IP Library Granted Patent US 9,448,659
Granted Patent B2
US 9,448,659 · App. 13/827,713 · Granted Sep 20, 2016

Simultaneous touch sensor scanning and display refreshing for minimizing display degradation for display-embedded touch sensors

Inventors: Andrew Fuller (Hampshire, GB); Samuel Brunet (Cowes, GB); Christopher Hill (Hampshire, GB); Vivek Pant (San Jose, CA); Grahame Reynolds (Hampshire, GB)
Assignee: Atmel Corporation
G06F3/0416G06F3/044
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,448,659
App. No.
13/827,713
Filed
Mar 14, 2013
Granted
Sep 20, 2016
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2695
USPC
345/173
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to refresh a display for a refresh period, wherein the display is coupled to a touch sensor operable to detect touch input at the display. The method also includes refreshing a first portion of the display and activating the touch sensor at a second portion of the display different from the first portion of the display during a first portion of the refresh period. The method further includes, during a second portion of the refresh period, refreshing a third portion of the display different from the first and second portions of the display and activating the touch sensor at a fourth portion of the display different from the first, second, and third portions of the display.

Claims (54)

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to refresh a display for a refresh period comprising four phases, wherein the display is coupled to a touch sensor operable to detect touch input at the display;

during a first phase of the refresh period:

refreshing a first quadrant of the display, the first quadrant located at a first end of the display; and

while refreshing the first quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at a second quadrant and a fourth quadrant of the display, the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant being a half screen distance apart;

wherein the second quadrant of the display adjoins the first quadrant of the display, the fourth quadrant of the display is located at a second end of the display opposite the first end, and a third quadrant of the display is disposed between the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant; and

during a second phase of the refresh period:

refreshing the second quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the second quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the first quadrant and the third quadrant of the display, the first quadrant and the third quadrant being a half screen distance apart.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refresh period of the display is approximately 0.0167 seconds.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

during a third phase of the refresh period:

refreshing the third quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the third quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant of the display.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

during a fourth phase of the refresh period:

refreshing the fourth quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the fourth quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the third quadrant and the first quadrant of the display.

5. A system, comprising:

a display;

a touch sensor coupled to the display and operable to detect touch input at the display; and

a controller coupled to the display and the touch sensor, the controller comprising logic that is configured, when executed, to refresh the display in a refresh period comprising four phases and activate the touch sensor in the refresh period;

wherein during a first phase of the refresh period of the display:

the controller is configured to refresh a first quadrant of the display,

the first quadrant located at a first end of the display; and

while refreshing the first quadrant of the display, the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at a second quadrant and a fourth quadrant of the display, the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant being a half screen distance apart, the second quadrant of the display adjoining the first quadrant of the display, the fourth quadrant of the display being located at a second end of the display opposite the first end, and a third quadrant of the display is disposed between the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant; and

wherein during a second phase of the refresh period:

the controller is configured to refresh the second quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the second quadrant of the display, the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at the first quadrant and the third quadrant of the display, the first quadrant and the third quadrant being a half screen distance apart.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the refresh period of the display is approximately 0.0167 seconds.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein during a third phase of the refresh period:

the controller is configured to refresh the third quadrant of the display; and

the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant of the display.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein during a fourth phase of the refresh period:

the controller is configured to refresh the fourth quadrant of the display; and

the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at the third quadrant and the first quadrant of the display.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising logic operable, when executed by a processor, to:

receive a request to refresh a display for a refresh period comprising four phases, wherein the display is coupled to a touch sensor operable to detect touch input at the display;

during a first phase of the refresh period:

refresh a first quadrant of the display, the first quadrant located at a first end of the display; and

while refreshing the first quadrant of the display, activate the touch sensor at a second quadrant and a fourth quadrant of the display, the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant being a half screen distance apart;

wherein the second quadrant of the display adjoins the first quadrant of the display, the fourth quadrant of the display is located at a second end of the display opposite the first end, and a third quadrant of the display is disposed between the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant; and

during a second phase of the refresh period:

refresh the second quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the second quadrant of the display, activate the touch sensor at the first quadrant and the third quadrant of the display, the first quadrant and the third quadrant being a half screen distance apart.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the refresh period of the display is approximately 0.0167 seconds.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the logic is further operable to:

during a third phase of the refresh period:

refreshing the third quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the third quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant of the display.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the logic is further operable to:

during a fourth phase of the refresh period:

refreshing the fourth quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the fourth. quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the third quadrant and the first quadrant of the display.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2019
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
To: NEODRÓN LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048259/0840 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047976/0884 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047976/0937 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038376/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2014
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031912/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2013
From: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030443/0421 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDRESS OF THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030066 FRAME 0549. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS OF 1560 PARKWAY, SOLENT BUSINESS PARK, WHITELEY, FAREHAM, HAMPSHIRE PO15 7AG, UNITED KINGDOM. Recorded Mar 27, 2013
From: FULLER, ANDREW; BRUNET, SAMUEL; HILL, CHRISTOPHER; REYNOLDS, GRAHAME
To: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 030102/0130 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2013
From: FULLER, ANDREW; BRUNET, SAMUEL; HILL, CHRISTOPHER; REYNOLDS, GRAHAME
To: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 030066/0549 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2013
From: PANT, VIVEK
To: ATMEL CORPORATIION
Reel/Frame 030066/0236 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140267067A1 · Sep 18, 2014