Method for improving scan time and sensitivity in touch sensitive user interface device
First Claim
1. A method for scanning an array consisting of a plurality of capacitive sense elements, the method comprising:
- detecting a stimulus by scanning a first set of capacitive sense elements, wherein the first set of capacitive sense elements spans a region of the array and consists of less than all of the plurality of capacitive sense elements;
determining a location of the detected stimulus;
after determining the location, selecting, within the region, a second set of capacitive sense elements based on the determined location;
wherein the second set of capacitive sense elements includes at least one capacitive sense element not included in the first set of capacitive sense elements; and
wherein the first set of capacitive sense elements includes at least one capacitive sense element not included in the second set of capacitive sense elements; and
tracking the stimulus by scanning the second set of capacitive sense elements.
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Abstract
System and method for optimizing the consumption of power while maintaining performance in capacitive sensor arrays. A limited sensing area is used to improve the update rate and sensitivity of a row/column array of capacitive sensors. According to one embodiment, a method is provided for scanning a plurality of capacitive sensors by: detecting a stimulus in the field of capacitive sensors, scanning the field of capacitive sensors to determine the position of the stimulus. Once the position of the stimulus is determined, a subsection of the field comprising window corresponding to the position of the stimulus remains activated while the remaining sensors in the field are deactivated.
71 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for scanning an array consisting of a plurality of capacitive sense elements, the method comprising:
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detecting a stimulus by scanning a first set of capacitive sense elements, wherein the first set of capacitive sense elements spans a region of the array and consists of less than all of the plurality of capacitive sense elements; determining a location of the detected stimulus; after determining the location, selecting, within the region, a second set of capacitive sense elements based on the determined location; wherein the second set of capacitive sense elements includes at least one capacitive sense element not included in the first set of capacitive sense elements; and wherein the first set of capacitive sense elements includes at least one capacitive sense element not included in the second set of capacitive sense elements; and tracking the stimulus by scanning the second set of capacitive sense elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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an array consisting of a plurality of capacitive sense elements; and a controller coupled to the array, wherein the controller operates to; detect a stimulus by scanning a first set of the plurality of capacitive sense elements, wherein the first set of capacitive sense elements spans a region of the array and consists of less than all of the plurality of capacitive sense elements; determine a location of the detected stimulus; after the location is determined, select, within the region, a second set of the plurality of capacitive sense elements based on the determined location; wherein the second set of capacitive sense elements includes at least one capacitive sense element not included in the first set of capacitive sense elements; and wherein the first set of capacitive sense elements includes at least one capacitive sense element not included in the second set of capacitive sense elements; and track the stimulus by scanning the second set of the plurality of capacitive sense elements at a second sensitivity level. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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an array consisting of a plurality of capacitive sense elements; and a controller coupled to the array, wherein the controller operates to; detect a stimulus by scanning a first set of the plurality of capacitive sense elements, wherein the first set of capacitive sense elements spans a region of the array and consists of less than all of the plurality of capacitive sense elements; determine a location of the detected stimulus; after the location is determined, select, within the region, a second set of the plurality of capacitive sense elements based on the determined location; wherein the second set of capacitive sense elements includes at least one capacitive sense element not included in the first set of capacitive sense elements; and wherein the first set of capacitive sense elements includes at least one capacitive sense element not included in the second set of capacitive sense elements; and track the stimulus by scanning the second set of the plurality of capacitive sense elements at a second sensitivity level. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification