Touch Sensor Detector System and Method

Abstract

A touch sensor detector system and method incorporating an interpolated sensor array is disclosed. The system and method utilize a touch sensor array (TSA) configured to detect proximity / contact / pressure (PCP) via a variable impedance array (VIA) electrically coupling interlinked impedance columns (IIC) coupled to an array column driver (ACD), and interlinked impedance rows (IIR) coupled to an array row sensor (ARS). The ACD is configured to select the IIC based on a column switching register (CSR) and electrically drive the IIC using a column driving source (CDS). The VIA conveys current from the driven IIC to the IIC sensed by the ARS. The ARS selects the IIR within the TSA and electrically senses the IIR state based on a row switching register (RSR). Interpolation of ARS sensed current / voltage allows accurate detection of TSA PCP and / or spatial location.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 and incorporates by reference United States Provisional patent application for INTERPOLATING FORCE SENSING ARRAY by inventor Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, filed electronically with the USPTO on Sep. 27, 2013, with Ser. No. 61 / 885,597, docket P2224.[0002]This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 and incorporates by reference United States Provisional patent application for INTERPOLATING FORCE SENSING ARRAY by inventor Ilya Daniel Rosenberg, filed electronically with the USPTO on Jan. 16, 2014, with Ser. No. 61 / 928,269, docket P2224.01.PARTIAL WAIVER OF COPYRIGHT[0003]All of the material in this patent application is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and of other countries. As of the first effective filing date of the present application, this material is protected as unpublished material.[0004]However, permission to copy this material is he...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a touch sensor detector system and method that can have several technical benefits. First, it reduces dynamic power consumption by reducing the number of columns and rows that need to be driven and sensed. Second, it allows for high spatial sensing resolutions without complex manufacturing processes. Third, it achieves accurate sensor positioning data without complex calibration procedures. Finally, it allows for the creation of non-rectangular sensors that maintain accuracy and linearity across the entire sensor. This technology can be manufactured using traditional PCB methods and additive printing techniques, and it can be embedded below or over a display. In one embodiment, a network of resistors is added to the sensor to create a higher tracking resolution, even though the drive and sense circuitry has a lower resolution. Overall, this technology offers improved performance and reduced costs compared to other sensing technologies.

Problems solved by technology

Interestingly, the resolution of the drive and sense circuitry only has an effect on the distance at which two distinct touches start to look like one to the processing algorithms, and does not have an effect on the accuracy with which a single touch can be tracked.

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