Uniformity correction method for low cost and non-rectangular touch sensor matrices

• US 10,572,068 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Yarosh, Andriy, Weber, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Amadiz, Rodney
• Application Number:
  US16/224,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20190196653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• 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

Systems and methods access a correction value in a correction matrix. The correction matrix defines an active region of a touch array that includes plurality of unit cells. The correction value corresponds to a unit cell of the plurality of unit cells. Systems and methods modify a touch sense value of the unit cell using the correction value, based on the unit cell being partially within the active region. Systems and methods detect an object using the touch array, based on the modified sense value.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing a correction value in a correction matrix, the correction matrix defining an active region of a touch array, the touch array comprising a plurality of unit cells, wherein the correction value corresponds to a unit cell of the plurality of unit cells; and

modifying a touch sense value of the unit cell using the correction value, based on the unit cell being partially within the active region, wherein the modifying of the touch sense value is based on the unit cell being partially within an inactive region of the touch array, the correction matrix defining the inactive region; and

detecting an object using the touch array, based on the modified sense value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying of the sense value comprises using a gain value that is based on a proportion of the unit cell that is within the active region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying of the touch sense value using the correction value comprises modifying the touch sense value using a non-unity gain correction value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying of the touch sense value using the correction value comprises modifying the touch sense value using a masking correction value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying of the touch sense value comprises modifying the touch sense value based on the unit cell being on an edge of the active region.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying of the touch sense value comprises modifying the touch sense value based on the unit cell being partially within a hole of the touch array.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the hole comprises an opening in a surface of touch panel comprising the touch array.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting user input to a touch panel of a vehicle, based on the detecting of the object.

9. A system comprising:

a vehicle touch panel comprising a plurality of discrete sensors;

a processor coupled to the vehicle touch panel; and

a memory configured to store a correction matrix that defines an active region of the plurality of discrete sensors and an inactive region of the plurality of discrete sensors, wherein the processor is configured to;

access, in the memory, a correction value of the correction matrix that corresponds to a discrete sensor of the plurality of discrete sensors, and generate a modified sense value of the discrete sensor using the correction value, based on the discrete sensor being partially within the active region and partially within the inactive region, wherein the discrete sensor of the plurality of discrete sensors is on an edge of the active region.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the inactive region comprises an opening in a surface of the vehicle touch panel.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to use a gain value to generate the modified sense value, wherein the gain value is based on a proportion of the discrete sensor that is within the active region.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to use a non-unity gain correction value to generate the modified sense value.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to use a masking correction value to generate the modified sense value.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the vehicle touch panel comprises a sensor array comprising the plurality of discrete sensors.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensor array comprises a plurality of unit cells, wherein each discrete sensor, of the plurality of discrete sensors, corresponds to a different unit cell, of the plurality of unit cells.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the inactive region is adjacent to a first edge of the active region, wherein the correction matrix defines another inactive region of the plurality of discrete sensors, wherein the other active region is adjacent to a second edge of the active region, wherein the inactive region and the other inactive region are separated by the active region.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein active regions comprises a rounded edge.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the active region comprises a trapezoidal shape and at least one of the inactive region and the other inactive region comprises a triangular shape.

19. A method comprising:

accessing a correction value in a correction matrix, the correction matrix defining an active region of a touch array, the touch array comprising a plurality of unit cells, wherein the correction value corresponds to a unit cell of the plurality of unit cells; and

modifying a touch sense value of the unit cell using the correction value, based on the unit cell being partially within the active region;

detecting an object using the touch array, based on the modified sense value; and

detecting user input to a touch panel of a vehicle, based on the detecting of the object.