Transmitting and receiving system and method for bidirectional orthogonal signaling sensors

• US 10,191,579 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.
• Original Assignee: Tactual Labs Co.
• Inventors: Forlines, Clifton, Leigh, Darren
• Primary Examiner(s): Watko, Julie Anne
• Application Number:
  US15/162,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20170024061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT

Abstract

A system and method for determining location of a touch event on or in proximity to a touch sensitive device is disclosed. The touch sensitive device includes row conductors and column conductors that each only transmit or receive signals during a given frame. Each of the orthogonal row signals is transmitted on a respective one of at least some of the row conductors. Signals are received on each of the column conductors an amount of each of the row signals present on each of the plurality of column conductors is detected. Orthogonal column signals are transmitted on the column conductors. Signals are received on each of the row conductors and an amount of each of the orthogonal column signals present on each of the row conductors is detected. The detected amount of each of the orthogonal row signals and the detected amount of each of the orthogonal column signals is used to determine a location of a touch event on or in proximity to the touch sensitive device. At least one of the transmitting and receiving steps avoids simultaneously transmitting and receiving on at least one of the row conductors or column conductors.

Claims

1. A method of determining a location of a touch event on or in proximity to a touch sensitive device, the touch sensitive device comprising row conductors and column conductors positioned in proximity to each other such that a touch event on or in proximity to the touch sensitive device causes a change in coupling between at least one of the row conductors and at least one of the column conductors, the method comprising:

simultaneously transmitting each of a plurality of orthogonal row signals on a respective one of at least some of the row conductors;

receiving signals on each of the column conductors and determining a measurement corresponding to each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on each of the column conductors;

simultaneously transmitting each of a plurality of orthogonal column signals on a respective one of at least some of the column conductors;

receiving signals on each of the row conductors and determining a measurement corresponding to each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals present on each of the row conductors;

interleaving processing of a first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors with sampling of a second signal received on another of the row conductors or column conductors; and

,

using the determined measurement corresponding to each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals and the determined measurement corresponding to each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals to determine a location of a touch event on or in proximity to the touch sensitive device;

wherein at least one of the transmitting and receiving steps avoids simultaneously transmitting and receiving on at least one of the row conductors or column conductors;

wherein the step that avoids simultaneously transmitting and receiving comprises a step of using at least one switch to switch between broadcast and receive on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one switch comprises a switch configured to route either a signal generator or a receiver to the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors at a given time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one switch comprises a switch configured to switch a signal generator between the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors and another of the row conductors or column conductors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one switch comprises a switch configured to switch a receiver between the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors and another of the row conductors or column conductors.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one switch is configured to switch a receiver between the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors and another of the row conductors or column conductors and configured to switch a signal generator between the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors and another of the row conductors or column conductors.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of interleaving comprises:

after sampling a first frame of the first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors and sampling a first frame of the second signal received on the another of the row conductors or column conductors;

processing the first frame of the first signal and the first frame of the second signal; and

reporting the processed first frame of the first signal and first frame of the second signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of interleaving comprises processing a first frame of the first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors while sampling a second frame of the first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of interleaving further comprises reporting the processed first frame of the first signal while processing a second frame of the first signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of interleaving further comprises processing a first frame of the second signal received on the another of the row conductors or column conductors while sampling the second frame of the first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of interleaving further comprises reporting the processed first frame of the second signal while processing a second frame of the first signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of interleaving comprises processing the second frame of the first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors while sampling a second frame of the second signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of interleaving further comprises reporting the processed second frame of the first signal while processing a second frame of the second signal.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of associating each of a plurality of simultaneous touch events with a discrete source based on at least one of:

a determined measurement corresponding to at least one of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on at least one row conductor or a determined measurement corresponding to each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals present on at least one column conductor.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of distinguishing a two-handed gesture from a one-handed gesture.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of distinguishing at least two of the plurality of touch events as having been initiated by different users.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of distinguishing a passive object from a hand.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of identifying a passive object whether a user is touching the object or not.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of identifying a passive object.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the passive object is a stylus.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of identifying a passive object comprises identifying a number of prongs that are connected together and form a specific pattern.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of identifying a passive object comprises switching to electrical connections between the touches in a pattern that is recognizable to the touch sensitive device.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of identifying an active object.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the active object comprises a signal generator.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the active object is a stylus.

25. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the association for palm rejection.

26. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the association for accidental-touch rejection.

27. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of determining whether the plurality of touch events come from one hand.

28. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of determining whether the plurality of touch events come from two hands of the same person.

29. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of determining whether the plurality of touch events come from touches from multiple people.

30. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of determining whether two contacts, each identified in different frames, are being made by different users.

31. The method of claim 13, further comprising a step of determining whether two contacts, each identified in different frames, are the same contact.

32. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of identifying touch events is performed by a signal processor.

33. The method of claim 13, wherein the touch events comprise an action by a user that occurs in proximity to the touch sensitive device.

34. A touch sensitive device, comprising:

row conductors and column conductors positioned in proximity to each other such that a touch event on or in proximity to the touch sensitive device causes a change in coupling between at least one of the row conductors and at least one of the column conductors;

row signal generator operatively connected to each of the row conductors, the row signal generator adapted to simultaneously transmit respective ones of a plurality of orthogonal row signals onto each of the row conductors, each orthogonal row signal being orthogonal to each of the other orthogonal row signals;

column receiver operatively connected to each of the column conductors, the column receiver being adapted to receive signals on each of the column conductors;

signal processor adapted to determine measurements corresponding to each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on each of the column conductors from the signals received by the column receiver;

column signal generator operatively connected to each of the column conductors, the column signal generator adapted to simultaneously transmit respective ones of a plurality of orthogonal column signals onto each of column conductors, each orthogonal column signal being orthogonal to each of the other orthogonal column signals;

row receiver operatively connected to each of the row conductors, the row receiver being adapted to receive signals on each of the row conductors;

at least one switch to switch between broadcast and receive on at least one of the row conductors or column conductors;

the signal processor being further adapted to determine measurements corresponding to of each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals present on each of the row conductors from the signals received by the row receiver;

the signal processor being yet further adapted to use the determined measurements corresponding to each of the plurality of orthogonal row signals and the determined measurements corresponding to each of the plurality of orthogonal column signals to determine a location of a touch event on or in proximity to the touch sensitive device; and

the signal processor configured to interleave processing of a first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors with sampling of a second signal received on another of the row conductors or plurality of column conductors.

35. The touch sensitive device of claim 34, wherein the at least one switch comprises a switch configured to route either a signal generator or a receiver to the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors at a given time.

36. The touch sensitive device of claim 34, wherein the at least one switch comprises a switch configured to switch a signal generator between the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors and another of the row conductors or column conductors.

37. The touch sensitive device of claim 34, wherein the at least one switch comprises a switch configured to switch a receiver between the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors and another of the row conductors or column conductors.

38. The touch sensitive device of claim 34, wherein the at least one switch is configured to switch a receiver between the at least one of the row conductors or plurality of column conductors and another of the row conductors or column conductors and configured to switch a signal generator between the at least one of the row conductors or plurality of column conductors and the another the row conductors or column conductors.

39. The touch sensitive device of claim 34, wherein the signal processor is configured to process the first frame of the first signal and the first frame of the second signal;

and report the processed first frame of the first signal and first frame of the second signal.

40. The touch sensitive device of claim 34, wherein the signal processor is configured to process a first frame of the first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors while sampling a second frame of the first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors.

41. The touch sensitive device of claim 40, wherein the signal processor is further configured to report the processed first frame of the first signal while processing a second frame of the first signal.

42. The touch sensitive device of claim 41, wherein the signal processor is configured to process a first frame of the second signal received on the another of the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors while sampling the second frame of the first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors.

43. The touch sensitive device of claim 42, wherein the signal processor is configured to report the processed first frame of the second signal while processing a second frame of the first signal.

44. The touch sensitive device of claim 43, wherein the signal processor is configured to process the second frame of the first signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors while sampling a second frame of the second signal received on the at least one of the row conductors or column conductors.

45. The touch sensitive device of claim 44, wherein the signal processor is configured to report the processed second frame of the first signal while processing a second frame of the second signal.

46. The touch sensitive device of claim 34, wherein the signal processor is configured to associate each of a plurality of simultaneous touch events with a discrete source based on at least one of:

a determined measurement corresponding to at least one of the plurality of orthogonal row signals present on at least one row conductor or a determined measurement corresponding to at least one of the plurality of orthogonal column signals present on at least one column conductor.

47. The touch sensitive device of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to distinguish a two-handed gesture from a one-handed gesture.

48. The touch sensitive device of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to distinguish at least two of the plurality of touch events as having been initiated by different users.

49. The touch sensitive device of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to distinguish a passive object from a hand.

50. The touch sensitive device of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to identify a passive object whether a user is touching the object or not.

51. The touch sensitive device of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to further identify a passive object.

52. The touch sensitive device of claim 51, wherein the passive object is a stylus.

53. The touch sensitive device of claim 51, wherein the signal processor is configured to identify the passive object by identifying a number of prongs that are connected together and form a specific pattern.

54. The touch sensitive device of claim 51, wherein the signal processor is configured to identify a passive object by switching to electrical connections between the touches in a pattern that is recognizable to the touch sensitive device.

55. The touch sensitive device of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to identify an active object.

56. The touch sensitive device of claim 55, wherein the active object comprises a signal generator.

57. The touch sensitive device of claim 55, wherein the active object is a stylus.

58. The touch sensitive device of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to use the association for palm rejection.

59. The touch sensitive device of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to use the association to improve further comprising for accidental-touch rejection.

60. The touch sensitive device of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine whether the plurality of touch events come from one hand.

61. The method of claim 46, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine whether the plurality of touch events come from two hands of the same person.