TOUCH-SENSITIVE SCREEN

• US 20150227252A1
• Filed: 04/02/2012
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Microchip Technology Germany GmbH (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ivanov, Artem, Heim, Axel, Kandiziora, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,310,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• 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 display device is provided that allows detecting contact positions (contact mode) and contactless detection of positions of a finger in front of the display device (non-contact mode). The display device includes a panel layer connected to a transparent electrode layer that is subdivided into a plurality of electrode segments that form a segment array. An interpretation circuitry coupled to the electrode segments switches between a contact mode state in which a contact detection is performed by the electrode segments, and a second state in which the contactless position or movement detection of the finger is performed in an area in front of the display device, wherein at least a part of the electrode segments are used for detection in both the contact mode and the non-contact mode, and wherein the contactless position or movement detection is performed by a grouped of the electrode segments in the segment array.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a panel layer, and

a transparent electrode layer connected to the panel layer,

wherein the electrode layer is subdivided into a plurality of electrode segments that form a segment array defining segment rows and segment columns,

interpretation circuitry configured to perform a contactless position or movement detection of a finger in an area in front of the display device,

wherein the contactless position or movement detection is performed by a row-like or column-like group of the electrode segments of the segment array.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the interpretation circuitry is further configured to perform a contact detection via the electrode segments of the electrode layer.

3. The display device of claim 2, comprising multiplexer device configured to switch between a contactless detection state for performing the contactless position or movement detection and a contact state for performing the contact detection.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the multiplexer device does not switch from the contact detection state to the contactless detection state as long as a contact is detected.

5. The display device of claim 3, wherein the multiplexer device does not switch from the contactless detection state to the contact detection state when no contact is detected.

6. The display device of claim 1, wherein in the contactless detection state, the interpretation circuitry is configured an approximate approach detection is carried out and that only at the time of a detection of a sufficiently pronounced approach state a more sensitive position detection is carried out.

7. The display device of claim 1, wherein in the contactless detection state, the interpretation circuitry is configured to alternate electrode segment groups.

8. The display device of claim 1, wherein in the contactless detection state, the interpretation circuitry is configured to enable an electrode segment group for detecting a Y position wherein the enabled electrode segment group defines at least one of an upper horizontal segment chain or a lower horizontal segment chain.

9. The display device of claim 1, wherein in the contactless detection state, the interpretation circuitry is configured to enable a left vertical segment chain for detecting a X position.

10. The display device of claim 1, wherein in the contactless detection state, the interpretation circuitry is configured to enable a right vertical segment chain for detecting a X position.

11. The display device of claim 1, wherein in the contactless detection state, the interpretation circuitry is configured to use electrode segment groups aligned perpendicular to each other to derive d and d positions level values.

12. The display device of claim 1, wherein the electrode segment groups used for detecting the position of the finger in the contactless mode are interchanged adaptively such that the respective active electrode segment group moves across the display device in the manner of a moving row or moving column.

13. The display device of claim 1, wherein in the contactless detection state, the interpretation circuitry is configured to detect a capacitive coupling of two electrode segment groups, and to derive an approach state from the detected capacitive coupling.

14. A touchpad component, comprising:

a support layer, and

an electrode layer connected to the support layer,

wherein this electrode layer is subdivided into a plurality of electrode segments that form a segment array defining segment rows and segment columns,

interpretation circuitry configured to switch between;

a contact detection state in which a contact detection is performed by the electrode segments of the electrode layer, and

a contactless detection state in which a contactless position or movement detection of a finger is performed in an area in front of the touchpad component,

wherein the contactless position or movement detection is performed by a row-like or column-like group of the electrode segments of the segment array.

15. A method for generating input signals in the context of the movement of a finger on a touchpad component that comprises a support layer and an electrode connected to the support layer and subdivided into a plurality of electrode segments that form a segment array defining segment rows and segment columns, the method comprising:

receiving, at interpretation circuitry, signals detected by the segment rows and segment columns, and

switching, by the interpretation circuitry, between;

a contact detection state in which in which a contact detection is performed by the electrode segments of the electrode layer, and

a contactless detection state in which a contactless position or movement detection of a finger is performed in an area in front of the touchpad component,

wherein the contactless position or movement detection is performed by a row-like or column-like group of the electrode segments of the segment array.