Simultaneous touch sensor scanning and display refreshing for minimizing display degradation for display-embedded touch sensors

• US 9,448,659 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Grahame, Pant, Vivek, Hill, Christopher, Brunet, Samuel, Fuller, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Aneeta
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIYABU, KARIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/827,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20140267067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• 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 3/04184 Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/061 for resetting or blanking
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/12 Synchronisation between the display unit and other units, e.g. other display units, video-disc players

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to refresh a display for a refresh period, wherein the display is coupled to a touch sensor operable to detect touch input at the display. The method also includes refreshing a first portion of the display and activating the touch sensor at a second portion of the display different from the first portion of the display during a first portion of the refresh period. The method further includes, during a second portion of the refresh period, refreshing a third portion of the display different from the first and second portions of the display and activating the touch sensor at a fourth portion of the display different from the first, second, and third portions of the display.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request to refresh a display for a refresh period comprising four phases, wherein the display is coupled to a touch sensor operable to detect touch input at the display;

during a first phase of the refresh period;

refreshing a first quadrant of the display, the first quadrant located at a first end of the display; and

while refreshing the first quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at a second quadrant and a fourth quadrant of the display, the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant being a half screen distance apart;

wherein the second quadrant of the display adjoins the first quadrant of the display, the fourth quadrant of the display is located at a second end of the display opposite the first end, and a third quadrant of the display is disposed between the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant; and

during a second phase of the refresh period;

refreshing the second quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the second quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the first quadrant and the third quadrant of the display, the first quadrant and the third quadrant being a half screen distance apart.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the refresh period of the display is approximately 0.0167 seconds.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during a third phase of the refresh period;

refreshing the third quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the third quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant of the display.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

during a fourth phase of the refresh period;

refreshing the fourth quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the fourth quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the third quadrant and the first quadrant of the display.

5. A system, comprising:

a display;

a touch sensor coupled to the display and operable to detect touch input at the display; and

a controller coupled to the display and the touch sensor, the controller comprising logic that is configured, when executed, to refresh the display in a refresh period comprising four phases and activate the touch sensor in the refresh period;

wherein during a first phase of the refresh period of the display;

the controller is configured to refresh a first quadrant of the display,

the first quadrant located at a first end of the display; and

while refreshing the first quadrant of the display, the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at a second quadrant and a fourth quadrant of the display, the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant being a half screen distance apart, the second quadrant of the display adjoining the first quadrant of the display, the fourth quadrant of the display being located at a second end of the display opposite the first end, and a third quadrant of the display is disposed between the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant; and

wherein during a second phase of the refresh period;

the controller is configured to refresh the second quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the second quadrant of the display, the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at the first quadrant and the third quadrant of the display, the first quadrant and the third quadrant being a half screen distance apart.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the refresh period of the display is approximately 0.0167 seconds.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein during a third phase of the refresh period:

the controller is configured to refresh the third quadrant of the display; and

the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant of the display.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein during a fourth phase of the refresh period:

the controller is configured to refresh the fourth quadrant of the display; and

the controller is configured to activate the touch sensor at the third quadrant and the first quadrant of the display.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising logic operable, when executed by a processor, to:

receive a request to refresh a display for a refresh period comprising four phases, wherein the display is coupled to a touch sensor operable to detect touch input at the display;

during a first phase of the refresh period;

refresh a first quadrant of the display, the first quadrant located at a first end of the display; and

while refreshing the first quadrant of the display, activate the touch sensor at a second quadrant and a fourth quadrant of the display, the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant being a half screen distance apart;

wherein the second quadrant of the display adjoins the first quadrant of the display, the fourth quadrant of the display is located at a second end of the display opposite the first end, and a third quadrant of the display is disposed between the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant; and

during a second phase of the refresh period;

refresh the second quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the second quadrant of the display, activate the touch sensor at the first quadrant and the third quadrant of the display, the first quadrant and the third quadrant being a half screen distance apart.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the refresh period of the display is approximately 0.0167 seconds.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the logic is further operable to:

during a third phase of the refresh period;

refreshing the third quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the third quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the second quadrant and the fourth quadrant of the display.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the logic is further operable to:

during a fourth phase of the refresh period;

refreshing the fourth quadrant of the display; and

while refreshing the fourth. quadrant of the display, activating the touch sensor at the third quadrant and the first quadrant of the display.