EDGE GRIP DETECTION METHOD OF A TOUCH PANEL AND A DEVICE USING THE SAME

• US 20130069886A1
• Filed: 04/01/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: WANG, WAN-QIU
• Granted Patent: US 8,963,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a touch panel technology, and especially to an edge grip detection method of a touch panel and a device using the same. The edge grip detection method comprises: determining whether an edge area state has changed; eliminating a first edge signal when the edge area state does not change; and updating the first edge signal as next standard signal when the edge area state changes. The edge grip detection method and an edge grip detecting device of the touch panel opportunely detect and dynamically update state and data of the edge area, thereby eliminating edge grip signals from touch signals of the touch panel to obtain normal touch signals. Thus, impact on the normal operation of the touch panel by edge grips is reduced.

Claims

1. An edge grip detection method of a touch panel, wherein the touch panel comprises an edge area and an operation area, the method comprising:

a) determining whether an edge area state has changed;

b) eliminating a first edge signal when the edge area state does not change; and

c) updating the first edge signal as a next standard signal when the edge area state changes.

2. The edge grip detection method of the touch panel of claim 1, wherein the step a) further comprises:

comparing the first edge signal with the edge signal of last edge area state to determine whether the edge area state has changed.

3. The edge grip detection method of the touch panel of claim 1, further comprising the following steps before updating the first edge signal as a next standard signal:

d) scanning the same edge area again to obtain a second edge signal;

e) determining whether the second edge signal strength is greater than a first threshold value;

f) recording the edge area state and updating the first edge signal as next standard signal if the second edge signal strength is greater than the first threshold value; and

g) eliminating the first edge signal if the second edge signal is less than or equal to the first threshold value.

4. The edge grip detection method of the touch panel of claim 1, wherein the touch panel comprises a plurality of first axial electrodes and second axial electrodes.

5. The edge grip detection method of the touch panel of claim 4, wherein the step a) further comprises:

determining whether sum of signal strength of the first axial electrode on the edge area is greater than a second threshold value, further determining whether sum of signal strength of the first axial electrode on other areas is less than a third threshold value, and determining whether number of touched first axial electrodes is less than or equal to number of electrodes on the edge area.

6. The edge grip detection method of a touch panel of claim 5, wherein the step a) further comprises, determining whether variation of signal strength of any of the first axial electrodes on the edge area is greater than a fourth threshold value or determining whether variation of signal strength of any of the second axial electrodes is greater than a fifth threshold value.

7. The edge grip detection method of the touch panel of claim 4, wherein the step a) further comprises:

determining whether number of touched first axial electrodes or touched second axial electrodes on the edge area is 0.

8. The edge grip detection method of the touch panel of claim 4, wherein the step a) further comprises, determining whether sum of signal strength of the second axial electrode on the edge area is greater than a second threshold value, further determining whether sum of signal strength of the second axial electrode on other areas is less than a third threshold value, and further determining whether number of touched first axial electrodes is less than or equal to number of electrodes on the edge area.

9. The edge grip detection method of the touch panel of claim 8, wherein the step a) further comprises, determining whether variation of signal strength of any of the second axial electrodes on the edge area is greater than a fourth threshold value or determining whether variation of signal strength of any of the first axial electrodes is greater than a fifth threshold value.

10. The edge grip detection method of the touch panel of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the following step before the step a):

scanning the edge area and the operation area to obtain touch signals on the touch panel, wherein the touch signals comprise the first edge signals.

11. The edge grip detection method of the touch panel of claim 10, wherein both the touch signal and the first edge signal are based on self-capacitance changes generated by touch.

12. An edge grip detection device of a touch panel, wherein the touch panel comprises an edge area and an operation area, the detection device comprising:

a first determining unit used for determining whether an edge area state has changed;

an eliminating unit used for eliminating a first edge signal if the edge area state does not change; and

a storage unit used for updating the first edge signal as a next standard signal if the edge area state changes.

13. The edge grip detection device of the touch panel of claim 12, further comprising:

a scanning unit used for scanning the same edge area again to obtain a second edge signal when the edge area state changes; and

a second determining unit used for determining whether the second edge signal strength is greater than a first threshold value, wherein if the second edge signal strength is greater than the first threshold value, the storage unit records the edge area state and updates the first edge signal as a next standard signal, further wherein if the second edge signal is less than or equal to the first threshold value, the eliminating unit eliminates the first edge signal.

14. The edge grip detection device of the touch panel of claim 13, wherein the touch panel comprises a plurality of first axial electrodes and a plurality of second axial electrodes.

15. The edge grip detection device of the touch panel of claim 14, wherein the first determining unit further comprises:

determining whether sum of signal strength of the first axial electrode on the edge area is greater than a second threshold value, and determining whether sum of signal strength of the first axial electrode on other areas is less than a third threshold value, and determining whether number of touched first axial electrodes is less than and equal to number of electrodes on the edge area.

16. The edge grip detection device of the touch panel of claim 15, wherein the first determining unit further comprises:

determining whether variation of signal strength of any first axial electrode on the edge area is greater than a fourth threshold value or determining whether variation of signal strength of any second axial electrode is greater than a fifth threshold value.

17. The edge grip detection device of the touch panel of claim 14, wherein the first determining unit further comprises:

determining whether the number of touched first axial electrodes or touched second axial electrodes on the edge area is 0.

18. The edge grip detection device of the touch panel of claim 14, wherein the first determining unit further comprises:

determining whether sum of signal strength of the second axial electrode on the edge area is greater than a second threshold value, and determining whether sum of signal strength of the second axial electrode on other areas is less than a third threshold value, and determining whether number of touched second axial electrodes is less than or equal to number of electrodes on the edge area.

19. The edge grip detection device of the touch panel of claim 18, wherein the first determining unit further comprises:

determining whether variation of signal strength of any second axial electrode on the edge area is greater than a fourth threshold value or determining whether variation of signal strength of any first axial electrode is greater than a fifth threshold value.

20. The edge grip detection device of the touch panel of claim 13, wherein the scanning unit is used for scanning the edge area and the operation area to obtain touch signals on the touch panel, wherein the touch signal comprises the first edge signals and the first edge signal are based on self-capacitance changes generated by touch.