Touch panel sensing circuit

• US 20110102061A1
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orise Technology Co., Ltd (FocalTech Systems Co.,Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Orise Technology Co., Ltd (FocalTech Systems Co.,Ltd)
• Inventors: Huang, Yen-Lin, Wang, Hsin-Hao
• Granted Patent: US 8,514,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 327/517
• 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: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960775 Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes

Abstract

A touch panel sensing circuit senses a voltage variation of a coupling capacitor formed between a first directional signal line and a second directional signal line separated from the first directional signal line by a dielectric when an object approaches. The sensing circuit eliminates the parasitic capacitance effect on the signal lines and rapidly accumulates charges for an amplifier in sensing to thereby increase the operational speed of the sensing circuit.

Claims

1. A touch panel sensing circuit for sensing a voltage variation of a coupling capacitor formed between a first directional signal line and a second directional signal line separated from the first directional signal line when an object approaches, the touch panel sensing circuit comprising:

an input voltage source for producing a plurality of periodic voltage cycles;

a first voltage switch having a first terminal connected to the input voltage source and a second terminal connected to the first directional signal line;

a common voltage source for providing a DC common voltage;

a second voltage switch having a first terminal connected to the common voltage source and a second terminal connected to the first directional signal line;

a first switch having a first terminal connected to the second directional signal line;

an amplifier having an inverting input terminal connected to a second terminal of the first switch;

a second switch having a first terminal connected to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier;

a third switch having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the second switch and a second terminal connected to the common voltage source;

a fourth switch having a first terminal connected to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier;

a first feedback capacitor having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the fourth switch;

a fifth switch having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the first feedback capacitor and a second terminal connected to an output terminal of the amplifier;

a sixth switch having a first terminal connected to the input voltage source and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the first feedback capacitor;

a seventh switch having a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the fourth switch and a second terminal connected to the common voltage source;

an eighth switch having a first terminal connected to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier and a second terminal connected to the output terminal of the amplifier; and

a third voltage switch having a first terminal connected to a non-inverting input terminal of the amplifier, a second terminal connected to the common voltage source and a third terminal connected to the input voltage source.

2. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit forms a feedback loop to speed up charge accumulation by switching the first to eighth switches and the first to third voltage switches and using the first and the second feedback capacitors in an initialization cycle and multiple charge accumulation cycles.

3. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the output terminal of the amplifier in a first charge accumulation cycle outputs a voltage of Δ

V, and the sensing circuit in an (N−

1)-th charge accumulation cycle finally outputs a voltage of N×

Δ

V through the output terminal of the amplifier, where

4. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the initialization cycle comprises a reset period, a first sampling period and a first amplifying period, and each charge accumulation cycle comprises a charge accumulating period, a second sampling period and a second amplifying period.

5. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein, at the reset period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is on, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, second, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth switches are on, and the third and sixth switches are off.

6. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 5, wherein, at the first sampling period, the first voltage switch is on, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, fourth, sixth and eighth switches are on, and the second, third, fifth and seventh switches are off.

7. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein, at the first amplifying period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is on, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, third, fourth and fifth switches are on, and the second, sixth, seventh and eighth switches are off.

8. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 7, wherein, at the charge accumulating period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the input voltage source, such that the second, fifth and seventh switches are on, and the first, third, fourth, sixth and eighth switches are off.

9. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein, at the second sampling period, the first voltage switch is on, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first and eighth switches are on, and the second to seventh switches are off.

10. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 9, wherein, at the second amplifying period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is on, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, third, fourth and fifth switches are on, and the second, sixth, seventh and eighth switches are off.

11. A touch panel incorporated with the touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

a first directional signal line switch for controlling a set of input voltage sources and a set of common voltage sources, wherein the set of input voltage sources provides the input voltage, and the set of common voltage sources provides the DC common voltage;

a first timing controller connected to the touch panel sensing circuit for controlling a timing of the touch panel sensing circuit;

a second timing controller connected to the first directional signal line switch for controlling a timing of the first directional signal line switch to provide the input and the common voltage sources, wherein the touch panel sensing circuit senses a second directional voltage, the first timing controller controls the first to eighth switches and the third voltage switch, and the second timing controller controls an input voltage of at least one first directional signal line, thereby producing a plurality of clock signals on the at least one first directional signal line and obtaining a plurality of accumulated voltage variations through the variations of the coupling capacitors respectively between the first and second directional signal lines;

an analog to digital converter (ADC) connected to the sensing circuit for converting the voltage variations into a digital code; and

a digital signal processor connected to the ADC for determining whether an object approaches to touch the touch panel based on the digital code.

12. A touch panel sensing circuit for sensing a voltage variation of a coupling capacitor formed between a first directional signal line and a second directional signal line separated from the first directional signal line when an object approaches, the touch panel sensing circuit comprising:

an input voltage source for producing a plurality of periodic voltage cycles;

a first voltage switch having a first terminal connected to the input voltage source and a second terminal connected to the first directional signal line;

a common voltage source for providing a DC common voltage;

a second voltage switch having a first terminal connected to the common voltage source and a second terminal connected to the first directional signal line;

a first switch having a first terminal connected to the second directional signal line;

an amplifier having an inverting input terminal connected to a second terminal of the first switch;

a second switch having a first terminal connected to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier;

a third switch having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the second switch and a second terminal connected to the common voltage source;

a fourth switch having a first terminal connected to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier;

a first feedback capacitor having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the fourth switch;

a fifth switch having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the first feedback capacitor and a second terminal connected to an output terminal of the amplifier;

a sixth switch having a first terminal connected to the first directional signal line and a second terminal connected to the second terminal of the first feedback capacitor;

a seventh switch having a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the fourth switch and a second terminal connected to the common voltage source;

an eighth switch having a first terminal connected to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier and a second terminal connected to the output terminal of the amplifier; and

a third voltage switch having a first terminal connected to a non-inverting input terminal of the amplifier, a second terminal connected to the common voltage source and a third terminal connected to the input voltage source.

13. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensing circuit forms a feedback loop to speed up charge accumulation by switching the first to eighth switches and the first to third voltage switches and using the first and the second feedback capacitors in an initialization cycle and multiple charge accumulation cycles.

14. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the output terminal of the amplifier in a first charge accumulation cycle outputs a voltage of Δ

V, and the sensing circuit in an (N−

1)-th charge accumulation cycle finally outputs a voltage of N×

Δ

V through the output terminal of the amplifier, where

15. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the initialization cycle comprises a reset period, a first sampling period and a first amplifying period, and each charge accumulation cycle comprises a charge accumulating period, a second sampling period and a second amplifying period.

16. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein, at the reset period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is on, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth switches are on, and the third switch is off.

17. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 16, wherein, at the first sampling period, the first voltage switch is on, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, fourth, sixth and eighth switches are on, and the second, third, fifth and seventh switches are off.

18. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 17, wherein, at the first amplifying period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is on, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, third, fourth and fifth switches are on, and the second, sixth, seventh and eighth switches are off.

19. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 18, wherein, at the charge accumulating period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the input voltage source, such that the second, fifth and seventh switches are on, and the first, third, fourth, sixth and eighth switches are off.

20. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 19, wherein, at the second sampling period, the first voltage switch is on, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first and eighth switches are on, and the second to seventh switches are off.

21. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 20, wherein, at the second amplifying period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is on, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, third, fourth and fifth switches are on, and the second, sixth, seventh and eighth switches are off.

22. A touch panel incorporated with the touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 12, comprising:

a first directional signal line switch for controlling a set of input voltage sources and a set of common voltage sources, wherein the set of input voltage sources provides the input voltage and the set of common voltage sources provides the DC common voltage;

a first timing controller connected to the touch panel sensing circuit for controlling a timing of the touch panel sensing circuit;

a second timing controller connected to the first directional signal line switch for controlling a timing of the first directional signal line switch to provide the input and the common voltage sources, wherein the sensing circuit senses a second directional voltage, the first timing controller controls the first to eighth switches and the third voltage switch, and the second timing controller controls an input voltage of at least one first directional signal line, thereby producing a plurality of clock signals on the at least one first directional signal line and obtaining a plurality of accumulated voltage variations through the variations of the coupling capacitors respectively between the first and second directional signal lines;

an analog to digital converter connected to the sensing circuit for converting the voltage variations into a digital code; and

a digital signal processor connected to the analog to digital converter for determining whether an object approaches to touch the touch panel according to the digital code.

23. A touch panel sensing circuit for sensing a voltage variation of a coupling capacitor formed between a first directional signal line and a second directional signal line separated from the first directional signal line when an object approaches, the touch panel sensing circuit comprising:

an input voltage source for producing a plurality of periodic voltage cycles;

a first voltage switch having a first terminal connected to the input voltage source and a second terminal connected to the first directional signal line;

a common voltage source for providing a DC common voltage;

a second voltage switch having a first terminal connected to the common voltage source and a second terminal connected to the first directional signal line;

a first switch having a first terminal connected to the second directional signal line;

an amplifier having an inverting input terminal connected to a second terminal of the first switch;

a second switch having a first terminal connected to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier;

a third switch having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the second switch and a second terminal connected to the common voltage source;

a fourth switch having a first terminal connected to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier;

a first feedback capacitor having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the fourth switch;

a fifth switch having a first terminal connected to a second terminal of the first feedback capacitor and a second terminal connected to an output terminal of the amplifier;

a seventh switch having a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the fourth switch and a second terminal connected to the common voltage source;

an eighth switch having a first terminal connected to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier and a second terminal connected to the output terminal of the amplifier; and

a third voltage switch having a first terminal connected to a non-inverting input terminal of the amplifier, a second terminal connected to the common voltage source and a third terminal connected to the input voltage source.

24. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 23, wherein the sensing circuit forms a feedback loop to speed up charge accumulation by switching the first to fifth and seventh to eighth switches and the first to third voltage switches and using the first and the second feedback capacitors in an initialization cycle and multiple charge accumulation cycles.

25. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 24, wherein the output terminal of the amplifier in a first charge accumulation cycle outputs a voltage of Δ

V, and the sensing circuit in an (N−

1)th charge accumulation cycle finally outputs a voltage of N×

Δ

V through the output terminal of the amplifier, where

26. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 24, wherein the initialization cycle comprises a reset period, a first sampling period, a second sampling period and a first amplifying period, and each charge accumulation cycle comprises a charge accumulating period, a third sampling period and a second amplifying period.

27. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 26, wherein at the reset period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is on, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, second, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth switches are on, and the third switch is off.

28. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 27, wherein at the first sampling period, the first voltage switch is on, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first and eighth switches are on, and the second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh switches are off.

29. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 28, wherein at the second sampling period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the input voltage source, such that the fifth, seventh and eighth switches are on, and the first to fourth switches are off.

30. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 29, wherein at the first amplifying period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is on, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, third, fourth and fifth switches are on, and the second, seventh and eighth switches are off.

31. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 30, wherein at the charge accumulating period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the input voltage source, such that the second, fifth and seventh switches are on, and the first, third, fourth and eighth switches are off.

32. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 31, wherein at the third sampling period, the first voltage switch is on, the second voltage switch is off, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first and eighth switches are on, and the second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh switches are off.

33. The touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 32, wherein at the second amplifying period, the first voltage switch is off, the second voltage switch is on, and the first terminal of the third voltage switch connects to the common voltage source, such that the first, third, fourth and fifth switches are on, and the second, seventh and eighth switches are off.

34. A touch panel incorporated with the touch panel sensing circuit as claimed in claim 23, comprising:

a first directional signal line switch for controlling a set of input voltage sources and a set of common voltage sources, wherein the set of input voltage sources provides the input voltage, and the set of common voltage sources provides the DC common voltage;

a first timing controller connected to the touch panel sensing circuit for controlling a timing of the touch panel sensing circuit;

a second timing controller connected to the first directional signal line switch for controlling a timing of the first directional signal line switch to provide the input and the common voltage sources, wherein the touch panel sensing circuit senses a second directional voltage, the first timing controller controls the first to eighth switches and the third voltage switch, and the second timing controller controls an input voltage of at least one first directional signal line, thereby producing a plurality of clock signals on the at least one first directional signal line and obtaining a plurality of accumulated voltage variations through the variations of the coupling capacitors respectively between the first and second directional signal lines;

an analog to digital converter (ADC) connected to the sensing circuit for converting the voltage variations into a digital code; and

a digital signal processor connected to the ADC for determining whether an object approaches to touch the touch panel based on the digital code.