Systems and Methods for Providing Enhanced Touch Sensing

• US 20110193809A1
• Filed: 02/03/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lukas, Robert, Li, Tianhao, Sobel, David, Ranganathan, Sumant, Walley, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,988,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

Provided are systems and methods for providing enhanced touch sensing. One system providing enhanced touch sensing includes a multi-mode touch screen and a processor configured to apply at least one test signal to a sense element of the multi-mode touch screen, detect at least one return signal from the sense element, and then determine a relative position of an object corresponding to the at least one return signal, the multi-mode touch screen being capable of sensing the first object using first and second detection modes. One multi-mode touch screen comprises a multi-mode multi-touch touch screen. One processor is configured to apply an adaptive test signal to a sense element of a touch screen.

Claims

1. An electronic system providing enhanced touch sensing, the electronic system comprising:

a multi-mode touch screen; and

a processor configured to;

apply at least one test signal to a sense element of the multi-mode touch screen;

detect at least one return signal from the sense element; and

determine a relative position of a first object corresponding to the at least one return signal;

the multi-mode touch screen being capable of sensing the first object using first and second detection modes.

2. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second detection modes comprises a resistive detection mode.

3. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second detection modes comprises a pressure sensitive resistive detection mode capable of distinguishing between a soft touch position and a hard touch position.

4. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second detection modes comprises a capactive detection mode.

5. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the first and second detection modes comprise a mutual-capacitance capactive detection mode and a self-capacitance capactive detection mode.

6. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode touch screen is capable of distinguishing between a hover touch position, a soft touch position, and a hard touch position.

7. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the sense element is capable of enabling the first detection mode and the second detection mode.

8. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode touch screen comprises a multi-touch multi-mode touch screen;

the multi-touch multi-mode touch screen capable of sensing the first object and at least one additional object substantially concurrently using at least one of the first and second detection modes.

9. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode touch screen comprises a multi-touch multi-mode touch screen, and wherein the processor is configured to apply at least one test signal to a plurality of sense elements of the multi-touch multi-mode touch screen substantially concurrently.

10. An electronic system providing enhanced touch sensing, the electronic system comprising:

a multi-touch touch screen; and

a processor configured to;

apply at least first and second test signals to respective first and second sense elements of the multi-touch touch screen;

detect at least first and second return signals from the respective first and second sense elements; and

determine first and second relative positions of first and second objects corresponding to the at least first and second return signals;

the multi-touch touch screen being capable of sensing the first and second objects substantially concurrently.

11. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the multi-touch touch screen senses at least one of the first and second objects using a resistive detection mode.

12. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the multi-touch touch screen senses at least one of the first and second objects using a pressure sensitive resistive detection mode capable of distinguishing between a soft touch position and a hard touch position.

13. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the first and second test signals comprise respective first and second current levels.

14. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the first and second test signals comprise respective first and second frequencies.

15. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the first and second test signals comprise respective first and second voltages.

16. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the application of first and second test signals further comprises application of respective first and second loads to the first and second sense elements.

17. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the multi-touch touch screen comprises a multi-touch multi-mode touch screen;

the multi-touch multi-mode touch screen being capable of sensing the first and second objects using at least one of first and second detection modes.

18. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the multi-touch touch screen comprises a multi-touch multi-mode touch screen;

the multi-touch multi-mode touch screen being capable of sensing the first and second objects using at least one of a pressure sensitive resistive detection mode and a capacitive detection mode.

19. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein the multi-touch touch screen comprises a multi-touch multi-mode touch screen;

the multi-touch multi-mode touch screen being capable of sensing the first and second objects using at least one of a mutual-capacitance capacitive detection mode and a self-capacitance capacitive detection mode.

20. An electronic system providing enhanced touch sensing, the electronic system comprising:

a touch screen; and

a processor configured to;

apply one or more adaptable test signals to at least one sense element of the touch screen;

detect at least one return signal from the at least one sense element;

detect interference in the at least one return signal; and

adapt the one or more adaptable test signals to reduce the interference.

21. The electronic system of claim 20, wherein the touch screen comprises a multi-mode touch screen.

22. The electronic system of claim 20, wherein the touch screen comprises a multi-touch touch screen.

23. A method of providing enhanced touch sensing using a processor in an electronic system having a multi-mode touch screen, the method comprising:

applying at least one test signal by the processor to a sense element of the multi-mode touch screen, the multi-mode touch screen being capable of sensing a first object using first and second detection modes;

detecting at least one return signal from the sense element; and

determining a relative position of the first object corresponding to the at least one return signal.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein one of the first and second detection modes comprises a resistive detection mode.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein one of the first and second detection modes comprises a pressure sensitive resistive detection mode capable of distinguishing between a soft touch position and a hard touch position.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein one of the first and second detection modes comprises a capactive detection mode.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising distinguishing between a hover touch position, a soft touch position, and a hard touch position.

28. An electronic system providing enhanced touch sensing, the electronic system comprising:

a multi-touch touch screen; and

a processor configured to;

apply at least one test signal to first and second sense elements of the multi-touch touch screen;

detect at least first and second return signals from the respective first and second sense elements; and

determine first and second relative positions of first and second objects corresponding to the at least first and second return signals;

the multi-touch touch screen being capable of sensing the first and second objects substantially concurrently.

29. The electronic system of claim 28, wherein the multi-touch touch screen senses at least one of the first and second objects using a resistive detection mode.

30. The electronic system of claim 28, wherein the multi-touch touch screen senses at least one of the first and second objects using a pressure sensitive resistive detection mode capable of distinguishaing between a soft touch position and a hard touch position.

31. The electronic system of claim 28, wherein the application of the at least one test signal further comprises application of first and second loads to the first and second sense elements.

32. The electronic system of claim 28, wherein the multi-touch touch screen comprises a multi-touch multi-mode touch screen;

the multi-touch multi-mode touch screen being capable of sensing the first and second objects using at least one of first and second detection modes.

33. The electronic system of claim 28, wherein the multi-touch touch screen comprises a multi-touch multi-mode touch screen;

the multi-touch multi-mode touch screen being capable of sensing the first and second objects using at least one of a pressure sensitive resistive detection mode and a capacitive detection mode.