Touch processor, touch device, touch system, and touch method

• US 10,209,788 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2015
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eGalax_eMPIA Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: eGalax_eMPIA Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Yeh, Shang-Tai
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Shawna Stepp
• Application Number:
  US14/722,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20150346875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• 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

Abstract

A touch processor is provided by the present application. The touch processor detects the intensity of a third electrical signal, wherein a touch device induces a second electrical signal due to a first electrical signal, and the third electrical signal of the second electrical signal is transmitted from the touch device to an approached or touched object. Then, according to the intensity of the second electrical signal and the third electrical signal, the touch processor determines if there is a transmitter hovering on the touch device or not.

Claims

1. A touch method, comprising:

emitting a first electrical signal by a transmitter;

detecting a second electrical signal, generated by the touch device, induced by the first electrical signal emitted by the transmitter;

detecting the intensity of a third electrical signal of the second electrical signal transmitted from the touch device to an approaching or touching object; and

determining if the transmitter is hovering above the touch device according to the second electrical signal and the third electrical signal, wherein the third electrical signal is a part of the second electrical signal without the first electrical.

2. The touch method of claim 1, wherein it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device if the intensity of the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is greater than a first threshold, and it is determined that the transmitter is touching the touch device when the intensity of the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is greater than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold.

3. The touch method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining if the frequency of the second electrical signal or the third electrical signal is a predetermined frequency, wherein the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is detected if the frequency of the second electrical signal or the third electrical signal is the predetermined frequency, wherein the transmitter emits the first electrical signal, and the frequency of the first electrical signal is the predetermined frequency.

4. The touch method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the frequency of the third electrical signal is a predetermined frequency, wherein the intensity of the third electrical signal is detected if the frequency of the third electrical signal is the predetermined frequency, wherein the transmitter emits the first electrical signal, and the frequency of the first electrical signal is the predetermined frequency.

5. The touch method of claim 1, wherein the touch device comprises a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, and if it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device, a hovering position of the transmitter above the plurality of driving electrodes and the hovering position of the transmitter above the plurality of sensing electrodes are determined synchronously or asynchronously.

6. The touch method of claim 1, wherein if it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device, a region is set, and a hovering position of the transmitter is within the region, wherein the detection for hovering position is executed inside the region, and the mutual capacitive detection for touch position is executed outside the region on the touch device.

7. The touch method of claim 1, wherein the touch device comprises a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, wherein if a covering area of the plurality of driving electrodes is greater than the covering area of the plurality of sensing electrodes, all or part of the plurality of driving electrodes are detected to determine the intensity of the second electrical signal, or if the covering area of the plurality of sensing electrodes is greater than the covering area of the plurality of driving electrodes, all or part of the plurality of sensing electrodes are detected to determine the intensity of the second electrical signal.

8. The touch method of claim 7, wherein while detecting all or part of the plurality of driving electrodes, the driving electrodes not being detected and the sensing electrodes are floated, or while detecting all or part of the plurality of sensing electrodes, the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes being not detected are floated.

9. A touch device, comprising:

a electrode module, generating a second electrical signal induced by a first electrical signal emitted by a transmitter, wherein a third electrical signal of the second electrical signal is transmitted to an approaching or touching object; and

a controller, detecting the intensity of the third electrical signal and determining if the transmitter is hovering above the touch device according to the second electrical signal and the third electrical signal, wherein the third electrical signal is a part of the second electrical signal without the first electrical.

10. The touch device of claim 9, wherein it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device if the intensity of the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is greater than a first threshold, and it is determined that the transmitter is touching the touch device when the intensity of the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is greater than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold.

11. The touch device of claim 9, wherein the controller determines if the frequency of the second electrical signal or the third electrical signal is a predetermined frequency, wherein the controller detects the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal if the frequency of the second electrical signal or the third electrical signal is the predetermined frequency, wherein the transmitter emits the first electrical signal, and the frequency of the first electrical signal is the predetermined frequency.

12. The touch device of claim 9, wherein the electrode module comprises a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, and if it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device, the controller determines a hovering position of the transmitter above the plurality of driving electrodes and the hovering position of the transmitter above the plurality of sensing electrodes synchronously or asynchronously.

13. The touch device of claim 9, wherein if it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device, the controller sets a region, and a hovering position of the transmitter is within the region, wherein the detection for hovering position is executed inside the region, and the mutual capacitive detection for touch position is executed outside the region on the touch device.

14. The touch device of claim 9, wherein the touch device comprises a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, wherein if a covering area of the plurality of driving electrodes is greater than the covering area of the plurality of sensing electrodes, the controller detects all or part of the plurality of driving electrodes to determine the intensity of the second electrical signal, or if the covering area of the plurality of sensing electrodes is greater than the covering area of the plurality of driving electrodes, the controller detects all or part of the plurality of sensing electrodes to determine the intensity of the second electrical signal.

15. The touch device of claim 14, wherein while the controller is detecting all or part of the plurality of driving electrodes, the driving electrodes not being detected and the sensing electrodes are floated, or while the controller is detecting all or part of the plurality of sensing electrodes, the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes being not detected are floated.

16. A touch processor, executing the operations:

detecting the intensity of a third electrical signal, wherein a touch device induces a second electrical signal by a first electrical signal emitted by a transmitter, and the third electrical signal of the second electrical signal is transmitted from the touch device to an approaching or touching object; and

determining if the transmitter is hovering above the touch device according to the intensity of the second electrical signal and the third electrical signal, wherein the third electrical signal is a part of the second electrical signal without the first electrical.

17. The touch processor of claim 16, wherein it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device if the intensity of the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is greater than a first threshold, and it is determined that the transmitter is touching the touch device when the intensity of the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is greater than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold.

18. The touch processor of claim 16, further comprising:

determining if the frequency of the second electrical signal or the third electrical signal is a predetermined frequency, wherein the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is detected if the frequency of the second electrical signal or the third electrical signal is the predetermined frequency, wherein the transmitter emits the first electrical signal, and the frequency of the first electrical signal is the predetermined frequency.

19. The touch processor of claim 16, wherein the touch device comprises a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, and if it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device, a hovering position of the transmitter above the plurality of driving electrodes and the hovering position of the transmitter above the plurality of sensing electrodes are determined synchronously or asynchronously.

20. The touch processor of claim 16, wherein if it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device, a region is set, and a hovering position of the transmitter is within the region, wherein the detection for hovering position is executed inside the region, and the mutual capacitive detection for touch position is executed outside the region on the touch device.

21. The touch processor of claim 16, wherein the touch device comprises a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, wherein if a covering area of the plurality of driving electrodes is greater than the covering area of the plurality of sensing electrodes, all or part of the plurality of driving electrodes are detected to determine the intensity of the second electrical signal, or if the covering area of the plurality of sensing electrodes is greater than the covering area of the plurality of driving electrodes, all or part of the plurality of sensing electrodes are detected to determine the intensity of the second electrical signal.

22. The touch processor of claim 21, wherein while detecting all or part of the plurality of driving electrodes, the driving electrodes being not detected and the sensing electrodes are floated, or while detecting all or part of the plurality of sensing electrodes, the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes being not detected are floated.

23. A touch system, comprising:

a transmitter, emitting a first electrical signal; and

a touch device, inducing a second electrical signal by the first electrical signal emitted by the transmitter, and a third electrical signal of the second electrical signal is transmitted to an approaching or touching object, wherein the touch device detects the intensity of the second electrical signal and the third electrical signal to determine if the transmitter is hovering above the touch device, wherein the third electrical signal is a part of the second electrical signal without the first electrical.

24. The touch system of claim 23, wherein it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device if the intensity of the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is greater than a first threshold, and it is determined that the transmitter is touching the touch device when the intensity of the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal is greater than a second threshold, wherein the second threshold is greater than the first threshold.

25. The touch system of claim 23, wherein the touch device comprises:

a electrode module, inducing the second electrical signal by the first electrical signal; and

a controller, detecting the intensity of the third electrical signal to determine if the transmitter is hovering above the touch device.

26. The touch system of claim 25, wherein the controller determines if the frequency of the second electrical signal or the third electrical signal is a predetermined frequency, wherein the controller detects the sum of absolute value of the second and the third electrical signal if the frequency of the second electrical signal or the third electrical signal is the predetermined frequency, wherein the transmitter emits the first electrical signal, and the frequency of the first electrical signal is the predetermined frequency.

27. The touch system of claim 25, wherein the electrode module comprises a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, and if it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device, the controller determines a hovering position of the transmitter above the plurality of driving electrodes and the hovering position of the transmitter above the plurality of sensing electrodes synchronously or asynchronously.

28. The touch system of claim 25, wherein if it is determined that the transmitter is hovering above the touch device, the controller sets a region, and a hovering position of the transmitter is within the region, wherein the detection for hovering position is executed inside the region, and the mutual capacitive detection for touch position is executed outside the region on the touch device.

29. The touch system of claim 25, wherein the touch device comprises a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes, wherein if a covering area of the plurality of driving electrodes is greater than the covering area of the plurality of sensing electrodes, the controller detects all or part of the plurality of driving electrodes to determine the intensity of the second electrical signal, or if the covering area of the plurality of sensing electrodes is greater than the covering area of the plurality of driving electrodes, the controller detects all or part of the plurality of sensing electrodes to determine the intensity of the second electrical signal.

30. The touch system of claim 29, wherein while the controller is detecting all or part of the plurality of driving electrodes, the driving electrodes being not detected and the sensing electrodes are floated, or while the controller modulo is detecting all or part of the plurality of sensing electrodes, the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes being not detected are floated.