TOUCH SENSING SYSTEM, CAPACITANCE SENSING APPARATUS AND CAPACITANCE SENSING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20110163994A1
• Filed: 12/29/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corporation (Novatek Microelectronics Corp Limited)
• Original Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corporation (Novatek Microelectronics Corp Limited)
• Inventors: Tang, Wing-Kai, Lin, Ching-Chun, Chang, Tsen-Wei, Hung, Ching-Ho, Tsai, Jiun-Jie, Lin, Yi-Liang
• Application Number:
  US12/980,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163994A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04182 Filtering of noise external to the device and not generated by digitiser components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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

A touch sensing system includes a touch input interface and at least one capacitance sensing apparatus. The capacitance sensing apparatus includes a plurality of switch units and a differential sensing circuit. Each of the switch units is coupled to a corresponding sensing capacitor. A sensing input end of the differential sensing circuit receives a capacitance under test provided by at least one of the sensing capacitors. A reference input end of the differential sensing circuit receives a reference capacitance provided by at least one of the sensing capacitors. The differential sensing circuit compares the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance to output a first difference between the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance through an output end of the differential sensing circuit. A capacitance sensing method is also provided.

Claims

1. A capacitance sensing apparatus comprising:

a plurality of switch units, each of the switch units having a first end, a second end, and a third end, the third end of each of the switch units being coupled to a corresponding sensing capacitor; and

a differential sensing circuit having a sensing input end, a reference input end, and an output end, the sensing input end being coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a capacitance under test provided by at least one of the sensing capacitors, the reference input end being coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference capacitance provided by at least one of the sensing capacitors,

wherein the differential sensing circuit compares the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance to output a first difference between the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance through the output end of the differential sensing circuit.

2. The capacitance sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, each of the switch units comprising:

a first switch having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first switch being coupled to a corresponding one of the sensing capacitors, the second end of the first switch being coupled to the sensing input end of the differential sensing circuit; and

a second switch having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second switch being coupled to the first end of the first switch, the second end of the second switch being coupled to the reference input end of the differential sensing circuit.

3. The capacitance sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a first charge-to-voltage converting circuit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive the capacitance under test, the first charge-to-voltage converting circuit converting the capacitance under test into a voltage under test;

a second charge-to-voltage converting circuit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive the reference capacitance, the second charge-to-voltage converting circuit converting the reference capacitance into a reference voltage; and

a difference comparing unit having a first input end, a second input end, and an output end, the first input end being coupled to the first charge-to-voltage converting circuit to receive the voltage under test, the second input end being coupled to the second charge-to-voltage converting circuit to receive the reference voltage,

wherein the difference comparing unit compares the voltage under test and the reference voltage to output the first difference through the output end of the difference comparing unit.

4. The capacitance sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a charge polarity reversing circuit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance and reverse polarity of the reference charge;

a charge-to-voltage converting circuit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test and receive the reference charge of which the polarity is reversed, wherein polarity of the charge under test is different from the polarity of the reference charge, a second difference between the charge under test and the reference charge is obtained, and the charge-to-voltage converting circuit converts the second difference into the first difference; and

a difference comparing unit coupled to the charge-to-voltage converting circuit to receive the first difference, wherein the difference comparing unit amplifies and outputs the first difference.

5. The capacitance sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a charge polarity reversing circuit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test and reverse polarity of the charge under test;

a charge-to-voltage converting circuit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance and receive the charge under test of which the polarity is reversed, wherein the polarity of the charge under test is different from polarity of the reference charge, a second difference between the charge under test and the reference charge is obtained, and the charge-to-voltage converting circuit converts the second difference into the first difference; and

a difference comparing unit coupled to the charge-to-voltage converting circuit to receive the first difference, wherein the difference comparing unit amplifies and outputs the first difference.

6. The capacitance sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a charge polarity reversing circuit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test and reverse polarity of the charge under test; and

a difference comparing unit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance and receive the charge under test of which the polarity is reversed,

wherein the polarity of the charge under test is different from polarity of the reference charge, a second difference between the charge under test and the reference charge is obtained, and the difference comparing unit converts the second difference into the first difference and outputs the first difference.

7. The capacitance sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 6, the differential sensing circuit further comprising:

a charge polarity non-reversing circuit coupled between the difference comparing unit and the second end of each of the switch units.

8. The capacitance sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a charge polarity reversing circuit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance and reverse polarity of the reference charge; and

a difference comparing unit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test and receive the reference charge of which the polarity is reversed,

wherein polarity of the charge under test is different from the polarity of the reference charge, a second difference between the charge under test and the reference charge is obtained, and the difference comparing unit converts the second difference into the first difference and outputs the first difference.

9. The capacitance sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, the differential sensing circuit further comprising:

a charge polarity non-reversing circuit coupled between the difference comparing unit and the first end of each of the switch units.

10. The capacitance sensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential sensing circuit comprises a differential amplifier, a comparator, or an integrator.

11. A touch sensing system comprising:

a touch input interface comprising a plurality of sensing capacitors; and

at least one capacitance sensing apparatus comprising;

a plurality of switch units, each of the switch units having a first end, a second end, and a third end, the third end of each of the switch units being coupled to a corresponding one of the sensing capacitors; and

a differential sensing circuit having a sensing input end, a reference input end, and an output end, the sensing input end being coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a capacitance under test provided by at least one of the sensing capacitors, the reference input end being coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference capacitance provided by at least one of the sensing capacitors,

wherein the differential sensing circuit compares the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance to output a first difference between the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance through the output end of the differential sensing circuit.

12. The touch sensing system as claimed in claim 11, each of the switch units comprising:

a first switch having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first switch being coupled to a corresponding one of the sensing capacitors, the second end of the first switch being coupled to the sensing input end of the differential sensing circuit; and

a second switch having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second switch being coupled to the first end of the first switch, the second end of the second switch being coupled to the reference input end of the differential sensing circuit.

13. The touch sensing system as claimed in claim 11, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a first charge-to-voltage converting circuit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive the capacitance under test, the first charge-to-voltage converting circuit converting the capacitance under test into a voltage under test;

a second charge-to-voltage converting circuit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive the reference capacitance, the second charge-to-voltage converting circuit converting the reference capacitance into a reference voltage; and

a difference comparing unit having a first input end, a second input end, and an output end, the first input end being coupled to the first charge-to-voltage converting circuit to receive the voltage under test, the second input end being coupled to the second charge-to-voltage converting circuit to receive the reference voltage,

wherein the difference comparing unit compares the voltage under test and the reference voltage to output the first difference through the output end of the difference comparing unit.

14. The touch sensing system as claimed in claim 11, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a charge polarity reversing circuit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance and reverse polarity of the reference charge;

a charge-to-voltage converting circuit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test and receive the reference charge of which the polarity is reversed, wherein polarity of the charge under test is different from the polarity of the reference charge, a second difference between the charge under test and the reference charge is obtained, and the charge-to-voltage converting circuit converts the second difference into the first difference; and

a difference comparing unit coupled to the charge-to-voltage converting circuit to receive the first difference, wherein the difference comparing unit amplifies and outputs the first difference.

15. The touch sensing system as claimed in claim 11, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a charge polarity reversing circuit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test and reverse polarity of the charge under test;

a charge-to-voltage converting circuit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance and receive the charge under test of which the polarity is reversed, wherein the polarity of the charge under test is different from polarity of the reference charge, a second difference between the charge under test and the reference charge is obtained, and the charge-to-voltage converting circuit converts the second difference into the first difference; and

a difference comparing unit coupled to the charge-to-voltage converting circuit to receive the first difference, wherein the difference comparing unit amplifies and outputs the first difference.

16. The touch sensing system as claimed in claim 11, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a charge polarity reversing circuit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test and reverse polarity of the charge under test; and

a difference comparing unit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance and receive the charge under test of which the polarity is reversed,

wherein the polarity of the charge under test is different from polarity of the reference charge, a second difference between the charge under test and the reference charge is obtained, and the difference comparing unit converts the second difference into the first difference and outputs the first difference.

17. The touch sensing system as claimed in claim 16, the differential sensing circuit further comprising:

a charge polarity non-reversing circuit coupled between the difference comparing unit and the second end of each of the switch units.

18. The touch sensing system as claimed in claim 11, the differential sensing circuit comprising:

a charge polarity reversing circuit coupled to the second end of each of the switch units to receive a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance and reverse polarity of the reference charge; and

a difference comparing unit coupled to the first end of each of the switch units to receive a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test and receive the reference charge of which the polarity is reversed,

wherein polarity of the charge under test is different from the polarity of the reference charge, a second difference between the charge under test and the reference charge is obtained, and the difference comparing unit converts the second difference into the first difference and outputs the first difference.

19. The touch sensing system as claimed in claim 18, the differential sensing circuit further comprising:

a charge polarity non-reversing circuit coupled between the difference comparing unit and the first end of each of the switch units.

20. The touch sensing system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the differential sensing circuit comprises a differential amplifier, a comparator, or an integrator.

21. A capacitance sensing method comprising:

providing a plurality of switch units and a differential sensing circuit, wherein each of the switch units is coupled to a corresponding sensing capacitor;

receiving a capacitance under test provided by at least one of the sensing capacitors;

receiving a reference capacitance provided by at least one of the sensing capacitors; and

comparing the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance to obtain a first difference between the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance.

22. The capacitance sensing method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

converting the capacitance under test into a voltage under test after the capacitance under test is received; and

converting the reference capacitance into a reference voltage after the reference capacitance is received.

23. The capacitance sensing method as claimed in claim 22, in the step of comparing the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance, further comprising comparing the voltage under test and the reference voltage to generate the first difference.

24. The capacitance sensing method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

in the step of receiving the reference capacitance, receiving a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance and reversing polarity of the reference charge;

in the step of receiving the capacitance under test, receiving a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test, wherein polarity of the charge under test is different from the polarity of the reference charge.

25. The capacitance sensing method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

receiving the charge under test and the reference charge of which the polarity is reversed to obtain a second difference.

26. The capacitance sensing method as claimed in claim 25, in the step of comparing the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance, further comprising converting the second difference into the first difference to obtain the first difference between the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance.

27. The capacitance sensing method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

in the step of receiving the reference capacitance, receiving a reference charge corresponding to the reference capacitance;

in the step of receiving the capacitance under test, receiving a charge under test corresponding to the capacitance under test and reversing polarity of the charge under test, wherein the polarity of the charge under test is different from polarity of the reference charge.

28. The capacitance sensing method as claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

receiving the reference charge and the charge under test of which the polarity is reversed to obtain a second difference.

29. The capacitance sensing method as claimed in claim 28, in the step of comparing the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance, further comprising converting the second difference into the first difference to obtain the first difference between the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance.

30. The capacitance sensing method as claimed in claim 21, in the step of comparing the capacitance under test and the reference capacitance, further comprising obtaining the first difference through a differential amplifier, a comparator, or an integrator.