Capacitive charge measurement

• US 9,274,643 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Hargreaves, Kirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Ruihua
• Application Number:
  US13/436,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20130262004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 706/64, 324658-690
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 29/24 Arrangements for measuring quantities of charge
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960725 Charge-transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960775 Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes

Abstract

A circuit for measuring a capacitive charge comprises a latched comparator and a determination module. The latched comparator comprises an input and an output. The input is coupled with a sensor electrode of a capacitive input device. An inverted version of the output is coupled with a feedback loop. The feedback loop is configured to provide feedback to the input to maintain the input at a predetermined voltage. The feedback is provided in clocked charge quanta steps based on a clock signal. The determination module is coupled with the output and configured to determine a change in capacitance on the sensor electrode by equating output signals from the output with an amount of charge provided to the input to reach the predetermined voltage.

Claims

1. A circuit for measuring a capacitive charge, said circuit comprising:

a latched comparator, wherein said latched comparator comprises;

an input coupled with a sensor electrode of a capacitive input device;

an output; and

an inverted version of the output coupled with a feedback loop, said feedback loop configured to provide feedback to said input to maintain said input at a predetermined voltage, wherein said feedback is provided in clocked charge quanta steps based on a clock signal; and

a determination module coupled with said output and configured to determine a change in capacitance on said sensor electrode by equating output signals from said output with an amount of charge provided to said input to reach said predetermined voltage.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a parasitic capacitance coupled with said input for storing a capacitive charge based on a resulting signal received on said sensor electrode.

3. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

an offset capacitance coupled with said input.

4. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a pull-up network coupled with said sensor electrode; and

a pull-down network coupled with said sensor electrode, wherein said circuit is configured to measure a change in absolute capacitance on said sensor electrode.

5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said latched comparator comprises a flip-flop.

6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said feedback loop comprises a first resistor coupled in series.

7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said feedback loop comprises a current source coupled in series and configured to provide said clocked charge quanta.

8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said inverted version of said output configured to provide feedback to said input comprises:

said inverted version of said output configured to trigger addition of a clocked charge quanta when a voltage at said input is below said predetermined voltage; and

said inverted version of said output configured to trigger subtraction of a clocked charge quanta when said voltage at said input is above said predetermined voltage.

9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein said predetermined voltage comprises an input threshold voltage of said latched comparator.

10. A processing system for a capacitive input device, said processing system comprising:

a receiver module comprising;

an input configured to be maintained at a predetermined voltage, wherein said input is coupled with a receiver electrode of said capacitive input device;

an output; and

an inverted version of said output coupled to said input; and

a determination module coupled with said output and configured to determine a change in capacitance on said receiver electrode by equating output signals from said output with an amount of charge provided in feedback to said input to reach said predetermined voltage.

11. The processing system of claim 10, further comprising:

a parasitic capacitance coupled with said input and configured for storing a capacitive charge based on a resulting signal received on said receiver electrode.

12. The processing system of claim 10, further comprising:

an offset capacitance coupled with said input.

13. The processing system of claim 10, further comprising:

a pull-up network coupled with said receiver electrode; and

a pull-down network coupled with said receiver electrode, wherein said processing system is configured to measure a change in absolute capacitance on said receiver electrode.

14. The processing system of claim 10, further comprising a feedback loop coupled to said input and configured to provide feedback to said input to maintain said input at said predetermined voltage, wherein said feedback is provided in clocked charge quanta steps based on a clock signal.

15. The processing system of claim 14, wherein said feedback loop is configured to:

add a clocked charge quanta when a voltage at said input is below said predetermined voltage; and

subtract a clocked charge quanta when said voltage at said input is above said predetermined voltage.

16. The processing system of claim 10, wherein said input is an input of a latched comparator.

17. The processing system of claim 16, wherein said predetermined voltage comprises an input threshold voltage of said latched comparator.

18. A capacitive input device comprising:

a plurality of sensor electrodes; and

a processing system coupled with said plurality of sensor electrodes, said processing system comprising;

a transmitter module configured to drive a transmitter electrode of said plurality of sensor electrodes with a transmitter signal;

a receiver module comprising;

an input configured to be maintained at a predetermined voltage, wherein said input is coupled with a receiver electrode of said plurality of sensor electrodes;

an output; and

an inverted version of said output coupled to said input; and

a determination module coupled with said output and configured to determine a change in capacitance on said receiver electrode by equating output signals from said output with an amount of charge provided in feedback to said input to reach said predetermined voltage.

19. The capacitive input device of claim 18, further comprising:

a parasitic capacitance coupled with said input and configured for storing a capacitive charge based on a resulting signal received on said receiver electrode, said resulting signal comprising effects corresponding to the transmitter signal.

20. The capacitive input device of claim 18, further comprising:

a feedback loop coupled to said input and configured to provide feedback to said input to maintain said input at said predetermined voltage, wherein said feedback is provided in clocked charge quanta steps based on a clock signal, wherein said feedback loop is configured to;

add a clocked charge quanta when a voltage at said input is below said predetermined voltage; and

subtract a clocked charge quanta when said voltage at said input is above said predetermined voltage.

21. The capacitive input device of claim 18, wherein said input is an input of a latched comparator.