Multi-touch auto scanning
First Claim
1. A touch subsystem for detecting events on or about a sensor panel and generating an image of the events, comprising:
- driver logic configured for generating one or more input stimuli;
channel scan logic configured for controlling the driver logic to scan one or more rows of sensors in the sensor panel by driving at least one row with the one or more input stimuli;
auto-scan logic configured to disable touch detection after a first predetermined amount of time elapses without any events being detected on the sensor panel, enable touch detection and scan the one or more rows in the sensor panel upon expiration of a second predetermined amount of time, and determine if any events are detected on the sensor panel; and
one or more analog channels, each analog channel couplable to a column of sensors in the sensor panel, each analog channel configured for receiving a signal representative of an event occurring at one of the sensors in the column of sensors, and generating a value representative of the event.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for autonomously scanning a sensor panel device, such as a multi-touch panel, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system and method disables a sensor panel processor after a first predetermined amount of time has elapsed without the sensor panel device sensing any events. One or more system clocks can also be disabled to conserve power. While the processor and one or more system clocks are disabled, the sensor panel device can periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel for touch activity. Accordingly, if one or more results from the autonomous scans exceed a threshold, the sensor panel device re-enables the processor and one or more clocks to actively scan the sensor panel. If the threshold is not exceeded, then the sensor panel device continues to periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel without intervention from the processor. Furthermore, the sensor panel device can periodically perform calibration functions to account for any drift that may be present in the system.
96 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A touch subsystem for detecting events on or about a sensor panel and generating an image of the events, comprising:
-
driver logic configured for generating one or more input stimuli; channel scan logic configured for controlling the driver logic to scan one or more rows of sensors in the sensor panel by driving at least one row with the one or more input stimuli; auto-scan logic configured to disable touch detection after a first predetermined amount of time elapses without any events being detected on the sensor panel, enable touch detection and scan the one or more rows in the sensor panel upon expiration of a second predetermined amount of time, and determine if any events are detected on the sensor panel; and one or more analog channels, each analog channel couplable to a column of sensors in the sensor panel, each analog channel configured for receiving a signal representative of an event occurring at one of the sensors in the column of sensors, and generating a value representative of the event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for detecting events on or about a sensor panel, comprising:
-
disabling touch detection after a first predetermined amount of time elapses without any events being detected on the sensor panel; after expiration of a second predetermined amount of time, enabling touch detection and scanning the sensor panel organized in rows and columns by applying a stimulus to at least some of the rows; during each sensor panel row scan, coupling the columns of the sensor panel to one or more analog channels for generating one or more values representative of one or more events occurring at distinct locations along the row at about the same time; and activating a sensor panel processor when any event is detected on the sensor panel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A digital audio player comprising:
-
a sensor panel having at least one sense line that provides an output signal indicative of an occurrence or absence of an event occurring at the sensor panel; a processor operatively connected to the sensor panel, the processor capable of processing the output signal of the sensor panel; and auto-scan logic circuitry operatively connected to the sensor panel and the processor, the auto-scan logic circuitry configured for disabling touch detection after a first redetermined amount of time elapses without any events being detected on the sensor panel, enabling touch detection and stimulating one or more drive lines of the sensor panel with one or more stimulation frequencies upon expiration of a second predetermined amount of time, and determining the occurrence or absence of an event occurring at the panel without intervention from the processor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification