Touchscreen panel frequency response determination

1. An apparatus comprising a processing device configurable to calculate a frequency response of a touch panel coupled to the processing device, wherein the processing device comprises:

a capacitance-sensing circuit to measure signals from the touch panel; and

a frequency-response calculator, wherein the frequency-response calculator is configured to measure a frequency response of the touch panel, wherein the processing device is configured to select an operating frequency of the touch panel in view of the measured frequency response, wherein the operating frequency is a scanning frequency used by the capacitance-sensing circuit to measure additional signals from the touch panel, wherein the frequency response calculator comprises a time-constant calculator, wherein the time-constant calculator is configured to vary window durations during which the capacitance-sensing circuit measures the signals from the touch panel, wherein there is a dependence between a charge measured by the capacitance-sensing circuit and the window durations, and wherein the time-constant calculator is further configured to calculate a time constant from analysis of the dependence between the measured charge within the varied window durations.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capacitance-sensing circuit comprises a receiver, wherein the time-constant calculator comprises:

a switch coupled to an input of the receiver, wherein the switch is to switch between the signals from the touch panel and a voltage reference; and

a windowing circuit coupled to the switch, wherein the windowing circuit is to generate the window durations during which the signals from the touch panel are input into the receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the windowing circuit comprises a one-shot element configured to output a window signal, having different time periods, to the switch to create the window durations during which the signals are measured, wherein the one-shot element is configured to receive a transmit (TX) signal from a TX source and to synchronize the window signal to the TX signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a converter coupled to the receiver, wherein the converter is configured to convert the charge measured by the capacitance-sensing circuit to a digital value.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capacitance-sensing circuit comprises a receiver comprising:

an active integrator comprising an operational amplifier and a capacitor;

a programmable current source coupled to a channel input of the active integrator;

a comparator coupled to an output of the operational amplifier;

a counter coupled to an output of the comparator; and

wherein the time-constant calculator comprises:

a switch coupled to channel input of the receiver an electrode of the touch panel, wherein the switch is to switch between the signals received from the touch panel on the electrode and a voltage reference; and

a digital sequencer coupled to the counter, the programmable current source and the switch, wherein the digital sequencer is to generate a window signal to control the switch to vary the window durations during which the signals from the touch panel are input into the receiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capacitance-sensing circuit comprises a programmable frequency source and a receiver, wherein the frequency-response calculator is to control the programmable frequency source to vary a frequency of a pulse signal to be applied to a transmit (TX) electrode of the touch panel to vary the window durations of the pulse signal, and wherein the receiver is to measure the signals from an receive electrode of the touch panel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capacitance-sensing circuit comprises a programmable pulse width source and a receiver, wherein the frequency-response calculator is to control the programmable pulse width source to vary the window durations of a pulse signal to be applied to a transmit (TX) electrode of the touch panel, and wherein the receiver is to measure the signals from an receive electrode of the touch panel.

8. A method comprising:

measuring a charge on an electrode of a touch panel by a capacitance-sensing circuit of a processing device;

measuring a frequency response of the touch panel;

selecting an operating frequency of the touch panel in view of the measured frequency response, wherein the operating frequency is a scanning frequency used by the capacitance-sensing circuit to measure additional charge on the electrode;

setting, by the processing device, a window duration in which the charge on the electrode of the touch panel is measured by the capacitance-sensing circuit of the processing device;

measuring the charge in the window duration by the capacitance-sensing circuit;

varying, by the processing device, the window duration in which the charge on the electrode of the touch panel is measured by the capacitance-sensing circuit, wherein a dependence between the charge measured by the capacitance-sensing circuit and the varied window duration is exponential;

measuring the charge in the varied window duration by the capacitance-sensing circuit; and

approximating a time constant of the touch panel from the dependence in view of the measured charge in the window duration and the varied window duration, wherein the time constant represents the frequency response of the touch panel.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the varying the window duration comprises generating a window signal to control a switch at an input of a receiver of the capacitance-sensing circuit.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the varying the window duration comprises:

receiving a transmit (TX) signal from a TX source; and

synchronizing the window signal to the TX signal.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the varying the window duration comprises generating a window signal by a digital sequencer to vary the window duration during which signals from the touch panel are input into a receiver of the capacitance-sensing circuit.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the varying the window duration comprise controlling a programmable frequency source to vary a frequency of a pulse signal to be applied to a transmit (TX) electrode of the touch panel to vary the window durations of the pulse signal.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the varying the window comprises controlling a programmable pulse width source to vary the window duration of a pulse signal to be applied to a transmit (TX) electrode of the touch panel.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein setting the window duration comprises setting an initial window pulse width, wherein the measuring the charge in the window duration comprises performing a first measurement with the initial window pulse width, wherein the varying the window duration comprises incrementing the initial window pulse width, and wherein measuring the charge in the varied window comprises performing a second measurement with the incremented window pulse width.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the approximating the time constant comprises:

applying an exponential fit to data from the first measurement and the second measurement; and

calculating the time constant from an approximation coefficients of the exponential fit.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein setting the window duration comprises setting an initial window pulse width, wherein the measuring the charge in the window duration comprises performing a first measurement with the initial window pulse width, wherein the varying the window duration comprises decrementing the initial window pulse width when a difference between a current measurement and the first measurement over the first measurement is does not exceed a threshold value, wherein the time constant is determined from the current measurement when the difference over the first measurement is exceeds the threshold value.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

a processing element coupled to the memory, wherein the processing element is configurable to:

set a window duration in which charge on an electrode of a touch panel is measured by a capacitance-sensing circuit of the processing element;

measure the charge in the window duration by the capacitance-sensing circuit;

vary the window duration in which the charge on the electrode of the touch panel is measured by the capacitance-sensing circuit, wherein a dependence between the charge measured by the capacitance-sensing circuit and the varied window duration is exponential;

measure the charge in the varied window duration by the capacitance-sensing circuit; and

approximate a time constant of the touch panel from the dependence in view of the measured charge in the window duration and the varied window duration.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising the touch panel, wherein the touch panel is a capacitive sense array, and wherein a capacitive image of the capacitive sense array comprises a plurality of cells each with a capacitance value of an intersection of sense elements of the capacitive sense array.