Capacitive touchpad method using MCU GPIO and signal processing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine-implemented method comprising:
- using a processing unit to identify a maximum x-axis charge time from a plurality of x-axis charge times, the maximum x-axis charge time corresponding to a maximum x-axis sensor location;
identifying a first adjacent x-axis charge time and a second adjacent x-axis charge time, the first adjacent x-axis charge time corresponding to a first adjacent x-axis sensor location adjacent to the maximum x-axis sensor location and the second adjacent x-axis charge time corresponding to a second adjacent x-axis sensor location adjacent to the maximum x-axis sensor location;
computing a first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio using the first adjacent x-axis charge time and computing a second adjacent x-axis charge time ratio using the second adjacent x-axis charge time;
determining that the first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio is larger than the second adjacent x-axis charge time ratio;
computing an x-axis position based upon the maximum x-axis charge time sensor location and the first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio;
using the processing unit to identify a maximum y-axis charge time from a plurality of y-axis charge times, the maximum y-axis charge time corresponding to a maximum y-axis sensor location;
identifying adjacent y-axis charge times, wherein the adjacent y-axis charge times correspond to adjacent y-axis sensor locations that are adjacent to the maximum y-axis sensor location;
computing an adjacent y-axis charge time ratio based upon one of the adjacent y-axis charge times and computing a y-axis position based upon the maximum y-axis charge time sensor location and the adjacent y-axis charge time ratio; and
mapping the x-axis position and the y-axis position to a contact location for a two-dimensional grid.
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Abstract
A microcontroller identifies a maximum x-axis charge time and a maximum y-axis charge time, along with x-axis sensor locations and y-axis that correspond to the maximum charge times (maximum charge time sensor locations). Next, the microcontroller identifies sensor locations that are adjacent to the maximum charge time sensor locations and computes adjacent charge time ratios based upon their corresponding charge times. In turn, the microcontroller uses the largest adjacent charge time ratios and the maximum charge time sensor locations to compute and map an x-axis position and a y-axis position of a user'"'"'s contact location on a two-dimensional grid.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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using a processing unit to identify a maximum x-axis charge time from a plurality of x-axis charge times, the maximum x-axis charge time corresponding to a maximum x-axis sensor location; identifying a first adjacent x-axis charge time and a second adjacent x-axis charge time, the first adjacent x-axis charge time corresponding to a first adjacent x-axis sensor location adjacent to the maximum x-axis sensor location and the second adjacent x-axis charge time corresponding to a second adjacent x-axis sensor location adjacent to the maximum x-axis sensor location; computing a first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio using the first adjacent x-axis charge time and computing a second adjacent x-axis charge time ratio using the second adjacent x-axis charge time; determining that the first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio is larger than the second adjacent x-axis charge time ratio; computing an x-axis position based upon the maximum x-axis charge time sensor location and the first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio; using the processing unit to identify a maximum y-axis charge time from a plurality of y-axis charge times, the maximum y-axis charge time corresponding to a maximum y-axis sensor location; identifying adjacent y-axis charge times, wherein the adjacent y-axis charge times correspond to adjacent y-axis sensor locations that are adjacent to the maximum y-axis sensor location; computing an adjacent y-axis charge time ratio based upon one of the adjacent y-axis charge times and computing a y-axis position based upon the maximum y-axis charge time sensor location and the adjacent y-axis charge time ratio; and mapping the x-axis position and the y-axis position to a contact location for a two-dimensional grid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a touchpad that comprises a plurality of x-axis sensors and y-axis sensors; one or more processing units; a memory accessible by at least one of the processing units; a set of instructions stored in the memory and executed by at least one of the processing units in order to perform actions of; identifying a maximum x-axis charge time sensor location that corresponds to a maximum x-axis charge time from a plurality of x-axis charge times that correspond to the plurality of x-axis sensors; identifying a first adjacent x-axis charge time and a second adjacent x-axis charge time, the first adjacent x-axis charge time corresponding to a first adjacent x-axis sensor location adjacent to the maximum x-axis sensor location and the second adjacent x-axis charge time corresponding to a second adjacent x-axis sensor location adjacent to the maximum x-axis sensor location; computing a first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio using the first adjacent x-axis charge time and computing a second adjacent x-axis charge time ratio using the second adjacent x-axis charge time; determining that the first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio is larger than the second adjacent x-axis charge time ratio; computing an x-axis position based upon the maximum x-axis charge time sensor location and the first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio; identifying a maximum y-axis charge time sensor location that corresponds to a maximum y-axis charge time from a plurality of y-axis charge times that correspond to a plurality of y-axis sensor locations; identifying adjacent y-axis sensor locations and corresponding adjacent y-axis charge times, the adjacent y-axis sensor locations being adjacent to the maximum y-axis charge time sensor location; computing an adjacent y-axis charge time ratio based upon one of the adjacent y-axis charge times and computing a y-axis position based upon the maximum y-axis charge time sensor location and the adjacent y-axis charge time ratio; and mapping the x-axis position and the y-axis position to a contact location on a two-dimensional grid. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system comprising:
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a touchpad that comprises a plurality of sensors; and a microcontroller that includes a plurality of general purpose pins coupled to the plurality of sensors, the microcontroller performing actions of; identifying a maximum x-axis charge time sensor location that corresponds to a maximum x-axis charge time from a plurality of x-axis charge times that correspond to the plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of x-axis charge times associated with one of the plurality of general purpose pins; identifying a first adjacent x-axis charge time and a second adjacent x-axis charge time, the first adjacent x-axis charge time corresponding to a first adjacent x-axis sensor location adjacent to the maximum x-axis sensor location and the second adjacent x-axis charge time corresponding to a second adjacent x-axis sensor location adjacent to the maximum x-axis sensor location; computing a first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio using the first adjacent x-axis charge time and computing a second adjacent x-axis charge time ratio using the second adjacent x-axis charge time; determining that the first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio is larger than the second adjacent x-axis charge time ratio; computing an x-axis position based upon the maximum x-axis charge time sensor location and the first adjacent x-axis charge time ratio; and mapping the x-axis position to a contact location corresponding to the touchpad. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification