Touch-screen panel with multiple sense units and related methods

• US 8,797,281 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: SIMMONS, Martin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, Kwang-Su
• Application Number:
  US12/816,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20110310025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• 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

This document discloses, systems, methods, and articles of manufacture, related to position sensors and uses of such sensors. Multiple panels can be arranged in close proximity to one another and one or more sense or drives lines associated with each respective panel can be associated with a control circuit of the other adjacent panel.

Claims

1. A panel for a touch position sensor, comprising:

a first panel region including a plurality of first touch sense channels for communication with a first sense unit; and

a second panel region adjacent to the first panel region, the second panel region including a plurality of second touch sense channels for communication with a second sense unit, wherein;

at least one touch sense channel associated with the first panel region and at least one touch sense channel associated with the second panel region are configured for communication with each of the first sense unit and the second sense unit;

a processor operable, when the at least one touch sense channel associated with the first panel region and the at least one touch sense channel associated with the second panel region detect a touch in different sensed positions, to select one of the different sensed positions as a position of the touch; and

wherein the processor is further operable to select said one of the different sensed positions as the position of the touch by determining which of the touch sense channels that detect the touch is located farthest from an edge of a channel set defined by the touch sense channels that are configured for communication with each of the first sense unit and the second sense unit.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the channel set defines an overlap region having a width of substantially 3 cm.

3. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the channel set defines an overlap region having a width of substantially 1 cm.

4. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the channel set defines an overlap region having a width of substantially 0.5 cm.

5. A touch position sensor, comprising:

a panel comprising;

a first panel region including a plurality of first touch sense channels; and

a second panel region substantially adjacent to the first panel region, the second panel region including a plurality of second touch sense channels;

a first sense unit in communication with the plurality of first touch sense channels and at least one touch sense channel of the plurality of second touch sense channels;

a second sense unit in communication with the plurality of second touch sense channels and at least one touch sense channel of the plurality of first touch sense channels;

a processor operable, when the at least one touch sense channel of the plurality of second touch sense channels and the at least one touch sense channel of the plurality of first touch sense channels detect a touch in different sensed positions, to select one of the different sensed positions as a position of the touch; and

wherein the processor is further operable to select said one of the different sensed positions as the position of the touch by determining which of the touch sense channels that detect the touch is located farthest from an edge of a channel set defined by the touch sensors that are configured for communication with each of the first sense unit and the second sense unit.

6. The touch position sensor of claim 5, wherein the at least one touch sense channel of the plurality of second touch sense channels in communication with the first sense unit and the at least one touch sense channel of the plurality of first touch sense channels in communication with the second sense unit are located near the first panel region and the second panel region.

7. The touch position sensor of claim 5, further comprising a first processing unit in communication with the first sense unit and a second processing unit in communication with the second sense unit, the first processing unit and the second processing unit cooperating to determine whether a touch occurred in a region where the second panel region is substantially adjacent to the first panel region.

8. The touch position sensor of claim 5, wherein the channel set defines an overlap region having a width of substantially 3 cm.

9. The touch position sensor of claim 5, wherein the channel set defines an overlap region having a width of substantially 1 cm.

10. A method for sensing a touch with a position sensor, comprising:

scanning touch sense lines, the touch sense lines including;

a plurality of touch sense lines associated with a first sense unit;

a plurality of touch sense lines associated with a second sense unit; and

at least two sense lines included in said both pluralities of touch sense lines that are each associated with said both sense units, the at least two sense lines associated with said both sense units defining a channel set;

determining that the touch is sensed in different positions by different sense lines;

when the touch is sensed in the different positions, determining the sense lines that sense the touch; and

determining which of the sense lines that sense the touch is located farthest from an edge of the channel set defined by the at least two sense lines, and in response, reporting the touch position based on the determined sense line.