Active integrator for a capacitive sense array

• US 9,268,441 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parade Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Parade Technologies, Ltd.
• Inventors: Walsh, Paul, Klein, Hans W., O'Donoghue, Keith, Hancioglu, Erhan, Rohilla, Gajender, Anderson, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolotin, Dmitriy
• Application Number:
  US13/249,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20120256869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 178 1801- 1811
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 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 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04182 Filtering of noise external to the device and not generated by digitiser components
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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

An active integrator for sensing capacitance of a touch sense array is disclosed. The active integrator is configured to receive from the touch sense array a response signal having a positive portion and a negative portion. The response signal is representative of a presence or an absence of a conductive object on the touch sense array. The active integrator is configured to continuously integrate the response signal.

Claims

1. A circuit comprising:

an active integrator configured to measure a capacitance of a touch sense array, wherein the active integrator is configured to receive from the touch sense array a response signal comprising a positive portion and a negative portion, wherein the response signal is representative of a presence or an absence of a conductive object proximate to the touch sense array, the active integrator comprising

a first integrating capacitor, and

a second integrating capacitor, wherein the first integrating capacitor or the second integrating capacitor are configured to be alternately coupled in a feedback configuration between an output terminal of the active integrator and a first input terminal of the active integrator, the first integrating capacitor in the feedback configuration to integrate the positive portion of the response signal and the second integrating capacitor in the feedback configuration to integrate the negative portion of the response signal.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the active integrator comprises a switched capacitor integrator.

3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the active integrator is configured to have a pass-band centered about a fundamental frequency of the response signal.

4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein

the first integrating capacitor is coupled to the output terminal of the active integrator and the first input terminal of the active integrator, wherein the first integrating capacitor is configured to store a charge responsive to the positive portion of the response signal, and

the integrating capacitor is coupled to the output terminal of the active integrator and the first input terminal of the active integrator, wherein the second integrating capacitor is configured to store a charge responsive to the negative portion.

5. The circuit of claim 4, further comprising:

a first switch configured to connect or disconnect the first integrating capacitor between the output terminal and the first input terminal; and

a second switch connect to connect or disconnect the second integrating capacitor between the output terminal and the first input terminal.

6. The circuit of claim 5, wherein the first switch is closed responsive to the positive portion and open responsive to the negative portion, and wherein the second switch is closed responsive to the negative portion and open responsive to the positive portion.

7. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a baseline compensation circuit coupled to a second input terminal of the active integrator and configured to minimize a direct current (DC) component of the response signal.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein the baseline compensation circuit comprises:

a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter;

a gain circuit coupled to the D/A converter; and

a first switch and a second switch, each coupled to the gain circuit and the second input terminal of the active integrator, wherein the first switch is configured to apply a negative signal to the second input terminal of the active integrator when the positive portion is present, and wherein the second switch is configured to apply a positive signal to the second input terminal of the active integrator when the negative portion is present.

9. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising

a sample-and-hold circuit, wherein the active integrator is configured to integrate at least a portion of the response signal while providing the sample-and-hold circuit with an output signal of the active integrator, the sample-and-hold circuit comprising a first capacitor arranged to hold a positive output signal from the active integrator, which is responsive to the positive portion and a second capacitor arranged to hold a negative output signal from the active integrator, which is responsive to the negative portion, and wherein the sample-and-hold circuit is coupled to an output terminal of the active integrator, wherein the output signal of the active integrator is impressed upon the sample-and-hold circuit.

10. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the sample-and-hold circuit comprises:

the first capacitor and a first switch connected in series and coupled between the output terminal of the active integrator and a first input terminal of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC); and

the second capacitor and a second switch connected in series and coupled between the output terminal of the active integrator and a second input terminal of the ADC, wherein the first switch is configured to cause the first capacitor to hold the positive output signal of the output terminal of the active integrator when the positive portion is present, and wherein the second switch is configured to cause the second capacitor to hold the negative output signal on the output terminal of the active integrator when the negative portion is present.

11. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a self-calibration circuit coupled between an input signal source and the touch sense array.

12. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the self-calibration circuit comprises:

a first capacitor coupled between the input signal source and the touch sense array;

a second capacitor coupled between the input signal source and the touch sense array; and

a switch in series with the second capacitor, wherein the switch is configured to insert or remove the first capacitor to simulate a presence or an absence of a touch object.

13. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a mode select circuit coupled to the active integrator and configured to permit the active integrator to integrate in a self-capacitance sensing mode and a mutual-capacitance sensing mode.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving a response signal at an active integrator from a touch sense array, the response signal comprising a positive portion and a negative portion, wherein the response signal is representative of a presence or an absence of a conductive object proximate to the touch sense array; and

alternately integrating, by a first integrating capacitor or a second integrating capacitor of the active integrator, the positive portion or the negative portion of the response signal, wherein the first integrating capacitor or the second integrating capacitor are configured to be alternately coupled in a feedback configuration between an output terminal of the active integrator and a first input terminal of the active integrator, the first integrating capacitor in the feedback configuration to integrate the positive portion of the response signal and the second integrating capacitor in the feedback configuration to integrate the negative portion of the response signal continuously integrating the response signal includes integrating at least a portion of the response signal while sample-and-holding an output of the active integrator, wherein sample-and-holding the output of the active integrator includes sample-and-holding the output corresponding to the positive portion during a first period and sample-and-holding the output corresponding to the negative portion during a second period.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein alternately integrating the positive portion or the negative portion of the response signal further comprises:

(a) accumulating a charge responsive to the positive portion using the first integrating capacitor coupled between the first input terminal and the output terminal of the active integrator;

(b) accumulating a charge responsive to the negative portion using the second integrating capacitor coupled between the first input terminal and the output terminal of the active integrator; and

(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for a predetermined number of cycles.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said steps (a) and (b) further comprise:

sampling and holding an output of the active integrator, the sampling and holding comprising;

sampling and holding the charge responsive to the positive portion on a third capacitor coupled between the output terminal of the active integrator and a first input terminal of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and

sampling and holding the charge responsive to the negative portion on a fourth capacitor coupled between the output terminal of the active integrator and a second input terminal of the ADC.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said steps (a) and (b) further comprise:

(d) measuring a differential voltage across a combination of the third capacitor and the fourth capacitor;

(e) discharging charge across each of the first, second, third, and fourth capacitors; and

(f) repeating steps (a)-(e).

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

applying a baseline compensation to a first input terminal of the active integrator by applying a negative signal to the first input terminal concurrently with the positive portion

and applying a positive signal to the first input terminal concurrently with the negative portion.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a touch sense array; and

an active integrator configured to measure a capacitance of the touch sense array, wherein the active integrator is configured to receive from the touch sense array a response signal comprising a positive portion and a negative portion, wherein the response signal is representative of a presence or an absence of a conductive object proximate to the touch sense array, the active integrator comprising

a first integrating capacitor, and

a second integrating capacitor, wherein the first integrating capacitor or the second integrating capacitor are configured to be alternately coupled in a feedback configuration between an output terminal of the active integrator and a first input terminal, the first integrating capacitor in the feedback configuration to integrate the positive portion of the response signal and the second integrating capacitor in the feedback configuration to integrate the negative portion of the response signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further wherein

the first integrating capacitor in the feedback configuration is configured to store a charge responsive to the positive portion, and

the second integrating capacitor in the feedback configuration is configured to store a charge responsive to the negative portion.