Active stylus self-capacitance measurement

• US 9,354,737 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2012
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bakken, Vemund Kval, Pedersen, Trond Jarle
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, David D
• Application Number:
  US13/571,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20140043279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• 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

In one embodiment, a method includes modifying an amount of charge of a capacitance of a touch sensor. The modified amount of charge results in a voltage at the capacitance being a first pre-determined voltage level. The method also includes applying a first pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance. The application of the first pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance modifies the voltage at the capacitance from the first pre-determined voltage level to a first charging voltage level. The method also includes determining a first voltage at a sampling capacitor. The first voltage is proportional to a difference between the first charging voltage level and a reference voltage level. The method also includes determining whether a touch and stylus input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the first voltage and a second voltage.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

modifying an amount of charge of a capacitance of a touch sensor, the modified amount of charge resulting in a voltage at the capacitance being a first pre-determined voltage level;

applying a first pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance, the application of the first pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance modifying the voltage at the capacitance from the first pre-determined voltage level to a first charging voltage level;

determining a first voltage at a sampling capacitor, the first voltage being proportional to a difference between the first charging voltage level and a reference voltage level;

applying, while holding the capacitance at the reference voltage level, a second pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance by a first edge of a signal transmitted by a stylus, wherein applying the first predetermined amount of charge comprises applying a first amount of current to the capacitance prior to receiving the first edge of the signal transmitted by the stylus;

determining a second voltage at the sampling capacitor, the second voltage being proportional to the second pre-determined amount of charge; and

determining whether a touch and stylus input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the first voltage and the second voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the amount of charge of the capacitance, the modified amount of charge resulting in the voltage at the capacitance being a second pre-determined voltage level;

applying a third pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance, the application of the third pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance modifying the voltage at the capacitance from the second pre-determined voltage level to a second charging voltage level;

determining a third voltage at the sampling capacitor, the third voltage being proportional to a difference between the second charging voltage level and the reference voltage level;

applying a fourth pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance by a second edge of a signal transmitted by the stylus; and

determining whether a touch and stylus input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the first voltage, the second voltage, the third voltage, and a fourth voltage, the fourth voltage being proportional to the fourth pre-determined amount of charge.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein applying the third pre-determined amount of charge comprises applying a second amount of current to the capacitance prior to receiving the second edge, the second current having an inverse polarity than the first current relative to the capacitance.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

inverting a sign of the third and fourth voltages; and

subtracting a sum of the first and second voltages from a sum of the third and fourth voltages, the subtraction substantially suppressing low-frequency noise in the first, second, third and fourth voltages.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first and second voltage comprises:

transferring the first pre-determined amount of charge to the sampling capacitor;

integrating the first pre-determined amount of charge transferred to the sampling capacitor;

transferring the second pre-determined amount of charge to the sampling capacitor; and

integrating the second pre-determined amount of charge transferred to the sampling capacitor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the first edge of the signal; and

determining a frequency of the signal based at least in part on the detection of the first edge.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a timing of the application of the second pre-determined amount of charge and the determination of the first voltage is based at least in part on the determination of the frequency.

8. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic configured when executed to:

modify an amount of charge of a capacitance of a touch sensor, the modified amount of charge resulting in a voltage at the capacitance being a first pre-determined voltage level;

apply a first pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance, the application of the first pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance modifying the voltage at the capacitance from the first pre-determined voltage level to a first charging voltage level;

determine a first voltage at a sampling capacitor, the first voltage being proportional to a difference between the first charging voltage level and a reference voltage level;

apply, while holding the capacitance at the reference voltage level, a second pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance by a first edge of a signal transmitted by a stylus, wherein applying the first predetermined amount of charge comprises applying a first amount of current to the capacitance prior to receiving the first edge of the signal transmitted by the stylus;

determine a second voltage at the sampling capacitor, the second voltage being proportional to the second pre-determined amount of charge; and

determine whether a touch and stylus input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the first and the second voltage.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the logic is further configured to:

modify the amount of charge of the capacitance, the modified amount of charge resulting in the voltage at the capacitance being a second pre-determined voltage level;

apply a third pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance, the application of the third pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance modifying the voltage at the capacitance from the second pre-determined voltage level to a second charging voltage level;

determine a third voltage at the sampling capacitor, the third voltage being proportional to a difference between the second charging voltage level and the reference voltage level;

apply a fourth pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance by a second edge of a signal transmitted by the stylus; and

determine whether a touch and stylus input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the first voltage, the second voltage, the third voltage, and a fourth voltage, the fourth voltage being proportional to the fourth pre-determined amount of charge.

10. The medium of claim 9, wherein the logic is further configured to apply a second amount of current to the capacitance prior to receiving the second edge, the second current having an inverse polarity than the first current relative to the capacitance.

11. The medium of claim 9, wherein the logic is further configured to:

invert a sign of the third and fourth voltages; and

subtract a sum of the first and second voltages from a sum of the third and fourth voltages, the subtraction substantially suppressing low-frequency noise in the first, second, third and fourth voltages.

12. The medium of claim 8, wherein the logic is further configured to:

transferring the first pre-determined amount of charge to the sampling capacitor;

integrating the first pre-determined amount of charge transferred to the sampling capacitor;

transferring the second pre-determined amount of charge to the sampling capacitor; and

integrating the second pre-determined amount of charge transferred to the sampling capacitor.

13. The medium of claim 8, wherein the logic is further configured to:

detect the first edge of the signal; and

determine a frequency of the signal based at least in part on the detection of the first edge.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein a timing of the application of the second pre-determined amount of charge and the determination of the first voltage is based at least in part on the determination of the frequency.

15. A device comprising:

a measurement circuit; and

a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium coupled to the measurement circuit and embodying logic configured when executed to;

modify an amount of charge of a capacitance of a touch sensor, the modified amount of charge resulting in a voltage at the capacitance being a first pre-determined voltage level;

apply a first pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance, the application of the first pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance modifying the voltage at the capacitance from the first pre-determined voltage level to a first charging voltage level;

determine a first voltage at a sampling capacitor, the first voltage being proportional to a difference between the first charging voltage level and a reference voltage level;

apply, while holding the capacitance at the reference voltage level, a second pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance by a first edge of a signal transmitted by a stylus, wherein applying the first predetermined amount of charge comprises applying a first amount of current to the capacitance prior to receiving the first edge of the signal transmitted by the stylus;

determine a second voltage at the sampling capacitor, the second voltage being proportional to the second pre-determined amount of charge; and

determine whether a touch and stylus input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the first and the second voltage.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the logic is further configured to:

modify the amount of charge of the capacitance, the modified amount of charge resulting in the voltage at the capacitance being a second pre-determined voltage level;

apply a third pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance, the application of the third pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance modifying the voltage at the capacitance from the second pre-determined voltage level to a second charging voltage level;

determine a third voltage at the sampling capacitor, the third voltage being proportional to a difference between the second charging voltage level and the reference voltage level;

apply a fourth pre-determined amount of charge to the capacitance by a second edge of a signal transmitted by the stylus; and

determine whether a touch and stylus input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the first voltage, the second voltage, the third voltage, and a fourth voltage, the fourth voltage being proportional to the fourth pre-determined amount of charge.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the logic is further configured to apply a second amount of current to the capacitance prior to receiving the second edge, the second current having an inverse polarity than the first current relative to the capacitance.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the logic is further configured to:

invert a sign of the third and fourth voltages; and

subtract a sum of the first and second voltages from a sum of the third and fourth voltages, the subtraction substantially suppressing low-frequency noise in the first, second, third and fourth voltages.

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

detect the first edge of the signal; and

determine a frequency of the signal based at least in part on the detection of the first edge.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein a timing of the application of the second pre-determined amount of charge and the determination of the first voltage is based at least in part on the determination of the frequency.