Touch position detection method for touch control device

• US 8,274,485 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Liu, Chen-Yu, Lin, Chun-Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): SHALWALA, BIPIN H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spar, Ilana
• Application Number:
  US12/318,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20100079389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345173-175, 345/178, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.06
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware
• 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 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

Disclosed is a touch position detection method for a touch control device, which employs a preset scan detection mode to carry out driving and scan detection on first and second conductive layers through a control circuit. When touch on a touch panel is detected, the type of the touch is determined, which may include a single-point touch, a continuous trace, and a multiple-point touch, and first and second operation modes are selectively used to perform driving and scan detection on the first and second conductive layers of the touch panel to thereby detect coordinates of the touch points or the continuous trace.

Claims

1. A touch position detection method for use in a touch control device that comprises a touch panel, the touch panel comprising a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, the first conductive layer comprising a continuous planar structure formed on a first substrate and having first and second ends, the second conductive layer comprising a plurality of elongate conductive strips formed on a second substrate, the elongate conductive strips being substantially parallel to and not engaging each other, each elongate conductive strip having first and second ends, the first and second substrates being spaced from each other by insulation spacers, a control circuit electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers, and a microcontroller electrically connected to the control circuit, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) the microcontroller initializing a preset scan detection mode to carry out driving and scan detection on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer through the control circuit;

(b) when detecting a touch operation on the touch panel, determining if the type of touch applied to the touch panel is multiple-point touch, continuous trace, or single-point touch;

(c) when the type of touch being determined to be the single-point touch or multiple-point touch, the microcontroller employing a first operation mode to carry out driving on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer as well as simultaneously performing the scan detection at said second conductive layer to detect the coordinates of the absolute touch position/touch positions,

(d) when the type of touch being determined to be the continuous trace, the microcontroller employing a second operation mode to carry out driving on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and performing the scan detection at said second conductive layer to detect coordinates of the absolute touch positions of the continuous trace;

wherein said control circuit establishes a potential gradient in said first conductive layer or said second conductive layer when it is used as driving layer;

(e) determining if the touch operation sustains for a given time period; and

(f) returning to step (a) when the touch operation sustains for the given time period.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first operation mode comprises the following steps:

(c1) applying a drive voltage to the first conductive layer; and

(c2) carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second operation mode comprises the following steps:

(d1) applying a drive voltage to the first end of the first conductive layer, the second end of the first conductive layer being connected to a preset voltage level to thereby establish a potential gradient in the first conductive layer, and at the same time, carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer;

(d2) applying a drive voltage to the first end of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer, the second end of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer being connected to a preset voltage level to thereby establish a potential gradient in the second conductive layer, and at the same time, carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of the first conductive layer.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preset scan detection mode is the first operation mode and wherein when the preset scan detection mode is the first operation mode, the coordinates of the single-point touch or the multiple-point touch are simultaneously obtained during the scan detection operation.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preset scan detection mode is the second operation mode.

6. A touch position detection method for use in a touch control device that comprises a touch panel comprising a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, the first conductive layer comprising a continuous planar structure formed on a first substrate and having first and second ends, the second conductive layer comprising a plurality of elongate conductive strips formed on a second substrate, the elongate conductive strips being substantially parallel to and not engaging each other, each elongate conductive strip having first and second ends, the first and second substrates being spaced from each other by insulation spacers, a control circuit electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers, and a microcontroller electrically connected to the control circuit, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) the microcontroller initializing a preset scan detection mode to carry out driving and scan detection on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer through the control circuit;

(b) when detecting a touch operation applied to the touch panel, determining if the type of touch applied to the touch panel is single-point touch, multiple-point touch, or continuous trace;

(c) when the type of touch being determined to be the multiple-point touch, the microcontroller employing a first operation mode to carry out driving on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer as well as simultaneously performing the scan detection at said second conductive layer to detect the coordinates of the absolute touch positions;

(d) when the type of touch being determined to be the single-point touch or continuous trace, the microcontroller employing a second operation mode to carry out driving on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and performing the scan detection at said second conductive layer to detect coordinates of a absolute touch position or coordinates of the absolute touch positions of the continuous trace;

wherein said control circuit establishes a potential gradient in said first conductive layer or said second conductive layer when it is used as driving layer;

(e) determining if the touch operation sustains for a given time period; and

(f) returning to step (a) when the touch operation sustains for the given time period.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first operation mode comprises the following steps:

(c1) applying a drive voltage to the first conductive layer; and

(c2) carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second operation mode comprises the following steps:

(d1) applying a drive voltage to the first end of the first conductive layer, the second end of the first conductive layer being connected to a preset voltage level to thereby establish a potential gradient in the first conductive layer, and at the same time, carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer;

(d2) applying a drive voltage to the first end of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer, the second end of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer being connected to a preset voltage level to thereby establish a potential gradient in the second conductive layer, and at the same time, carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of the first conductive layer.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the preset scan detection mode is the first operation mode and wherein when the preset scan detection mode is the first operation mode, the coordinates of the multiple-point touch are simultaneously obtained during the scan detection operation.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the preset scan detection mode is the second operation mode.

11. A touch position detection method for use in a touch control device that comprises a touch panel comprising a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, the first conductive layer having a plurality of elongate conductive strips which are formed on a first substrate and substantially parallel to and not engaging each other and each has a first end and a second end, the second conductive layer comprising a plurality of elongate conductive strips which is formed on a second substrate and substantially parallel to and not engaging each other and each has first and second ends, the first and second substrates being spaced from each other by insulation spacers, a control circuit electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers, and a microcontroller electrically connected to the control circuit, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) the microcontroller initializing a preset scan detection mode to carry out driving and scan detection on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer through the control circuit;

(b) when detecting a touch operation applied to the touch panel, determining if the type of touch applied to the touch panel is multiple-point touch, continuous trace, or single-point touch;

(c) when the type of touch being determined to be the single-point touch or multiple-point touch, the microcontroller employing a first operation mode to carry out driving on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer as well as simultaneously performing the scan detection at said second conductive layer to detect the coordinates of the absolute touch position/touch positions;

(d) when the type of touch being determined to be the continuous trace, the microcontroller employing a second operation mode to carry out driving on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and performing the scan detection at said second conductive layer to detect coordinates of the absolute touch positions of the continuous trace;

wherein said control circuit establishes a potential gradient in said first conductive layer or said second conductive layer when it is used as driving layer;

(e) determining if the touch operation sustains for a given time period; and

(f) returning to step (a) when the touch operation sustains for the given time period.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first operation mode comprises the following steps:

(c1) applying a drive voltage to each elongate conductive strip of the first conductive layer; and

(c2) carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second operation mode comprises the following steps:

(d1) applying a drive voltage to the first end of each elongate conductive strip of the first conductive layer, the second end of each elongate conductive strip of the first conductive layer being connected to a preset voltage level to thereby establish a potential gradient in the first conductive layer, and at the same time, carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer;

(d2) applying a drive voltage to the first end of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer, the second end of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer being connected to a preset voltage level to thereby establish a potential gradient in the second conductive layer, and at the same time, carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the first conductive layer.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the preset scan detection mode is the first operation mode and wherein when the preset scan detection mode is the first operation mode, the coordinates of the single-point touch or the multiple-point touch are simultaneously obtained during the scan detection operation.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the preset scan detection mode is the second operation mode.

16. A absolute touch position detection method for use in a touch control device that comprises a touch panel comprising a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, the first conductive layer having a plurality of elongate conductive strips which are formed on a first substrate and substantially parallel to and not engaging each other and each has a first end and a second end, the second conductive layer comprising a plurality of elongate conductive strips, which is formed on a second substrate and substantially parallel to and not engaging each other and each has a first end and a second end, the first and second substrates being spaced from each other by insulation spacers, a control circuit electrically connected to the first and second conductive layers, and a microcontroller electrically connected to the control circuit, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) the microcontroller initializing a preset scan detection mode to carry out driving and scan detection on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer through the control circuit;

(b) when detecting a touch operation applied to the touch panel, determining if the type of touch applied to the touch panel is single-point touch, multiple-point touch, or continuous trace;

(c) when the type of touch being determined to be the multiple-point touch, the microcontroller employing a first operation mode to carry out driving on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer as well as simultaneously performing the scan detection at said second conductive layer to detect the coordinates of the absolute touch positions;

(d) when the type of touch being determined to be the single-point touch or continuous trace, the microcontroller employing a second operation mode to carry out driving on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and performing the scan detection at said second conductive layer to detect coordinates of a absolute touch position or coordinates of the absolute touch positions of the continuous trace;

wherein said control circuit establishes a potential gradient in said first conductive layer or said second conductive layer when it is used as driving layer;

(e) determining if the touch operation sustains for a given time period; and

(f) returning to step (a) when the touch operation sustains for the given time period.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first operation mode comprises the following steps:

(c1) applying a drive voltage to each elongate conductive strip of the first conductive layer; and

(c2) carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second operation mode comprises the following steps:

(d1) applying a drive voltage to the first end of each elongate conductive strip of the first conductive layer, the second end of each elongate conductive strip of the first conductive layer being connected to a preset voltage level to thereby establish a potential gradient in the first conductive layer, and at the same time, carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer;

(d2) applying a drive voltage to the first end of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer, the second end of each elongate conductive strip of the second conductive layer being connected to a preset voltage level to thereby establish a potential gradient in the second conductive layer, and at the same time, carrying out scan detection on at least one end of the first and second ends of each elongate conductive strip of the first conductive layer.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the preset scan detection mode is the first operation mode and wherein when the preset scan detection mode is the first operation mode, the coordinates of the multiple-point touch are simultaneously obtained during the scan detection operation.

20. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the preset scan detection mode is the second operation mode.