Capcitive touch panel with simultaneously enabled X- and Y-direction sensor circuits wherein in each sensor circuit the drive line is interdigitated with a plurality of sense lines
First Claim
1. A signal processing circuit of an electrostatic capacity type touch panel, comprising:
- a first sensor circuit having a first drive terminal and a plurality of first sensor input terminals, wherein the first sensor circuit provides a first driving signal at the drive terminal of the first sensor circuit;
a first plurality of sense lines disposed on a substrate, wherein a first sense line of the first plurality of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal coupled to a first input terminal of the plurality of first sensor input terminals and a second sense line of the first plurality of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal coupled to a second input terminal of the plurality of first sensor input terminals;
a first drive line comprising a first section having a first terminal, a second section having a second terminal, and a third section having a third terminal, the second terminal of the first drive line electrically separated from the third terminal of the first drive line, the first terminal of the first drive line coupled to the drive terminal of the first sensor circuit, the first section of the first drive line adjacent the first side of the first sense line of the first plurality of sense lines, the second section of the first drive line adjacent the second side of the first sense line of the first plurality of sense lines and first side of the second sense line of the first plurality of sense lines;
a second sensor circuit having a drive terminal and a plurality of second sensor input terminals, wherein the second sensor circuit provides a second driving signal at the drive terminal of the second sensor circuit;
a second plurality of sense lines disposed on the substrate and intersecting with the first plurality of sense lines, wherein a first sense line of the second plurality of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal coupled to a first input terminal of the second plurality of sense lines;
a second drive line comprising a first section having a first terminal and a second section having a second terminal, the first terminal of the second drive line coupled to the drive terminal of the second sensor circuit, the first section of the second drive line adjacent the first side of the first sense line of the second plurality of sense lines, the second section of the first sense line adjacent the second side of the first sense line of the second plurality of sense lines, the second drive line electrically insulated from the first drive line, wherein the first sensor circuit provides a first driving signal on the first drive line and detects a change in a capacitance between one of the first sense line of the first plurality of sense lines or the second sense line of the first plurality of sense lines and the first drive line and outputting a first detection signal and produces a first digital value that indicates which one of the first plurality of sense lines at which the change in capacitance is detected and wherein thesecond sensor circuit provides a second driving signal on the second drive line and detects a change in a capacitance between one of the first sense of the second plurality of sense lines or the second sense line of the second plurality of sense lines and the second drive line and outputting a second detection signal and produces a second digital value that indicates which one of the second plurality of sense lines at which the change in capacitance is detected; and
a bus connected to the first and second sensor circuits, the first and second sensor circuits outputting the first and second detection signals to the bus so that data communication is performed between a master device and the first and second sensor circuits through the bus;
wherein the master device enables the first and second sensor circuits simultaneously via a clock signal coupled to both the first and second sensor circuits, and wherein the master device reads the first and second digital values, respectively, from the first and second sensor circuits serially over the bus.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is offered a signal processing circuit of the electrostatic capacity type touch panel which can eliminate duplication of components to reduce a cost of the components. A touch panel 51 is formed on a glass substrate 200. Sensor circuits 50A and 50B are arrayed in a Y direction, and sensor circuits 50C and 50D are arrayed in an X direction on the periphery of the touch pane 51. Serial clock terminals SCL of the sensor circuits 50A-50D are connected to a serial clock line 53 all together, while serial data terminals SDA are connected to a serial data line 54 all together. A microcomputer 52 is disposed on a PCB substrate outside the glass substrate 200. Data communication can be performed between the microcomputer 52 and the sensor circuits 50A-50D through the serial clock line 53 and the serial data line 54.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A signal processing circuit of an electrostatic capacity type touch panel, comprising:
-
a first sensor circuit having a first drive terminal and a plurality of first sensor input terminals, wherein the first sensor circuit provides a first driving signal at the drive terminal of the first sensor circuit; a first plurality of sense lines disposed on a substrate, wherein a first sense line of the first plurality of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal coupled to a first input terminal of the plurality of first sensor input terminals and a second sense line of the first plurality of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal coupled to a second input terminal of the plurality of first sensor input terminals; a first drive line comprising a first section having a first terminal, a second section having a second terminal, and a third section having a third terminal, the second terminal of the first drive line electrically separated from the third terminal of the first drive line, the first terminal of the first drive line coupled to the drive terminal of the first sensor circuit, the first section of the first drive line adjacent the first side of the first sense line of the first plurality of sense lines, the second section of the first drive line adjacent the second side of the first sense line of the first plurality of sense lines and first side of the second sense line of the first plurality of sense lines; a second sensor circuit having a drive terminal and a plurality of second sensor input terminals, wherein the second sensor circuit provides a second driving signal at the drive terminal of the second sensor circuit; a second plurality of sense lines disposed on the substrate and intersecting with the first plurality of sense lines, wherein a first sense line of the second plurality of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal coupled to a first input terminal of the second plurality of sense lines; a second drive line comprising a first section having a first terminal and a second section having a second terminal, the first terminal of the second drive line coupled to the drive terminal of the second sensor circuit, the first section of the second drive line adjacent the first side of the first sense line of the second plurality of sense lines, the second section of the first sense line adjacent the second side of the first sense line of the second plurality of sense lines, the second drive line electrically insulated from the first drive line, wherein the first sensor circuit provides a first driving signal on the first drive line and detects a change in a capacitance between one of the first sense line of the first plurality of sense lines or the second sense line of the first plurality of sense lines and the first drive line and outputting a first detection signal and produces a first digital value that indicates which one of the first plurality of sense lines at which the change in capacitance is detected and wherein the second sensor circuit provides a second driving signal on the second drive line and detects a change in a capacitance between one of the first sense of the second plurality of sense lines or the second sense line of the second plurality of sense lines and the second drive line and outputting a second detection signal and produces a second digital value that indicates which one of the second plurality of sense lines at which the change in capacitance is detected; and a bus connected to the first and second sensor circuits, the first and second sensor circuits outputting the first and second detection signals to the bus so that data communication is performed between a master device and the first and second sensor circuits through the bus; wherein the master device enables the first and second sensor circuits simultaneously via a clock signal coupled to both the first and second sensor circuits, and wherein the master device reads the first and second digital values, respectively, from the first and second sensor circuits serially over the bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A capacitance touch detection circuit arrangement, comprising:
-
a plurality of sense lines in a first direction and a plurality of sense lines in a second direction that intersect the plurality of sense lines in the first direction, wherein the plurality of sense lines in the first direction comprises; a first set of sense lines and a second set of sense lines, wherein a first sense line of the first set of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal and a first sense line of the second set of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal; and
wherein the plurality of sense lines in the second direction comprises;a third set of sense lines and a fourth set of sense lines, wherein a first sense line of the third set of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal and a first sense line of the fourth set of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal; a first drive line having a first terminal and a portion divided into a plurality of branches, wherein each branch has a terminal, a first branch of the first drive line adjacent a first side of the first sense line of the first set of sense lines, a second branch of the first drive line adjacent a second side of the first sense line of the first set of sense lines; a plurality of sensor circuits for the first direction and a plurality of sensor circuits for the second direction, the first terminal of the first sense line of the first set of sense lines coupled to a first sensor circuit of the plurality of sensor circuits for the first direction, the first terminal of the first sense line of the second set of sense lines coupled to a second sensor circuit of the plurality of sensor circuits for the first direction, the first terminal of the first sense line of the third set of sense lines coupled to a first sensor circuit of the plurality of sensor circuits for the second direction, the first terminal of the first sense line of the fourth set of sense lines coupled to a second sensor circuit of the plurality of sensor circuits for the second direction, the first terminal of the first drive line coupled to a drive terminal of the first sensor circuit of the plurality of sensor circuits for the first direction to receive a first drive signal, wherein the first sensor circuit of the plurality of sensor circuits for the first direction detects a change in capacitance between one of its sense lines of the first set of sense lines and the first drive line and produces a digital value that indicates whether, and which, one of the first set of sense lines at which a change in capacitance is detected; a master device that enables the plurality of sensor circuits simultaneously with a clock signal, and wherein the master device reads the digital values of each of the plurality of sensor circuits serially over a bus, and based on the digital values determines a touch location. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A touch panel, comprising:
-
a substrate; a first sensor circuit and a second sensor circuit, wherein the first sensor circuit is configured for sensing in a first direction and the second sensor circuit is configured for sensing in a second direction, wherein the first sensor circuit is connected to a first plurality of sense lines in the first direction and the first sensor circuit is connected to a first drive line, and the second sensor circuit is connected to a second plurality of sense lines in a second direction over the substrate and the second sensor circuit is connected to a second drive line, wherein the first plurality of sense lines in the first direction comprises; a first set of sense lines, wherein a first sense line of the first set of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal; and
wherein the second plurality of sense lines in the second direction comprises;a second set of sense lines, wherein a first sense line of the second set of sense lines has a first side, a second side, and a first terminal; and
wherein the first drive line connected to the first sensor circuit has a first terminal and a portion divided into a plurality of branches, wherein each branch has a terminal, a first branch of the first drive line adjacent a first side of the first sense line of the first set of sense lines, a second branch of the first drive line adjacent a second side of the first sense line of the first set of sense lines, and wherein the terminals of each branch of the first drive line are electrically isolated from each other; and
wherein the second drive line connected to the second sensor circuit has a first terminal and a portion divided into a plurality of branches, wherein each branch has a terminal, a first branch of the second drive line adjacent a first side of the first sense line of the second set of sense lines, a second branch of the second drive line adjacent a second side of the first sense line of the second set of sense lines, and wherein the terminals of each branch of the second drive line are electrically isolated from each other;a third sensor circuit and a fourth sensor circuit, wherein the third sensor circuit is configured for sensing in the first direction and the fourth sensor circuit is configured for sensing in the second direction, wherein the third sensor circuit is connected to a third plurality of sense lines in the first direction and the third sensor circuit is connected to a third drive line, wherein the third drive line connected to the third sensor circuit has a first terminal and a portion divided into a plurality of branches, wherein each branch has a terminal, and wherein the terminals of each branch of the third drive line are electrically isolated from each other, and the fourth sensor circuit is connected to a fourth plurality of sense lines in the second direction and the fourth sensor circuit is connected to a fourth drive line, wherein the fourth drive line connected to the fourth sensor circuit has a first terminal and a portion divided into a plurality of branches, wherein each branch has a terminal, and wherein the terminals of each branch of the fourth drive line are electrically isolated from each other;
wherein each of the at least first through fourth sensor circuits are simultaneously enabled by a master device to produce a digital value indicative of whether, and which, respective sense line to which it is connected indicates a change in capacitance, and wherein the master device reads the respective digital value of each sensor circuit serially. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification