SIGNAL PROCESSING CIRCUIT FOR ELECTROSTATIC CAPACITY TYPE TOUCH PANEL

• US 20110122089A1
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Semiconductor Company Limited (ON Semiconductor Corporation), Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaneta, Yasuhiro, Kobayashi, Kazuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,441,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

This invention offers a signal processing circuit of an electrostatic capacity type touch panel which is capable of switching between a differential input mode and a single input mode and has an extended adjustable range of an offset in the single input mode. The signal processing circuit of this invention includes a first sensor circuit of a differential input type, a second sensor circuit of a single input type, a third and fourth electrostatic capacitors that are variable capacitors for calibration to adjust the offset in an output voltage of the first sensor circuit, and a switching control circuit to control so as to put in operation one of the first and second sensor circuits. The switching control circuit also controls so that the third and fourth electrostatic capacitors for calibration are connected in parallel to each other when the second sensor circuit is put in operation.

Claims

1. A signal processing circuit of an electrostatic capacity type touch panel comprising a plurality of sense lines including a first and second sense lines and a drive line being applied an alternating current drive signal, comprising:

a first sensor circuit of a differential input type selecting the first and second sense lines out of the plurality of sense lines and detecting a difference between a capacitance of a first electrostatic capacitor formed between the first sense line and the drive line and a capacitance of a second electrostatic capacitor formed between the second sense line and the drive line;

a second sensor circuit of a single input type selecting the first sense line out of the plurality of sense lines and detecting a change in the capacitance of the first electrostatic capacitor;

first and second variable capacitors for calibration adjusting an offset in an output voltage of the first or second sensor circuit; and

a switching control circuit controlling the first and second sensor circuits so that one of the first and second sensor circuits is put in operation and controlling the first and second variable capacitors for calibration so that the first and second variable capacitors are connected in parallel to each other when the second sensor circuit is put in operation.

2. The signal processing circuit of claim 1, wherein the switching control circuit connects the first variable capacitor in series with the first electrostatic capacitor and connects the second variable capacitor in series with the second electrostatic capacitor when the first sensor circuit is put in operation, and connects the parallel-connected first and second variable capacitors in series with the first electrostatic capacitor when the second sensor circuit is put in operation.

3. The signal processing circuit of claim 1, further comprising an external capacitor connected in parallel with the variable capacitors for calibration.

4. The signal processing circuit of claim 3, further comprising a pair of terminals to which a pair of signals from the electrostatic capacity type touch panel is inputted, wherein the external capacitor is connected to the pair of terminals.

5. The signal processing circuit of claim 1, further comprising a calibration circuit outputting an adjustment signal to adjust a capacitance of the first variable capacitor or the second variable capacitor based on the output voltage of the first or second sensor circuit.

6. The signal processing circuit of claim 5, further comprising a non-volatile memory retaining the adjustment signal.