Systems and methods for decoupling image generation rate from reporting rate in capacitive sensing

• US 9,874,972 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Vandermeijden, Tom R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEINBERG, JEFFREY S
• Application Number:
  US13/626,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 345173, 345174, 178 1901- 1906
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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

The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device resistance to the effects of errors that may be caused by the motion of detected objects on such input devices, and in particular, to the effect of blurring and/or fragmenting. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of such errors by decoupling the image generating interval from the reporting interval. Specifically, the devices and methods enable the determination of the reporting rate independently of the period over which images of sensor values are generated. The devices and methods enable independent determination of the reporting rate by facilitating the setting of a second period, where images of sensor values are generated over a first period and the reporting interval is determined to include at least the sum of the first period and the second period.

Claims

1. A processing system for an input device, the processing system comprising:

a sensor module comprising sensor circuitry configured to;

operate a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes to generate images of sensor values indicative of objects in a sensing region of the input device, each of the images of sensor values generated during a first period within a reporting interval,

wherein the reporting interval is a time period between each two adjacent reporting periods, wherein each reporting period is a time period for when information is periodically transmitted at a reporting rate from the processing system to an electronic device coupled to the processing system, and

receive data of auxiliary functionality during a second period within the reporting interval,

wherein the second period successively follows, within the reporting interval, the first period;

a determination module configured to;

determine positional information using the images of sensor values,

perform an action to provide said data of auxiliary functionality during the second period, the action selected from the group consisting of;

receiving a signal indicative of interference in the input device;

putting the processing system into a lower power mode;

activating an input/output device;

operating at least one additional capacitive sensor electrode to generate positional information for objects in a second sensing region of the input device; and

receiving a signal using an alternative capacitive sensing method,

determine sensing information based on the data that is received during the second period, and

transmit, at the reporting rate that is determined by the reporting interval, the positional information and the sensing information as said periodically transmitted information to the electronic device, the reporting interval defined to include at least the sum of the first period and the second period; and

a control module configured to;

facilitate dynamically setting of the second period to determine the reporting rate.

2. The processing system of claim 1 wherein the control module is configured to facilitate setting of the second period by facilitating setting of the second period by the electronic device.

3. The processing system of claim 1 wherein the control module is configured to facilitate setting of the second period by facilitating setting a register that determines at least in part the second period.

4. The processing system of claim 1 wherein the sensor module is configured to operate the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes to generate images of sensor values indicative of objects in the sensing region by:

simultaneously transmitting a plurality of transmitter signals with a first set of the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes; and

simultaneously receiving a plurality of resulting signals with a second set of the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, wherein each of the resulting signals comprises effects corresponding to at least one of the plurality of simultaneously transmitted transmitter signals.

5. The processing system of claim 1 wherein the second period is at least 0.5 the first period.

6. An input device comprising:

a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes;

a processing system operatively coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, the processing system configured to;

operate the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes to generate images of sensor values indicative of objects in a sensing region proximate to an input surface of the input device, each of the images of sensor values generated during a first period within a reporting interval,

wherein the reporting interval is a time period between each two adjacent reporting periods, wherein each reporting period is a time period for when information is periodically transmitted at a reporting rate from the processing system to an electronic device coupled to the processing system;

perform an action during the second period, the action selected from the group consisting of;

receiving a signal indicative of interference in the input device;

putting the processing system into a lower power mode;

activating an input/output device;

operating at least one additional capacitive sensor electrode to generate positional information for objects in a second sensing region; and

receiving a signal using an alternative capacitive sensing method;

receive data of the performed-action result during a second period within the reporting interval, wherein the second period successively follows, within the reporting interval, the first period;

determine positional information using the images of sensor values;

determine sensing information based on the data that is received during the second period;

transmit, at the reporting rate that is determined by the reporting interval, the positional information and the sensing information as said periodically transmitted information to the electronic device, the reporting interval defined to include at least the sum of the first period and the second period; and

facilitate dynamically setting of the second period to determine the reporting rate.

7. The input device of claim 6 wherein the processing system is configured to facilitate setting of the second period by facilitating setting of the second period by the electronic device.

8. The input device of claim 6 wherein the processing system is configured to operate the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes to generate images of sensor values indicative of objects in the sensing region by:

simultaneously transmitting a plurality of transmitter signals with a first set of the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes; and

simultaneously receiving a plurality of resulting signals with a second set of the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, wherein each of the resulting signals comprises effects corresponding to at least one of the plurality of simultaneously transmitted transmitter signals.

9. The input device of claim 6 wherein the second period is at least 0.5 the first period.

10. A method of determining input in an input device, the method comprising:

operating a plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes to generate images of sensor values indicative of objects in a sensing region of the input device, each of the images of sensor values generated during a first period within a reporting interval, wherein the reporting interval is a time period between each two adjacent reporting periods, wherein each reporting period is a time period for when information is periodically transmitted at a reporting rate from the processing system to an electronic device coupled to the processing system;

performing an action during the second period, the action selected from the group consisting of;

receiving a signal indicative of interference in the input device;

entering a lower power mode;

activating an input/output device;

operating at least one additional capacitive sensor electrode to generate positional information for objects in a second sensing region; and

receiving a signal using an alternative capacitive sensing method;

receiving data of the performed-action result during a second period within the reporting interval, wherein the second period successively follows, within the reporting interval, the first period;

determining positional information using the images of sensor values;

determining sensing information based on the data that is received during the second period;

transmitting, at the reporting rate that is determined by the reporting interval, the positional information and the sensing information to the electronic device as said periodically transmitted information, the reporting interval defined to include at least the sum of the first period and the second period; and

dynamically setting of the second period to determine the reporting rate.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the setting of the second period comprises setting of the second period by the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the operating the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes to generate images of sensor values indicative of objects in the sensing region comprises:

simultaneously transmitting a plurality of transmitter signals with a first set of the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes; and

simultaneously receiving a plurality of resulting signals with a second set of the plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes, wherein each of the resulting signals comprises effects corresponding to at least one of the plurality of simultaneously transmitted transmitter signals.

13. An input device comprising:

an input surface;

a plurality of transmitter electrodes proximate to the input surface of an input device;

a plurality of receiver electrodes proximate to the input surface of the input device; and

a processing system operatively coupled to the plurality of transmitter electrodes and to the plurality of receiver electrodes, the processing system configured to;

simultaneously transmit a plurality of transmitter signals with a plurality of transmitter electrodes;

simultaneously receive a plurality of resulting signals with the plurality of receiver electrodes in the plurality of receiver electrodes, wherein each of the resulting signals comprises effects corresponding to at least one of the plurality of simultaneously transmitted transmitter signals;

generate images of sensor values indicative of objects in a sensing region proximate to the input surface using the plurality of resulting signals, each of the images of sensor values generated during a first period within a reporting interval, wherein the reporting interval is a time period between each two adjacent reporting periods, wherein each reporting period is a time period for when information is periodically transmitted at a reporting rate from the processing system to an electronic device coupled to the processing system;

perform an action during the second period, the action selected from the group consisting of;

receiving a signal indicative of interference in the input device;

putting the processing system into a lower power mode;

activating an input/output device;

operating at least one additional capacitive sensor electrode to generate positional information for objects in a second sensing region; and

receiving a signal using an alternative capacitive sensing method;

receive data of the performed-action result during a second period within the reporting interval, wherein the second period successively follows, within the reporting interval, the first period;

determine positional information using the images of sensor values;

determine sensing information based on the data that is received during the second period;

report transmit, at the reporting rate that is determined by the reporting interval, the positional information and the sensing information as said periodically transmitted information to the electronic device, the reporting interval defined to include at least the sum of the first period and the second period; and

facilitate dynamically setting of the second period to determine the reporting rate.