Sending Drive Signals with an Increased Number of Pulses to Particular Drive Lines

• US 20140160036A1
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sundara-Rajan, Kishore
• Granted Patent: US 9,939,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a touch of an object on a device. The method also includes predicting an area of the device that the detected touch will move to. The method further includes sending a first set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within the predicted area, the first set of drive signals each having a first number of pulses. The method further includes sending a second set of drive signals to one or more drive lines outside the predicted area, the second set of drive signals each having a second number of pulses. Furthermore, the first number of pulses is greater than the second number of pulses.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a touch of an object on a device;

predicting an area of the device that the detected touch will move to;

sending a first set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within the predicted area, the first set of drive signals each having a first number of pulses; and

sending a second set of drive signals to one or more drive lines outside the predicted area, the second set of drive signals each having a second number of pulses, wherein the first number of pulses is greater than the second number of pulses.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting that the object is not touching the device anymore; and

in response to the detected absence of touch, sending a third set of drive signals to the one or more drive lines within the predicted area and the one or more drive lines outside the predicted area, the third set of drive signals each having a third number of pulses, wherein the third number of pulses is lower than the second number of pulses and the first number of pulses.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

predicting a second area of the device that the detected touch will move to;

sending a third set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within the second predicted area, the third set of drive signals each having a third number of pulses; and

sending a fourth set of drive signals to one or more drive lines outside the second predicted area, the fourth set of drive signals each having a fourth number of pulses, wherein the third number of pulses is greater than the fourth number of pulses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of:

a user'"'"'s finger;

an active stylus; and

a passive stylus.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the first number of pulses based at least on one or more of:

an indication corresponding to a power savings of the device;

an indication corresponding to a frame rate of the device; and

an indication corresponding to a signal to noise (SNR) ratio of the device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the predicted area is based at least on an area in which the detected touch occurred.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first number of pulses is greater than or equal to 16 pulses.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first number of pulses is greater than or equal to 12 pulses and less than or equal to 63 pulses.

9. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

detect a touch of an object on a device;

predict an area of the device that the detected touch will move to;

send a first set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within the predicted area, the first set of drive signals each having a first number of pulses; and

send a second set of drive signals to one or more drive lines outside the predicted area, the second set of drive signals each having a second number of pulses, wherein the first number of pulses is greater than the second number of pulses.

10. The media of claim 9, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

detect that the object is not touching the device anymore; and

in response to the detected absence of touch, send a third set of drive signals to the one or more drive lines within the predicted area and the one or more drive lines outside the predicted area, the third set of drive signals each having a third number of pulses, wherein the third number of pulses is lower than the second number of pulses and the first number of pulses.

11. The media of claim 9, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to:

predict a second area of the device that the detected touch will move to;

send a third set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within the second predicted area, the third set of drive signals each having a third number of pulses; and

send a fourth set of drive signals to one or more drive lines outside the second predicted area, the fourth set of drive signals each having a fourth number of pulses, wherein the third number of pulses is greater than the fourth number of pulses.

12. The media of claim 9, wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of:

a user'"'"'s finger;

an active stylus; and

a passive stylus.

13. The media of claim 9, wherein the predicted area is based at least on an area in which the detected touch occurred.

14. The media of claim 9, wherein the logic is further operable when executed to determine the first number of pulses based at least on one or more of:

an indication corresponding to a power savings of the device;

an indication corresponding to a frame rate of the device; and

an indication corresponding to a signal to noise (SNR) ratio of the device.

15. A device comprising:

a touch sensor; and

a touch-sensor controller operable to;

detect a touch of an object on a device;

predict an area of the device that the detected touch will move to;

send a first set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within the predicted area, the first set of drive signals each having a first number of pulses; and

send a second set of drive signals to one or more drive lines outside the predicted area, the second set of drive signals each having a second number of pulses, wherein the first number of pulses is greater than the second number of pulses.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the touch-sensor controller is further operable to:

detect that the object is not touching the device anymore; and

in response to the detected absence of touch, send a third set of drive signals to the one or more drive lines within the predicted area and the one or more drive lines outside the predicted area, the third set of drive signals each having a third number of pulses, wherein the third number of pulses is lower than the second number of pulses and the first number of pulses.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the touch-sensor controller is further operable to:

predict a second area of the device that the detected touch will move to;

send a third set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within the second predicted area, the third set of drive signals each having a third number of pulses; and

send a fourth set of drive signals to one or more drive lines outside the second predicted area, the fourth set of drive signals each having a fourth number of pulses, wherein the third number of pulses is greater than the fourth number of pulses.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the object is selected from a group consisting of:

a user'"'"'s finger;

an active stylus; and

a passive stylus.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the predicted area is based at least on an area in which the detected touch occurred.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the touch-sensor controller is further operable to determine the first number of pulses based at least on one or more of:

an indication corresponding to a power savings of the device;

an indication corresponding to a frame rate of the device; and

an indication corresponding to a signal to noise (SNR) ratio of the device.