IP Library Granted Patent US 11,474,641
Granted Patent B2
US 11,474,641 · App. 16/949,218 · Granted Oct 18, 2022

Touch sensor signal integration

Inventors: Grahame Reynolds (Southampton, GB); Hammad Syed (Fareham, GB)
Assignee: Atmel Corporation
G06F3/04184G02F1/13338G02F1/134309G06F3/044G06F3/0412G06F3/0416G06F3/0418G06F3/0443G06F3/0445G06F3/0446G06F3/04164G02F1/13439G06F2203/04108G06F2203/04111
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,474,641
App. No.
16/949,218
Granted
Oct 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In certain embodiments, a method includes performing a first positive integration by sensing a first rising edge of a charging signal of a touch sensor during a first synchronization period and performing a first negative integration by sensing a first falling edge of the charging signal during a second synchronization period. The method also includes toggling the charging signal, resulting in a second rising edge of the charging signal during the second synchronization period. The method further includes performing a second negative integration by sensing a second falling edge of the charging signal during a third synchronization period and performing a second positive integration by sensing a third rising edge of the charging signal during a fourth synchronization period. The first integrations are associated with a first sample measurement and the second integrations are associated with a second sample measurement.

Claims (81)

1. A method, comprising:

performing a first negative integration by sensing a first falling edge of a charging signal associated with an electrode of the plurality of electrodes of a touch sensor during a first synchronization period;

performing a first positive integration by sensing a first rising edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a second synchronization period, wherein the first negative integration and the first positive integration are associated with a first sample measurement;

toggling the charging signal, resulting in a second falling edge of the charging signal during the second synchronization period;

performing a second positive integration by sensing a second rising edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a third synchronization period; and

performing a second negative integration by sensing a third falling edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fourth synchronization period, wherein the second positive integration and the second negative integration are associated with a second sample measurement;

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth synchronization periods occur consecutively.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first and third synchronization periods are associated with a first type of noise;

the second and fourth synchronization periods are associated with a second type of noise; and

a summation of the first and second sample measurements cancels out the first type of noise and the second type of noise within the first, second, third, and fourth synchronization periods.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

performing a third positive integration by sensing a third rising edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fifth synchronization period;

performing a third negative integration by sensing a fourth falling edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a sixth synchronization period, wherein the third positive integration and the third negative integration are associated with a third sample measurement;

toggling the charging signal, resulting in a fourth rising edge of the charging signal during the sixth synchronization period;

performing a fourth negative integration by sensing a fifth falling edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a seventh synchronization period; and

performing a fourth positive integration by sensing a fifth rising edge of a charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during an eighth synchronization period, wherein the fourth negative integration and the fourth positive integration are associated with a fourth sample measurement.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:

the first and fifth synchronization periods represent a first type of noise;

the second and sixth synchronization periods represent a second type of noise;

the third and seventh synchronization periods represent a third type of noise;

the fourth and eighth synchronization periods represent a fourth type of noise; and

a summation of the first, second, third, and fourth sample measurements cancels out the first, second, third, and fourth types of noise within the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth synchronization periods.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises two or more electrically coupled electrodes that are positioned horizontally underneath adjacent pixel rows of a display of a device.

6. A device, comprising:

a touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes: and

a controller coupled to the touch sensor, the controller comprising logic to cause the controller to:

perform a first negative integration by sensing a first falling edge of a charging signal associated with an electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a first synchronization period;

perform a first positive integration by sensing a first rising edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a second synchronization period, wherein the first negative integration and the first positive integration are associated with a first sample measurement;

toggle the charging signal, resulting in a second falling edge of the charging signal during the second synchronization period;

perform a second positive integration by sensing a second rising edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a third synchronization period; and

perform a second negative integration by sensing a third falling edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fourth synchronization period, wherein the second positive integration and the second negative integration are associated with a second sample measurement;

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth synchronization periods occur consecutively.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein:

the first and third synchronization periods are associated with a first type of noise;

the second and fourth synchronization periods are associated with a second type of noise; and

a summation of the first and second sample measurements cancels out the first type of noise and the second type of noise within the first, second, third, and fourth synchronization periods.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the logic to cause the controller to:

perform a third positive integration by sensing a third rising edge of the charging signal associated with a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fifth synchronization period;

perform a third negative integration by sensing a fourth falling edge of the charging signal associated with the second electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a sixth synchronization period, wherein the third positive integration and the third negative integration are associated with a third sample measurement;

toggle the charging signal, resulting in a fourth rising edge of the charging signal during the sixth synchronization period;

perform a fourth negative integration by sensing a fifth falling edge of the charging signal associated with the second electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a seventh synchronization period; and

perform a fourth positive integration by sensing a fifth rising edge of a charging signal associated with the second electrode of the plurality of electrodes during an eighth synchronization period, wherein the fourth negative integration and the fourth positive integration are associated with a fourth sample measurement.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein:

the first and fifth synchronization periods represent a first type of noise;

the second and sixth synchronization periods represent a second type of noise;

the third and seventh synchronization periods represent a third type of noise;

the fourth and eighth synchronization periods represent a fourth type of noise; and

a summation of the first, second, third, and fourth sample measurements cancels out the first, second, third, and fourth types of noise within the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth synchronization periods.

10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the device comprises a hybrid in-cell

liquid crystal display (“LCD”), the LCD comprising one from a set of:

a checkerboard dot inverse pattern that produces a first and second type of noise; and

a checkerboard double dot inverse pattern that produces a first, second, third, and fourth type of noise.

11. The device of claim 6 , wherein the electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises two or more electrically coupled electrodes that are positioned horizontally underneath adjacent pixel rows of a display of the device.

12. A computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic to:

perform a first negative integration by sensing a first falling edge of a charging signal associated with an electrode of a plurality of electrodes of a touch sensor during a first synchronization period;

perform a first positive integration by sensing a first rising edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a second synchronization period, wherein the first negative integration and the first positive integration are associated with a first sample measurement;

toggle the charging signal, resulting in a second falling edge of the charging signal during the second synchronization period;

perform a second positive integration by sensing a second rising edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a third synchronization period; and

perform a second negative integration by sensing a third falling edge of the charging signal associated with the electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fourth synchronization period, wherein the second positive integration and the second negative integration are associated with a second sample measurement;

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth synchronization periods occur consecutively.

13. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 12 , wherein:

the first and third synchronization periods are associated with a first type of noise;

the second and fourth synchronization periods are associated with a second type of noise; and

a summation of the first and second sample measurements cancels out the first type of noise and the second type of noise within the first, second, third, and fourth synchronization periods.

14. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 12 , wherein the logic to:

perform a third positive integration by sensing a third rising edge of the charging signal associated with a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a fifth synchronization period;

perform a third negative integration by sensing a fourth falling edge of the charging signal associated with the second electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a sixth synchronization period, wherein the third positive integration and the third negative integration are associated with a third sample measurement;

toggle the charging signal, resulting in a fourth rising edge of the charging signal during the sixth synchronization period;

perform a fourth negative integration by sensing a fifth falling edge of the charging signal associated with the second electrode of the plurality of electrodes during a seventh synchronization period; and

perform a fourth positive integration by sensing a fifth rising edge of a charging signal associated with the second electrode of the plurality of electrodes during an eighth synchronization period, wherein the fourth negative integration and the fourth positive integration are associated with a fourth sample measurement.

15. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 14 , wherein:

the first and fifth synchronization periods represent a first type of noise;

the second and sixth synchronization periods represent a second type of noise;

the third and seventh synchronization periods represent a third type of noise;

the fourth and eighth synchronization periods represent a fourth type of noise; and

a summation of the first, second, third, and fourth sample measurements cancels out the first, second, third, and fourth types of noise within the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth synchronization periods.

16. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 12 , wherein the touch sensor is associated with a hybrid in-cell liquid crystal display (“LCD”), the LCD comprising one from a set of:

a checkerboard dot inverse pattern that produces a first and second type of noise; and

a checkerboard double dot inverse pattern that produces a first, second, third, and fourth type of noise.

17. The computer-readable non-transitory storage media of claim 12 , wherein the electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises two or more electrically coupled electrodes that are positioned horizontally underneath adjacent pixel rows of a display of a device.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 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 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 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 059863/0400 →
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 059358/0335 →
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 059357/0823 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 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 059264/0384 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
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 058214/0625 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
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 058214/0238 →
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 19, 2021
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 058214/0380 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
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 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15355544 · Nov 18, 2016
Related Publication 20210089189A1 · Mar 25, 2021