Reduction of noise in touch sensors

• US 8,564,565 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Perceptive Pixel Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Westhues, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JENNIFER T
• Application Number:
  US13/298,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20120223911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 178 1801- 1806
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04182 Filtering of noise external to the device and not generated by digitiser components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04184 Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing a cleaned signal in a capacitive touch sensor. A phase of periodic noise on an input of the capacitive touch sensor is determined, and a periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise is generated. The periodic excitation signal is applied to an excited conductor in a first array of the touch sensor. While the excitation signal is applied, a response signal on a responding conductor in a second array of the touch sensor is detected, and, based on the detected response signal, a value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor is generated. A threshold value is accessed, and a determination is made whether the response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the value and the threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for providing a cleaned signal in a capacitive touch sensor, the capacitive touch sensor including a first array of conductors and a second array of conductors, wherein the conductors in the first array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and the conductors in the second array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and wherein the conductors in the first array are positioned substantially perpendicular to the conductors in the second array to form a matrix, the method comprising:

determining a phase of periodic noise on an input of the capacitive touch sensor;

generating a periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise;

applying the periodic excitation signal to an excited conductor in the first array;

while the excitation signal is applied, detecting a response signal on a responding conductor in the second array, and generating, based on the detected response signal, a value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

accessing a threshold value;

determining whether the response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the value and the threshold value; and

producing a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the response signal corresponds to a touch.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the response signal corresponds to a touch comprises determining whether the response signal corresponds to an input mechanism being in such physical proximity to the matrix that the input mechanism, by virtue of its proximity to the matrix, imparts a capacitance change between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the response signal corresponds to a touch comprises determining whether the response signal corresponds to an input mechanism being in direct physical contact with the matrix such that a capacitance change occurs between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a periodic excitation signal having a phase locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise comprises generating a periodic excitation signal such that a phase difference between the generated periodic excitation signal and the periodic noise is kept constant in time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is determined during calibration of the capacitive touch sensor and includes a constant offset that reflects the effect of the periodic noise on the response signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising calibrating the touch sensor to determine the threshold value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a response signal on a responding conductor in the second array comprises detecting the response signal using a detector that is deterministic and maintains no state across sensor frames.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein generating, based on the detected response signal, a value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises:

the detector generating a detector signal based on the response signal, and

sampling the detector signal to arrive at the value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising using a frequency selective filter to filter out noise from the response signal and then providing the filtered response signal to the detector for generating the detector signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein using the frequency selective filter to filter out noise comprises using the frequency selective filter to filter out noise having a frequency lower than a frequency of the periodic excitation signal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein using the frequency selective filter to filter out noise comprises using the frequency selective filter to filter out noise having a frequency higher than a frequency of the periodic excitation signal.

12. The method of claim 8,

wherein the detector comprises a peak detector circuit that detects a peak of the response signal, and

wherein generating the detector signal comprises the peak detector circuit generating a signal reflecting the peak of the response signal.

13. The method of claim 8,

wherein the detector comprises a correlation detector circuit that computes a correlation between the response signal and an expected response signal, and

wherein generating the detector signal comprises the correlation detector circuit generating a signal reflecting the correlation between the response signal and the expected response signal.

14. The method of claim 8,

wherein the excitation signal is a voltage and the response signal is a current,

wherein the detector further includes an amplifier that converts the current response signal to a current, a voltage, a digital code or another quantity, and

wherein generating the detector signal based on the response signal comprises:

converting, by the amplifier, the current response signal to a current, a voltage, a digital code or other quantity, and

generating the detector signal by the detector detecting the current, the voltage, the digital code or the other quantity over time.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the amplifier is a transimpedance amplifier configured to convert the current response signal to a voltage that is then detected over time by the detector.

16. The method of claim 8,

wherein sampling the detector signal to arrive at the value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises sampling the detector signal during a measurement period of a sensor frame,

wherein a sample of the detector signal is taken at a same point in time during each measurement period of multiple sensor frames, and

wherein the measurement period of each of the multiple sensor frames is in phase with the periodic excitation signal such that the sample of the detector signal is taken at a same phase of the periodic excitation signal during each sensor frame.

17. The method of claim 1,

wherein the touch sensor is positioned relative to a display device and noise coupled from that display device is periodic over the line-scan frequency or frame frequency of the display device, and

wherein:

determining the phase of the periodic noise comprises;

receiving a synchronization signal from the display device, and

determining the phase of the periodic noise based on the synchronization signal, and

generating the periodic excitation signal comprises using the synchronization signal to lock the phase of the generated periodic excitation signal to the phase of the periodic noise.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the synchronization signal is a line synchronization signal or a frame synchronization signal of the display device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display device, an OLED display device, or a plasma display device.

20. The method of claim 1,

further comprising:

determining the threshold value during a calibration routine of the sensor, and

storing the threshold value in a data store, and

wherein accessing the threshold value comprises accessing the threshold value from the data store.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the calibration routine during which the threshold value is determined is performed when the sensor is manufactured.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the calibration routine during which the threshold value is determined is only performed once during the lifetime of the sensor.

23. A method for providing cleaned signals in a capacitive touch screen display having a capacitive touch sensor positioned relative to a display device, the capacitive touch sensor including a first array of conductors and a second array of conductors, wherein the conductors in the first array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and the conductors in the second array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and wherein the conductors in the first array are positioned substantially perpendicular to the conductors in the second array to form a matrix, the method comprising:

receiving a synchronization signal from the display device;

configuring the touch sensor to have a sensor frame rate equal to a rational multiple of a frame rate of the display device;

determining a phase of periodic noise generated by the display device based on the synchronization signal;

during a first sensor frame of the touch sensor, generating a first periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise, and applying the first periodic excitation signal to an excited conductor in the first array;

while the first excitation signal is applied during the first sensor frame, detecting a first response signal on a responding conductor in the second array, the responding conductor being capacitively coupled to the excited conductor, and generating, based on the detected first response signal, a first value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

accessing a first threshold value;

determining whether the first response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the first value and the first threshold value; and

producing a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the first response signal corresponds to a touch.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the synchronization signal is a line synchronization signal or a frame synchronization signal of the display device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display device, an OLED display device, or a plasma display device.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein generating, based on the detected first response signal, a first value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises:

generating a first detector signal based on the first response signal; and

sampling the first detector signal to arrive at a first value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

27. The method of claim 23,

further comprising:

determining the first threshold value during a calibration routine of the sensor, and

storing the first threshold value in a data store, and

wherein accessing the first threshold value comprises accessing the first threshold value from the data store.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the calibration routine during which the first threshold value is determined is performed when the sensor is manufactured.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the calibration routine during which the first threshold value is determined is only performed once during the lifetime of the sensor.

30. The method of claim 23,

wherein configuring the touch sensor to have a sensor frame rate equal to a rational multiple of the frame rate of the display device comprises configuring the touch sensor to have a ratio of the sensor frame rate to the frame rate of the display device that is equal to x:

y, where x and y are integers and x is greater than one, and

further comprising;

during a second sensor frame of the touch sensor that occurs after the first sensor frame, generating a second periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise, and applying the second periodic excitation signal to the excited conductor;

while the second excitation signal is applied during the second sensor frame, detecting a second response signal on the responding conductor, and generating, based on the detected second response signal, a second value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

accessing a second threshold value, the second threshold value being different from the first threshold value;

determining whether the second response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the second value and the second threshold value; and

producing a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the second response signal corresponds to a touch.

31. The method of claim 30,

further comprising:

determining the first threshold value and the second threshold value during a calibration routine of the sensor, and

storing the first threshold value and the second threshold value in a data store,

wherein accessing the first threshold value comprises accessing the first threshold value from the data store, and

wherein accessing the second threshold value comprises accessing the second threshold value from the data store.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the calibration routine during which the first threshold value and the second threshold value are determined is performed when the sensor is manufactured.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the calibration routine during which the first threshold value and the second threshold value are determined is only performed once during the lifetime of the sensor.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein generating, based on the detected second response signal, a second value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises:

generating a second detector signal based on the second response signal; and

sampling the second detector signal to arrive at the second value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

35. A method for providing cleaned signals in a capacitive touch screen display having a capacitive touch sensor positioned relative to a display device, the capacitive touch sensor including a first array of conductors and a second array of conductors, wherein the conductors in the first array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and the conductors in the second array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and wherein the conductors in the first array are positioned substantially perpendicular to the conductors in the second array to form a matrix, the method comprising:

receiving a synchronization signal from the display device;

configuring the touch sensor to have a ratio of a sensor frame rate to a frame rate of the display device that is equal to x;

y, where x and y are integers and x is greater than one;

determining a phase of periodic noise generated by the display device based on the synchronization signal;

storing x threshold values in a data store, each of the x threshold values usable for determining touches during a respective one of x sequential sensor frames; and

during each nth sensor frame of the x sequential sensor frames, where n is an integer from 1 to x;

generating an nth periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise, and applying the nth periodic excitation signal to an excited conductor in the first array;

while the nth excitation signal is applied during the nth sensor frame, detecting an nth response signal on a responding conductor in the second array, the responding conductor being capacitively coupled to the excited conductor, and generating, based on the detected nth response signal, an nth value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

accessing, from the data store, an nth threshold value;

determining whether the nth response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the nth value and the nth threshold value; and

producing a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the nth response signal corresponds to a touch.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein at least two of the x threshold values are different from each other.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein each of the x threshold values is different from each other.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein generating, based on the detected nth response signal, an nth value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises:

generating an nth detector signal based on the nth response signal; and

sampling the nth detector signal to arrive at an nth value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising determining the x threshold values during a calibration routine of the sensor.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the calibration routine during which the x threshold values are determined is performed when the sensor is manufactured.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the calibration routine during which the x threshold values are determined is only performed once during the lifetime of the sensor.

42. A system for providing a cleaned signal in a capacitive touch sensor, the system comprising:

a capacitive touch sensor including a first array of conductors and a second array of conductors, wherein the conductors in the first array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and the conductors in the second array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and wherein the conductors in the first array are positioned substantially perpendicular to the conductors in the second array to form a matrix; and

one or more circuits configured to;

determine a phase of periodic noise on an input of the capacitive touch sensor;

generate a periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise;

apply the periodic excitation signal to an excited conductor in the first array;

while the excitation signal is applied, detect a response signal on a responding conductor in the second array, and generate, based on the detected response signal, a value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

access a threshold value;

determine whether the response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the value and the threshold value; and

produce a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the response signal corresponds to a touch.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the one or more circuits being configured to determine whether the response signal corresponds to a touch comprises the one or more circuits being configured to determine whether the response signal corresponds to an input mechanism being in such physical proximity to the matrix that the input mechanism, by virtue of its proximity to the matrix, imparts a capacitance change between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the one or more circuits being configured to determine whether the response signal corresponds to a touch comprises the one or more circuits being configured to determine whether the response signal corresponds to an input mechanism being in direct physical contact with the matrix such that a capacitance change occurs between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the one or more circuits being configured to generate a periodic excitation signal having a phase locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise comprises the one or more circuits being configured to generate a periodic excitation signal such that a phase difference between the generated periodic excitation signal and the periodic noise is kept constant in time.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein the threshold value is determined during calibration of the capacitive touch sensor and includes a constant offset that reflects the effect of the periodic noise on the response signal.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the one or more circuits include a processor configured to calibrate the touch sensor to determine the threshold value.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein the one or more circuits being configured to detect a response signal on a responding conductor in the second array comprises the one or more circuits including a detector circuit that is configured to detect the response signal and that is deterministic and maintains no state across sensor frames.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the one or more circuits include a sampler circuit and the one or more circuits being configured to generate, based on the detected response signal, a value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises:

the detector circuit being configured to generate a detector signal based on the response signal, and

the sampler circuit being configured to sample the detector signal to arrive at the value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

50. The system of claim 49, further comprising a frequency selective filter configured to filter out noise from the response signal and then provide the filtered response signal to the detector circuit for generating the detector signal.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the frequency selective filter is configured to filter out noise having a frequency lower than a frequency of the periodic excitation signal.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the frequency selective filter is configured to filter out noise having a frequency higher than a frequency of the periodic excitation signal.

53. The system of claim 49,

wherein the detector circuit comprises a peak detector circuit that detects a peak of the response signal, and

wherein the detector circuit being configured to generate the detector signal comprises the peak detector circuit being configured to generate a signal reflecting the peak of the response signal.

54. The system of claim 49,

wherein the detector circuit comprises a correlation detector circuit that computes a correlation between the response signal and an expected response signal, and

wherein the detector circuit being configured to generate the detector signal comprises the correlation detector circuit being configured to generate a signal reflecting the correlation between the response signal and the expected response signal.

55. The system of claim 49,

wherein the excitation signal is a voltage and the response signal is a current,

wherein the detector circuit further includes an amplifier circuit that converts the current response signal to a current, a voltage, a digital code or another quantity, and

wherein the detector circuit being configured to generate the detector signal based on the response signal comprises:

the amplifier circuit being configured to convert the current response signal to a current, a voltage, a digital code or other quantity, and

the detector circuit being configured to generate the detector signal by detecting the current, the voltage, the digital code or the other quantity over time.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the amplifier circuit is a transimpedance amplifier configured to convert the current response signal to a voltage that is then detected over time by the detector circuit.

57. The system of claim 49,

wherein the sampler circuit being configured to sample the detector signal to arrive at the value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises the sampler circuit being configured to sample the detector signal during a measurement period of a sensor frame,

wherein a sample of the detector signal is taken by the sampler circuit at a same point in time during each measurement period of multiple sensor frames, and

wherein the measurement period of each of the multiple sensor frames is in phase with the periodic excitation signal such that the sample of the detector signal is taken by the sampler circuit at a same phase of the periodic excitation signal during each sensor frame.

58. The system of claim 42, further including a display device,

wherein the touch sensor is positioned relative to the display device and noise coupled from that display device is periodic over the line-scan frequency or frame frequency of the display device, and

wherein the one or more circuits being configured to determine the phase of the periodic noise comprises the one or more circuits being configured to:

receive a synchronization signal from the display device, and

determine the phase of the periodic noise based on the synchronization signal, and

wherein the one or more circuits being configured to generate the periodic excitation signal comprises the one or more circuits being configured to use the synchronization signal to lock the phase of the generated periodic excitation signal to the phase of the periodic noise.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the synchronization signal is a line synchronization signal or a frame synchronization signal of the display device.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display device, an OLED display device, or a plasma display device.

61. The system of claim 42, further comprising a data store,

wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to:

determine the threshold value during a calibration routine of the sensor, and

store the threshold value in the data store, and

wherein accessing the threshold value comprises accessing the threshold value from the data store.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the calibration routine during which the threshold value is determined is performed when the sensor is manufactured.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein the calibration routine during which the threshold value is determined is only performed once during the lifetime of the sensor.

64. A system for providing cleaned signals in a capacitive touch screen display having a capacitive touch sensor positioned relative to a display device, the system including:

a display device;

a capacitive touch sensor including a first array of conductors and a second array of conductors, wherein the conductors in the first array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and the conductors in the second array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and wherein the conductors in the first array are positioned substantially perpendicular to the conductors in the second array to form a matrix; and

one or more circuits configured to;

receive a synchronization signal from the display device;

configure the touch sensor to have a sensor frame rate equal to a rational multiple of a frame rate of the display device;

determine a phase of periodic noise generated by the display device based on the synchronization signal;

during a first sensor frame of the touch sensor, generate a first periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise, and applying the first periodic excitation signal to an excited conductor in the first array;

while the first excitation signal is applied during the first sensor frame, detect a first response signal on a responding conductor in the second array, the responding conductor being capacitively coupled to the excited conductor, and generate, based on the detected first response signal, a first value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

access a first threshold value;

determine whether the first response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the first value and the first threshold value; and

produce a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the first response signal corresponds to a touch.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein the synchronization signal is a line synchronization signal or a frame synchronization signal of the display device.

66. The system of claim 64, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display device, an OLED display device, or a plasma display device.

67. The system of claim 64, wherein the one or more circuits include a detector circuit and a sampler circuit, and

wherein the one or more circuits being configured to generate, based on the detected first response signal, a first value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises:

the detector circuit being configured to generate a first detector signal based on the first response signal; and

the sampler circuit being configured to sample the first detector signal to arrive at a first value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

68. The system of claim 64,

wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to:

determine the first threshold value during a calibration routine of the sensor, and

store the first threshold value in a data store, and

wherein the one or more circuits being configured to access the first threshold value comprises the one or more circuits being configured to access the first threshold value from the data store.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the calibration routine during which the first threshold value is determined is performed when the sensor is manufactured.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein the calibration routine during which the first threshold value is determined is only performed once during the lifetime of the sensor.

71. The system of claim 64,

wherein the one or more circuits being configured to configure the touch sensor to have a sensor frame rate equal to a rational multiple of the frame rate of the display device comprises the one or more circuits being configured to configure the touch sensor to have a ratio of the sensor frame rate to the frame rate of the display device that is equal to x:

y, where x and y are integers and x is greater than one, and

wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to;

during a second sensor frame of the touch sensor that occurs after the first sensor frame, generate a second periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise, and apply the second periodic excitation signal to the excited conductor;

while the second excitation signal is applied during the second sensor frame, detect a second response signal on the responding conductor, and generate, based on the detected second response signal, a second value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

access a second threshold value, the second threshold value being different from the first threshold value;

determine whether the second response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the second value and the second threshold value; and

produce a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the second response signal corresponds to a touch.

72. The system of claim 71, further comprising a data store,

wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to:

determine the first threshold value and the second threshold value during a calibration routine of the sensor, and

store the first threshold value and the second threshold value in the data store,

wherein the one or more circuits being configured to access the first threshold value comprises the one or more circuits being configured to access the first threshold value from the data store, and

wherein the one or more circuits being configured to access the second threshold value comprises the one or more circuits being configured to access the second threshold value from the data store.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the calibration routine during which the first threshold value and the second threshold value are determined is performed when the sensor is manufactured.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein the calibration routine during which the first threshold value and the second threshold value are determined is only performed once during the lifetime of the sensor.

75. The system of claim 64, wherein the one or more circuits being configured to generate, based on the detected second response signal, a second value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises the one or more circuits being configured to:

generate a second detector signal based on the second response signal; and

sample the second detector signal to arrive at the second value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

76. A system for providing cleaned signals in a capacitive touch screen display having a capacitive touch sensor positioned relative to a display device, the system including:

a display device;

a data store;

a capacitive touch sensor including a first array of conductors and a second array of conductors, wherein the conductors in the first array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and the conductors in the second array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and wherein the conductors in the first array are positioned substantially perpendicular to the conductors in the second array to form a matrix; and

one or more circuits configured to;

receive a synchronization signal from the display device;

configure the touch sensor to have a ratio of a sensor frame rate to a frame rate of the display device that is equal to x;

y, where x and y are integers and x is greater than one;

determine a phase of periodic noise generated by the display device based on the synchronization signal;

store x threshold values in the data store, each of the x threshold values usable for determining touches during a respective one of x sequential sensor frames; and

during each nth sensor frame of the x sequential sensor frames, where n is an integer from 1 to x;

generate an nth periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise, and apply the nth periodic excitation signal to an excited conductor in the first array;

while the nth excitation signal is applied during the nth sensor frame, detect an nth response signal on a responding conductor in the second array, the responding conductor being capacitively coupled to the excited conductor, and generate, based on the detected nth response signal, an nth value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

access, from the data store, an nth threshold value;

determine whether the nth response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the nth value and the nth threshold value; and

produce a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the nth response signal corresponds to a touch.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein at least two of the x threshold values are different from each other.

78. The system of claim 76, wherein each of the x threshold values is different from each other.

79. The system of claim 76, wherein the one or more circuits being configured to generate, based on the detected nth response signal, an nth value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor comprises the one or more circuits being configured to:

generate an nth detector signal based on the nth response signal; and

sample the nth detector signal to arrive at an nth value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor.

80. The system of claim 76, wherein the one or more circuits are further configured to determine the x threshold values during a calibration routine of the sensor.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the calibration routine during which the x threshold values are determined is performed when the sensor is manufactured.

82. The system of claim 80, wherein the calibration routine during which the x threshold values are determined is only performed once during the lifetime of the sensor.

83. A system for providing a cleaned signal in a capacitive touch sensor, the system comprising:

a capacitive touch sensor including a first array of conductors and a second array of conductors, wherein the conductors in the first array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and the conductors in the second array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and wherein the conductors in the first array are positioned substantially perpendicular to the conductors in the second array to form a matrix;

means for determining a phase of periodic noise on an input of the capacitive touch sensor;

means for generating a periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise; and

one or more circuits configured to;

apply the periodic excitation signal to an excited conductor in the first array;

while the excitation signal is applied, detect a response signal on a responding conductor in the second array, and generate, based on the detected response signal, a value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

access a threshold value;

determine whether the response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the value and the threshold value; and

produce a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the response signal corresponds to a touch.

84. A system for providing cleaned signals in a capacitive touch screen display having a capacitive touch sensor positioned relative to a display device, the system including:

a display device;

a capacitive touch sensor including a first array of conductors and a second array of conductors, wherein the conductors in the first array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and the conductors in the second array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and wherein the conductors in the first array are positioned substantially perpendicular to the conductors in the second array to form a matrix;

a receiving circuit configured to receive a synchronization signal from the display device;

means for configuring the touch sensor to have a sensor frame rate equal to a rational multiple of a frame rate of the display device;

means for determining a phase of periodic noise generated by the display device based on the synchronization signal;

means for, during a first sensor frame of the touch sensor, generate a first periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise, and applying the first periodic excitation signal to an excited conductor in the first array; and

one or more circuits configured to;

while the first excitation signal is applied during the first sensor frame, detect a first response signal on a responding conductor in the second array, the responding conductor being capacitively coupled to the excited conductor, and generate, based on the detected first response signal, a first value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

access a first threshold value;

determine whether the first response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the first value and the first threshold value; and

produce a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the first response signal corresponds to a touch.

85. A system for providing cleaned signals in a capacitive touch screen display having a capacitive touch sensor positioned relative to a display device, the system including:

a display device;

a data store;

a capacitive touch sensor including a first array of conductors and a second array of conductors, wherein the conductors in the first array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and the conductors in the second array are arranged substantially in parallel with one another, and wherein the conductors in the first array are positioned substantially perpendicular to the conductors in the second array to form a matrix;

a receiving circuit configured to receive a synchronization signal from the display device;

means for configuring the touch sensor to have a ratio of a sensor frame rate to a frame rate of the display device that is equal to x;

y, where x and y are integers and x is greater than one;

means for determining a phase of periodic noise generated by the display device based on the synchronization signal; and

one or more circuits configured to;

store x threshold values in the data store, each of the x threshold values usable for determining touches during a respective one of x sequential sensor frames; and

during each nth sensor frame of the x sequential sensor frames, where n is an integer from 1 to x;

generate an nth periodic excitation signal having a phase that is locked to the determined phase of the periodic noise, and apply the nth periodic excitation signal to an excited conductor in the first array;

while the nth excitation signal is applied during the nth sensor frame, detect an nth response signal on a responding conductor in the second array, the responding conductor being capacitively coupled to the excited conductor, and generate, based on the detected nth response signal, an nth value indicative of a measured capacitance between the excited conductor and the responding conductor;

access, from the data store, an nth threshold value;

determine whether the nth response signal corresponds to a touch based on a difference between the nth value and the nth threshold value; and

produce a signal reflecting results of the determination of whether the nth response signal corresponds to a touch.