IP Library Patent Application 15482941
Patent Application
App. No. 15/482,941

CAPACITIVE SENSING ACTIVE ELECTROMAGNETIC EMISSION CANCELLATION

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
15/482,941
Abstract

A method of operating a plurality of electrodes, and a related processing system and input device are disclosed. The method comprises driving, within a first time period, a plurality of sensor electrodes with a first signal. A first portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first sensing region within a first region, and a second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first border region within the first region. The method further comprises driving a plurality of mitigation electrodes with a second, opposite polarity signal to mitigate electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the plurality of sensor electrodes. The plurality of mitigation electrodes defines a second region adjacent to the first border region. The method further comprises acquiring, responsive to driving the plurality of sensor electrodes, first capacitive measurements with the first portion.

Claims (54)

1 . An input device comprising:

a first plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first region, wherein a first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defines a sensing region within the first region, and wherein a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defines a border region within the first region;

a plurality of mitigation electrodes defining a second region that is adjacent to the border region; and

a processing system configured to:

drive, while driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes with a first signal, the plurality of mitigation electrodes with a second signal having an opposite polarity to the first signal, to mitigate electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes; and

acquire, responsive to driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes with the first signal, capacitive measurements with the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes.

2 . The input device of claim 1 , wherein the second signal has an amplitude that is selected to provide a desired mitigation of electromagnetic emissions.

3 . The input device of claim 2 , wherein the first region corresponds to a first area and the second region corresponds to a second area that is less than the first area, and

wherein the amplitude is greater than an amplitude of the first signal.

4 . The input device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing region includes a third portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes, and

wherein the sensor electrodes of the third portion are configured to operate as guarding sensor electrodes for sensor electrodes of the first portion.

5 . The input device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mitigation electrodes comprise a second plurality of sensor electrodes.

6 . The input device of claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of sensor electrodes are arranged in a repeating grid pattern defining a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and

wherein, during a first time period:

the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least a first row of the plurality of rows,

the second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least a second row of the plurality of rows, and

the second plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least a third row of the plurality of rows.

7 . The input device of claim 6 , wherein sensor electrodes included in the plurality of rows are distinct from sensor electrodes included in the plurality of columns, and

wherein, during the first time period:

the sensor electrodes included in the plurality of columns are configured to operate as guarding sensor electrodes.

8 . The input device of claim 6 , wherein, during a different second time period:

the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least a first column of the plurality of columns,

the second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least a second column of the plurality of columns, and

the second plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least a third column of the plurality of columns.

9 . The input device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of (i) a first number of sensor electrodes included in the second portion and (ii) a second number of the plurality of mitigation electrodes is selected to provide the desired mitigation of electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes.

10 . The input device of claim 1 , wherein the capacitive measurement comprises absolute capacitive sensing measurements for sensor electrodes of the first portion.

11 . A processing system comprising:

sensor circuitry for operating a plurality of electrodes, the sensor circuitry configured to:

drive, within a first time period, a first plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a first signal, the first plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first region, wherein a first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first sensing region within the first region, and wherein a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first border region within the first region;

drive, while driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes within the first time period, a plurality of mitigation electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a second signal having an opposite polarity to the first signal, the plurality of mitigation electrodes defining a second region that is adjacent to the first border region, to mitigate electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes; and

acquire, within the first time period and responsive to driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes, first capacitive measurements with the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes.

12 . The processing system of claim 11 , wherein during the first time period the plurality of mitigation electrodes comprise a second plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the sensor circuitry is further configured to:

drive, within a different second time period, a third plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a third signal, the third plurality of sensor electrodes defining a third region different from the first region, wherein a third portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second sensing region within the third region, and wherein a fourth portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second border region within the third region;

drive, while driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes within the second time period, a fourth plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a fourth signal having an opposite polarity to the third signal, the fourth plurality of sensor electrodes defining a fourth region that is adjacent to the second border region, to mitigate electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes; and

acquire, within the second time period and responsive to driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes, second capacitive measurements with the third portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes.

13 . The processing system of claim 12 , wherein the first sensing region corresponds to a first sensing axis, and wherein the second sensing region corresponds to the first sensing axis or to a second sensing axis substantially orthogonal to the first sensing axis.

14 . The processing system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in a repeating grid pattern defining a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns,

wherein the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least a first row of the plurality of rows,

wherein the second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least a second row of the plurality of rows, and

wherein the plurality of mitigation electrodes includes at least a third row of the plurality of rows.

15 . The processing system of claim 14 , wherein sensor electrodes included in the plurality of rows are distinct from sensor electrodes included in the plurality of columns, and

wherein, within the first time period, sensor electrodes included in the plurality of columns are configured to be operated as guarding sensor electrodes.

16 . The processing system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor circuitry is further configured to select at least one of (i) a first number of sensor electrodes included in the second portion, (ii) a second number of the plurality of mitigation electrodes, and (iii) an amplitude of the second signal to provide a desired mitigation of electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes.

17 . A method of operating a plurality of electrodes, the method comprising:

driving, within a first time period, a first plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a first signal, the first plurality of sensor electrodes defining a first region, wherein a first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first sensing region within the first region, and wherein a second portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes defines a first border region within the first region;

driving, while driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes within the first time period, a plurality of mitigation electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a second signal having an opposite polarity to the first signal, the plurality of mitigation electrodes defining a second region that is adjacent to the first border region, to mitigate electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes; and

acquiring, responsive to driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes, first capacitive measurements with the first portion of the first plurality of sensor electrodes.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein during the first time period the plurality of mitigation electrodes comprise a second plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, the method further comprising:

driving, within a different second time period, a third plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a third signal, the third plurality of sensor electrodes defining a third region different from the first region, wherein a third portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second sensing region within the third region, and wherein a fourth portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes defines a second border region within the third region;

driving, while driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes within the second time period, a fourth plurality of sensor electrodes of the plurality of electrodes with a fourth signal having an opposite polarity to the third signal, the fourth plurality of sensor electrodes defining a fourth region that is adjacent to the second border region, wherein driving the fourth plurality of sensor electrodes provides a desired mitigation of electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes; and

acquiring, responsive to driving the third plurality of sensor electrodes, second capacitive measurements with the third portion of the third plurality of sensor electrodes.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first sensing region corresponds to a first sensing axis, and wherein the second sensing region corresponds to the first sensing axis or to a second sensing axis substantially orthogonal to the first sensing axis.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

selecting at least one of (i) a first number of sensor electrodes included in the second portion, (ii) a second number of the plurality of mitigation electrodes, and (iii) an amplitude of the second signal to provide the desired mitigation of electromagnetic emissions resulting from driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE ASSIGNOR NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051316 FRAME: 0777. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 18, 2020
From: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 052186/0756 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2019
From: SYNAPTICS INCORPROATED
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 051316/0777 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2017
From: BOLENDER, ROBERT J.; SCHOPP, DONALD R., JR.
To: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 042204/0261 →