Sending drive signals with an increased number of pulses to particular drive lines

• US 10,620,761 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2018
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Inventors: Sundara-Rajan, Kishore
• Primary Examiner(s): Faragalla, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US15/927,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20180217699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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

In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a touch of an object on a device. The method further includes predicting an area of the device to which the detected touch will move. Predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move is based at least in part on the following: a size of a footprint of the object, a speed of travel of the object, a latency associated with the object, a drive line pitch of a touch sensor of the device, and a frame rate.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a touch of an object on a device; and

predicting an area of the device to which the detected touch will move;

wherein predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move is based at least in part on the following;

a size of a footprint of the object;

a speed of travel of the object;

a latency associated with the object;

a drive line pitch of a touch sensor of the device; and

a frame rate of the touch sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move comprises calculating a number of drive lines that the object can potentially move to during each frame.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the size of the footprint of the object is associated with a number of drive lines;

the speed of travel of the object is the fastest speed of travel of the object; and

the latency associated with the object is the latency between an end of a scan of the touch sensor and a determination of a position of the object based on the scan.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of:

a user'"'"'s finger;

an active stylus; and

a passive stylus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move comprises calculating the predicted area to which the detected touch will move according to the following formula:

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the touch of the object on the device comprises sensing a change in capacitance at a capacitive node of the touch sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, in response to predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move, a first set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within the predicted area, the first set of drive signals each having a first number of pulses;

detecting that the object is not touching the device anymore; and

in response to the detected absence of touch, sending a second set of drive signals to the one or more drive lines within the predicted area, the second set of drive signals each having a second number of pulses, wherein the second number of pulses is lower than the first number of pulses.

8. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

detect a touch of an object on a device; and

predict an area of the device to which the detected touch will move;

wherein predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move is based at least in part on the following;

a size of a footprint of the object;

a speed of travel of the object;

a latency associated with the object;

a drive line pitch of a touch sensor of the device; and

a frame rate of the touch sensor.

9. The media of claim 8, wherein predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move comprises calculating a number of drive lines that the object can potentially move to during each frame.

10. The media of claim 8, wherein:

the size of the footprint of the object is associated with a number of drive lines;

the speed of travel of the object is the fastest speed of travel of the object; and

the latency associated with the object is the latency between an end of a scan of the touch sensor and a determination of a position of the object based on the scan.

11. The media of claim 8, wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of:

a user'"'"'s finger;

an active stylus; and

a passive stylus.

12. The media of claim 8, wherein predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move comprises calculating the predicted area to which the detected touch will move according to the following formula:

13. The media of claim 8, wherein detecting the touch of the object on the device comprises sensing a change in capacitance at a capacitive node of the touch sensor.

14. The media of claim 8, the logic further operable when executed to:

send, in response to predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move, a first set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within the predicted area, the first set of drive signals each having a first number of pulses;

detect that the object is not touching the device anymore; and

in response to the detected absence of touch, send a second set of drive signals to the one or more drive lines within the predicted area, the second set of drive signals each having a second number of pulses, wherein the second number of pulses is lower than the first number of pulses.

15. A device comprising:

a touch sensor; and

a touch-sensor controller operable to;

detect a touch of an object on the device; and

predict an area of the device to which the detected touch will move;

wherein predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move is based at least in part on the following;

a size of a footprint of the object;

a speed of travel of the object;

a latency associated with the object;

a drive line pitch of a touch sensor of the device; and

a frame rate of the touch sensor.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move comprises calculating a number of drive lines that the object can potentially move to during each frame.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein:

the size of the footprint of the object is associated with a number of drive lines;

the speed of travel of the object is the fastest speed of travel of the object; and

the latency associated with the object is the latency between an end of a scan of the touch sensor and a determination of a position of the object based on the scan.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of:

a user'"'"'s finger;

an active stylus; and

a passive stylus.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move comprises calculating the predicted area to which the detected touch will move according to the following formula:

20. The device of claim 15, wherein detecting the touch of the object on the device comprises sensing a change in capacitance at a capacitive node of the touch sensor.