Minimizing mismatch during compensation

• US 8,711,129 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steve Porter, Land, Brian Richards
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JENNIFER T
• Application Number:
  US11/650,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,673 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 345/156, 178 1801- 1811
• US Class Current: 345/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment

Abstract

A method and apparatus for minimizing mismatch effects between a compensation signal and an output signal generated by a touch surface device is disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a touch-sensitive panel having a sense node for providing an output signal indicative of a touch or no-touch condition on the panel; a drive circuit for generating a sinusoidal drive signal provided to the sense node of the touch-sensitive panel; at least one non-touch-sensitive node within the touch-sensitive panel, for generating a sinusoidal compensation signal, wherein the sinusoidal compensation signal is summed with the output signal to provide a sinusoidal compensated output signal; and a sensing circuit for receiving the sinusoidal compensated output signal.

Claims

1. A touch surface device, comprising:

a compensation circuit configured for receiving an output signal from a sense node on a touch-sensitive panel, generating a compensation signal, adjusting at least one parameter of the compensation signal based on a location of the sense node on the panel, and combining the compensation signal with the output signal to produce a compensated output signal; and

a demodulator coupled for receiving and demodulating the compensated output signal.

2. The touch surface device of claim 1 wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of:

amplitude, frequency, type of waveform and phase.

3. The touch surface device of claim 1 further comprising an amplifier having an inverting input coupled for receiving the compensated output signal and a non-inverting input coupled to a known reference voltage.

4. The touch surface device of claim 3, wherein the compensation circuit comprises:

a summing circuit having first and second inputs and an output, wherein the output signal from the sense node is received at the first input and the output of the summing circuit is coupled to the inverting input of the amplifier;

a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for generating the compensation signal, the DAC having an output coupled to the second input of the summing circuit; and

a look-up table, coupled to an input of the DAC, for storing and providing a digital code to the DAC, wherein the digital code reflects the location of the sense node on the panel and the compensation signal is generated based on the digital code.

5. The touch surface device of claim 4 wherein the output signal comprises a sinusoidal waveform and the DAC generates a sinusoidal compensation signal.

6. The touch surface device of claim 1, wherein the combining of the compensation signal with the output signal comprises combining the compensation signal with an unmodified output signal from the touch-sensitive panel.

7. A touch surface device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive panel having a sense node for providing an output signal indicative of a touch or no-touch condition on the panel;

a drive circuit for generating a sinusoidal drive signal provided to the sense node of the touch-sensitive panel;

at least one non-touch-sensitive node within the touch-sensitive panel, for generating a sinusoidal compensation signal, wherein the sinusoidal compensation signal is summed with the output signal to provide a sinusoidal compensated output signal; and

a sensing circuit for receiving the sinusoidal compensated output signal.

8. The touch surface device of claim 7 further comprising:

an inverter for inverting the sinusoidal drive signal to generate an inverted sinusoidal drive signal, wherein the inverted sinusoidal drive signal is applied to the at least one non-touch-sensitive node, thereby generating the compensation signal at the at least one non-touch-sensitive node; and

a sense electrode, coupled to the sense node and the at least one non-touch-sensitive node, for providing the sinusoidal compensated output signal to the sensing circuit.

9. The touch surface device of claim 7 wherein the sensing circuit comprises an amplifier having an inverting input coupled to the sense electrode and a non-inverting input coupled to a known reference voltage.

10. The touch surface device of claim 7 wherein the sense node comprises a mutually capacitive node formed at an intersection between a drive electrode and the sense electrode and the at least one non-touch-sensitive node is formed at an intersection of a compensation electrode, coupled to an output of an inverter, and the sense electrode.

11. A computer system incorporating a touch surface device, comprising:

a compensation circuit configured for receiving an output signal from a sense node on a touch-sensitive panel, generating a compensation signal, adjusting at least one parameter of the compensation signal based on a location of the sense node on the panel, and combining the compensation signal with the output signal to produce a compensated output signal;

a demodulator coupled for receiving and demodulating the compensated output signal; and

a processor coupled to receive and process the demodulated compensated output signal and perform one or more functions based on data provided by the compensated output signal.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of:

amplitude, frequency, type of waveform and phase.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising an amplifier having an inverting input coupled for receiving the compensated output signal and a non-inverting input coupled to a known reference voltage.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the compensation circuit comprises:

a summing circuit having first and second inputs and an output, wherein the output signal from the sense node is received at the first input;

a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for generating the compensation signal, the DAC having an output coupled to the second input of the summing circuit; and

a look-up table, coupled to an input of the DAC, for storing and providing a digital code to the DAC, wherein the digital code reflects the location of the sense node on the panel and the compensation signal is generated based on the digital code.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the output signal comprises a sinusoidal waveform and the DAC generates a sinusoidal compensation signal.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a sensing circuit coupled to an output of the compensation circuit for receiving the compensated output signal and amplifying the compensated output signal with a desired gain; and

an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to convert the compensated output signal into a digital signal that is provided to the processor.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the sensing circuit comprises:

a charge amplifier having an inverting input configured to receive the compensated output signal and a non-inverting input connected to a known reference voltage; and

a feedback capacitor having one lead connected to an output of the charge amplifier and another lead connected to the inverting input.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the combining of the compensation signal with the output signal comprises combining the compensation signal with an unmodified output signal from the touch-sensitive panel.

19. A computer system incorporating a touch surface device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive panel having a sense node for providing an output signal indicative of a touch or no-touch condition on the panel;

a drive circuit for generating a sinusoidal drive signal provided to the sense node of the touch-sensitive panel; and

at least one non-touch-sensitive node within the touch-sensitive panel, for generating a sinusoidal compensation signal, wherein the sinusoidal compensation signal is summed with the output signal to provide a sinusoidal compensated output signal;

a sensing circuit for receiving the sinusoidal compensated output signal and converting the sinusoidal compensated output signal into a digital signal; and

a processor for receiving and processing the digital signal and perform one or more functions based on the data provided by the digital signal.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

an inverter for inverting the sinusoidal drive signal to generate an inverted sinusoidal drive signal, wherein the inverted sinusoidal drive signal is applied to the at least one non-touch-sensitive node, thereby generating the compensation signal at the at least one non-touch-sensitive node; and

a sense electrode, coupled to the sense node and the at least one non-touch-sensitive node, for providing the sinusoidal compensated output signal to the sensing circuit.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the sensing circuit comprises an amplifier having an inverting input coupled to the sense electrode and a non-inverting input coupled to a known reference voltage.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the sense node comprises a mutually capacitive node formed at an intersection between a drive electrode and the sense electrode and the at least one non-touch-sensitive node is formed at an intersection of a compensation electrode, coupled to an output of an inverter, and the sense electrode.

23. A method of minimizing mismatch between an output signal of a touch surface device and a compensation signal, comprising:

generating an output signal at a sense node of a touch-sensitive panel, wherein the output signal is indicative of a touch or no-touch condition on the panel;

combining the output signal with a compensation signal to produce a compensated output signal, wherein at least one parameter of the compensation signal is adjusted based on a location of the sense node on the panel; and

demodulating the compensated output signal.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of:

amplitude, frequency, type of waveform and phase.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising providing the compensated output signal to an inverting input of an amplifier, wherein a non-inverting input of the amplifier is coupled to a known reference voltage and a capacitor is coupled between an output of the amplifier and the inverting input.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the output signal comprises a sinusoidal waveform and the compensation signal comprises a sinusoidal waveform that is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the output signal.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the combining of the compensation signal with the output signal comprises combining the compensation signal with an unmodified output signal.

28. A method of minimizing mismatch between an output signal of a touch surface device and a compensation signal, comprising:

providing a sinusoidal drive signal to a sense node of a touch-sensitive panel so as to generate an output signal indicative of a touch or no-touch condition on the sense node;

inverting the sinusoidal drive signal to provide a compensation drive signal; and

providing the compensation drive signal to at least one non-touch-sensitive node within the touch-sensitive panel, for generating a sinusoidal compensation signal, wherein the sinusoidal compensation signal is summed with the output signal to provide a sinusoidal compensated output signal.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising providing the compensated output signal to an inverting input of an amplifier, wherein a non-inverting input of the amplifier is coupled to a known reference voltage and a capacitor is coupled between an output of the amplifier and the inverting input.

30. A method of minimizing mismatch effects between a compensation signal and an output signal generated by a touch surface device, comprising:

providing a sinusoidal drive signal to a first electrode of the touch surface device;

providing a sinusoidal output signal from a second electrode of the touch surface device to a first input of a summing circuit, the sinusoidal output signal being generated due to a mutual capacitance between the first and second electrodes;

providing a sinusoidal compensation signal to a second input of the summing circuit, wherein the sinusoidal compensation signal is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the sinusoidal output signal; and

providing a compensated output signal from an output of the summing circuit to an inverting input of an amplifier, wherein a non-inverting input of the amplifier is provided with a substantially constant voltage.

31. An apparatus for minimizing mismatch between an output signal of a touch surface device and a compensation signal, comprising:

means for generating an output signal at a sense node of a touch-sensitive panel, wherein the output signal is indicative of a touch or no-touch condition on the panel;

means for combining the output signal with a compensation signal to produce a compensated output signal, wherein at least one parameter of the compensation signal is adjusted based on a location of the sense node on the panel; and

means for demodulating the compensated output signal.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the combining of the compensation signal with the output signal comprises combining the compensation signal with an unmodified output signal.

33. An apparatus for minimizing mismatch between an output signal of a touch surface device and a compensation signal, comprising:

means for providing a sinusoidal drive signal to a sense node of a touch-sensitive panel so as to generate an output signal indicative of a touch or no-touch condition on the sense node;

means for inverting the sinusoidal drive signal to provide a compensation drive signal; and

means for providing the compensation drive signal to at least one non-touch-sensitive node within the touch-sensitive panel, for generating a sinusoidal compensation signal, wherein the sinusoidal compensation signal is summed with the output signal to provide a sinusoidal compensated output signal.

34. An apparatus for minimizing mismatch effects between a compensation signal and an output signal generated by a touch surface device, comprising:

means for providing a sinusoidal drive signal to a first electrode of the touch surface device;

means for providing a sinusoidal output signal from a second electrode of the touch surface device to a first input of a summing circuit, the sinusoidal output signal being generated due to a mutual capacitance between the first and second electrodes;

means for providing a sinusoidal compensation signal to a second input of the summing circuit, wherein the sinusoidal compensation signal is substantially 180 degrees out of phase with the sinusoidal output signal; and

means for providing a compensated output signal from an output of the summing circuit to an inverting input of an amplifier, wherein a non-inverting input of the amplifier is provided with a substantially constant voltage.