Method and apparatus to measure self-capacitance using a single pin

• US 10,126,340 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2013
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Simmons, Martin John
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US14/047,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20140039819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9606 using one electrode only per touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960725 Charge-transfer

Abstract

A method may include controlling a first switch to charge a reference capacitor to a first voltage level by applying a first voltage. The method may also include receiving a first analog signal from a touch sensor electrode at an input of an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) and converting the first analog signal to a first digital value provided at an output of the ADC. In certain embodiments, the method may additionally include controlling a second switch to charge the reference capacitor to a second voltage level by applying a second voltage, receiving a second analog signal from the touch sensor electrode at the input to the ADC, and converting the second analog signal to a second digital value at the output of the ADC. The method may further include detecting a touch to the touch sensor device based on the first digital value.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions winch, when implemented by one or more machines, cause the one or more machines to;

control a first switch to charge a reference capacitor to a first voltage level by applying a first voltage to a conductor of the reference capacitor, the reference capacitor coupled to an input of an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), the first voltage level being a difference between the applied first voltage and a reference voltage;

receive a first analog signal from a touch sensor electrode at the input of the ADC;

convert the first analog signal to a first digital value provided at an output of the ADC;

control a second switch to charge the reference capacitor to a second voltage level by applying a second voltage to the conductor of the reference capacitor, the second voltage opposite in polarity to the first voltage, the second voltage level being a difference between the applied second voltage and the reference voltage;

receive a second analog signal from the touch sensor electrode at the input to the ADC;

convert the second analog signal to a second digital value at the output of the ADC; and

detect a touch to the touch sensor device based on the first digital value.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein detecting a touch comprises:

calculating a difference between the first and second digital values; and

comparing the difference to a threshold value.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein converting the first analog signal to the first digital value at the output of the ADC comprises opening the first and second switches, and wherein converting the second analog signal to the second digital value at the output of the ADC comprises opening the first and second switches.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the reference capacitor is further coupled to the reference voltage, the reference voltage being a function of the first voltage level.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the second voltage is a ground voltage.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein controlling the first switch to charge the reference capacitor to the first voltage level comprises closing the first switch and opening the second switch.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein controlling the second switch to charge the reference capacitor to the second voltage level comprises closing the second switch and opening the first switch.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when implemented by the one or more machines, further cause the one or more machines to:

determine, based at least upon the first and second digital values, an amount of mains interference; and

remove the determined amount of mains interference from the first digital value.

9. A method, comprising:

controlling a first switch to charge a reference capacitor to a first voltage level by applying a first voltage to a conductor of the reference capacitor, the reference capacitor coupled to an input of an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), the first voltage level being a difference between the applied first voltage and a reference voltage;

receiving a first analog signal from a touch sensor electrode at the input of the ADC;

converting the first analog signal to a first digital value provided at an output of the ADC;

controlling a second switch to charge the reference capacitor to a second voltage level by applying a second voltage to the conductor of the reference capacitor, the second voltage opposite in polarity to the first voltage, the second voltage level being a difference between the applied second voltage and the reference voltage;

receiving a second analog signal from the touch sensor electrode at the input to the ADC;

converting the second analog signal to a second digital value at the output of the ADC; and

detecting a touch to the touch sensor device based on the first digital value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein detecting a touch comprises:

calculating a difference between the first and second digital values; and

comparing the difference to a threshold value.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein converting the first analog signal to the first digital value at the output of the ADC comprises opening the first and second switches, and wherein converting the second analog signal to the second digital value at the output of the ADC comprises opening the first and second switches.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the reference capacitor is further coupled to the reference voltage, the reference voltage being a function of the first voltage level.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the second voltage is a ground voltage.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the first switch to charge the reference capacitor to the first voltage level comprises closing the first switch and opening the second switch.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein controlling the second switch to charge the reference capacitor to the second voltage level comprises closing the second switch and opening the first switch.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, based at least upon the first and second digital values, an amount of mains interference; and

removing the determined amount of mains interference from the first digital value.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

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 to, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

controlling a first switch to charge a reference capacitor to a first voltage level by applying a first voltage to a conductor of the reference capacitor, the reference capacitor coupled to an input of an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), the first voltage level being a difference between the applied first voltage and a reference voltage;

receiving a first analog signal from a touch sensor electrode at the input of the ADC;

converting the first analog signal to a first digital value provided at an output of the ADC;

controlling a second switch to charge the reference capacitor to a second voltage level by applying a second voltage to the conductor of the reference capacitor, the second voltage opposite in polarity to the first voltage, the second voltage level being a difference between the applied second voltage and the reference voltage;

receiving a second analog signal from the touch sensor electrode at the input to the ADC;

converting the second analog signal to a second digital value at the output of the ADC; and

detecting a touch to the touch sensor device based on the first digital value.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein detecting a touch comprises:

calculating a difference between the first and second digital values; and

comparing the difference to a threshold value.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a first input port to receive a first input signal from the touch sensor electrode.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a second input port to receive a second input signal, from a second touch sensor electrode.