Capacitive touch sensor with independently adjustable sense channels

• US 20070074913A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Geaghan, Bernard, Cordeiro, Craig
• Application Number:
  US11/243,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20070074913A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.60
• 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

Abstract

Touch sensing systems and methods employ a touch surface and a touch sensor. An array of electrodes of the touch sensor is configured to capacitively couple to a touch in proximity with the touch surface. Circuitry is coupled to each electrode via a channel and configured to sense signals present on the electrodes. The circuitry is configured to independently adjust a sensed response of each electrode. For example, the circuitry may be configured to adjust a gain of each channel, an offset of each channel, or a gain and offset of each channel.

Claims

1. A touch sensing system, comprising:

a touch surface; and

a touch sensor, comprising;

an array of electrodes configured to capacitively couple to a touch in proximity with the touch surface; and

circuitry coupled to each electrode via a channel and configured to sense signals present on the electrodes, the circuitry configured to independently adjust a sensed response of each electrode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises a processor configured to implement an algorithm to adjust the sensed response of each electrode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to adjust the sensed response of each channel such that a parameter of sensed signals is substantially the same among individual channels.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to adjust the sensed response of each channel by adjusting a gain of each channel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to adjust the sensed response of each channel by adjusting an offset of each channel.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the circuitry is configured to adjust the offset to substantially null a parasitic capacitance associated with each channel.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to adjust the sensed response of each channel by adjusting a gain and an offset of each channel.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each channel comprises or is switchably coupled to an integrator.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the integrator is coupled to digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the DAC is configured as a pulse width modulator.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to integrate signals present on the electrodes.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each channel comprises an integrator having an integration time constant, the circuitry configured to adjust a gain of each channel by adjusting the integration time constant of the integrator.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein each channel comprises an integrator having an integration time constant, the circuitry configured to adjust a gain of each channel by adjusting an integration time of the integrator.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein each channel comprises an integrator and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), the DAC adjusting an offset of the integrator.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein each channel comprises an integrator, and the circuitry is configured to perform signal processing with the integrator and adjust an offset of the integrator.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein each channel comprises or is switchably coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

17. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each channel comprises or is switchably coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); and

the circuitry is configured to adjust the sensed response of each channel to fall within a range of the ADC.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein:

each channel comprises or is switchably coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); and

the circuitry is configured to adjust the sensed response of each channel to correspond to a maximum range of the ADC in the absence of the touch in proximity with the touch surface.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is coupled to one or more user actuatable switches through individual input/output channels, the circuitry configured to independently adjust one or both of a gain and an offset of each input/output channel.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the circuitry comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to each of the channels and input/output channels, the circuitry configured to adjust one or both of the gain and offset of each input/output channel and one or both of a gain and an offset of each channel such that sensed signals communicated by the respective channels are within range of the ADC.

21. A method for use with a touch sensor comprising a touch surface, the method comprising:

measuring signals present on electrodes of an array of electrodes, the electrodes configured to capacitively couple to a touch in proximity with the touch surface; and

independently adjusting a sensed response of each electrode.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting the sensed response of each electrode comprises algorithmically adjusting the sensed response of each electrode.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting the sensed response of each electrode comprises adjusting a sensed response of a channel coupled to each electrode such that a parameter of sensed signals is substantially the same among individual channels.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting the sensed response of each electrode comprises adjusting a gain of individual channels coupled to respective electrodes.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting the sensed response of each electrode comprises adjusting an offset of individual channels coupled to respective electrodes.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting the sensed response of each electrode comprises substantially nulling a parasitic capacitance associated with individual channels coupled to respective electrodes.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein adjusting the sensed response of each electrode comprises adjusting a gain and an offset of individual channels coupled to respective electrodes.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein measuring the signals comprises integrating the signals.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein measuring the signals comprises integrating the signals, and adjusting the sensed response of each electrode comprises adjusting a time constant of integration to adjust a gain of individual channels coupled to respective electrodes.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein measuring the signals comprises integrating the signals, and adjusting the sensed response of each electrode comprises adjusting an integration time to adjust a gain of individual channels coupled to respective electrodes.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein measuring the signals comprises integrating the signals, and adjusting the sensed response of each electrode comprises performing signal processing with signal integration to adjust an offset of individual channels coupled to respective electrodes.

32. The method of claim 21, further comprising measuring signals received from input/output channels coupled to user actuatable switches, and independently adjusting one or both of a gain and an offset of each input/output channel.

33. A system comprising a touch sensor having a touch surface, the system comprising:

means for measuring signals present on electrodes of an array of electrodes, the electrodes configured to capacitively couple to a touch in proximity with the touch surface; and

means for independently adjusting a sensed response of each electrode.

34. The system of claim 33, comprising means for measuring signals received from input/output channels coupled to user actuatable switches, and means for independently adjusting one or both of a gain and an offset of each input/output channel.