Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090128374 | DETERMINING ACTUATION OF MULTI-SENSOR-ELECTRODE CAPACITIVE BUTTONS - Methods for determining actuation of a capacitive button are described. In some embodiments, indicia from the at least three distinct sensor electrodes associated with at least three sensor electrode elements comprising the capacitive button are received, the indicia indicative of interaction of an input object with the at least three distinct sensor electrodes. The actuation of the capacitive button is then determined, based at least in part on satisfying a set of criteria comprising: a location condition concerning a location of the input object relative to a center of the capacitive button, and a coupling condition concerning a change in capacitive coupling of the at least three distinct sensor electrodes associated with the at least three sensor electrode elements comprising the capacitive button. | 05-21-2009 |
20100238134 | CAPACITIVE SENSING USING A SEGMENTED COMMON VOLTAGE ELECTRODE OF A DISPLAY - An integrated display and touch sensor device comprises a plurality of display pixels and a processing system communicatively coupled with a plurality of common voltage electrode segments and with a plurality of receiver sensor electrodes. The plurality of display pixels is configured for displaying information on the display. The processing system is configured for driving a voltage transition onto a common voltage electrode segment of the plurality of common voltage electrode segments. The voltage transition provides a common voltage for refreshing at least one display pixel of the plurality of display pixels, and generates a first electrical signal on at least one receiver sensor electrode of the plurality of receiver sensor electrodes. The processing system is also configured for acquiring a first measurement of a capacitive coupling between the driven common voltage electrode segment and the at least one receiver sensor electrode by measuring the first electrical signal. | 09-23-2010 |
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 |
20100292945 | CAPACITIVE SENSOR DEVICE - A capacitive sensor device comprises a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode, and a processing system coupled to the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode. The processing system is configured to acquire a first capacitive measurement by emitting and receiving a first electrical signal with the first sensor electrode. The processing system is configured to acquire a second capacitive measurement by emitting and receiving a second electrical signal, wherein one of the first and second sensor electrodes performs the emitting and the other of the first and second sensor electrodes performs the receiving, and wherein the first and second capacitive measurements are non-degenerate. The processing system is configured to determine positional information using the first and second capacitive measurements. | 11-18-2010 |
20100315384 | UNTETHERED ACTIVE PEN AND A METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A CAPACITIVE SENSING DEVICE USING THE UNTETHERED ACTIVE PEN - A method for communicating with a capacitive sensing device using an untethered active pen. The method includes capacitively receiving a capacitive sensing signal at a capacitive receiving unit of the untethered active pen. The capacitive sensing signal is output from the capacitive sensing device. In addition, the method includes determining a first frequency and a first phase associated with the capacitive sensing signal. Moreover, the method includes transmitting at a second frequency and a second phase an amplified active pen signal at the capacitive sensing device from the untethered active pen. The amplified active pen signal has a second frequency and a second phase that correspond to the first frequency and the first phase. | 12-16-2010 |
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 |
20110148435 | TRANSCAPACITIVE SENSOR DEVICES WITH OHMIC SEAMS - A transcapacitive sensing device has and ohmic seam which sections a plurality of transmitter electrodes and also sections a plurality of receiver electrodes. A processing system is communicatively coupled with the transmitter electrodes and the receiver electrodes and configured to: transmit a first transmitter signal with a first transmitter electrode disposed on a first side of the ohmic seam; transmit a second transmitter signal with a second transmitter electrode disposed on a second side of the ohmic seam; receive a first response corresponding to said first transmitter signal with a first receiver electrode disposed on the first side of the ohmic seam; and receive a second response corresponding to said second transmitter signal with a second receiver electrode disposed on the second side of the ohmic seam. | 06-23-2011 |
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 |
20110267305 | INTEGRATED CAPACITIVE SENSING AND DISPLAYING - A display device having an integrated capacitive proximity sensor comprises a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed as part of a display element of the display device. The plurality of sensor electrodes is configured for performing both sensor and display functions of the display device. The display device also comprises a sensor drive mechanism coupled with the plurality of sensor electrodes and configured for driving a first electrical signal on a first at least one sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. The sensor drive mechanism comprises at least one memory element that is configured for selecting drive excitation information for the first at least one sensor electrode. The display device also comprises a display drive mechanism coupled with the plurality of sensor electrodes and configured for driving a second electrical signal on a second least one sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes. | 11-03-2011 |
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 |
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 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090002339 | 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. | 01-01-2009 |
20090039902 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING A CAPACITANCE USING SIGMA-DELTA MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES - Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a measurable capacitance using sigma-delta measurement techniques. According to various embodiments, a voltage is applied to the measurable capacitance using a first switch. The measurable capacitance is allowed to share charge with a passive network. If the charge on the passive network is past a threshold value, then the charge on the passive network is changed by a known amount for a sufficient number of repetitions until the measurable capacitance can be detected. Such a detection scheme may be readily implemented using conventional components, and can be particularly useful in sensing the position of a finger, stylus or other object with respect to a button, slider, touchpad or other input sensor. | 02-12-2009 |
20090174416 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING A CAPACITANCE USING SWITCHED CHARGE TRANSFER TECHNIQUES - Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a measurable capacitance using charge transfer techniques. According to various embodiments, a charge transfer process is performed for two or more times. During the charge transfer process, a pre-determined voltage is applied to the measurable capacitance, and the measurable capacitance is then allowed to share charge with a filter capacitance through a passive impedance that remains coupled to both the measurable capacitance and to the filter capacitance throughout the charge transfer process. The value of the measurable capacitance can then be determined as a function of a representation of a charge on the filter capacitance and the number of times that the charge transfer process was performed. Such a detection scheme may be readily implemented using conventional components, and can be particularly useful in sensing the position of a finger, stylus or other object with respect to an input sensor. | 07-09-2009 |
20090206852 | 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. | 08-20-2009 |
20100148806 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING A CAPACITANCE USING SIGMA-DELTA MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES - Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a measurable capacitance using sigma-delta measurement techniques. According to various embodiments, a voltage is applied to the measurable capacitance using a first switch. The measurable capacitance is allowed to share charge with a passive network. If the charge on the passive network is past a threshold value, then the charge on the passive network is changed by a known amount for a sufficient number of repetitions until the measurable capacitance can be detected. Such a detection scheme may be readily implemented using conventional components, and can be particularly useful in sensing the position of a finger, stylus or other object with respect to a button, slider, touchpad or other input sensor. | 06-17-2010 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110210939 | VARYING DEMODULATION TO AVOID INTERFERENCE - In a method of interference avoidance for a capacitive sensor device, a transmitter signal is transmitted with a transmitter electrode of the capacitive sensor device. A resulting signal is received with a receiver electrode of the capacitive sensor device. The resulting signal corresponds to the transmitter signal. A first demodulated output is acquired by demodulating the resulting signal in a first way. A second demodulated output is acquired by demodulating the resulting signal in a second way, where the second way and the first way differ. A shift is made from using the first demodulated output for determining positional information to using the second demodulated output for determining positional information. The shift is based at least in part upon an amount of interference. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210940 | SHIFTING CARRIER FREQUENCY TO AVOID INTERFERENCE - In a method of avoiding interference in an integrated capacitive sensor device and display device, a first transmitter signal having a first frequency is transmitted with a combination electrode of the integrated capacitive sensor device and display device. The combination electrode is configured for both capacitive sensing and display updating. A shift is made from transmitting the first transmitter signal with the combination electrode to transmitting a second transmitter signal with the combination electrode. The shift is made by changing a duration of at least one non-display update time period of the display device. The second transmitter signal has a second frequency, and the shifting occurs based at least in part upon an amount of interference. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210941 | SENSING DURING NON-DISPLAY UPDATE TIME TO AVOID INTERFERENCE - In a method of capacitive sensing using an integrated capacitive sensor device and display device, a transmitter signal is transmitted with a combination electrode of the integrated capacitive sensor device and display device. The combination electrode is configured for both capacitive sensing and display updating. The transmitter signal transitions at least twice during a non-display update time period associated with row update of the display device. A display of the display device is updated during an update time period. A resulting signal is received with a receiver electrode of the integrated capacitive sensor device and display device during the non-display update time period. The resulting signal corresponds to the transmitter signal. | 09-01-2011 |
20120207244 | INPUT DEVICE RECEIVER PATH AND TRANSMITTER PATH ERROR DIAGNOSIS - An input device comprises a processing system coupled with a plurality of receiver paths. The processing system comprises a first capacitor and a bypass switch. The first capacitor is configured to be selectively coupled with the plurality of receiver paths. The bypass switch is configured for bypassing the first capacitor. The processing system is configured to selectively couple a first receiver path of the plurality of receiver paths with the first capacitor; acquire a measurement of a first resulting signal from at least one of the first receiver path or a second receiver path of the plurality of receiver paths while the first receiver path is coupled with the first capacitor and while the bypass switch is not bypassing the first capacitor; and determine whether the first receiver path is ohmically coupled with the second receiver path based on the measurement of the first resulting signal. | 08-16-2012 |
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 |
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 |
20120249476 | CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN INTERFERENCE DETECTION AND OPERATION - A processing system for a capacitive touch screen comprises sensor circuitry and control logic. The sensor circuitry is configured to communicatively couple with sensor electrodes of the capacitive touch screen. The control logic is configured to operate the capacitive touch screen in a first mode comprising interference sensing at a first level and input object sensing. The control logic is also configured to operate the capacitive touch screen in a second mode instead of the first mode in response to: interference measured in the first mode meeting an interference condition; and a determination that input is in a sensing region of the capacitive touch screen. Operating in the first mode, interference sensing is performed during a non-display update time. Operating in the second mode, interference sensing with the capacitive touch screen is either not performed or is performed at a second level, lower in fidelity than the first level. | 10-04-2012 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20140002113 | FORCE ENHANCED INPUT DEVICE | 01-02-2014 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20140190811 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CAPACITIVELY DETECTING KEY MOTION AND FINGER PRESENCE ON A MAGNETIC KEYBOARD KEY - Devices and methods for capacitively sensing key cap position during the initial and latter stages of a keystroke. A key assembly includes a stationary key guide magnet, a movable key cap magnet, and a transmitter/receiver electrode pair. One or both of the electrodes underlies the key cap. The capacitance change between the electrodes during a keystroke includes the capacitance change between the key cap and the electrode pair, and the change in capacitance between the key cap and the key guide. Key cap position may thus be accurately detected throughout the entire keystroke. | 07-10-2014 |
20140375908 | 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. | 12-25-2014 |
20150015539 | HYBRID CAPACITIVE BASELINE MANAGEMENT - In a method of managing baselines of a capacitive sensing input device, a transcapacitive baseline, a first absolute capacitive baseline, and a second absolute capacitive baseline are acquired with a plurality of sensor electrodes of the capacitive sensing input device. A transcapacitive image, a first absolute capacitive profile, and a second absolute capacitive profile are acquired with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The transcapacitive baseline, the first absolute capacitive baseline, and the second absolute capacitive baseline are managed based on a value of at least one of the first absolute capacitive profile and the second absolute capacitive profile. | 01-15-2015 |
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 |
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 |
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 |