Capacitive touch screen having dynamic capacitance control and improved touch sensing
First Claim
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1. A touch pad apparatus comprising:
- a capacitive touch sensing device including a plurality of respective touch sensing pads disposed on a surface of the capacitive touch sensing device;
at least one electrically manipulated conductive surface disposed on the surface of the capacitive touch sensing device proximate each respective touch sensing pad; and
a processor programmed to detect presence of water on the surface of the capacitance touch sensing device in an amount of water sufficient to attenuate capacitive coupling of a user touch with the surface of the capacitance touch sensing device, the processor further programmed to control application of an electrical potential to selected electrically manipulated conductive surfaces at a magnitude sufficient to compensate the attenuation of the capacitive coupling of the user touch with the surface.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for improving the sensing performance of a capacitive touch screen sensing device. The electrical potential of conductive structures proximate capacitive touch pads of the sensing device is altered to compensate for the effect of parasitic capacitance, based on external conditions such as water on the touch screen or an intervening user worn glove. The compensation for parasitic capacitance improves the signal to noise ratio and therefore the sensing performance of the device.
25 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A touch pad apparatus comprising:
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a capacitive touch sensing device including a plurality of respective touch sensing pads disposed on a surface of the capacitive touch sensing device; at least one electrically manipulated conductive surface disposed on the surface of the capacitive touch sensing device proximate each respective touch sensing pad; and a processor programmed to detect presence of water on the surface of the capacitance touch sensing device in an amount of water sufficient to attenuate capacitive coupling of a user touch with the surface of the capacitance touch sensing device, the processor further programmed to control application of an electrical potential to selected electrically manipulated conductive surfaces at a magnitude sufficient to compensate the attenuation of the capacitive coupling of the user touch with the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
at a capacitive touch screen device having a touch surface, a plurality of touch pads arranged for detecting touches on the touch surface and a programmable processor operable to detect conditions of the capacitive touch screen device and control electrical potentials provided to touch pads of the plurality of touch pads, by the processor, detecting natural capacitance of each respective touch pad of the plurality of touch pads; by the processor, detecting presence of water or a contaminant on the touch surface of the capacitive touch screen device; scanning the plurality of touch pads to locate a touched pad experiencing a touch, including; for each scanned touch pad, applying respective bias potentials to respective adjacent touch pads, the respective bias potentials being selected to reduce capacitive effects of the water or contaminant on capacitance of the scanned touch pad; measuring capacitance of the each scanned touch pad; and based on the measured capacitance, determining if the scanned touch pad experiences a touch. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
at a capacitive touch screen device having a touch surface, a plurality of touch pads arranged for detecting touches on the touch surface and a programmable processor responsive to stored data and instructions and operable to detect conditions of the capacitive touch screen device and control electrical potentials provided to touch pads of the plurality of touch pads, by the processor, detecting natural capacitance of each respective touch pad of the plurality of touch pads; by the processor, determining a user of the capacitive touch screen device is wearing gloves when operating the touch surface of the capacitive touch screen device; scanning the plurality of touch pads to locate a touched pad experiencing a touch by a gloved finger, including; for each scanned touch pad, by the processor, applying respective bias potentials to selected respective adjacent touch pads located proximate the scanned touch pad, the respective bias potentials being selected to compensate for attenuation of capacitive coupling between the gloved finger and the scanned touch pad; by the processor, determining capacitance of the each scanned touch pad; and based on the measured capacitance, determining by the processor if the scanned touch pad experiences a touch by the gloved finger. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A touch pad apparatus comprising:
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a capacitive touch sensing device including a plurality of respective touch sensing pads disposed in a predetermined pattern on a surface of the capacitive touch sensing device so that each respective touch sensing pads has one or more adjacent touch sensing pads; and a processor programmed to adjust sensitivity of the touch pad apparatus in response to presence of parasitic capacitance tending to attenuate capacitive coupling of a user touch by a user to a respective touch sensing pad upon the surface of the capacitance touch sensing device, the processor further programmed to control application of one or more electrical potentials to selected adjacent touch sensing pads at a magnitude sufficient to compensate the attenuation of the capacitive coupling of the user touch with the surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification