device and a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed over the display device. The sensor electrodes are configured to sense objects in a sensing region of the input device. The sensor electrodes include a plurality of spaced apart conductive traces, each conductive trace having a diameter less than about 10 um. The conductive traces are disposed such that the conductive traces form a moiré pattern with the display device, wherein said moiré pattern comprises a spatial frequency greater than about 10 cycles per centimeter. | 09-27-2012 |
20120229419 | BASELINE MANAGEMENT FOR INPUT DEVICES - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and system that is able to minimize or remove the affect of substantially non-random electrical interference on an input device's ability to reliably and accurately sense the position of an object. In one embodiment, the input device is configured to systematically correct for a cyclic variation in the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by components within the electronic system, such as interference generated by the process of refreshing or updating an image on a display module that affects the capacitive sensing measurements acquired from a plurality of capacitive sensing elements. However, in some embodiments of the invention, the performance of an input device is improved by reducing the affect that external interference generated outside of the electronic system have on the position sensing data acquired by the input device. | 09-13-2012 |
20120229418 | BASELINE MANAGEMENT FOR INPUT DEVICES - Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and system that is able to minimize or remove the affect of substantially non-random electrical interference on an input device's ability to reliably and accurately sense the position of an object. In one embodiment, the input device is configured to systematically correct for a cyclic variation in the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by components within the electronic system, such as interference generated by the process of refreshing or updating an image on a display module that affects the capacitive sensing measurements acquired from a plurality of capacitive sensing elements. However, in some embodiments of the invention, the performance of an input device is improved by reducing the affect that external interference generated outside of the electronic system have on the position sensing data acquired by the input device. | 09-13-2012 |
20120229415 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING USER INPUT AND INTERFERENCE ON AN INPUT DEVICE - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved performance. In one embodiment, an input device comprises a processing system, a transmitter sensor electrode, and a receiver sensor electrode, where the transmitter sensor electrode and the receiver sensor electrode are capacitively coupled. The processing system is configured to receive a resulting signal from the receiver sensor electrode, where the resulting signal includes responses that correspond to the transmitter signal. The processing system is further configured to separately accumulate, for each cycle of the transmitter waveform, a first portion and a second portion of the resulting signal to respectively produce a first accumulation and a second accumulation, wherein the first accumulation is used for determining user input to the input device and the second accumulation is used for determining interference, and wherein the first portion and the second portion are non-coterminous. | 09-13-2012 |
20120182229 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INTERFERENCE AVOIDANCE IN AN INPUT DEVICE - Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved interference avoidance performance. The devices and methods determine a relative ranking for a plurality of transmitter signals based on a first class of interference for each transmitter signal of the plurality of transmitter signals. The devices and methods transmit a first transmitter signal of the plurality of transmitter signals with a sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The first transmitter signal is selected based on the relative ranking for the plurality of transmitter signals. The devices and methods shift from transmitting the first transmitter signal to transmitting a second transmitter signal of the plurality of transmitter signals with the sensor electrode is based on an amount of a second class of interference in the first transmitter signal. The second transmitter signal is selected based on the relative ranking for the plurality of transmitter signals. | 07-19-2012 |
20120162863 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A TOUCH SENSOR DEVICE - A touch sensor device assembly is mechanically coupled to an electronic system having a casing. The touch sensor device assembly includes a touch sensor device and a deformable material disposed on the touch sensor device. The deformable material has a non-adhesive surface that can be compressed against an interior surface of the casing by a holding element such that the touch sensor device is stationary with respect to the casing. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161791 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING INPUT OBJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROXIMITY EVENTS - A system determines whether proximity events at different positions are produced by the same input object or by different input objects. One or more hover states (or proximity events with “non-contact” signatures) occurring near the two positions are used in making this determination. The proximity events are found to be produced by different input objects, for example, when the hover state occurs at approximately the first position within a first duration after a first time, or at approximately the second position within a second duration before the second time. | 06-28-2012 |
20120146939 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING USER INPUT FROM OCCLUDED OBJECTS - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input devices. In one embodiment, an input device is configured to determine if a sensed object includes an occluded portion using an image representative of sensor values, determine a portion of the image corresponding to the sensed object, and approximate a boundary representation of the sensed object wherein if the sensed object does include the occluded portion, the boundary representation encompasses at least part of the occluded portion of the sensed object and at least part of a non-occluded portion of the sensed object. The determination of a boundary representation corresponding to a sensed object facilitates improved characterization of the sensed object. For example, the determined boundary representation may be used to more accurately track changes in the position of the sensed object as the sensed object moves out of the sensing region. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146938 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING USER INPUT USING POLYGONS - Devices and method are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the systems and methods are configured to identify a portion of an image of sensor values as corresponding to at least one sensed object in the sensing region, determine a polygon corresponding to the identified portion of the image, and determine a contact characterization of the at least one sensed object based on the polygon. The determination of a polygon corresponding to a sensed object facilitates improved contact characterization of the sensed object. For example, the determined polygon may be used to determine if the sensed object is actually more than one object. As a second example, the determined polygon may be used to determine the orientation of the sensed object. In addition, determined polygons may be used to more accurately track changes in the position of the sensed object. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146935 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING OBJECT INFORMATION USING AN ESTIMATED RIGID MOTION RESPONSE - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide the ability to determine object information for objects causing rigid motion on a capacitive sensor device. In one embodiment, the device and method is configured to determine an estimated rigid motion response associated with a substantially rigid motion of the at least one sensing electrode using a set of sensor values, where the substantially rigid motion was caused by one or more objects in contact with the input surface. The estimated rigid motion response at least partially accounts for effects of capacitive coupling with the object(s) in contact with the input surface. The device and method may determine object information using the estimated rigid motion response. Where the input device is used to direct an electronic system, the object information may be used to facilitate a variety of interface actions. | 06-14-2012 |
20120120017 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING OBJECT INFORMATION USING AN ESTIMATED DEFLECTION RESPONSE - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved performance. Specifically, the devices and methods provide the ability to determine object information for objects causing deflection of a surface of a capacitive sensor device. The devices and methods are configured to determine an estimated deflection response associated with a deflection of the at least one sensing electrode using a set of sensor values, where the deflection was caused by one or more objects in contact with the input surface. The estimated deflection response at least partially accounts for effects of capacitive coupling with the object(s) in contact with the input surface, Object information may then be generated using the estimated deflection response. Where the input device is used to direct an electronic system the object information may be used to facilitate a variety of interface actions on a variety of different electronic systems. | 05-17-2012 |
20120111119 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING AN INPUT OBJECT RELATIVE TO A SENSING REGION OF AN ULTRASOUND SENSOR DEVICE - A subsystem, system and method for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a subsystem for sensing an input object relative to a sensing region of an ultrasound sensor device includes a circuit, a switch coupled to an output of the circuit, and an integrating capacitor coupled to the output of the circuit. The circuit has an input for receiving a resulting signal comprising positive and negative polarities, the resulting signal having effects indicative of the input object relative to the sensing region. The integrating capacitor is also coupled to a substantially constant voltage source and to the switch. The circuit is operable to output a rectified signal to the first integrating capacitor indicative of the input object relative to a sensing region. | 05-10-2012 |
20120075249 | PROXIMITY SENSING FOR CAPACITIVE TOUCH SENSORS - A method and apparatus for operating an input device having an array of capacitive sensor electrodes and a proximity sensor electrode are disclosed herein. The input device includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and the proximity sensor electrode and configured to operate in an input mode and a proximity mode. When operating in the input mode, the processing system scans the array of capacitive sensor electrodes to detect input from an object in an active region of the input device. When operating in the proximity mode, the processing system drives a sensing signal on at least one sensor electrode of the array of capacitive sensor electrodes and receives a resulting signal from the proximity sensor electrode. Based on the resulting signal, the processing system generates an indication of an object presence in a second sensing region from the resulting signal. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075199 | INPUT DEVICE WITH TRANSMISSION ELEMENT ACTUATED SWITCH - An input device, and a method for providing an input device, are provided. The input device includes a touch sensor substrate having a first side and a second side. The second side is opposite the first side. At least one sensor electrode is disposed on the sensor substrate, and the at least one sensor electrode is configured to sense input objects in a sensing region on the first side. A switch is disposed on the second side of the touch sensor substrate. The input device also includes a transmission element having first and second portions. The transmission element is configured such that sufficient depression of the first portion causes the second portion to actuate the switch. | 03-29-2012 |
20120068968 | TOUCH PAD WITH FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATE - A touch sensor device is provided that uses a flexible circuit substrate to provide an improved input device. Specifically, the present invention uses a touch sensor controller affixed to the flexible circuit substrate, which is coupled to a sensor component to provide a flexible, reliable and cost effective touch sensor suitable for a wide variety of applications. In one embodiment the touch sensor uses a flexible circuit substrate that provides relatively high temperature resistance. This allows the touch sensor controller to be affixed using reliable techniques, such as various types of soldering. The sensor component can comprise a relatively low-temperature-resistant substrate that can provide a cost effective solution. Taken together, this embodiment of the touch sensor provides reliability and flexibility at relatively low cost. | 03-22-2012 |
20120068966 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SIGNALING AND INTERFERENCE DETECTION IN SENSOR DEVICES - An input device processing system comprises a sensor module that transmits a first transmitter signal with a transmitter electrode and receives a resulting signal with a receiver electrode. The first transmitter signal comprises a first transmitter frequency, and the resulting signal comprises effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal. A demodulation module demodulates the resulting signal to produce a first signal (e.g., an upper sideband signal) and a second signal (a lower sideband signal), selectably determines a first measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on at least one of the first and second signals, and determines positional information for an input object based on the first measurement. | 03-22-2012 |
20120068949 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SIGNALING AND INTERFERENCE DETECTION IN SENSOR DEVICES - An input device processing system comprises a sensor module that transmits a first transmitter signal with a transmitter electrode and receives a resulting signal with a receiver electrode. The first transmitter signal comprises a first transmitter frequency, and the resulting signal comprises effects corresponding to the first transmitter signal. A demodulation module demodulates the resulting signal to produce a first signal (e.g., an upper sideband signal) and a second signal (a lower sideband signal), selectably determines a first measurement of a change in capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode based on at least one of the first and second signals, and determines positional information for an input object based on the first measurement. | 03-22-2012 |
20120001855 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTINGUISHING INPUT OBJECTS - The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved sensor device usability. Specifically, the devices and methods provide the ability to determine more reliably that sensed object positions correspond to a single input object or multiple input objects. For example, the devices and methods may be used to determine if a first sensed object position and a second sensed object position correspond to a single input object. The determination of a single input object or multiple input objects may be used to facilitate the reliable activation of user interface actions, such as cursor control and the use of virtual button zones, and thus can improve sensor device usability. | 01-05-2012 |
20110278078 | INPUT DEVICE WITH FORCE SENSING - Devices and methods are provided that utilize a first electrode disposed on a first substrate and a second electrode disposed on a second substrate, where the first electrode and the second electrode define at least part of a variable capacitance. A third substrate is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, the third substrate having an opening arranged such that at least a portion of the first electrode and the second electrode overlap the opening. A transmission element is provided that partially overlaps the opening. The transmission element is physically coupled to the second electrode such that a force biasing the transmission element causes the second electrode to deflect relative to the first electrode, thus changing the variable capacitance. A measurement of the variable capacitance may then be used to determine force information. | 11-17-2011 |
20110277030 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTHENTICATION OF INPUT DEVICES - Systems and methods are provided for authenticating an input device subsystem for operation with a host. One method includes storing a table comprising challenges and a plurality of values indicative of authentic responses to the plurality of challenges. A selected challenge is then communicated between the input device subsystem and the host. A challenge response is derived based on the selected challenge and a hashing algorithm, and the challenge response is communicated between the input device subsystem and the host. The challenge response and one or more of the values is used to determine whether the challenge response is authentic. Functionality of the input device subsystem with the host is selectively enabled if the challenge response is authentic. | 11-10-2011 |
20110175671 | INPUT DEVICE WITH FLOATING ELECTRODES HAVING AT LEAST ONE APERTURE - Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a transmitter sensor electrode and a receiver sensor electrode that are capacitively coupled to form a transcapacitance for capacitively sensing input objects in a sensing region. A measure of the transcapacitance may be used to determine positional information for the input objects in the sensing region. In accordance with the various embodiments, the devices and methods include a floating electrode that is ohmically insulated from other electrical elements during operation. A first portion of the floating electrode overlaps a portion of the transmitter sensor electrode and a second portion of the floating electrode overlaps a portion of the receiver sensor electrode. The floating electrode additionally includes at least one aperture within the first portion of the floating electrode, where the at least one aperture at least in part overlaps the transmitter sensor electrode. | 07-21-2011 |
20110154268 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING IN POINTING AND ENHANCED GESTURING MODES - Methods and apparatuses for implementing gesture command recognition functionality is disclosed. The apparatuses may operate in a pointing mode and operate in an enhanced gesturing mode. While in the enhanced gesturing mode, the apparatuses may cause associated actions in response to recognizing sliding inputs as gesture commands. The gesture commands may be selectively associated with actions based on localities. The apparatuses may present overlays with information content independent of gesture command recognition. The apparatuses may change appearances of visual representations of sliding inputs in response to recognizing the sliding inputs as gesture commands. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148786 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING OPERATING MODES - An input device comprising a sensing element (and perhaps other sensing elements) and a processing system coupled to the sensing element is disclosed. The processing system is configured to operate in a first mode, to change from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode in response to recognizing a characteristic object motion in the sensing, and to operate in the second mode. The first mode may be a pointing mode and the second mode may be an enhanced gesturing mode. The processing system recognizes a first type of sliding input in the sensing region as a pointing command while in the pointing mode, and recognizes the first type of sliding input in the sensing region as one of the plurality of gesture commands (associated with a plurality of different gesture actions) while in the enhanced gesturing mode. Methods and program products are also disclosed. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148438 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A NUMBER OF OBJECTS IN A CAPACITIVE SENSING REGION USING A SHAPE FACTOR - An input device and method are provided that facilitate improved usability. The input device comprises an array of capacitive sensing electrodes and a processing system. The processing system is configured to receive sensing signals from the capacitive sensing electrodes and generate a plurality of sensing values. The processing system is further configured to calculate a sensing profile from the sensing values, calculate a profile span from the sensing values, and determine a shape factor from the sensing profile and the profile span. Finally, the processing system is configured to determine a number of objects in the sensing region from the determined shape factor. Thus, the sensor device facilitates the determination of the number of objects in the sensing region. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148436 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A NUMBER OF OBJECTS IN A CAPACITIVE SENSING REGION USING SIGNAL GROUPING - An input device and method are provided that facilitate improved usability. The input device comprises an array of capacitive sensing electrodes and a processing system. The processing system is configured to receive sensing signals from the capacitive sensing electrodes and generate a plurality of sensing values, each of the plurality of sensing values corresponding to a sensing electrode in the first array of capacitive sensing electrodes. The processing system is further configured to produce a plurality of positional values corresponding to a plurality of groups of electrodes in the first array of capacitive sensing electrodes; analyze the plurality of positional values to determine if one or more clusters exist in the plurality of positional values; and determine a number of objects in the sensing region from the determined one or more clusters in the plurality of positional values. | 06-23-2011 |
20110141053 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING INDIVIDUAL FORCE IN MULTI-OBJECT SENSING - An input device is provided that facilitates improved user interface functionality by determining force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region. The input device includes a processing system, a sensor configured to sense objects in a sensing region proximate a surface, and a plurality of force sensors. The plurality of force sensors are coupled to the surface to provide a plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. The processing system is configured to determine positional information for each the multiple objects sensed by the sensor in the sensing region. Furthermore, the processing system is configured to determine force information for each of the multiple objects from the positional information and the plurality of measures of force applied to the surface. Thus, device and method provides the ability to determine both positional information and force information for each of multiple objects in a sensing region. | 06-16-2011 |
20110074732 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING A POSITION-BASED ATTRIBUTE OF AN OBJECT USING DIGITAL CODES - Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a position-based attribute of a finger, stylus or other object with a touchpad or other sensor having a touch-sensitive region that includes a plurality of electrodes. Modulation signals for one or more electrodes are produced as a function of any number of distinct digital codes. The modulation signals are applied to an associated at least one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the object. The resultant signal is demodulated using the plurality of distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the object. The position-based attribute of the object is then determined with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074723 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING A POSITION-BASED ATTRIBUTE OF AN OBJECT USING DIGITAL CODES - Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a position-based attribute of a finger, stylus or other object with a touchpad or other sensor having a touch-sensitive region that includes a plurality of electrodes. Modulation signals for one or more electrodes are produced as a function of any number of distinct digital codes. The modulation signals are applied to an associated at least one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the object. The resultant signal is demodulated using the plurality of distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the object. The position-based attribute of the object is then determined with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects. | 03-31-2011 |
20110001704 | CAPACITIVE MOUSE - A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse. | 01-06-2011 |
20110001703 | CAPACITIVE MOUSE - A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse. | 01-06-2011 |
20110001494 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SIGMA DELTA CAPACITANCE MEASURING USING SHARED COMPONENTS - Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a measurable capacitance using sigma-delta charge transfer techniques that can be implemented with many standard microcontrollers, and can share components to reduce device complexity and improve performance. In the various implementations of this embodiment, the passive network used to accumulate charge can be shared between multiple measurable capacitances. A switch or IO controlling the charge sharing and/or charge changing can also be shared Likewise, in various implementations a voltage conditioning circuit configured to provide a variable reference voltage can be shared between multiple measurable capacitances. Finally, in various implementations a guarding electrode configured to guard the measurable capacitances can be shared between multiple measurable capacitances. In each of these cases, sharing components can reduce device complexity and improve performance. | 01-06-2011 |
20100321034 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING INTERFERNCE IN A SENSOR DEVICE USING PHASE SHIFTING - A capacitive sensor device and method is configured to respond a stimulus provided in a sensing region with an output signal. A signal generator is configured to apply a carrier signal to the capacitive sensor device. The carrier signal is switched between a plurality of phases at a switching rate, where the switching rate is less than a demodulation filter bandwidth. The result of the carrier phase shifting is that effects of interference in the output signal are frequency shifted away from the effects of user applied stimulus. An interference detection filter is configured to filter from the sensor outputs at least one effect produced by the stimulus. An interference measuring device is configured to determine a level of interference in the at least one interference output. Thus, the system can detect interference in the output of the capacitive sensor device. | 12-23-2010 |
20100308847 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GUARDING A CHARGE TRANSFER CAPACITANCE SENSOR FOR PROXIMITY DETECTION - Methods, systems and devices are described for determining a measurable capacitance for proximity detection in a sensor having a plurality of sensing electrodes and at least one guarding electrode. A charge transfer process is executed for at least two executions. The charge transfer process includes applying a pre-determined voltage to at least one of the plurality of sensing electrodes using a first switch, applying a first guard voltage to the at least one guarding electrode using a second switch, sharing charge between the at least one of the plurality of sensing electrodes and a filter capacitance, and applying a second guard voltage different from the first guard voltage to the at least one guarding electrode. A voltage is measured on the filter capacitance for a number of measurements equal to at least one to produce at least one result to determine the measurable capacitance for proximity detection. | 12-09-2010 |
20100308844 | INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD WITH PRESSURE-SENSITIVE LAYER - Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the devices and methods facilitate input using a pressure-sensitive layer whose electrical admittivity changes in response to pressure applied to a touch surface. An input device is provided that comprises a plurality of sensor electrodes including a set of primary sensor electrodes and a set of secondary sensor electrodes. Each primary sensor electrode is electrically coupled to at least one secondary sensor electrode to form a set of electrical admittances. In one embodiment, the pressure-sensitive layer is located between the sensor electrodes and the touch surface, such that changes in the admittivity of the pressure-sensitive layer in response to pressure on the touch surface cause corresponding changes in the admittances between the primary and secondary sensor electrodes. | 12-09-2010 |
20100302153 | DEPRESSABLE TOUCH SENSOR - An input device and a method for providing an input device are provided. The input device assembly includes a base, a sensor support, and a scissor mechanism attached to the base and the sensor support. The scissor mechanism allows for only substantially uniform translation of the sensor support towards the base in response to a force biasing the sensor support substantially towards the base. | 12-02-2010 |
20100300772 | DEPRESSABLE TOUCH SENSOR - An input device and a method for providing an input device are provided. The input device assembly includes a base, a sensor support, and a guide mechanism attached to the base and the sensor support. The guide mechanism allows for only substantially uniform translation of the sensor support towards the base in response to a force biasing the sensor support substantially towards the base. | 12-02-2010 |
20100289503 | EXTENDED PROXIMITY SENSOR DEVICE WITH ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PROTECTION - An input device is provided with improved electrostatic discharge protection. Specifically, the input device includes a plurality of capacitive sensing electrodes configured for object detection. An electrostatic discharge (ESD) shunt is disposed near the capacitive sensing electrodes and configured to provide ESD protection to the capacitive sensing electrodes. The input device also includes an extended-proximity capacitive sensing electrode configured to for object detection of relatively distant objects. The ESD shunt has an associated first resistance, and the extended-proximity capacitive sensing electrode has an associated second resistance. The second resistance is greater than the first resistance such that an electrostatic discharge at a first exposed location would be attracted to the ESD shunt via a first potential discharge path instead of being attracted to the extended-proximity capacitive sensing electrode via a second potential discharge path, where the first discharge path is longer than the second discharge path. | 11-18-2010 |
20100275163 | TOUCH SCREEN WITH USER INTERFACE ENHANCEMENT - The present invention is a graphical user interface in a computing device having a processor running an operating system and a display. The graphical user interface comprises a touch screen and a driver coupling the touch screen to the operating system. The driver can display a plurality of icons on the touch screen, or a plurality of screen images having at least one icon, with each of the icons associated with operations on the display and/or the touch screen. Other embodiments include the touch screen having unactivated and activated states, as well as the presence of an application programming interface that enables an application to display at least one image on the touch screen. | 10-28-2010 |
20100275033 | TOUCH SCREEN WITH USER INTERFACE ENHANCEMENT - The present invention is a graphical user interface in a computing device having a processor running an operating system and a display. The graphical user interface comprises a touch screen and a driver coupling the touch screen to the operating system. The driver can display a plurality of icons on the touch screen, or a plurality of screen images having at least one icon, with each of the icons associated with operations on the display and/or the touch screen. Other embodiments include the touch screen having unactivated and activated states, as well as the presence of an application programming interface that enables an application to display at least one image on the touch screen. | 10-28-2010 |
20100253651 | INPUT DEVICE WITH DEFLECTABLE ELECTRODE - Devices and methods are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. The devices and methods utilize a set of sensor electrodes comprising at least one transmitter sensor electrode and at least one receiver sensor electrode that are capacitively coupled to form a transcapacitance for capacitively sensing input objects in a sensing region. A measure of the transcapacitance may be used to determine positional information for the input objects in the sensing region. In accordance with the various embodiments, the devices and methods additionally utilize at least one deflectable electrode, where the deflectable electrode is electrically floating. The deflectable electrode is configured to be deflectable toward the set of sensor electrodes, where the deflection causes a change in the transcapacitance. | 10-07-2010 |