Sensor-based ESD detection

• US 9,442,597 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shih, David H. C., Lin, Albert, Matlick, Jacob L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORALES FERNANDEZ, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US13/750,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04182 Filtering of noise external to the device and not generated by digitiser components
• 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

A touch sensitive device that detects the occurrence of an electrostatic discharge event on the device by analyzing one or more ESD sensors located in various locations on the touch sensitive device is provided. A touch controller can scan touch nodes on the touch sensitive device while simultaneously scanning one or more ESD sensors to detect if a possible ESD event has occurred during the acquisition of a touch image. If an ESD event has occurred during the acquisition of touch data, the touch controller can act to either ignore the data, or compensate the data to account for effects on the touch data caused by the ESD event.

Claims

1. A touch sensitive device capable of detecting the occurrence of an ESD event, the device comprising:

a touch sensor panel having a plurality of touch sensors configured to detect one or more touch or proximity events occurring on the touch sensitive device;

one or more ESD sensors distinct from the plurality of touch sensors configured to detect an ESD event on the touch sensitive device independently of the plurality of touch sensors; and

a processor capable of;

acquiring a touch image from the touch sensor panel;

acquiring ESD information from the one or more ESD sensors; and

compensating the touch image based on the acquired ESD information.

2. The touch sensitive device of claim 1, wherein the one or more ESD sensors are disposed in a plurality of locations throughout the touch sensitive device and wherein the processor is further capable of determining an approximate location of an ESD event occurring on the device, based on the ESD information.

3. The touch sensitive device of claim 1, wherein the one or more ESD sensors are located proximally to one or more components of the touch sensitive device that couples ESD power to touch detection circuitry wherein the compensating of the touch image is performed when the processor simultaneously detects the one or more touch or proximity events and the ESD event.

4. The touch sensitive device of claim 3, wherein the one or more components of the touch sensitive device include a button configured to receive user input.

5. A method of compensating touch images for the effects of an ESD event on a touch sensitive device, the method comprising:

acquiring a touch image from a touch sensor panel having a plurality of touch sensors configured to detect touch or proximity events on a touch sensitive device;

acquiring ESD information from one or more ESD sensors, distinct from the plurality of touch sensors and operating independently of the plurality of touch sensors, the one or more ESD sensors located on the touch sensitive device; and

compensating the touch image based on the ESD information acquired from the one or more ESD sensors.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more ESD sensors are disposed in a plurality of locations throughout the touch sensitive device and wherein the method further comprises determining an approximate location of an ESD event occurring on the device, based on the ESD information.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more ESD sensors are located proximally to one or more components of the touch sensitive device that couples ESD power to touch detection circuitry wherein the compensating of the touch image is performed upon the simultaneous occurrence of the touch or proximity events and the ESD information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more components of the touch sensitive device include a button configured to receive user input and wherein acquiring ESD information from the ESD sensor further comprises determining the presence of an ESD event located proximally to the button.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions for compensating touch images for ESD events on a touch sensor panel, that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

acquire a touch image from a touch sensor panel having a plurality of touch sensors configured to detect touch or proximity events on a touch sensitive device;

acquire ESD information from one or more ESD sensors, distinct from the plurality of touch sensors, and operating independently of the plurality of touch sensors, the one or more ESD sensors located on the touch sensitive device; and

compensate the touch image based on the ESD information acquired from the one or more ESD sensors.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more ESD sensors are disposed in a plurality of locations throughout the touch sensitive device and wherein the method further comprises determining an approximate location of an ESD event occurring on the device, based on the ESD information.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the one or more ESD sensors are located proximally to one or more components of the touch sensitive device that couples ESD power to touch detection circuitry wherein the compensating of the touch image is performed upon the simultaneous occurrence of the touch or proximity events and the ESD information.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the one or more components of the touch sensitive device include a button configured to receive user input and wherein acquiring ESD information from the ESD sensor further comprises determining the presence of an ESD event located proximally to the button.

13. A touch sensitive device capable of detecting the occurrence of an ESD event, the device comprising:

a touch sensor panel configured to detect one or more touch or proximity events occurring on the touch sensitive device;

one or more ESD sensors, configured to detect an ESD event on the touch sensitive device; and

a processor capable of;

acquiring a touch image from the touch sensor panel;

acquiring ESD information from the one or more ESD sensors; and

compensating the touch image based on the acquired ESD information;

wherein the one or more ESD sensors are disposed in a plurality of locations throughout the touch sensitive device and wherein the processor is further capable of determining an approximate location of an ESD event occurring on the device, based on the ESD information.

14. The touch sensitive device of claim 13, wherein the one or more ESD sensors are located proximally to one or more components of the touch sensitive device that couples ESD power to touch detection circuitry wherein the compensating of the touch image is performed upon the simultaneous occurrence of the touch or proximity events and the ESD information.

15. The touch sensitive device of claim 14, wherein the one or more components of the touch sensitive device include a button configured to receive user input.

16. A method of compensating touch images for the effects of an ESD event on a touch sensitive device, the method comprising:

acquiring a touch image from a touch sensor panel having a plurality of touch sensors configured to detect touch or proximity events on a touch sensitive device;

acquiring ESD information from one or more ESD sensors, located on the touch sensitive device; and

compensating the touch image based on the ESD information acquired from the one or more ESD sensors; and

wherein the one or more ESD sensors are disposed in a plurality of locations throughout the touch sensitive device and wherein the method further comprises determining an approximate location of an ESD event occurring on the device, based on the ESD information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more ESD sensors are located proximally to one or more components of the touch sensitive device that couples ESD power to touch detection circuitry wherein the compensating of the touch image is performed upon the simultaneous occurrence of the touch or proximity events and the ESD information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more components of the touch sensitive device include a button configured to receive user input and wherein acquiring ESD information from the ESD sensor further comprises determining the presence of an ESD event located proximally to the button.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a set of instructions for compensating touch images for ESD events on a touch sensor panel, that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

acquire a touch image from a touch sensor panel having a plurality of touch sensors configured to detect touch or proximity events on a touch sensitive device;

acquire ESD information from one or more ESD sensors located on the touch sensitive device;

compensating the touch image based on the ESD information acquired from the one or more ESD sensors; and

wherein the one or more ESD sensors are disposed in a plurality of locations throughout the touch sensitive device and wherein the method further comprises determining an approximate location of an ESD event occurring on the device, based on the ESD information.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more ESD sensors are located proximally to one or more components of the touch sensitive device that couples ESD power to touch detection circuitry wherein the compensating of the touch image is performed upon the simultaneous occurrence of the touch or proximity events and the ESD information.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the one or more components of the touch sensitive device include a button configured to receive user input and wherein acquiring ESD information from the ESD sensor further comprises determining the presence of an ESD event located proximally to the button.