IP Library Granted Patent US 12,215,021
Granted Patent B1
US 12,215,021 · App. 18/363,706 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

Capacitive sensing circuit and capacitive sensing method

Inventors: Siewseong Tan (Singapore, SG); Awinash Anand (Katmandu, NP); Tiongkee Chua (Singapore, SG)
Assignee: AAC Technologies Pte. Ltd.
B81B7/008H03M3/39
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,215,021
App. No.
18/363,706
Granted
Feb 4, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

Provided is a capacitive sensing circuit and capacitive sensing method. The circuit includes a charge pump, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chip, an analog signal modulator configured to perform analog signal modulation to an output signal of the MEMS chip and an output signal of the analog signal modulator, and a digital signal modulator configured to perform digital signal modulation to the output signal of the analog signal modulator, and output a modulated signal by a digital interface. By directly using the input signal of the MEMS chip and the output signal of the analog signal modulator as the input signal for analog modulation, the harmonic distortion is reduced.

Claims (19)

1. A capacitive sensing circuit, comprising:

a charge pump,

a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) chip,

an analog signal modulator configured to perform analog signal modulation to an output signal of the MEMS chip and an output signal of the analog signal modulator, and

a digital signal modulator configured to perform digital signal modulation to the output signal of the analog signal modulator, and output a modulated signal by a digital interface.

2. The circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a power supply circuit comprising a filter and a voltage stabilizer connected to each other, and

the power supply circuit is configured to supply power to the MEMS chip, the analog signal modulator, and the digital signal modulator.

3. The circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the analog signal modulator uses an input signal of the MEMS chip and an output signal of the digital signal modulator as feedback signals to perform differentiate operation to construct a closed loop.

4. The circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the analog signal modulator is a Δ-Σ modulator.

5. The circuit according to claim 3 , wherein the digital signal modulator is a Δ-Σ digital modulator.

6. A capacitive sensing method, applied to a circuit comprising a charge pump, a MEMS chip, an analog signal modulator, and a digital signal modulator, wherein the method comprises:

performing, by the analog signal modulator, analog signal modulation to an output signal of the MEMS chip and an output signal of the analog signal modulator, and

performing, by the digital signal modulator, digital signal modulation to the output signal of the analog signal modulator, and outputting a modulated signal by a digital interface.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

supplying power, by a power supply circuit comprising a filter and a voltage stabilizer connected to each other, to the MEMS chip, the analog signal modulator, and the digital signal modulator.

8. The circuit according to claim 6 , wherein the analog signal modulator uses an input signal of the MEMS chip and an output signal of the digital signal modulator as feedback signals to perform differentiate operation to construct a closed loop.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the analog signal modulator is a Δ-Σ modulator.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the digital signal modulator is a Δ-Σ digital modulator.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2023
From: TAN, SIEWSEONG; ANAND, AWINASH; CHUA, TIONGKEE
To: AAC TECHNOLOGIES PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 064837/0466 →
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