Analyzer electronic circuit with energization axis/detection axis alternation for passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor

• US 8,363,023 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissha Printing Company Limited (Nissha Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Stantum SAS
• Inventors: Joguet, Pascal, Largillier, Guillaume, Olivier, Julien
• Primary Examiner(s): SHERMAN, STEPHEN G
• Application Number:
  US12/809,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20100302197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 178/18.01, 178/18.05, 178/18.06
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• 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 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

An electronic analysis circuit of a multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor including an electrical supply mechanism powering one of two axes of the matrix, and a mechanism detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at intersections between the two axes. The supply axis and the detection axis are alternated. A multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor includes an electrical supply mechanism powering one of the two axes of the matrix, a mechanism detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at the intersections between the two axes, and such an electronic circuit.

Claims

1. An analyzer electronic circuit of a passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor comprising:

means for energization of one of two axes of the passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor;

means for detecting electrical characteristics on the other axis of the passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor at intersections between the two axes; and

means for analyzing data corresponding to the detected electrical characteristics by

filtering the data,

determining one or more contact areas on the passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor based on the data,

determining a barycenter for each of the one or more contact areas, and

interpolating the contact areas,

wherein the energization axis and the detection axis are alternated.

2. An analyzer electronic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical characteristic measured is resistance.

3. An analyzer electronic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical characteristic measured is capacitance.

4. An analyzer electronic circuit as claimed claim 1, wherein the energization axis/detection axis alternation is periodic.

5. An analyzer electronic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energization axis/detection axis alternation is conditioned by detection of an artifact.

6. An analyzer electronic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energization axis/detection axis alternation is conditioned by reception of a control signal.

7. An analyzer electronic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the analyzer electronic circuit controls the sensor during a scanning phase by energizing successive tracks of one of networks and detecting a response on each of the tracks of a second network.

8. An analyzer electronic circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alternation of the energization axis and the detection axis corresponds to an alternation between a scanning phase with columns as the energization axis and rows as the detection axis and a scanning phase with the rows as the energization axis and the columns as the detection axis.

9. The analyzer electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein the means for analyzing analyzes the data corresponding to the detected electrical characteristics after the means for detecting electrical characteristics detects the electrical characteristics and before the means for energization energies another of the two axes.

10. The analyzer electronic circuit according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting further predicts a trajectory of the contact areas.

11. A tactile electronic device comprising:

a passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor;

a display screen;

a capture interface;

a main processor;

a graphics processor; and

an electronic circuit as claimed in claim 1.

12. An analyzer electronic circuit of a passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor comprising:

a main processor including;

an energization unit to energize of one of two axes of the passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor;

a detector to detect electrical characteristics on the other axis of the passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor at intersections between the two axes; and

an analyzer to analyze data corresponding to the detected electrical characteristics by

filtering the data,

determining one or more contact areas on the passive-matrix multicontact tactile sensor based on the data,

determining a barycenter for each of the one or more contact areas, and

interpolating the contact areas,

wherein the energization axis and the detection axis are alternated.