Two-Dimensional Position Sensor

• US 20080246496A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hristov, Luben, Philipp, Harald, Sleeman, Peter T., Yilmaz, Esat, Brunet, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,808,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/686
• 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

A two-dimensional position sensor is formed by drive electrodes (52) and sense electrodes (62, 64, 66) both extending in the x-direction and interleaved in the y-direction. The sense electrodes comprise several groups, two of which co-extend in the x-direction over each different portions of extent in the x-direction. The drive and sense electrodes are additionally arranged to capacitively couple with each other. In use, drive signals are applied to the drive electrodes and then the resultant sense signals received from the sense electrodes measured. The position of a touch or stylus actuation on the sensor is determined in the x- and y-directions as follows. In the x-direction, the position is determined by an interpolation between sense signals obtained from co-extending pairs of sense electrodes, and in the y-direction by interpolation between sense signals obtained from different sequences of drive signals applied to the drive electrodes.

Claims

1. A two-dimensional position sensor comprising a substrate with a sensitive area defined by a pattern of electrodes, the pattern of electrodes including drive electrodes and sense electrodes generally extending in a first direction, hereinafter the x-direction, and interleaved in a second direction, hereinafter the y-direction, wherein the sense electrodes comprise first, second and third groups of elements shaped such that adjacent ones of the elements of the first and second groups co-extend in the x-direction over a portion of the sensitive area and adjacent ones of the elements of the second and third groups co-extend in the x-direction over another portion, and wherein the drive electrodes are arranged to capacitively couple with the sense electrodes, wherein the sensor further comprises a controller comprising a drive unit for applying drive signals to the drive electrodes, and a sense unit for measuring sense signals received from each group of the sense electrodes representing a degree of capacitive coupling of the drive signals between the drive electrodes and each group of the sense electrodes.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a processing unit for calculating a position of an interaction with the sensitive area from an analysis of the sense signals obtained by applying drive signals to the drive electrodes.

3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein the processing unit is operable to determine position in the x-direction by an interpolation between sense signals obtained from co-extending pairs of groups of sense electrodes.

4. The sensor of claim 2 or 3, wherein the processing unit is operable to determine position in the y-direction by an interpolation between sense signals obtained by sequentially driving the drive electrodes with respective drive signals.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the groups of sense electrodes which co-extend have complementary tapers over their distance of co-extension to provide ratiometric capacitive signals.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the elements of respective groups of sense electrodes which co-extend have adjacent blocks of varying area over their distance of co-extension to provide ratiometric capacitive signals.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the drive and sense electrodes interdigitate in order to provide said capacitive coupling.

8. The sensor of claim 7, wherein over the sensitive area the drive and sense electrodes are formed of conductive material which does not exceed a feature width substantially smaller than a characteristic spacing in the y-direction between adjacent rows of drive electrodes.

9. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the elements of at least one of the first and third groups of sense electrodes form two sections separated in the y-direction by a channel, and wherein the elements of the second group of sense electrodes are externally connected to the sense unit through conductive traces that pass through the channels to a side of the sensitive area.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein there are at least three groups of sense electrodes externally connected to the sense unit through one side of the sensitive area, referred to as peripheral, intermediate and inner sense electrodes, wherein the elements of the inner sense electrodes are externally connected to the sense unit through conductive traces which become progressively wider in the y-direction from said one side towards the elements of the inner sense electrodes.

11. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the elements of at least one of the groups of sense electrodes are hollow in the plane of the sensitive area.

12. A control panel incorporating a two-dimensional position sensor according to claim 1.

13. An apparatus having a control panel incorporating a two-dimensional position sensor according to claim 1.

14. A method of sensing position of an actuation on a sensitive area of a two-dimensional position sensor, the sensitive area being defined by a pattern of electrodes including drive electrodes and sense electrodes, both generally extending in a first direction, hereinafter the x-direction, and interleaved in a second direction, hereinafter the y-direction, wherein the sense electrodes comprise first, second and third groups of elements shaped such that adjacent ones of the elements of the first and second groups co-extend in the x-direction over a portion of the sensitive area and adjacent ones of the elements of the second and third groups co-extend in the x-direction over another portion, and wherein the drive electrodes are arranged to capacitively couple with the sense electrodes, the method comprising:

applying drive signals to the drive electrodes;

measuring sense signals received from each group of the sense electrodes representing a degree of capacitive coupling of the drive signals between the drive electrodes and each group of the sense electrodes;

determining position in the x-direction by an interpolation between sense signals obtained from co-extending pairs of groups of sense electrodes; and

determining position in the y-direction by an interpolation between sense signals obtained by sequentially driving the drive electrodes with respective drive signals.