Touch pad and position detecting circuit and method thereof

• US 7,312,409 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd
• Original Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd
• Inventors: Lo, Lih-Sheng, Hsu, Hung-Ta, Liao, Tung-Tsai
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIM, YONG H
• Application Number:
  US10/709,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 178 1801- 2001, 345173-179, 345/157
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A touch pad and a position detecting circuit and method thereof are provided. The touch pad uses a waveform generator to generate an input signal; the input signal is capable of gradually moving a position of a zero voltage on the sensing pad in a predetermined direction. The touch pad also uses the zero voltage detector to detect when a zero voltage of the sensing signal of the sensing pen occurs so as to determine the position of the sensing pen on the sensing pad. Hence, the analog-to-digital converter is not required. Therefore, the resolution can be easily expanded, and the cost, the preciseness, and the specification can be easily controlled.

Claims

1. A position detecting circuit for a touch pad, said touch pad including a sensing pad and a sensing pen, the position detecting circuit comprising:

a waveform generator, for generating an input signal, wherein said input signal is capable of gradually moving a position of a zero voltage on said sensing pad in a predetermined direction;

a filter, for receiving a sensing signal sensed by said sensing pen, and filtering and outputting said sensing signal;

an amplifier, coupled to said filter, for receiving and amplifying said filtered sensing signal;

an envelope detector, coupled to said amplifier, for detecting said filtered-amplified sensing signal and generating an envelope signal;

a zero voltage detector, coupled to said envelope detector, for receiving said envelope signal and generating an output signal, wherein said output signal is capable of determining as to when a zero voltage occurs; and

a controller, coupled to said waveform generator and said zero voltage detector, for controlling said waveform generator to generate said input signal and determining a position of said sensing pen on said sensing pad responsive to said output signal from said zero voltage detector,

wherein said position of said zero voltage moves back and forth in said predetermined direction.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a multiplexer for switch-inputting said input signal between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of sensing pad.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said waveform generator includes two digital-to-analog converters.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said zero voltage detector is a comparator.

5. A position detecting method for a touch pad, said touch pad including a sensing pad and a sensing pen, the method comprising:

inputting an input signal, wherein said input signal is capable of gradually moving a position of a zero voltage on said sensing pad in a predetermined direction; and

determining a position of said sensing pen on said sensing pad based on a timing when a zero voltage of a sensing signal of said sensing pen occurs,

wherein said position of said zero voltage moves back and forth in said predeterrnined direction.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising switch-inputting said input signal between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of said sensing pad.

7. A touch pad, comprising:

a sensing pad;

a sensing pen;

a waveform generator, for generating an input signal, wherein said input signal is capable of moving a position of a zero voltage on said sensing pad in a predetermined direction gradually;

a filter, for receiving a sensing signal sensed by said sensing pen, filtering and outputting said sensing signal;

an amplifier, coupled to said filter, for receiving and amplifying said filtered sensing signal;

an envelope detector, coupled to said amplifier, for detecting said filtered-amplified sensing signal and generating an envelope signal;

a zero voltage detector, coupled to said envelope detector, for receiving said envelope signal and generating an output signal, wherein said output signal is capable of determining as to when a zero voltage occurs; and

a controller, coupled to said waveform generator and said zero voltage detector, for controlling said waveform generator to generate said input signal and determining a position of said sensing pen on said sensing pad responsive to said output signal from said zero voltage detector,

wherein said position of said zero voltage moves back and forth in said predetermined direction.

8. The touch pad of claim 7, further comprising a multiplexer for switch-inputting said input signal between a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of said sensing pad.

9. The touch pad of claim 7, wherein said waveform generator includes two digital-to-analog converters.

10. The touch pad of claim 7, wherein said zero voltage detector is a comparator.