IP Library Granted Patent US 9,727,168
Granted Patent B2
US 9,727,168 · App. 15/224,132 · Granted Aug 8, 2017

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

Inventors: Andrew Fuller (Southampton, GB); Samuel Brunet (Cowes, GB); Christopher Hill (Southampton, GB); Vivek Pant (San Jose, CA); Grahame Reynolds (Southampton, GB)
Assignee: Atmel Corporation
G06F3/0416G06F3/044G06F3/0412G09G5/12G09G2310/061
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,727,168
App. No.
15/224,132
Granted
Aug 8, 2017
Kind
B2
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. During a first phase of the refresh period, a first portion of the display is refreshed while the touch sensor a second portion and a third portion of the display is activated. The second portion and the third portion are a half screen distance apart. During a second phase of the refresh period, the second portion of the display is refreshed while the touch sensor at a fourth portion and a fifth portion of the display is activated. The fourth portion and the fifth portion are a half screen distance apart.

Claims (58)

1. A method comprising:

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;

during a first phase of the refresh period:

refreshing a first portion of the display; and

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

during a second phase of the refresh period:

refreshing the second portion of the display; and

while refreshing the second portion of the display, activating the touch sensor at a fourth portion and a fifth portion of the display, the fourth portion and the fifth portion being a half screen distance apart.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the display adjoins the first portion of the display.

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

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

an area of each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion is approximately one fourth of the display; and

the fifth portion of the display is the same as the first portion of the display.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein an area of each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion is approximately one sixth of the display.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein an area of each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion is approximately one eighth of the display.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

during a third phase of the refresh period:

refreshing the fourth portion of the display; and

while refreshing the fourth portion of the display, activating the touch sensor at a sixth portion and a seventh portion of the display, the sixth portion and the seventh portion being a half screen distance apart.

8. 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 and activate the touch sensor in the refresh period;

wherein during a first phase of the refresh period:

the controller is configured to refresh a first portion of the display; and

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

wherein during a second phase of the refresh period:

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

while refreshing the second portion of the display, the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at a fourth portion and a fifth portion of the display, the fourth and fifth portion being a half screen distance apart.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the display adjoins the first portion of the display.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the refresh period of the display is approximately 0.0167 seconds.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein:

an area of each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion is approximately one fourth of the display; and

the fifth portion of the display is the same as the first portion of the display.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein an area of each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion is approximately one sixth of the display.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein an area of each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion is approximately one eighth of the display.

14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

during a third phase of the refresh period:

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

while refreshing the fourth portion of the display, the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at a sixth portion and a seventh portion of the display, the sixth portion and the seventh portion being a half screen distance apart.

15. 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, 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 portion of the display; and

while refreshing the first portion of the display, activate the touch sensor at a second portion and a third portion of the display, the second portion and the third portion being a half screen distance apart; and during a second phase of the refresh period:

refresh the second portion of the display; and

while refreshing the second portion of the display, activate the touch sensor at a fourth portion and a fifth portion of the display, the fourth portion and the fifth portion being a half screen distance apart.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the second portion of the display adjoins the first portion of the display.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the refresh period of the display is approximately 0.0167 seconds.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:

an area of each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion is approximately one fourth of the display; and

the fifth portion of the display is the same as the first portion of the display.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein an area of each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion is approximately one sixth of the display.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein an area of each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion is approximately one eighth of the display.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the logic is further operable, when executed by the processor or another processor, to:

during a third phase of the refresh period:

refresh the fourth portion of the display; and

while refreshing the fourth portion of the display, activate the touch sensor at a sixth portion and a seventh portion of the display, the sixth portion and the seventh portion being a half screen distance apart.

Assignments (12)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2016
From: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039295/0402 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2016
From: FULLER, ANDREW; BRUNET, SAMUEL; HILL, CHRISTOPHER; REYNOLDS, GRAHAME
To: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 039295/0303 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2016
From: PANT, VIVEK
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039295/0158 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13827713 · Mar 14, 2013
Related Publication 20160334928A1 · Nov 17, 2016