Determining a position of an object with respect to a touch screen element

• US 8,847,900 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2011
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Philipp, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): Karimi, Pegeman
• Application Number:
  US13/286,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20120044206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 349/12, 349/23, 178/18.05
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more first output signals from a first area of a touch-sensitive position sensor; receiving one or more second output signals from a second area of the touch-sensitive position sensor; calculating a first touch-position estimate based on the first output signals; calculating a second touch-position estimate based on the second output signals; and determining, based at least in part on the first and second touch-position estimates, an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving one or more first output signals from a first area of a touch-sensitive position sensor, the first area associated with a first set of electrodes, the first output signals corresponding to a first touch by or proximity of an object within the first area of the touch-sensitive position sensor;

receiving one or more second output signals from a second area of the touch-sensitive position sensor, the second area associated with a second set of electrodes, the second set of electrodes being different than the first set of electrodes, the first set of electrodes associated with the first area and the second set of electrodes associated with the second area sharing at least two electrodes in common, the at least two electrodes in common are coupled by an element, which is shared by and positioned between the first area and the second area, so as to substantially separate the first area from the second area, the second output signals corresponding to a second touch by or proximity of an object within the second area of the touch-sensitive position sensor;

calculating a first touch-position estimate based on the first output signals;

calculating a second touch-position estimate based on the second output signals; and

determining, based at least in part on the first and second touch-position estimates, an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive position sensor further comprises:

a substrate;

a first resistive bus-bar on the substrate;

a second resistive bus-bar substantially parallel to the first resistive bus-bar on the substrate;

an anisotropic conductive region having non-zero resistance arranged between the first and second bus-bars such that currents induced in the anisotropic conductive region flow preferentially towards the first and second bus-bars; and

a plurality of electrodes located at points along the first and second bus-bars, each electrode being associated with at least one of the areas, each of the electrodes being coupled to a drive channel to provide output signals.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

calculating the first touch-position estimate from a ratiometric analysis of the first output signals, the first output signals provided by the drive channels coupled to the electrodes associated with the first area; and

calculating the second touch-position estimate from a ratiometric analysis of the second output signals, the second output signals provided by the drive channels coupled to the electrodes associated with the second area.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the anisotropic conductive region comprises a plurality of resistive strips in a zigzag pattern, some of the plurality of resistive strips extending between the first resistive bus-bar and the second resistive bus-bar.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the touch-sensitive position sensor further comprises one or more guard electrodes configured to provide a reference signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more third output signals from a third area of the touch-sensitive position sensor, the third area associated with a third set of electrodes, the third set of electrodes being different than the first and second sets of electrodes, the third output signals corresponding to a third touch or proximity within the third area of the touch-sensitive position sensor;

calculating a third touch-position estimate based on the third output signals; and

determining, based at least in part on the third touch-position estimate in addition to the first and second touch-position estimates, an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor depends at least in part on the orientation of the touch-sensitive position sensor.

8. A system comprising:

a touch-sensitive position sensor comprising a first area and a second area; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is configured when executed to;

receive one or more first output signals from the first area, the first area associated with a first set of electrodes, the first out put signals corresponding to a first touch by or proximity of an object within the first area of the touch-sensitive position sensor;

receive one or more second output signals from the second area, the second area associated with a second set of electrodes, the first set of electrodes associated with the first area and the second set of electrodes associated with the second area sharing at least two electrodes in common, the at least two electrodes in common are coupled by an element, which is shared by and positioned between the first area and the second area, so as to substantially separate the first area from the second area, the second set of electrodes being different than the first set of electrodes, the second output signals corresponding to a second touch by or proximity of an object within the second area of the touch-sensitive position sensor;

calculate a first touch-position estimate based on the first output signals;

calculate a second touch-position estimate based on the second output signals; and

determine, based at least in part on the first and second touch-position estimates, an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the touch-sensitive position sensor further comprises:

a substrate;

a first resistive bus-bar on the substrate;

a second resistive bus-bar substantially parallel to the first resistive bus-bar on the substrate;

an anisotropic conductive region having non-zero resistance arranged between the first and second bus-bars such that currents induced in the anisotropic conductive region flow preferentially towards the first and second bus-bars; and

a plurality of electrodes located at points along the first and second bus-bars, each electrode being associated with at least one of the areas, each of the electrodes being coupled to a drive channel to provide output signals to the one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the logic is further configured to:

calculate the first touch-position estimate from a ratiometric analysis of the first output signals, the first output signals provided by the drive channels coupled to the electrodes associated with the first area; and

calculate the second touch-position estimate from a ratiometric analysis of the second output signals, the second output signals provided by the drive channels coupled to the electrodes associated with the second area.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the anisotropic conductive region comprises a plurality of resistive strips in a zigzag pattern, some of the plurality of resistive strips extending between the first resistive bus-bar and the second resistive bus-bar.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the touch-sensitive position sensor further comprises one or more guard electrodes configured to provide a reference signal to the one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the touch-sensitive position sensor comprises a third area; and

the logic is further configured to;

receive one or more third output signals from the third area, the third area associated with a third set of electrodes, the third set of electrodes being different than the first and second sets of electrodes, the third output signals corresponding to a third touch or proximity within the third area of the touch-sensitive position sensor;

calculate a third touch-position estimate based on the third output signals; and

determine, based at least in part on the third touch-position estimate in addition to the first and second touch-position estimates, an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein determining an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor, depends at least in part on the orientation of the touch-position sensor.

15. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is configured to:

receive one or more first output signals from a first area of a touch-sensitive position sensor, the first area associated with a first set of electrodes, the first output signals corresponding to a first touch by or proximity of an object within the first area of the touch-sensitive position sensor;

receive one or more second output signals from a second area of the touch-sensitive position sensor, the second area associated with a second set of electrodes, the second set of electrodes being different than the first set of electrodes, the first set of electrodes associated with the first area and the second set of electrodes associated with the second area sharing at least two electrodes in common, the at least two electrodes in common are coupled by an element, which is shared by and positioned between the first area and the second area, so as to substantially separate the first area from the second area, the second output signals corresponding to a second touch by or proximity of an object within the second area of the touch-sensitive position sensor;

calculate a first touch-position estimate based on the first output signals;

calculate a second touch-position estimate based on the second output signals; and

determine, based at least in part on the first and second touch-position estimates, an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor.

16. The media of claim 15, wherein the touch-sensitive position sensor further comprises:

a substrate;

a first resistive bus-bar on the substrate;

a second resistive bus-bar substantially parallel to the first resistive bus-bar on the substrate;

an anisotropic conductive region having non-zero resistance arranged between the first and second bus-bars such that currents induced in the anisotropic conductive region flow preferentially towards the first and second bus-bars; and

a plurality of electrodes located at points along the first and second bus-bars, each electrode being associated with at least one of the areas, each of the electrodes being coupled to a drive channel to provide output signals to the logic.

17. The media of claim 16, wherein the logic is further configured to:

calculate the first touch-position estimate from a ratiometric analysis of the first output signals, the first output signals provided by the drive channels coupled to the electrodes associated with the first area; and

calculate the second touch-position estimate from a ratiometric analysis of the second output signals, the second output signals provided by the drive channels coupled to the electrodes associated with the second area.

18. The media of claim 16, wherein the anisotropic conductive region comprises a plurality of resistive strips in a zigzag pattern, some of the plurality of resistive strips extending between the first resistive bus-bar and the second resistive bus-bar.

19. The media of claim 15, wherein the logic is further configured to:

receive one or more third output signals from a third area of the touch-sensitive position sensor, the third area associated with a third set of electrodes, the third set of electrodes being different than the first and second sets of electrodes, the third output signals corresponding to a third touch or proximity within the third area of the touch-sensitive position sensor;

calculate a third touch-position estimate based on the third output signals; and

determine, based at least in part on the third touch-position estimate in addition to the first and second touch-position estimates, an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor.

20. The media of claim 15, wherein determining an intended-touch location with respect to the touch-sensitive position sensor, depends at least in part on the orientation of the touch-position sensor.