Method and device for analyzing positions

• US 20110084937A1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eGalax_eMPIA Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: eGalax_eMPIA Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Cheng-Han, Ho, Shun-Lung, Tang, Chi-Hao, Chang, Chin-Fu
• Granted Patent: US 8,400,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04182 Filtering of noise external to the device and not generated by digitiser components
• 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 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A method and device for analyzing positions are disclosed. In sensing information, at least one position is determined according to a first characteristic of a touch related sensing information. The sensing information also has a touch related sensing information with a second characteristic, which is opposite to the first characteristic. The touch related sensing information with the second characteristic is neglected or filtered. In addition, another method and device for analyzing positions are disclosed. An AC signal is provided through a pen, and a first characteristic of a touch related sensing information corresponding to a finger is opposite to the second characteristic of the touch related sensing information corresponding to the pen. The first characteristic and the second characteristic can be used to distinguish the touch of the finger from the touch of the pen or for palm rejection.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing positions, comprising:

obtaining a touch sensitive information from a plurality of sensors corresponding to at least one first external object touching or approaching a signal source, wherein the at least one first external object electrically coupled with at least one second external object, and the touch sensitive information corresponds to signals of these sensors mutual-capacitively coupled to the signal source, the at least one first external object and the at least one second external object;

determining a characteristic in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one first external object; and

analyzing a position corresponding to the at least one first external object only at a portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filtering a portion that is opposite to the characteristic in the touch sensitive information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the filtered touch sensitive information in the touch sensitive information is replaced by a default value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first external object receives a signal by capacitive coupling, and these sensors capactively couple the signal via the at least one second external object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the order in which the signal mutual-capactively coupled between these sensors and the at least one first external object ascend and descend is opposite to the order in which the signal mutual-capactively coupled between these sensors and the at least one second external object ascend and descend.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing of the position touched or approached by the at least one first external object includes:

analyzing the portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic by a threshold;

analyzing the position touched or approached by the at least one first external object based on the portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing of the position touched or approached by the at least one first external object includes:

analyzing the portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic by a positive threshold, a negative threshold or a combination of both;

analyzing the position touched or approached by the at least one first external object based on the portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic, wherein the characteristic is a zero-crossing after a portion larger than the positive threshold, a zero-crossing before a portion smaller than the negative threshold or a combination of both.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to a single first external object is positive or negative, and the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to a single second external object is opposite to the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the single first external object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one first external object is an alternating combination of at least one positive value and at least one negative value in addition to a zero-crossing, the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one first external object starts with the at least one positive or the at least one negative value, and the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one second external object is opposite to the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one first external object.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic corresponds to the order in which values of the touch sensitive information ascend and descend, and the characteristic includes first ascending then descending or first descending then ascending.

11. A device for analyzing positions, comprising:

a sensing device including a plurality of sensors; and

a controller for performing at least the following operations;

obtaining a touch sensitive information from the plurality of sensors corresponding to at least one first external object touching or approaching a signal source, wherein the at least one first external object electrically coupled with at least one second external object, and the touch sensitive information corresponds to signals of these sensors mutual-capacitively coupled to the signal source, the at least one first external object and the at least one second external object;

determining a characteristic in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one first external object; and

analyzing a position corresponding to the at least one first external object only in a portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the controller further includes performing the following operation:

filtering a portion that is opposite to the characteristic in the touch sensitive information.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the filtered touch sensitive information in the touch sensitive information is replaced by a default value.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first external object receives a signal by capacitive coupling, and these sensors capactively couple the signal via the at least one second external object.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the order in which the signal mutual-capactively coupled between these sensors and the at least one first external object ascend and descend is opposite to the order in which the signal mutual-capactively coupled between these sensors and the at least one second external object ascend and descend.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the analyzing of the position touched or approached by the at least one first external object includes:

analyzing the portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic by a threshold;

analyzing the position touched or approached by the at least one first external object based on the portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the analyzing of the position touched or approached by the at least one first external object includes:

analyzing the portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic by a positive threshold, a negative threshold or a combination of both;

analyzing the position touched or approached by the at least one first external object based on the portion in the touch sensitive information that matches the characteristic, wherein the characteristic is a zero-crossing after a portion larger than the positive threshold, a zero-crossing before a portion smaller than the negative threshold or a combination of both.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to a single first external object is positive or negative, and the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to a single second external object is opposite to the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the single first external object.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one first external object is an alternating combination of at least one positive value and at least one negative value in addition to a zero-crossing, the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one first external object starts with the at least one positive or the at least one negative value, and the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one second external object is opposite to the portion in the touch sensitive information corresponding to the at least one first external object.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the characteristic corresponds to the order in which values of the touch sensitive information ascend and descend, and the characteristic includes first ascending then descending or first descending then ascending.