IP Library Granted Patent US 8,315,832
Granted Patent B1
US 8,315,832 · App. 13/156,297 · Granted Nov 20, 2012

Normalizing capacitive sensor array signals

Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,315,832
App. No.
13/156,297
Granted
Nov 20, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for reporting position information. Position information received from a plurality of capacitive sensors in an array of capacitive sensors is adjusted based on predetermined adjustment values to generate adjusted position information. Each predetermined adjustment value is associated with at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors. A signal representative of the adjusted position information is generated. In another embodiment, the sensitivity of at least one of the capacitive sensors is adjusted based on the position of the at least one capacitive sensor within the array.

Claims (19)

1. A method for reporting position information, the method comprising:

adjusting position information received from a plurality of capacitive sensors in an array of capacitive sensors based on predetermined adjustment values to generate adjusted position information, wherein each predetermined adjustment value is associated with at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors, and wherein each predetermined adjustment value is derived from a distance between the at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors and a connection of the array of capacitive sensors; and

generating a signal representative of the adjusted position information.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each predetermined adjustment value is derived from a position of the at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors within the array of capacitive sensors.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each predetermined adjustment value is a scalar value, and the predetermined adjustment values are stored in a matrix corresponding to the array of capacitive sensors.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjusting of the position information comprises multiplying the position information received from the plurality of capacitive sensors by the respective predetermined adjustment values.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing a centroid computation based on the adjust position information.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the array of capacitive sensors comprises a high impedance substrate.

7. A method for reporting position information comprising:

adjusting the sensitivity of at least one capacitive sensor in a capacitive sensor array based on a distance between the at least one capacitive sensor and a connection of the capacitive sensor array;

receiving position information from the at least one capacitive sensor; and

generating a signal representative of the position information.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising generating the position information with the at least one capacitive sensor, wherein the generating of the position information comprises charging the at least one capacitive sensor based on the operation of a switch.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the operation of the switch is controlled by a pseudo random generator.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the adjusting of the sensitivity of the at least one capacitive sensor comprises adjusting a scan time of the at least one capacitive sensor.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting of the scan time of the at least one capacitive sensor comprises adjusting a current source coupled to the at least one capacitive sensor.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting of the scan time of the at least one capacitive sensor comprises adjusting the pulse width modulation of a pulse width modulator.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one capacitive sensor is coupled to a capacitor, and the adjusting of the scan time of the at least one capacitive sensor comprises adjusting a reference voltage to which a voltage across the capacitor is compared.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one capacitive sensor is coupled to a capacitor, and the adjusting of the scan time of the at least one capacitor comprises adjusting the capacitance of the capacitor.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 040911/0238 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 039708/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2013
From: SEGUINE, RYAN D.
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 030868/0101 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2012
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 028863/0870 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12167552 · Jul 3, 2008
Provisional Application 60947903 · Jul 3, 2007