Pressure-sensitive touch panel

• US 10,254,894 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2016
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cambridge Touch Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nathan, Arokia, Banks, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Sasinowski, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US15/386,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20170199624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• 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 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04107 Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- 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 without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04182 Filtering of noise external to the device and not generated by digitiser components
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A device for combined capacitance and pressure measurements includes a plurality of first input/output terminals for a projected capacitance touch panel wherein the projected capacitance touch panel includes a layer of piezoelectric material disposed between a plurality of sensing electrodes and a common electrode. The device also includes a plurality of second input/output terminals for a capacitive touch controller. The device also includes a plurality of separation stages, each separation stage connecting one first input/output terminal to a corresponding second input/output terminal, and each separation stage includes a first frequency-dependent filter for filtering signals between respective first and second input/output terminals. The device also includes at least one amplification stage, each amplification stage having at least one input and an output configured to provide an amplified signal, wherein the number of amplification stages is less than or equal to the number of separation stages and each amplification stage input is connected to one or more of the first input/output terminals through the respective separation stage(s) Each amplification stage or each separation stage includes a second frequency-dependent filter for filtering signals between the respective first input/output terminal and an amplification stage input. Each first frequency-dependent filter is configured to pass signals from the capacitive touch controller and each second frequency-dependent filter is configured to attenuate signals from the capacitive touch controller.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a plurality of first input/output terminals for a projected capacitance touch panel, wherein the projected capacitance touch panel comprises a layer of piezoelectric material disposed between a plurality of sensing electrodes and a common electrode, wherein the layer of piezoelectric material is uniform and at least co-extensive with the plurality of sensing electrodes;

a plurality of second input/output terminals for a capacitive touch controller;

a plurality of separation stages, each separation stage connecting one first input/output terminal to a corresponding second input/output terminal, and each separation stage comprising a first frequency-dependent filter for filtering signals between respective first and second input/output terminals;

at least one amplification stage, each amplification stage having at least one input and an output configured to provide an amplified signal, wherein the number of amplification stages is less than or equal to the number of the plurality of separation stages and each amplification stage input is connected to one or more of the first input/output terminals through one or more respective separation stage;

wherein each separation stage comprises a second frequency-dependent filter for filtering signals between the respective first input/output;

terminal and an amplification stage input;

wherein each first frequency-dependent filter is configured to pass signals from the capacitive touch controller and each second frequency-dependent filter is configured to attenuate signals from the capacitive touch controller.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second frequency-dependent filters are configured such that the amplitude of the amplified signal from each amplification stage output is dependent upon a pressure applied to the projected capacitance touch panel proximate to at least one sensing electrode of the plurality of sensing electrodes connected to at least one corresponding first input/output terminal.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein each amplification stage is connected to one first input/output terminal through one separation stage.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein each amplification stage is connected to a two or more of the first input/output terminals through respective separation stages.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the, plurality of separation stages and the plurality of amplification stages are connected by a resistance network.

6. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a common terminal for receiving bias signals from the capacitive touch controller;

wherein each separation stage further comprises an additional first frequency-dependent filter, and a reference resistance and a reference capacitance connected in series, each separation stage configured to connect the respective second input/output terminal to the common terminal through the reference resistance and capacitance, the additional first frequency-dependent filter for filtering signals between the respective second input/output terminal and the common terminal;

wherein each amplification stage is a differential amplification stage having a first amplification stage input connected to one or more of the first input/output terminals through one or more respective separation stage and a second amplification stage input connected to the common terminal through the reference resistance and reference capacitance of the one or more respective separation stage;

wherein each separation stage further comprises an additional second frequency-dependent filter for filtering signals between the respective second amplification stage input first terminal and the common terminal.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third terminal; and

a pressure signal processing module having a plurality of inputs and an output, each input connected to a corresponding amplification stage output, and the output connected to the third terminal;

wherein the pressure signal processing module is configured to receive the amplified signals, to calculate pressure values in dependence upon the amplified signals, and to provide an output comprising pressure values to the third terminal.

8. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a capacitive touch controller having a plurality of electrode monitoring ports and a common output port, each electrode monitoring port connected to a corresponding second input/output terminal, and the common output port for providing bias signals to a common electrode of the projected capacitance touch panel;

wherein the capacitive touch controller is configured to send and/or receive signals to and/or from sensing electrodes of the projected capacitance touch panel via the respective signal separation stages, to calculate capacitance values in dependence upon the sent and/or received signals, and to provide an output comprising capacitance values.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a device according to claim 1, the device further comprising a plurality of third terminals, each third terminal connected to a corresponding amplification stage output;

a pressure signal processing module having a plurality of inputs and an output, each input connected to a corresponding third terminal of the device;

wherein the pressure signal processing module is configured to receive the amplified signals, to calculate pressure values in dependence upon the amplified signals, and to provide an output comprising pressure values.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a device according to claim 1; and

a capacitive touch controller having a plurality of electrode monitoring ports and a common output port, each electrode monitoring port connected to a corresponding second input/output terminal of the device, and the common output port for providing bias signals to a common electrode of the projected capacitance touch panel;

wherein the capacitive touch controller is configured to send and/or receive signals to and/or from sensing electrodes of the projected capacitance touch panel via the respective signal separation stages, to calculate capacitance values in dependence upon the sent and/or received signals, and to provide an output comprising capacitance values.

11. A touch panel system comprising:

a device according to claim 1; and

a projected capacitance touch panel comprising;

a layer structure comprising one or more layers, each layer extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction, the one or more layers including a layer of piezoelectric material, the layer structure having first and second opposite faces, and the one or more layer arranged between the first and second faces such that the thickness direction of each layer is perpendicular to the first and second faces;

a plurality of first sensing electrodes disposed on the first face, each first sensing electrode connected to a corresponding first input/output terminal of the device; and

a common electrode disposed on the second face for receiving a bias signal from a capacitive touch controller;

wherein the layer of piezoelectric material is uniform and at least co-extensive with the plurality of first sensing electrodes.

12. A touch panel system according to claim 11, wherein the common electrode comprises a region of conductive material arranged in a grid.

13. A touch panel system according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of first electrodes comprises a plurality of conductive pads disposed on the first face in an array.

14. A touch panel system according to claim 11, wherein the projected capacitance touch panel further comprises a plurality of second sensing electrodes disposed overlying the first face of the layer structure and arranged such that the layer structure is between the plurality of second sensing electrodes and the common electrode;

wherein each of second sensing electrodes is connected to a corresponding first input/output terminal.

15. A touch panel system according to claim 14, wherein each first sensing electrode extends in a first direction and the plurality of first sensing electrodes are arrayed spaced apart perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein each second sensing electrode extends in a second direction and the plurality of second sensing electrodes are arrayed spaced apart perpendicular to the second direction, wherein the first and second directions are different.

16. A touch panel system according to claim 14, wherein the touch panel further comprises a second layer structure comprising one or more dielectric layers, each dielectric layer extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction, the second layer structure having third and fourth opposite faces, the dielectric layers arranged between the third and fourth faces such that the thickness direction of each dielectric layer is perpendicular to the third and fourth faces;

wherein the plurality of second sensing electrodes arc disposed on the third face of the second layer structure and the fourth face of the second layer structure contacts the plurality of first sensing electrodes.

17. A touch panel system according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of second sensing electrodes are disposed on the first face of the layer structure, wherein each first sensing electrode comprises a continuous conductive region and each second sensing electrode comprises a plurality of conductive regions electrically connected to one another by jumpers, each jumper spanning a conductive region forming a portion of one of the first sensing electrodes.

18. A portable electronic device comprising:

a device according to claim 1; and

a signal processor arranged to receive the pressure values and/or capacitance values, wherein the signal processor is configured to employ correlated double sampling methods so as to improve signal to noise ratio of the pressure values and/or capacitance values.

19. A method comprising:

transmitting and filtering, using a first frequency-dependent filter, signals between a capacitive touch controller and a sensing electrode of a projected capacitance touch panel which comprises a layer of piezoelectric material disposed between a plurality of sensing electrodes and a common electrode, wherein the layer of piezoelectric material is uniform and at least co-extensive with the plurality of sensing electrodes;

filtering, using a second frequency-dependent filter, signals between the sensing electrode of the projected capacitance touch panel and an amplification stage input to produce a filtered signal; and

amplifying the filtered signal to produce an amplified signal;

wherein each first frequency-dependent filter is configured to pass signals from the capacitive touch controller and each second frequency-dependent filter is configured to attenuate signals from the capacitive touch controller.

20. A device comprising:

a plurality of first input/output terminals for a projected capacitance touch panel, wherein the projected capacitance touch panel comprises a layer of piezoelectric material disposed between a plurality of sensing electrodes and a common electrode, wherein the layer of piezoelectric material is uniform and at least co-extensive with the plurality of sensing electrodes;

a plurality of second input/output terminals for a capacitive touch controller;

a plurality of separation stages, each separation stage connecting one first input/output terminal to a corresponding second input/output terminal, and each separation stage comprising a first frequency-dependent filter for filtering signals between respective first and second input/output terminals;

at least one amplification stage, each amplification stage having at least one input and an output configured to provide an amplified signal, wherein the number of amplification stages is less than or equal to the number of separation stages and each amplification stage input is connected to one or more of the first input/output terminals through one or more respective separation stages;

wherein each amplification stage comprises a second frequency-dependent filter for filtering signals between the respective first input/output terminal and an amplification stage input;

wherein each first frequency-dependent filter is configured to pass signals from the capacitive touch controller and each second frequency-dependent filter is configured to attenuate signals from the capacitive touch controller.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the second frequency-dependent filters are configured such that the amplitude of the amplified signal from each amplification stage output is dependent upon a pressure applied to the projected capacitance touch panel proximate to at least one sensing electrode of the plurality of sensing electrodes that is connected to at least one corresponding first input/output terminal.

22. A device according to claim 20, wherein each amplification stage is connected to one first input/output terminal through one separation stage.

23. A device according to claim 20, wherein each amplification stage is connected to a two or more of the first input/output terminals through respective separation stages.

24. A touch panel system comprising:

the device according to claim 20; and

a projected capacitance touch panel comprising;

a layer structure comprising one or more layers, each layer extending perpendicularly to a thickness direction, the one or more layers including a layer of piezoelectric material, the layer structure having first and second opposite faces, and the one or more layers arranged between the first and second faces such that the thickness direction of each layer is perpendicular to the first and second faces;

a plurality of first sensing electrodes disposed on the first face, each first sensing electrode connected to a corresponding first input/output terminal of the device; and

a common electrode disposed on the second face for receiving a bias signal from a capacitive touch controller;

wherein the layer of piezoelectric material is uniform and at least coextensive with the plurality of first sensing electrodes.