Abrégé

Described is a touch-sensitive apparatus including a plurality of drive electrodes; a receiver electrode; drive circuitry configured to generate a first time-varying voltage signal and a second time-varying voltage signal, wherein the first and second time-varying voltage signals are the inverse of one another; and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to: apply at least one of the first time-varying voltage signal and the second time-varying voltage signal to a first group of neighbouring drive electrodes for a first time period; apply at least one of the first time-varying voltage signal and the second time-varying voltage signal to a second group of neighbouring drive electrodes for the first time period; perform a first measurement on the receiver electrode during the first time period; apply at least one of the first time-varying voltage signal and the second time-varying voltage signal to the first group of neighbouring drive electrodes for a second time period; apply at least one of the first time- varying voltage signal and the second time-varying voltage signal to the second group of drive electrodes for the second time period, wherein the time-varying voltage signal applied to at least one of the first group and second group of neighbouring drive electrodes during the first time period is different from the time-varying voltage signal applied to the at least one of the first group and second group of neighbouring drive electrodes during the second time period; perform a second measurement on the receiver electrode during the second time period; and determine a resultant signal corresponding to the mutual capacitance between the first group of neighbouring drive electrodes and the receiver electrode based on both the first measurement and the second measurement. Further described is a corresponding method for determining the presence of a touch on a touch-sensitive element.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction

Abrégé

Described is a touch-sensitive apparatus, including: a plurality of electrodes comprising at least a first electrode and a second electrode; drive circuitry configured to generate a drive signal for driving one or more of the plurality of electrodes; a differential output element comprising a first input and a second input configured to couple to each of the first electrode and second electrode and configured to output a signal indicative of the differential between signals input to the differential output element at the first input and the second input; switching circuitry configured to couple the first electrode to either of the first input or second input of the differential output element and to couple the second electrode to either of the first input or second input of the differential output element; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to: obtain a first output from the differential output element during a first time period, wherein the switching circuitry is in a first configuration during the first time period; obtain a second output from the differential output element during a second time period, wherein the switching circuitry is in a second configuration during the second time period; and determine a resultant signal corresponding to a capacitance as sensed by the first or second electrodes based on both the first output and the second output. Also described is a system comprising the touch-sensitive apparatus and a method of operating a touch-sensitive apparatus.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

Disclosed a sensing apparatus having a frame element and a displaceable element mounted relative to the frame element. The sensing apparatus comprises a plurality of displacement sensor elements each configured to provide a displacement sensor output signal indicative of a displacement between the frame element and the displaceable element, wherein the plurality of displacement sensor elements are arranged at different spatial locations relative to the displaceable element and configured to provide a displacement sensor output signal indicative of a displacement between the frame element and the displaceable element at the respective spatial location. The sensing apparatus further comprises processing circuitry configured to obtain the displacement sensor output signals from the plurality of displacement sensor elements and determine whether displacement of the displaceable element is a valid displacement by comparing at least the ratio between the displacement sensor output signals from a pair of the plurality of displacement sensor elements to one or more expected ratios for the pair of displacement sensor elements obtained in advance. Also disclosed is a device comprising the sensing apparatus, and a method for determining whether a displacement applied to a displaceable element mounted relative to a frame element is a valid displacement.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

Disclosed is circuitry for calculating the magnitude of a received signal from an electrode of a capacitive touch sensitive apparatus. The circuitry includes a first digital signal generating module configured to generate a first digital signal, the first digital signal representing a sinusoidal wave having a first frequency, and a second digital signal generating module configured to generate a second digital signal, the second digital signal representing a sinusoidal wave having the first frequency, wherein the second digital signal is orthogonal to the first digital signal. The circuitry also includes a sensing module for coupling to an electrode array, the sensing module configured to receive the first digital signal, provide a driving signal to at least one electrode of the electrode array based on the first digital signal, and output a received digital signal, wherein the received digital signal is indicative of a capacitive coupling experienced by the at least one electrode. The circuitry includes a first multiplier module configured to receive the first digital signal and the received digital signal and multiply the two digital signals together; a second multiplier module configured to receive the second digital signal and the received digital signal and multiply the two digital signals together; and a signal magnitude calculating module configured to calculate the magnitude of the received digital signal based on the output from the first multiplier module and the second multiplier module. Also disclosed is a touch sensitive apparatus including the circuitry and a method for calculating the magnitude of a received signal from an electrode of a capacitive touch sensitive apparatus.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A touch-sensitive apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of drive electrodes, comprising at least a first electrode and a second electrode; at least one receiver electrode; drive circuitry configured to generate a first time-varying voltage signal and a second time-varying voltage signal, wherein the first and second time-varying voltage signals are the inverse of one another; and control circuitry configured to: perform a first measurement on the at least one receiver electrode during a first time period, wherein the control circuitry is configured to supply at least one of the first and second time-varying voltage signals to the first and second drive electrodes during the first time period; and perform a second measurement on the at least one receiver electrode during a second time period, wherein the control circuitry is configured to supply at least one of the first and second time-varying voltage signals to the first and second drive electrodes during the second time period; and determine a resultant signal corresponding to the mutual capacitance between the first electrode and the at least one receiver electrode based on both the first measurement and the second measurement.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A touch-sensitive apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a touch-sensitive element comprising an array of electrodes having a first electrode and a second electrode, the second electrode spatially intersecting the first electrode at an intersection point; and measurement circuitry configured to: measure the mutual capacitance at the intersection point of the first and second electrodes; measure the self-capacitance of the first electrode, and measure the self-capacitance of the second electrode; and processing circuitry configured to: determine the presence of a touch on the touch-sensitive element on the basis of a comparison of the measured mutual capacitance at the intersection point to a first threshold and on the basis of a combination of the measured self-capacitance of the first electrode and the measured self-capacitance of the second electrode being greater than or equal to a second threshold.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A sensing apparatus comprising a displacement sensor element arranged to sense a separation between a first element (2) and a second element (3) movably mounted with respect to the first element; an acceleration sensor element configured to sense an acceleration associated with the first element; displacement measurement circuitry (4A) configured to make a measurement indicative of separation on the basis of the sensed separation; acceleration measurement circuitry (4C) configured to make a measurement of acceleration on the basis of the sensed acceleration; and a processing element (4D) configured to output a signal to indicate there is determined to be a change in the separation of the second element relative to the first element on the basis of the measurement indicative of separation and the measurement of acceleration.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G01D 3/036 - Dispositions pour la mesure prévues pour les objets particuliers indiqués dans les sous-groupes du présent groupe pour atténuer les influences indésirables, p.ex. température, pression sur les dispositions de mesure elles-mêmes
• G01D 5/241 - Moyens mécaniques pour le transfert de la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible; Moyens pour convertir la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible en une autre variable, lorsque la forme ou la nature de l'organe sensible n'imposent pas un moyen de conversion déterminé; Transducteurs non spécialement adaptés à une variable particulière utilisant des moyens électriques ou magnétiques influençant la valeur d'un courant ou d'une tension en faisant varier la capacité par mouvement relatif d'électrodes de condensateur
• H03K 17/96 - Commutateurs à effleurement

Abrégé

A displacement sensor comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode displaceably mounted relative to the first electrode; capacitance measurement circuitry configured to make measurements of a capacitance associated with the first and second electrodes and to generate analogue capacitance measurement signals in response thereto; compensation circuitry configured to generate a compensated analogue capacitance measurement signal by reducing a magnitude of a current analogue capacitance measurement signal by an amount indicated by a compensation signal derived from at least one previous analogue capacitance measurement signal; and processing circuitry configured to digitise the compensated analogue capacitance measurement signal and to determine if there is a displacement of the second electrode relative to the first electrode based on the compensated analogue capacitance measurement signal.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01D 5/24 - Moyens mécaniques pour le transfert de la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible; Moyens pour convertir la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible en une autre variable, lorsque la forme ou la nature de l'organe sensible n'imposent pas un moyen de conversion déterminé; Transducteurs non spécialement adaptés à une variable particulière utilisant des moyens électriques ou magnétiques influençant la valeur d'un courant ou d'une tension en faisant varier la capacité
• G01D 5/241 - Moyens mécaniques pour le transfert de la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible; Moyens pour convertir la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible en une autre variable, lorsque la forme ou la nature de l'organe sensible n'imposent pas un moyen de conversion déterminé; Transducteurs non spécialement adaptés à une variable particulière utilisant des moyens électriques ou magnétiques influençant la valeur d'un courant ou d'une tension en faisant varier la capacité par mouvement relatif d'électrodes de condensateur

Abrégé

A sensing apparatus comprising: a displacement sensor comprising capacitance measurement circuitry configured to provide a displacement sensor output signal indicative of a separation between a frame element and a displacement element movably mounted with respect to the frame element; a touch sensor comprising measurement circuitry configured to provide a touch sensor output signal indicative of when an object is determined to be touching the displacement element; and a processing element configured to output a displacement detection signal to indicate there is determined to be a displacement of the displacement element relative to the frame element in response to determining the touch sensor output signal indicates an object is touching the displacement element and a difference between the displacement sensor output signal and a baseline displacement sensor output signal exceeds a threshold value, wherein the baseline displacement sensor output signal is determined from the displacement sensor output signal in a time period determined from when the touch sensor output signal initially indicates the object is touching the displacement element.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A sensing apparatus for determining relative amounts of force applied to a sensing surface at a plurality of locations, the sensing apparatus comprising: a capacitive sensor element comprising the sensing surface, wherein the capacitive sensor element is moveably mounted; a displacement sensor element for detecting changes in the displacement of the capacitive sensor element; capacitive sensing circuitry coupled to the capacitive sensor element and configured to determine locations for a plurality of objects capacitively coupled to the sensing surface; displacement sensing circuitry coupled to the displacement sensor element and configured to determine changes in the displacement of the capacitive sensor element at a plurality of different locations; and processing circuitry configured to determine a location at which a net displacement load acts on the sensing surface from the determined changes in displacement of the sensor element, and to establish relative amounts of the net displacement load on the determined locations.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A sensing apparatus including a frame; a capacitive sensor comprising a sensing surface moveably mounted relative to the frame and configured to measure, as a function of time, characteristics of capacitive couplings between the sensing surface and a plurality of objects at different locations over the sensing surface; a displacement sensor configured to detect when there is a displacement of the sensing surface relative to the frame due to a displacement load applied to the sensing surface by one of the objects; and a processing element configured to identify which of the objects applied the displacement load based on changes in the measured characteristics of the capacitive couplings for the respective objects during a time period around when the displacement of the sensing surface is detected.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

The touch panel module comprises a touch panel sensor element and a touch panel controller for measuring changes in capacitance associated with one or more sensor electrodes comprising the touch panel sensor element and generating corresponding touch panel output signalling is communicated to the host controller. The capacitance measurement circuit comprises a capacitance measurement channel coupled to a power supply line for the touch panel module, e.g., a ground for the touch panel module, and is configured to measure a capacitance associated with the touch panel module circuitry coupled to this power supply line and to generate corresponding capacitance measurement circuit output signalling for communication to the host controller. The touch panel power supply at the touch panel module is galvanically isolated from the capacitance measurement circuit power supply at the capacitance measurement circuit. Thus, the touch panel module may operate in a broadly conventional manner, whilst the capacitance measurement circuit simultaneously, or in a time multiplexed manner, measures a capacitance associated with the overall circuitry of the touch panel module, thereby providing a relatively sensitive proximity sensor.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs
• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction

Abrégé

A capacitive sensor comprising: a first electrode; a displacement element moveably mounted relative to the first electrode; and a second electrode coupled to the displacement element so that displacement of the displacement element along a displacement direction changes a separation between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a controller element configured to selectively operate in a displacement sensing mode and in a proximity sensing mode, wherein in the displacement sensing mode, the controller element is configured to electrically couple the second electrode to a reference potential and to electrically couple the first electrode to capacitance measurement circuity to measure a capacitance characteristic of the first electrode to determine a displacement of the displacement element relative to the reference electrode; and in the proximity sensing mode, the controller element is configured to electrically couple the second electrode to capacitance measurement circuity to measure a capacitance characteristic associated with the second electrode to detect the presence of an object in proximity to the second electrode; and in the displacement sensing mode, the controller element is configured to electrically couple the second electrode to a reference potential signal.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01D 5/241 - Moyens mécaniques pour le transfert de la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible; Moyens pour convertir la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible en une autre variable, lorsque la forme ou la nature de l'organe sensible n'imposent pas un moyen de conversion déterminé; Transducteurs non spécialement adaptés à une variable particulière utilisant des moyens électriques ou magnétiques influençant la valeur d'un courant ou d'une tension en faisant varier la capacité par mouvement relatif d'électrodes de condensateur
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs
• H03K 17/975 - Commutateurs actionnés par le déplacement d'un élément incorporé dans ce commutateur utilisant un élément mobile capacitif

Abrégé

A displacement sensor for sensing a change in separation between a first element and a second element along a displacement direction. The sensor comprises a reference electrode mounted to the second element in the form of a conductive trace on a surface of the second element facing the first element. A deformable electrode, e.g. a conductive elastomeric material, is arranged between the first element and the second element so as to overlie the reference electrode. The deformable electrode has a contact surface facing the reference electrode and insulated therefrom. At least part of the contact surface is inclined relative to an opposing surface of the reference electrode such that when the deformable electrode is compressed along the displacement direction there is a reduction in volume between the contact surface and the opposing surface of the reference electrode, thereby changing the capacitive coupling between them. The sensor further comprises a controller element configured to measure a characteristic of the capacitive coupling between the reference electrode and the deformable electrode and to determine if a change in separation between the first element and the second element has occurred be determining if there is a change in the characteristic of capacitive coupling between the reference electrode and the deformable electrode.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01D 5/241 - Moyens mécaniques pour le transfert de la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible; Moyens pour convertir la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible en une autre variable, lorsque la forme ou la nature de l'organe sensible n'imposent pas un moyen de conversion déterminé; Transducteurs non spécialement adaptés à une variable particulière utilisant des moyens électriques ou magnétiques influençant la valeur d'un courant ou d'une tension en faisant varier la capacité par mouvement relatif d'électrodes de condensateur

Abrégé

A touch sensor comprises a sensor element for sensing the position of an object over a display screen in a first direction and in a second direction. The sensor element comprises a substrate having an electrode pattern disposed thereon to define an array of sensor nodes. The electrode pattern comprises a plurality of conductors arranged to follow potions of a network of lines extending generally in the first direction, wherein each of the lines follows a zigzag (saw-tooth) pattern comprising an alternating series of first line segments arranged at a first angle to the first direction and second line segments arranged at a second angle to the first direction, and wherein respective ones of the first line segments in each line are co- linear with respective ones of the first line segments in an adjacent line. Such a configuration leads to a reduced visibility of the conductors overlying the display screen.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A displacement sensor comprising: a reference electrode; and a displacement element movably mounted relative to the reference electrode and comprising a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces with a first electrode arranged around a peripheral part of the first surface and a second electrode arranged around a peripheral part of the second surface, and wherein the reference electrode on the same side of the substrate as the second electrode and offset therefrom; and a controller element configured to measure a capacitance characteristic of the second electrode at different times and to determine whether there has been a displacement of the displacement element relative to the reference electrode based on whether there has been a change in the capacitance characteristic of the second electrode.

Classes IPC  ?

• H03K 17/975 - Commutateurs actionnés par le déplacement d'un élément incorporé dans ce commutateur utilisant un élément mobile capacitif
• G01D 5/241 - Moyens mécaniques pour le transfert de la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible; Moyens pour convertir la grandeur de sortie d'un organe sensible en une autre variable, lorsque la forme ou la nature de l'organe sensible n'imposent pas un moyen de conversion déterminé; Transducteurs non spécialement adaptés à une variable particulière utilisant des moyens électriques ou magnétiques influençant la valeur d'un courant ou d'une tension en faisant varier la capacité par mouvement relatif d'électrodes de condensateur
• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction
• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A touch-sensitive position sensor comprises an array of sensing nodes defined by electrodes arranged in columns across a sensing surface and a plurality of traces arranged to provide electrical connections from the respective sensing nodes to a perimeter of the sensing surface. The traces for the sensing nodes in a particular column run between the column and a neighbouring column on one or other side of the column. For at least a subset of the columns the number of traces for the sensing nodes in a particular column which run to one side of the column and the number of traces for the sensing nodes in the given column which run to the other side of the given column are different for different columns.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs
• G06F 3/041 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction

Abrégé

A touch-sensitive position sensor is disclosed. The sensor comprises an array of first electrodes and an array of second electrodes arranged to cross one another in a pattern to define a sensing surface. The sensing surface has a rectangular shape which is formed into a cylinder such that first and second opposing edges of the sensing surface are adjacent one another. A controller is coupled to respective ones of the first electrodes and the second electrodes and arranged to measure changes in an electrical parameter, e.g. capacitance or resistance, associated with the first and second electrodes caused by the presence of the object adjacent the sensing surface. The controller is further operable to determine a reported position for the object from these measurements in a coordinate system defined relative to the electrodes. At least some of the electrodes are arranged to follow paths which are non-linear within the sensing surface such that object positions along a straight line between the first and second opposing edges on the sensing surface correspond with reported positions along a closed curve in the coordinate system defined relative to the electrodes. Thus, a continuous movement around a circumference of the cylindrical sensing surface is reported as a continuous movement around a closed path in the coordinate system defined relative to the electrodes.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A touch-sensitive position sensor is disclosed. The sensor comprises an array of first electrodes and an array of second electrodes arranged in a pattern to provide a sensing surface, wherein at least some of the first electrodes and the second electrodes are arranged to follow paths which are non-linear within the sensing surface such that there are ends of the first electrodes and ends of the second electrodes which meet a common edge of the sensing surface. A controller is coupled to respective ones of the first electrodes and the second electrodes and arranged to determine a reported position for an object adjacent the sensing surface by measuring changes in an electrical parameter e.g. capacitance or resistance, associated with the first electrodes and the second electrodes which is caused by the presence of the object. The controller is further operable to provide an indication of the reported position in a first coordinate system defined relative to the first electrodes and the second electrodes, the sensor further comprises a processor arranged to receive the indication of reported position from the controller in the first coordinate system and to transform the reported position to an output position in a second coordinate system, wherein the transform is based on the non-linear pattern of electrodes. Thus, a sensor having electrodes which are distorted so as to meet a common edge may be provided for ease of connectability, with the distortion been accounted for through the transform performed by the processor.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs

Abrégé

A two-dimensional capacitive touch sensor having a cover layer of varying thickness arranged on top of its electrode structure. An array of sensing nodes is formed between edge portions of the receiver electrodes and adjacent portions of the transmitter electrodes. To compensate for the varying thickness of the cover layer, the length of the edge portions per sensing node is varied to equalize node sensitivity across the sensor and thus suppress the systematic variation in node sensitivity which would otherwise arise as a result of the varying thickness of the cover layer.

Classes IPC  ?

• G06F 3/044 - Numériseurs, p.ex. pour des écrans ou des pavés tactiles, caractérisés par les moyens de transduction par des moyens capacitifs