IP Library Granted Patent US 8,525,532
Granted Patent B2
US 8,525,532 · App. 12/978,101 · Granted Sep 3, 2013

Sync signal generator for a capacitive sensor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,525,532
App. No.
12/978,101
Granted
Sep 3, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sync signal generator for a capacitive sensor includes a charge amplifier having an input for coupling to an inactive receive line in the capacitive sensor, a first comparator having a first input for receiving a first threshold voltage, a second input coupled to an output of the charge amplifier, and an output for providing a first sync signal, and a second comparator having a first input for receiving a second threshold voltage, a second input coupled to the output of the charge amplifier, and an output for providing a second sync signal. The charge amplifier includes an operational amplifier having a feedback circuit including a capacitor and a switch. The first threshold voltage is provided by a first digital-to-analog converter, and the second threshold voltage is provided by a second digital-to-analog converter.

Claims (32)

1. A sync signal generator for a capacitive sensor comprising:

a charge amplifier having an input coupled to an inactive receive line in the capacitive sensor;

a first comparator having a first input for receiving a first threshold voltage, a second input coupled to an output of the charge amplifier, and an output for providing a first sync signal; and

a second comparator having a first input for receiving a second threshold voltage, a second input coupled to the output of the charge amplifier, and an output for providing a second sync signal.

2. The sync signal generator of claim 1 wherein the charge amplifier comprises an operational amplifier.

3. The sync signal generator of claim 2 wherein the operational amplifier further comprises a feedback circuit.

4. The sync signal generator of claim 3 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a capacitor.

5. The sync signal generator of claim 3 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a switch.

6. The sync signal generator of claim 1 wherein the first threshold voltage is provided by a first digital-to-analog converter.

7. The sync signal generator of claim 1 wherein the second threshold voltage is provided by a second digital-to-analog converter.

8. A touch-screen system comprising:

a sensor panel and LCD display;

an LCD driver in communication with the sensor panel and LCD display, the LCD driver having an output for providing a periodic signal; and

a sync signal generator in communication with a touch sensor for the sensor panel, the sync signal generator comprising:

a charge amplifier having an input coupled to an inactive receive line in the sensor panel;

a first comparator having a first input for receiving a first threshold voltage, a second input coupled to an output of the charge amplifier, and an output for providing a first sync signal to the touch sensor; and

a second comparator having a first input for receiving a second threshold voltage, a second input coupled to the output of the charge amplifier, and an output for providing a second sync signal to the touch sensor.

9. The sync signal generator of claim 8 wherein the charge amplifier comprises an operational amplifier.

10. The sync signal generator of claim 9 wherein the operational amplifier further comprises a feedback circuit.

11. The sync signal generator of claim 10 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a capacitor.

12. The sync signal generator of claim 10 wherein the feedback circuit comprises a switch.

13. The sync signal generator of claim 8 wherein the first threshold voltage is provided by a first digital-to-analog converter.

14. The sync signal generator of claim 8 wherein the second threshold voltage is provided by a second digital-to-analog converter.

15. A method of generating a sync signal for use in a touch sensor circuit comprising:

converting the charge on an inactive receive line of a capacitive sensor into an output voltage;

comparing the output voltage to a first threshold voltage to provide a first sync signal for use in the touch sensor circuit; and

comparing the output voltage to a second threshold voltage to provide a second sync signal for use in the touch sensor circuit.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the charge on the inactive receive line is converted into an output voltage using a charge amplifier.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the output voltage is compared to a first threshold voltage using a comparator.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the output voltage is compared to a second threshold voltage using a comparator.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first threshold voltage is provided by a first digital-to-analog converter.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second threshold voltage is provided by a second digital-to-analog converter.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2024
From: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD
To: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.
Reel/Frame 068434/0215 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2011
From: NINGRAT, KUSUMA ADI
To: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD.
Reel/Frame 025890/0435 →