Touch-Sensor-Controller Sensor Hub

• US 20140253507A1
• Filed: 05/21/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solas OLED Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Woolley, Adrian, Logan, John, Long, Kent, Iannacito, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,292,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes controlling a touch sensor of a device. The control of the touch sensor includes a first processing cycle executed by the controller that comprises acquisition of touch-sensor signals from the touch sensor; a second processing cycle executed by the controller that comprises pre-processing of the touch-sensor signals; and a third processing cycle executed by the controller that comprises processing of the touch-sensor signals to determine whether a touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor. If the touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor, a location of the touch or proximity input is determined. The method also includes controlling other sensors of the device. The control of the other sensors includes one or more fourth processing cycles executed by the controller concurrently with the first processing cycle or the second processing cycle.

Claims

1. A method comprising

by a controller, controlling a touch sensor of a device, the control of the touch sensor comprising:

acquisition of touch-sensor signals from the touch sensor;

pre-processing of the touch-sensor signals; and

processing of the touch-sensor signals to determine;

whether a touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor;

if the touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor, a location of the touch or proximity input; and

by the controller, controlling one or more other sensors of the device, the control of the other sensors occurring at least in part concurrently with the acquisition of the touch-sensor signals from the touch sensor or the pre-processing of the touch-sensor signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-processing comprises applying one or more digital filters to the touch-sensor signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the other sensors comprises an ambient light sensor, a magnetometer, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling one or more other sensors of the device comprises:

acquiring a sensor signal from the other sensors; and

processing the sensor signal from the other sensors to determine at least in part a change of an environment of the device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the control of the touch sensor and the other sensors substantially maximizes a processing load of the controller.

4-5. -5. (canceled)

8. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

control a touch sensor of a device, the control of the touch sensor comprising;

acquisition of touch-sensor signals from the touch sensor;

pre-processing of the touch-sensor signals; and

processing of the touch-sensor signals to determine;

whether a touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor;

if the touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor, a location of the touch or proximity input; and

control one or more other sensors of the device, the control of the other sensors occurring at least in part concurrently with the acquisition of the touch-sensor signals from the touch sensor or the pre-processing of the touch-sensor signals.

9. The medium of claim 8, wherein the logic is further configured to apply one or more digital filters to the touch-sensor signals.

10. The medium of claim 8, wherein the other sensors comprises an ambient light sensor, a magnetometer, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a combination thereof.

13. The medium of claim 8, wherein the logic is further configured to:

acquire a sensor signal from the other sensors; and

process the sensor signal from the other sensors to determine at least in part a change of an environment of the device.

14. The medium of claim 8, wherein the control of the touch sensor and the other sensors substantially maximizes a processing load of the controller.

11-12. -12. (canceled)

15. A device comprising:

a controller;

a touch sensor coupled to the controller;

one or more other sensors coupled to the controller; and

a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic that is operable when executed to;

control the touch sensor of the device, the control of the touch sensor comprising;

acquisition of touch-sensor signals from the touch sensor;

pre-processing of the touch-sensor signals; and

processing of the touch-sensor signals to determine;

whether a touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor; and

if the touch or proximity input has occurred with respect to the touch sensor, a location of the touch or proximity input; and

control one or more other sensors of the device, the control of the other sensors occurring at least in part concurrently with the acquisition of the touch-sensor signals from the touch sensor or the pre-processing of the touch-sensor signals.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the logic is further configured to apply one or more digital filters to the touch-sensor signals.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the other sensors comprises an ambient light sensor, a magnetometer, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a combination thereof.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the logic is further configured to:

acquire a sensor signal from the other sensors; and

process the sensor signal from the other sensors to determine at least in part a change of an environment of the device.

18-19. -19. (canceled)