IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,466,851

Granted Patent B2

US 10,466,851 · App. 15/962,529 · Granted Nov 5, 2019

Connecting electrodes to voltages

Inventors: Trond Jarle Pedersen (Jarle, NO); Torgeir Fenheim (Mo I Rana, NO); Jan Rune Herheim (Trondheim, NO); Stefan Markus Schabel (Syrgenstein, DE)

Assignee: Atmel Corporation

G06F3/044 G06F1/3262 G06F3/0416 G06F2203/04107

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,466,851
App. No.: 15/962,529
Granted: Nov 5, 2019
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first electrode, one or more processors, and one or more memory units coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more memory units collectively store logic that is configured to cause the one or more processors to control connections of the first electrode by connecting the first electrode to a first reference voltage, then connecting the first electrode to a second reference voltage lower than the first reference voltage, and then connecting the first electrode to a third reference voltage lower than the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage. The second reference voltage is coupled to a capacitor.

Claims (54)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first electrode;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory units coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memory units collectively storing logic configured, when executed by the one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to control connections of the first electrode by:

connecting the first electrode to a first reference voltage;

after connecting the first electrode to the first reference voltage, connecting the first electrode to a second reference voltage, wherein a capacitor is coupled to the second reference voltage and the second reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage;

after connecting the first electrode to the second reference voltage, connecting the first electrode to a third reference voltage, wherein the third reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage;

connecting the first electrode to a fourth reference voltage prior to connecting the first electrode to the first reference voltage, wherein the fourth reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage and higher than the third reference voltage; and

after connecting the first electrode to the second reference voltage and prior to connecting the first electrode to the third reference voltage, connecting the first electrode to a fifth reference voltage, wherein the fifth reference voltage is lower than the second reference voltage and higher than the third reference voltage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capacitor is coupled to a voltage supply of a circuit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capacitor is further coupled to a bleed circuit configured to discharge excess charge stored in the capacitor.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the bleed circuit comprises a comparator circuit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is an electrode of a capacitive touch sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second electrode, wherein the logic is further configured, when executed by the one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to control connections of the second electrode by:

connecting the second electrode to the first reference voltage while the first electrode is connected to the first reference voltage; and

connecting the second electrode to the third reference voltage while the first electrode is connected to the second reference voltage and then the third reference voltage.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are electrodes of a capacitive touch sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second electrode, wherein the logic is further configured, when executed by the one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to control connections of the second electrode by:

connecting the second electrode to the fourth reference while the first electrode is connected to the fourth reference voltage; and

connecting the second electrode to the fifth reference voltage while the first electrode is connected to the second reference voltage and then the fifth reference voltage.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are electrodes of a capacitive touch sensor.

10. A method, comprising:

connecting a first electrode to a first reference voltage;

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing charge from the capacitor to a voltage supply of a circuit.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising discharging excess charge stored in the capacitor to a bleed circuit.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

connecting a second electrode to the first reference voltage while the first electrode is connected to the first reference voltage; and

connecting the second electrode to the third reference voltage while the first electrode is connected to the second reference voltage and then the third reference voltage.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

connecting a second electrode to the fourth reference while the first electrode is connected to the fourth reference voltage; and

connecting the second electrode to the fifth reference voltage while the first electrode is connected to the second reference voltage and then the fifth reference voltage.

15. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium comprising logic that is configured, when executed, to:

connect a first electrode to a first reference voltage;

after connecting the first electrode to the first reference voltage, connect the first electrode to a second reference voltage, wherein a capacitor is coupled to the second reference voltage and the second reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage;

after connecting the first electrode to the second reference voltage, connect the first electrode to a third reference voltage, wherein the third reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage;

connect the first electrode to a fourth reference voltage prior to connecting the first electrode to the first reference voltage, wherein the fourth reference voltage is lower than the first reference voltage and higher than the third reference voltage; and

after connecting the first electrode to the second reference voltage and prior to connecting the first electrode to the third reference voltage, connect the first electrode to a fifth reference voltage, wherein the fifth reference voltage is lower than the second reference voltage and higher than the third reference voltage.

16. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the logic is further configured, when executed, to provide charge from the capacitor to a voltage supply of a circuit.

17. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the logic is further configured, when executed, to discharge excess charge stored in the capacitor to a bleed circuit.

18. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the logic is further configured, when executed, to:

connect a second electrode to the first reference voltage while the first electrode is connected to the first reference voltage; and

connect the second electrode to the third reference voltage while the first electrode is connected to the second reference voltage and then the third reference voltage.

19. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the logic is further configured, when executed, to:

connect a second electrode to the fourth reference while the first electrode is connected to the fourth reference voltage; and

connect the second electrode to the fifth reference voltage while the first electrode is connected to the second reference voltage and then the fifth reference voltage.

20. A method, comprising:

connecting a first electrode to a first reference voltage;

providing charge from the capacitor to a voltage supply of a circuit.

Assignments (13)

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022

From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT