Touch sensing architecture for small profile specifications

Abstract

A touch sensing architecture for small profile specifications is disclosed. A touch sensor panel operable in a small profile device utilizes a plurality of discrete column electrodes arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of continuous row electrodes arranged in a plurality of rows. Each column is divided into a plurality of regions, each region being formed by a plurality of electrically connected discrete column electrodes within the column. The scan plan includes a series of mutual capacitance scans in which discrete column electrodes in all regions in all columns are sequentially excited, and AC signals indicative of mutual capacitance at some consecutive row electrodes are measured. The scan plan includes a series of projected self-capacitance scans in which AC signals indicative of self-capacitance at a plurality of consecutive row electrodes are measured for all rows and AC signals indicative of self-capacitance at discrete column electrodes in each region of all columns.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 585,367, filed on September 26, 2023, and U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 830,448, filed on September 10, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates generally to touch sensing architectures, and more particularly to touch sensing architectures including a touch controller and a touch sensor panel capable of operating within a small form factor device. Background Art

[0004] Currently, many types of input devices can be used to perform operations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, joysticks, touch sensor panels, touch screens, styluses, and the like. Specifically, touch sensor panels are popular because of their simplicity and flexibility in operation and their price. Capacitive touch sensor panels can be formed by a matrix of conductive plates (e.g., touch electrodes), wherein the matrix of conductive plates is made of materials such as copper, silver, conductive polymers, metal meshes, graphene, nanowires (e.g., silver nanowires) or nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes). The touch sensor panel allows a user to perform various functions by touching the touch sensor panel at one or more locations using a finger, stylus, or other object. Generally speaking, the touch sensor panel can identify the touch and the touch position on the touch sensor panel, and then the computing system can interpret the touch according to the touch position, and then perform one or more actions based on the touch.

[0005] Small form factor devices can present touch sensing challenges. Their small size can place limitations on the size of the touch sensor panel and the number of touch pixels in the touch sensor panel, and there may not be enough room within the device to accommodate the complex circuitry (e.g., application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) and associated input / output (I / O) circuitry (e.g., channels) and pins required to enable touch sensing functionality. Additionally, handheld small form factor devices can require multiple closely spaced touch inputs when a user grips the device (e.g., holding a pen), which can result in a negative pixel effect and reduced touch sensor panel output signal, especially when the user is poorly grounded.

[0006] Capacitive touch sensor panels can detect touches of approaching objects or close touches by detecting the capacitive coupling effect between the object and the touch electrodes. Capacitive touch sensor panels can utilize a self-capacitance touch sensing architecture or a mutual capacitance touch sensing architecture. Self-capacitance touch sensing is based on detecting changes in the self-capacitance between the electrode and the ground portion. Mutual capacitance touch sensing is based on detecting changes in the mutual capacitance between the drive electrode and the sense electrode. In either architecture, it may be difficult to integrate touch sensing into a small form factor device because a large number of I / O channels are required to drive and sense the electrodes. For example, a pixelated self-capacitance architecture requires relatively many I / O channels (e.g., one channel per electrode), which may be difficult to provide when the size of the associated touch controller chip is limited and / or there are not enough I / O channels available to support the number of unique pixelated self-capacitance electrodes.

[0007] When a nearby object is well grounded, the charge can be coupled to the ground portion through the object. In the case of mutual capacitance touch sensing, this coupling of charge to the ground portion reduces the mutual capacitance between the drive electrode and the sensing electrode of the touch pixel, and this reduction in mutual capacitance can be detected by the sensing circuit and recognized as a touch. However, when the object is poorly grounded or not grounded, there may be fewer capacitive paths through the object to the ground. Therefore, compared with a well-grounded object, less charge is shunted to the ground portion through the object, and the reduction in mutual capacitance between the drive and sensing electrodes is smaller. Because the reduction in mutual capacitance is smaller, the change in the amplitude of the sensing signal caused by the proximity of the object is reduced, and it may be more difficult to detect the presence of the object. In addition, when a poorly grounded or ungrounded object is located above multiple mutual capacitance touch pixels, such as when two or more fingers touch the touch panel to perform a desired "multi-touch" user input, the charge originally coupled to the ground portion (in the case of a well-grounded object) may be coupled back to the nearby sensing electrode instead, thereby generating a so-called "negative pixel" at this location due to the unexpected increase in charge at the nearby sensing electrode. Degraded touch detection capabilities and negative pixels caused by poorly or ungrounded objects can result in touch detection errors. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present invention relates generally to touch sensing architectures, and more specifically to touch sensing architectures including a touch controller and a touch sensor panel capable of operating within a small form factor device. In some examples, the touch sensor panel is capable of operating with a touch controller having a smaller footprint, fewer I / O channels and pins, and a smaller package size that can be assembled within a small form factor device. In some examples, the touch sensing architecture can be advantageously used with a curved touch sensor panel and can effectively implement "multi-touch" capabilities (the ability to unambiguously detect two or more simultaneous touches on a touch sensor panel at least in part at the same time), while also minimizing the effects of so-called "negative pixels" and increasing the amplitude of the sensed signal even in the presence of poorly grounded or ungrounded touches on the touch surface. The touch sensing architecture can provide the same resolution as a pixelated self-capacitive touch sensor panel, but with significantly fewer I / O channels and pins. In some examples, this reduction in the number of I / O channels and pins required for touch sensing can free up these channels and pins for use with other circuits and functions.

[0009] In some examples, the touch sensor panel may utilize multiple discrete column electrodes arranged in multiple columns and multiple continuous row electrodes arranged in multiple rows. In some examples, the discrete column electrodes and the continuous row electrodes may be formed in the same layer. The electrodes in the rows and columns may functionally "intersect" (not directly electrically connected together) in the x and y directions, where each discrete column electrode located in a particular row is surrounded by a portion of the continuous row electrode in the row. Touch pixels may be defined at the location of a discrete column electrode and a portion of the continuous row electrode surrounding the discrete column electrode. Each continuous row electrode in a particular row surrounds a discrete column electrode located in the row. Each column may be divided into multiple regions, where each region is formed by a plurality of electrically connected discrete column electrodes within the column.

[0010] In some examples, the touch controller and the touch sensor panel can implement a scan plan that includes a series of mutual capacitance scans and a series of projected self-capacitance scans that can be performed in any order. When performing mutual capacitance scans, multiple discrete column electrodes can be configured as drive electrodes, and multiple continuous row electrodes can be configured as sensing electrodes. Multiple electrically connected drive electrodes in each region can be driven with a transmission signal (also referred to as a drive or excitation signal) generated by a driver located in a separate touch controller circuit. In some examples, when multiple electrically connected drive electrodes in a region of a column are driven with a transmission signal, the drive electrodes in one or more other regions of the column and / or the drive electrodes in one or more regions of one or more other columns can be maintained at a fixed potential such as ground to reduce the negative pixel effect. Each region in a plurality of columns can be driven sequentially by transmission signals from different drivers in a series of steps. When the electrically connected drive electrodes in a particular area are stimulated with a transmit signal, the voltages on a plurality of continuous sense electrodes in the rows where the stimulated drive electrodes are located can be measured and monitored by different sensing circuits to detect voltage changes (e.g., changes in the amplitude of the AC excitation signal coupled to the continuous sense electrodes) indicating that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching a touch pixel located at or near the intersection of the stimulated discrete column electrodes and the monitored continuous sense electrodes. In some examples, the continuous sense electrodes that are not monitored can also be maintained at a fixed potential such as ground to reduce the negative pixel effect.

[0011] When performing a projected self-capacitance scan, a plurality of discrete column electrodes and a plurality of continuous row electrodes may be configured as self-capacitance electrodes. The projected self-capacitance scan includes two stages that may be performed in either order. In one stage of the projected self-capacitance scan, in a first step, each of the plurality of continuous self-capacitance row electrodes in one or more of the plurality of continuous self-capacitance row electrodes may be driven with an excitation signal and measured and monitored by different channels to detect a voltage change that may indicate that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching the continuous self-capacitance row electrode. In some examples, one or more additional steps may be performed to drive the remaining continuous self-capacitance row electrodes with an excitation signal and to measure and monitor the voltage changes on these row electrodes using different channels to detect a voltage change that may indicate that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching the continuous self-capacitance row electrode. In another stage of the projected self-capacitance scan, in a first step, each of the plurality of discrete self-capacitance column electrodes in one or more of the columns may be driven with an excitation signal and measured and monitored by different channels to detect a voltage change that may indicate that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching the discrete self-capacitance column electrode. In some examples, one or more additional steps may be performed to drive the remaining discrete self-capacitance column electrodes in one or more additional columns with an excitation signal and measure and monitor voltage changes on these discrete self-capacitance column electrodes using different channels to detect voltage changes that may indicate that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching the discrete self-capacitance column electrodes.

[0012] Although examples of the present invention may be described herein in the context of a touch sensing architecture that is capable of operating with small form factor devices and smaller touch controllers and enabling "multi-touch" while minimizing the effects of negative pixels and reduced signal levels due to poorly grounded objects, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard and does not require the presence of any of these advantages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figures 1A to 1J An exemplary device that may include a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown.

[0014] Figure 2 An exemplary computing system including a touch sensing architecture or system having a touch controller and a touch sensor panel capable of operating within a small form factor device according to examples of the present disclosure is shown.

[0015] Figure 3A-1 An exemplary row drive / sense circuit configured for self-capacitance measurement of consecutive row electrodes according to examples of the present disclosure is shown.

[0016] Figure 3A-2An exemplary row drive / sense circuit configured for mutual capacitance measurement of consecutive row electrodes according to examples of the present disclosure is shown.

[0017] Figure 3B-1 An exemplary column drive / sense circuit configured for self-capacitance measurement of discrete column electrodes according to examples of the present disclosure is shown.

[0018] Figure 3B-2 An exemplary column driver configured to enable mutual capacitance measurements at consecutive row electrodes according to examples of the present disclosure is shown.

[0019] Figure 4A A touch sensor panel according to an example of the present disclosure is shown, with touch pixels represented by square symbols and arranged in a self-capacitive sensor panel configuration.

[0020] Figure 4B A touch sensor panel having discrete column electrodes and continuous row electrodes according to examples of the present disclosure is shown.

[0021] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D A touch sensor panel and a series of mutual capacitance touch sensor panel scans according to examples of the present disclosure are shown.

[0022] FIG. 5B to FIG. 5D Discrete column electrodes (continuous row electrodes not shown) of a touch sensor panel according to examples of the present disclosure are shown, configured to receive mutual capacitance excitation signals by coupling to separate column drivers.

[0023] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6G A touch sensor panel and a series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans according to examples of the present disclosure are shown.

[0024] Figure 7-1 to Figure 7-28 The example according to the present disclosure is symbolically shown. FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D and FIG. 6A to FIG. 6G The scan plan described and shown in FIG.

[0025] Figure 8 A touch sensor panel is shown during a mutual capacitance touch sensor panel scan according to examples of the present disclosure, wherein discrete column electrodes that are not stimulated and continuous row electrodes that are not measured are optionally held at a fixed potential, such as ground.

[0026] Fig. 9 An example of the present invention is shown. Figure 7-1 to Figure 7-28 Flowchart of the scan plan. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In the following description of the examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of the following description and in which are shown by way of illustration specific examples that can be practiced. It should be understood that other examples can be used and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed examples.

[0028] The present invention relates generally to touch sensing architectures, and more specifically to touch sensing architectures including a touch controller and a touch sensor panel capable of operating within a small form factor device. In some examples, the touch sensor panel is capable of operating with a touch controller having a smaller footprint, fewer I / O channels and pins, and a smaller package size that can be assembled within a small form factor device. In some examples, the touch sensing architecture can be used advantageously with a curved touch sensor panel and can effectively implement "multi-touch" capabilities (the ability to explicitly detect two or more simultaneous touches on a touch sensor panel) while also minimizing the effects of so-called "negative pixels" and increasing the amplitude of the sensed signal even in the presence of poorly grounded or ungrounded touches on the touch surface. The touch sensing architecture can provide the same resolution as a pixelated self-capacitive touch sensor panel, but with significantly fewer I / O channels and pins. In some examples, this reduction in the number of I / O channels and pins required for touch sensing can free up these channels and pins for use with other circuits and functions.

[0029] In some examples, the touch sensor panel may utilize multiple discrete column electrodes arranged in multiple columns and multiple continuous row electrodes arranged in multiple rows. In some examples, the discrete column electrodes and the continuous row electrodes may be formed in the same layer. The electrodes in the rows and columns may functionally "intersect" (not directly electrically connected together) in the x and y directions, where each discrete column electrode located in a particular row is surrounded by a portion of the continuous row electrode in the row. Touch pixels may be defined at the location of a discrete column electrode and a portion of the continuous row electrode surrounding the discrete column electrode. Each continuous row electrode in a particular row surrounds a discrete column electrode located in the row. Each column may be divided into multiple regions, where each region is formed by a plurality of electrically connected discrete column electrodes within the column.

[0030] In some examples, the touch controller and the touch sensor panel can implement a scan plan that includes a series of mutual capacitance scans and a series of projected self-capacitance scans that can be performed in any order. When performing mutual capacitance scans, multiple discrete column electrodes can be configured as drive electrodes, and multiple continuous row electrodes can be configured as sensing electrodes. Multiple electrically connected drive electrodes in each region can be driven with a transmission signal (also referred to as a drive or excitation signal) generated by a driver located in a separate touch controller circuit. In some examples, when multiple electrically connected drive electrodes in a region of a column are driven with a transmission signal, the drive electrodes in one or more other regions of the column and / or the drive electrodes in one or more regions of one or more other columns can be maintained at a fixed potential such as ground to reduce the negative pixel effect. Each region in a plurality of columns can be driven sequentially by transmission signals from different drivers in a series of steps. When the electrically connected drive electrodes in a particular area are stimulated with a transmit signal, the voltages on a plurality of continuous sense electrodes in the rows where the stimulated drive electrodes are located can be measured and monitored by different sensing circuits to detect voltage changes (e.g., changes in the amplitude of the AC excitation signal coupled to the continuous sense electrodes) indicating that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching a touch pixel located at or near the intersection of the stimulated discrete column electrodes and the monitored continuous sense electrodes. In some examples, the continuous sense electrodes that are not monitored can also be maintained at a fixed potential such as ground to reduce the negative pixel effect.

[0031] When performing a projected self-capacitance scan, a plurality of discrete column electrodes and a plurality of continuous row electrodes may be configured as self-capacitance electrodes. The projected self-capacitance scan includes two stages that may be performed in either order. In one stage of the projected self-capacitance scan, in a first step, each of the plurality of continuous self-capacitance row electrodes in one or more of the plurality of continuous self-capacitance row electrodes may be driven with an excitation signal and measured and monitored by different channels to detect a voltage change that may indicate that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching the continuous self-capacitance row electrode. In some examples, one or more additional steps may be performed to drive the remaining continuous self-capacitance row electrodes with an excitation signal and to measure and monitor the voltage changes on these row electrodes using different channels to detect a voltage change that may indicate that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching the continuous self-capacitance row electrode. In another stage of the projected self-capacitance scan, in a first step, each of the plurality of discrete self-capacitance column electrodes in one or more of the columns may be driven with an excitation signal and measured and monitored by different channels to detect a voltage change that may indicate that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching the discrete self-capacitance column electrode. In some examples, one or more additional steps may be performed to drive the remaining discrete self-capacitance column electrodes in one or more additional columns with an excitation signal and measure and monitor voltage changes on these discrete self-capacitance column electrodes using different channels to detect voltage changes that may indicate that an object (e.g., a finger) is touching or approaching the discrete self-capacitance column electrodes.

[0032] Although examples of the present invention may be described herein in the context of a touch sensing architecture that is capable of operating with small form factor devices and smaller touch controllers and enabling "multi-touch" while minimizing the effects of negative pixels and reduced signal levels due to poorly grounded objects, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this regard and does not require the presence of any of these advantages.

[0033] Figures 1A to 1J An exemplary device that may include a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1A An exemplary mobile phone 100 including a touch screen 102 and a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1B An exemplary digital media player 104 including a touch screen 102 and a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1C An exemplary personal computer 106 including a touch screen 102 and a trackpad 108 and a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1D An exemplary tablet computing device 110 including a touch screen 102 and a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1EAn exemplary wearable device 112 including a touch screen 102 and a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1F An exemplary smart speaker 114 including a touch surface 122 and a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1G An exemplary mouse 116 including a touch surface 122 and a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 1H An exemplary stylus 124 including a touch surface 122 and a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. Fig. 1I An exemplary remote / game control 118 including a touch surface 122 and a touch sensing architecture is shown according to examples of the present disclosure. Figure 1J An exemplary headset 120 including a touch surface 122 and a touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure is shown. It should be understood that the touch sensing architecture according to examples of the present disclosure may also be implemented in other devices.

[0034] In some examples, the touch screen 102, the touch surface 122, and the touch pad 108 can be based on self-capacitance. A touch system based on self-capacitance may include a matrix of small, individual conductive material plates or groups of individual conductive material plates that form larger conductive areas, which may be referred to as self-capacitance electrodes. For example, a touch sensor panel may include a plurality of individual self-capacitance electrodes, each of which identifies or represents a unique location on the touch sensor panel where a touch or proximity is to be sensed, and each of which is electrically isolated from other self-capacitance electrodes in the touch sensor panel. Such a touch sensor panel may be referred to as a pixelated self-capacitance touch sensor panel, but it should be understood that in some examples, electrodes on the touch sensor panel may be used to perform scans other than self-capacitance scans of the touch sensor panel (e.g., mutual capacitance scans). During operation, the self-capacitance electrodes may be stimulated with an alternating current (AC) waveform, and the self-capacitance of the self-capacitance electrodes to ground may be measured. When an object approaches the self-capacitance electrode, the self-capacitance of the self-capacitance electrode to ground may change (e.g., increase). This change in the self-capacitance of the self-capacitance electrodes may be detected and measured by the touch sensing system to determine the positions of multiple objects when multiple objects touch or approach the sensor panel. In some examples, the self-capacitance electrodes of the self-capacitance based touch system can be formed by multiple rows and columns of conductive material, and similar to the above, the changes in the self-capacitance to ground of the multiple rows and columns can be detected. In some examples, the touch sensor panel can be multi-touch, single-touch, projection scanning, full imaging multi-touch, capacitive touch, etc.

[0035] In some examples, the touch screen 102, the touch surface 122, and the touch pad 108 can be based on mutual capacitance. A touch system based on mutual capacitance may include electrodes arranged as drive and sense electrodes, which may cross each other on different layers (in a double-sided configuration), or may be adjacent to each other on the same layer. The crossover or adjacent positions may form a matrix of mutual capacitance touch pixels. During operation, the drive line can be stimulated with an AC waveform, and the mutual capacitance of the sensing electrodes can be measured. When an object approaches a touch pixel, the mutual capacitance of the touch pixel may change (e.g., decrease). This change in the mutual capacitance of the touch pixel can be detected and measured by the touch sensing system to determine the positions of multiple objects when multiple objects touch or approach the touch screen.

[0036] In some examples, the touch screen 102, touch surface 122, and touchpad 108 can be configured to perform mutual capacitance or self-capacitance touch sensing. The electrodes can be arranged as a matrix of small, separate plates of conductive material, or arranged as drive electrodes and sense electrodes, or arranged in another pattern. The electrodes can be configured for mutual capacitance or self-capacitance sensing, or a combination of mutual capacitance sensing and self-capacitance sensing. For example, in one operating mode, the electrodes can be configured to sense mutual capacitance between electrodes, and in a different operating mode, the electrodes can be configured to sense the self-capacitance of the electrodes. In some examples, some of the electrodes can be configured to sense mutual capacitance between each other, and some of the electrodes can be configured to sense their self-capacitance.

[0037] Figure 2An exemplary computing system 226 including a touch sensing architecture or system having a touch controller and a touch sensor panel capable of operating in a small form factor device according to an example of the present disclosure is shown. The computing system 226 may be included in, for example, a mobile phone, a portable media player, a portable or desktop computer, a tablet, a watch, a wearable device, a smart speaker, a mouse, a stylus, a remote control, a headset, an earbud, or any mobile or non-mobile computing device including a touch screen or a touch sensor panel. The computing system 226 may include a touch sensing system including one or more touch processors 228, a peripheral device 230, a touch controller 232, and a touch sensing circuit (described in more detail below). The peripheral device 230 may include, but is not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of memory or storage device, a watchdog timer, and the like. The touch controller 232 may include, but is not limited to, a column driver 298 and a column drive / sense circuit 234, a channel scan logic component 236, a RAM 252, and a row drive / sense circuit 238. The channel scan logic 236 can access the RAM 252, autonomously read data from the column drive / sense circuit 234 and the row drive / sense circuit 238 (e.g., channels) and provide control of the channels. In addition, the channel scan logic 236 can control the column driver 298, the column drive / sense circuit 234, and the row drive / sense circuit 238 to generate excitation signals 242 of various frequencies and / or phases, which can be selectively applied to the electrodes of the touch sensor panel 244, as described in more detail below. In some examples, the touch controller 232, the touch processor 228, and the peripherals 230 can be integrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and in some examples can be integrated with the touch sensor panel 244 itself.

[0038] It is obvious that Figure 2 The architecture or system shown is only one exemplary architecture of computing system 226, and the system may have more or fewer components than shown or components in a different configuration. In some examples, computing system 226 may include an energy storage device (e.g., a battery) to provide power and / or communication circuitry to provide wired or wireless communication (e.g., cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.). Figure 2 The various components shown may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof, including one or more signal processing and / or application specific integrated circuits.

[0039] The computing system 226 may include a host processor 246 for receiving outputs from the touch processor 228 and performing actions based on the outputs. For example, when the touch sensor panel 244 is combined with a display to form a touch screen, the host processor 246 can be connected to a program storage device 248 and an optional display controller / driver 250 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) driver). It should be understood that although some examples of the present disclosure using displays may be described with reference to LCD displays, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto and may be extended to other types of displays, such as light emitting diode (LED) displays, including organic LED (OLED), active matrix organic LED (AMOLED), and passive matrix organic LED (PMOLED) displays. The optional display controller / driver 250 may provide voltages to each pixel transistor on a select (e.g., gate) line and may provide data signals to these same transistors along data lines to control the pixels to display an image.

[0040] The host processor 246 may use the optional display controller / driver 250 to generate display images, such as display images of a user interface (UI), on an optional display that is combined with the touch sensor panel 244 to form a touch screen, and may use the touch processor 228 and touch controller 232 to detect touches on or near the touch sensor panel 244, such as touch inputs to the displayed UI. The touch inputs may be used by a computer program stored in the program storage device 248 to perform actions, which may include, but are not limited to: moving an object (such as a cursor or pointer), scrolling or panning, adjusting control settings, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making a selection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral device connected to the host device, answering a phone call, placing a phone call, terminating a phone call, changing volume or audio settings, storing information related to telephone communications (such as addresses, frequently dialed numbers, received calls, missed calls), logging onto a computer or computer network, allowing authorized individuals to access restricted areas of a computer or computer network, loading a user profile associated with a preferred arrangement of a user's computer desktop, allowing access to web page content, launching a specific program, encrypting or decrypting messages, and the like. Host processor 246 may also perform additional functions that may not be related to touch processing.

[0041] It should be noted that one or more of the functions described herein may be implemented by a memory device (e.g. Figure 2The firmware may be stored and / or transmitted in any non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus (such as a computer-based system, a system including a processor, or other system that can obtain instructions from an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus and execute the instructions). In the context of this document, a "non-transitory computer-readable storage medium" may be any medium (excluding signals) that can contain or store a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus. In some examples, RAM 252 or program storage 248 (or both) may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. One or both of RAM 252 and program storage 248 may have instructions stored therein that, when executed by touch processor 228 or host processor 246 or both, may cause a device including computing system 226 to perform one or more functions and methods of one or more examples of the present disclosure. The computer-readable storage medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor system, apparatus or device, a portable computer disk (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM) (magnetic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) (magnetic), a portable optical disk (such as a compact disk (CD), CD-R, CD-RW, a digital video disk (DVD), DVD-R or DVD-RW) or a flash memory (such as a compact flash card, a secure digital card, a universal serial bus (USB) memory device, a memory stick, etc.).

[0042] The firmware may also be transmitted in any transmission medium for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus (such as a computer-based system, a system including a processor, or other system that can obtain instructions from and execute instructions from an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus). In the context of this document, a "transmission medium" may be any medium that can transmit, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, device, or apparatus. Transmission media may include, but are not limited to, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or infrared wired or wireless propagation media.

[0043] The touch sensor panel 244 can be used to derive touch information at a plurality of discrete locations (referred to herein as touch nodes or pixels) on the touch panel, and can include a touch sensing architecture for small form factor devices and a curved touch sensor panel capable of operating with a reduced number of I / O lines, thereby minimizing negative pixel effects and reduced sensing signal levels. The touch sensor panel 244 can include touch sensing circuitry that can include a plurality of continuous row electrodes 254 (in a plurality of columns 240) arranged in a plurality of columns 240. Figure 2 ) and a plurality of discrete column electrodes 256 (shown symbolically as lines in Figure 2 266). A touch pixel 258 may be defined at the location of a discrete column electrode 256 and a portion of a continuous row electrode 254 surrounding the discrete column electrode. When configured for mutual capacitance sensing, the column driver 298 may transmit an excitation (drive) signal to one or more discrete column electrodes 256 in one or more columns 240 via column traces 264, and the row drive / sense circuit 238 may sense the voltage on one or more continuous row electrodes 254 via row traces 266, as will be explained in more detail below. When configured for self-capacitance sensing, the row drive / sense circuit 238 may transmit a self-capacitance excitation signal to the continuous row electrodes 254 via row traces 266, and measure the voltage at the row electrodes via these same row lines using the same row drive / sense circuit, and the column drive / sense circuit 234 may transmit a self-capacitance excitation signal to the discrete column electrodes 256 via column traces 264, and measure the voltage at the column electrodes via these same column lines using the same drive / sense circuit, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0044] Through both mutual capacitance touch sensing and self capacitance touch sensing, an indication of the amount of touch at each touch pixel 258 can be determined, and each touch pixel can be considered a touch image element (hence referred to as a touch pixel). This understanding is particularly useful when the touch sensor panel 244 is part of a touch screen and is considered to capture an "image" of touch ("touch image"). In other words, after the touch controller 232 has determined whether a touch is detected at each touch pixel 258, the pattern of touch pixels where the touch occurs can be considered to be an "image" of the touch (e.g., a pattern of fingers contacting or approaching the touch sensor panel 244). As used herein, an electronic component that is "coupled to" or "connected to" another electronic component includes a direct or indirect connection that provides an electrical path for communication or operation between the coupled components. Thus, for example, a continuous row electrode 254 can be directly connected to a row drive / sense circuit 238 or indirectly connected to a row drive / sense circuit via a row interface 260, and a discrete column electrode 256 can be directly connected to a column drive / sense circuit 234 or indirectly connected to a column drive / sense circuit via a column interface 262. In either case, electrical paths may be provided for driving and / or sensing electrodes.

[0045] In some examples, the computing system 226 may also include one or more optical devices 294, which may also be referred to as optical components in this article. In some examples, one or more optical devices 294 may include components for light emission and / or light sensing. In some examples, one or more optical devices 294 may include light emitting diodes (e.g., LEDs, OLEDs, etc.), cameras, lasers (e.g., vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, etc.), light detectors, photodiodes, and the like. In some examples, the operation of the optical device may be controlled by a host processor 246 or an optical controller (not shown) to perform functions using the optical device. Functions may include, but are not limited to, projecting light, imaging, proximity sensing and ranging, ambient light sensing, photography, and the like, as well as other possibilities. In some examples, one or more optical devices 294 may be implemented near the touch sensor panel 244 (e.g., in the periphery of the touch panel or in a recessed area along the perimeter of the touch panel). As described in more detail herein, in some examples, one or more optical devices 294 may be integrated with the touch sensor panel 244 so that light passes through one or more layers of the touch panel.

[0046] In some examples, computing system 226 may also include one or more input and / or output devices, such as speaker 268. It should be understood that speaker 268 is an exemplary input and / or output device, but other input and / or output devices are also possible. In some examples, the operation of optical device input and / or output devices (including speaker 268) may be controlled by host processor 246 or input and / or output controller (not shown) to use input and / or output devices to perform functions. Functionality may include audio functions for speaker 268. In some examples, one or more input and / or output devices may be implemented near touch sensor panel 244 (e.g., in the periphery of the touch panel or in a recessed area along the perimeter of the touch panel). As described in more detail herein, in some examples, the one or more input and / or output devices may be integrated with touch sensor panel 244. For example, an integrated speaker 268 with touch sensor panel 244 and touch screen may include an opening or one or more holes that allow audio to pass through the touch screen. In some such examples, the opening in the touch screen causes one or more touch-free electrode areas.

[0047] Figure 3A-1 An exemplary row drive / sense circuit 338 configured for self-capacitance measurement of continuous row electrodes 354 is shown according to an example of the present disclosure. When configured for self-capacitance sensing, continuous row electrodes 354 may have inherent self-capacitance 370 associated therewith to ground, and also have additional self-capacitance to ground formed when an object, such as a finger 372, approaches or touches the electrode, and the object itself is capacitively coupled to ground via capacitance 374. Figure 3A-1 As shown, the presence of finger 372 creates an additional capacitive path to ground (through capacitor 376 and capacitor 374) in parallel with the inherent self-capacitance 370 to ground, resulting in an increase in self-capacitance seen at consecutive row electrodes 354. Continuous row electrodes 354 can be coupled to row drive / sense circuits 338. Row drive / sense circuits 338 can be configured to sense changes (e.g., increases) in the total self-capacitance of consecutive row electrodes 354 caused by a finger or object touching or approaching the touch sensor panel. These changes in self-capacitance can be interpreted as an indication of touch.

[0048] Row drive / sense circuit 338 may include an operational amplifier 380, a feedback resistor 382, ​​and a feedback capacitor 384, although other configurations may be employed. For example, feedback resistor 382 may be replaced by a switched capacitor resistor to minimize parasitic capacitance effects that may be caused by a variable feedback resistor. Figure 3A-1The general case of utilizing both resistive and capacitive feedback elements is shown. The sensing signal (referred to as Vin) from the continuous row electrodes 354 may be input to the inverting input of the operational amplifier 380, and the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier may be coupled to an AC voltage source 392 (V ac ). The operational amplifier 380 can drive its output to a voltage V O To maintain V in Roughly equal to V ac Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in this context, equals may include deviations of up to 15%. The output (Vo) of the row drive / sense circuit 338 may be filtered and differentiated or co-differentiated by feeding into a multiplier 386, where Vo may be multiplied by a local oscillator 388 to produce V 检测 . V 检测 may be input to filter 390. A processor or discrete logic network may use the output of filter 390 to determine if a proximity or touch event exists. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the placement of filter 390 may vary; thus, the filter may be placed after multiplier 386, as shown, or two filters may be used: one before the multiplier and the other after the multiplier. In some examples, there may be no filter at all. V 检测 The DC portion of the signal can be used to determine whether a touch event or proximity event has occurred. Figure 3A-1 The demodulation at the indicated multiplier 386 occurs in the analog domain, but the output Vo can be digitized by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and the multiplier 386, filter 390, and oscillator 388 can be implemented digitally (e.g., the multiplier 386 can be a digital demodulator, the filter 390 can be a digital filter, and the oscillator 388 can be a digital NCO (numerically controlled oscillator)).

[0049] Figure 3A-2 An exemplary row drive / sense circuit 338 configured for mutual capacitance measurement of continuous row electrodes 354 is shown according to an example of the present disclosure. Discrete column electrodes 356 may be connected by column traces (e.g., Figure 2 The column trace 264 of the embodiment of the present invention is excited by an excitation signal (e.g., an AC voltage signal) output from the column driver 398. The excitation signal can be driven by the mutual capacitance C formed between the discrete column electrodes and the continuous row electrodes. sig 399 is capacitively coupled from the discrete column electrode 356 to the continuous row electrode 354. When an object such as a finger 372 approaches a touch pixel created by the intersection of the discrete column electrode 356 and the continuous row electrode 354, a finger-to-drive line capacitance C is formed. FD 397, finger to ground capacitance 374, and finger to sensing line capacitance C FS376. Therefore, the charge is coupled to ground through finger 372 instead of through C FS 376 is coupled to the continuous row electrode 354, and the mutual capacitance C sig 399 may vary (eg, decrease). Figure 3A-2 The row drive / sense circuit 338 and Figure 3A-1 The row drive / sensing circuit is similar to that of FIG. 1 , except that when configured for mutual capacitance sensing, the reference voltage V Ref The row drive / sense circuit 338 may be switchably coupled to the non-inverting input (+) of the operational amplifier 380. In some examples, it may also be desirable to switchably insert different feedback resistors and / or capacitors into the amplifier circuit to enable mutual capacitance sensing. The row drive / sense circuit 338 may be configured to sense changes (e.g., decreases) in mutual capacitance seen by successive row electrodes 354 due to a finger or object touching or approaching the touch sensor panel. These changes in mutual capacitance may be interpreted as an indication of touch.

[0050] Figure 3B-1 An exemplary column drive / sense circuit 334 configured for self-capacitance measurement of discrete column electrodes 356 according to an example of the present disclosure is shown. When configured for self-capacitance sensing, discrete column electrodes 356 may have inherent self-capacitance 370 associated therewith to ground, and also have additional self-capacitance to ground formed when an object, such as a finger 372, approaches or touches the electrode, and the object itself is capacitively coupled to ground via capacitance 374. Figure 3B-1 As shown, the presence of finger 372 creates an additional capacitive path to ground (through capacitance 376 and capacitance 374) in parallel with the inherent self-capacitance 370 to ground, resulting in an increase in the self-capacitance seen at discrete column electrodes 356. Discrete column electrodes 356 can be coupled to column drive / sense circuits 334. Column drive / sense circuits 334 can be configured to sense changes (e.g., increases) in the total self-capacitance of discrete column electrodes 356 caused by a finger or object touching or approaching the touch sensor panel. These changes in self-capacitance can be interpreted as an indication of touch. Figure 3B-1 The column drive / sense circuit 334 in Figure 3A-1 The column driving / sensing circuits shown in FIG. 1 are similar, and therefore, their description will be omitted here for the sake of brevity.

[0051] Figure 3B-2 An exemplary column driver 398 configured to enable mutual capacitance measurements at consecutive row electrodes 354 is shown in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. The column driver 398 Figure 3A-2 and discussed previously, so its description will be omitted here for the sake of brevity.

[0052] Figure 4AA touch sensor panel 491 is shown according to an example of the present disclosure, wherein touch pixels 458 are represented by rectangular symbols and are arranged in a pixelated self-capacitance sensor panel configuration. Specifically, the touch sensor panel 491 may include a plurality of individual touch pixels 458, each touch pixel identifying or representing a unique location on the touch sensor panel where a touch or proximity (i.e., a touch or proximity event) is to be sensed, and each touch pixel is electrically isolated from other touch pixels in the touch sensor panel, as previously described. The touch pixels 458 may be located on the same or different material layers on the touch sensor panel 491. The touch sensor panel 491 can sense the self-capacitance of the touch pixels 458 to detect touch and / or proximity activity on the touch sensor panel. Because each touch pixel 458 is driven and sensed individually, Figure 4A The exemplary 7×9 touch pixel array in requires 63 separate I / O channels (assuming no multiplexing of I / O channels), as symbolically shown by the nine lines at the top of each of the seven columns of nine touch pixels per column. However, a small form factor device may not have sufficient volume to accommodate one or more circuits (e.g., one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs)) with 63 separate I / O channels. Even if one or more ASICs have sufficient I / Os, it may be desirable to utilize some of these I / Os for other device functions. It is also possible that a small form factor device may utilize a current ASIC design that has limited I / Os and / or no multi-touch capability and therefore cannot or may not be upgraded or otherwise replaced. For any or all of these reasons, a fully pixelated self-capacitive touch sensor panel may be impractical in a small form factor device.

[0053] Figure 4B A touch sensor panel 444 is shown having discrete column electrodes 456 and continuous row electrodes 454 (referred to as continuous because they extend across the horizontal width of the touch sensor panel) in accordance with an example of the present disclosure. In some examples, the discrete column electrodes 456 and the continuous row electrodes 454 may be formed in the same layer. In other examples, the discrete column electrodes 456 and the continuous row electrodes 454 may be formed in different layers, such as on opposite sides of the same substrate, or on different substrates. In a functional sense, the electrodes in the rows and columns may "intersect" (without being directly electrically shorted together) in the x and y directions, with each discrete column electrode 456 within a particular row being surrounded by a portion of the continuous row electrode 454 in that row. Touch pixels 458 may be defined at the locations of a discrete column electrode 456 and the portion of the continuous row electrode 454 surrounding the discrete column electrode, such as Figure 4BIn examples where discrete column electrodes 456 and continuous row electrodes 454 are formed in the same layer, portions of the continuous row electrodes surround the discrete column electrodes in the same layer. In examples where discrete column electrodes 456 and continuous row electrodes 454 are formed in different layers, portions of the continuous row electrodes still "surround" the discrete column electrodes, as the term is used herein, albeit from a z-direction or plan view perspective, such as Figure 4B Each continuous row electrode 454 within a particular row surrounds a discrete column electrode 456 located in that row. Figure 4B The example of shows seven consecutive row electrodes 454, each row electrode being electrically connected to the touch controller via row traces 466. Although Figure 4B It is not obvious in the figure, but each column can be divided into a plurality of regions, wherein each region is formed by a plurality of electrically connected discrete column electrodes 456 within the column. Figure 4B In the example of FIG. 4 , each column includes nine discrete column electrodes 456, and although Figure 4B , but each column includes three regions, where each region includes three discrete column electrodes electrically connected together. The electrical connection from the touch controller to the three regions is symbolically shown by the three column traces 464 shown at the top of each column.

[0054] It should be understood that Figure 4B 7×9 touch sensor panel 444 in is merely exemplary, and the number of rows, the number of columns, the number of regions in each column, and the number of discrete column electrodes 456 in each region may vary according to various examples of the present disclosure. For example, a curved cylindrical touch surface such as that on a stylus may have longer columns oriented parallel to the axis of the stylus and shorter rows oriented circumferentially around the stylus and perpendicular to the axis of the stylus. Thus, in a stylus-shaped device, the number of rows (e.g., 9) may exceed the number of columns (e.g., 7).

[0055] As described above, in some examples of the present disclosure, a scan plan can be implemented by a touch controller on a touch sensor panel that includes a series of mutual capacitance scans and a series of projected self capacitance scans that can be performed in either order.

[0056] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D A touch sensor panel 544 and a series of mutual capacitance touch sensor panel scans are shown according to examples of the present disclosure. Figure 5A Continuous row electrodes 554 (discrete column electrodes not shown) of touch sensor panel 544 are shown, which are configured for coupling to row drive / sense circuits 538 (e.g., Figure 3A-2Mutual capacitance sensing may be performed using row drive / sense circuitry 338 in the embodiment of the present invention. The voltage (e.g., the amplitude of the AC signal) induced on some or all of the consecutive row electrodes 554 due to mutual capacitance coupling may be measured during each mutual capacitance scan, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0057] FIG. 5B to FIG. 5D Discrete column electrodes 556 (continuous row electrodes not shown) of a touch sensor panel 544 according to an example of the present disclosure are shown, and are configured to be coupled to individual column drivers 598 (e.g., Figure 3B-2 The column driver 398 in FIG. 1 receives the mutual capacitance excitation signal. It should be understood that FIG. 5B to FIG. 5D Any of the graphs can be superimposed on Figure 5A to get a more complete picture of the touch sensor panel 544. FIG. 5B to FIG. 5D In the example of FIG. 5 , each column includes three regions, wherein each region is composed of three discrete column electrodes 556 (in FIG. 5B to FIG. 5D The column traces 564 and the discrete column electrodes 556 are electrically connected together and electrically connected to a separate column driver 598. In some examples, the column traces 564 and the discrete column electrodes 556 can be formed on different layers. The mutual capacitance at each touch pixel can be measured by initially stimulating multiple discrete column electrodes 556 in each region with a transmit or drive signal generated by the column driver 598 in a series of steps, while measuring the voltage at some or all consecutive row electrodes 554 at the row drive / sense circuit 538, as shown in FIG. Figure 5A shown.

[0058] Mutual capacitance sensing steps 1 to 7 are Figure 5B In step 1, a plurality of directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes (e.g., Figure 5B The first region formed by the discrete column electrodes 556 (labeled by the number 1 in the figure) is excited with a transmission or drive signal generated by the column driver 598. In some examples, when the first region in C1 is excited, some or all other regions in C1 can be held at a fixed potential (e.g., ground), and in other examples, some or all other regions in columns C2-C7 can also be held at a fixed potential. When the first region in C1 is excited, the measurable Figure 5A At least consecutive row electrodes 554 (eg, corresponding to rows R1, R4, and R7) in Figure 5B1 ), but in other embodiments, some or all of the other continuous row electrodes may also be measured (although there may be little or no change in the sensed signal on those row electrodes). In some examples, when continuous row electrodes 554 in R1, R4, and R7 are measured, some or all of the continuous row electrodes in other rows (e.g., R2, R3, R5, R6, R8, and R9) may be held at a fixed potential.

[0059] After completing the measurement of the continuous row electrodes 554 in R1, R4 and R7, step 2 can be started. In step 2, the discrete column electrodes 554 in C2 (e.g., Figure 5B The first region formed by the discrete column electrodes 556 (labeled by the number 2 in FIG. 1 ) is excited with a transmission or drive signal generated by the column driver 598. In some examples, when the first region in C2 is excited, some or all other regions in C2 can be held at a fixed potential (e.g., ground), and in other examples, some or all other regions in C1 and C3-C7 can also be held at a fixed potential. When the first region in C2 is excited, the measurable Figure 5A At least consecutive row electrodes 554 (eg, corresponding to Figure 5B 2), but in other embodiments, some or all of the other continuous row electrodes may also be measured (although there may be little or no change in the sensed signal on those row electrodes). In some examples, when measuring continuous row electrodes 554 in R1, R4, and R7, some or all of the other rows (e.g., R2, R3, R5, R6, R8, and R9) may be held at a fixed potential. In mutual capacitance sensing steps 3 to 7, the process may be repeated for each first region in C3-C7.

[0060] Mutual capacitance sensing steps 8 to 14 are Figure 5C In step 8, C1 is composed of a plurality of directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes (e.g., Figure 5C The second region formed by the discrete column electrodes 556 (in FIG. 1 ) is excited with a transmission or drive signal generated by the column driver 598. In some examples, when the second region in C1 is excited, some or all other regions in C1 can be held at a fixed potential (e.g., ground), and in other examples, some or all other regions in C2-C7 can also be held at a fixed potential. When the second region in C1 is excited, the measurable Figure 5A At least consecutive row electrodes 554 (e.g., corresponding to Figure 5C8), but in other embodiments, some or all of the other continuous row electrodes may also be measured (although there may be little or no change in the sensed signal on those row electrodes). In some examples, when continuous row electrodes 554 in R2, R5, and R8 are measured, some or all of the continuous row electrodes in other rows (e.g., R1, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R9) may be held at a fixed potential.

[0061] After completing the measurement of the continuous row electrodes 554 in R2, R5 and R8, step 9 can be started. In step 9, the discrete column electrodes 554 in C2 (e.g., Figure 5C The second region formed by the discrete column electrode 556 (labeled by the number 9 in FIG. 5 ) is excited with a transmission or drive signal generated by the column driver 598. In some examples, when the second region in C2 is excited, some or all other regions in C2 can be maintained at a fixed potential (e.g., ground), and in other examples, some or all other regions in C1 and C3-C7 can also be maintained at a fixed potential. When the second region in C2 is excited, the measurable Figure 5A At least consecutive row electrodes 554 (eg, corresponding to rows R2, R5, and R8) in Figure 5C In some examples, when measuring the continuous row electrodes 554 in R2, R5, and R8, some or all of the other rows (e.g., R1, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R9) may be held at a fixed potential. In mutual capacitance sensing steps 10 to 14, the process may be repeated for each second region in C3-C7.

[0062] Mutual capacitance sensing steps 15 to 21 are performed in Figure 5D In step 15, C1 is composed of a plurality of directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes (e.g., Figure 5D The third region formed by the discrete column electrode 556 (in FIG. 15 ) is excited with an emission or drive signal generated by the column driver 598. In some examples, when the third region in C1 is excited, some or all other regions in C1 can be held at a fixed potential (e.g., ground), and in other examples, some or all other regions in C2-C7 can also be held at a fixed potential. When the third region in C1 is excited, a measurable Figure 5A At least consecutive row electrodes 554 (eg, corresponding to rows R3, R6, and R9) in Figure 5DIn some examples, some or all of the continuous row electrodes in other rows (e.g., R1, R2, R4, R5, R7, and R8) may be held at a fixed potential while continuous row electrodes 554 in R3, R6, and R9 are measured.

[0063] After completing the measurement of the continuous row electrodes 554 in R3, R6 and R9, step 16 can be started. In step 16, the discrete column electrodes in C2 (e.g., Figure 5D The third region formed by the discrete column electrode 556 (in FIG. 16 ) is excited with a transmission or drive signal generated by the column driver 598. In some examples, when the third region in C2 is excited, some or all other regions in C2 can be held at a fixed potential (e.g., ground), and in other examples, some or all other regions in C1 and C3-C7 can also be held at a fixed potential. When the third region in C2 is excited, the measurable Figure 5A At least consecutive row electrodes 554 (eg, corresponding to rows R3, R6, and R9) in Figure 5D In some examples, when measuring the continuous row electrodes 554 in R3, R6, and R9, some or all of the other rows (e.g., R1, R2, R4, R5, R7, and R9) may be held at a fixed potential. In mutual capacitance sensing steps 17 to 21, the process may be repeated for each third region in C3-C7.

[0064] exist Figure 5A At the end of the series of mutual capacitance touch sensor panel scans shown in -D, an image of the touch can be captured based on the mutual capacitance touch measurements at each touch pixel in the touch sensor panel 544, including disambiguated multiple touches (e.g., multi-point touches) occurring approximately simultaneously (if any). It should be understood that FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D The 7×9 touch sensor panel 544 in FIG. 5 is merely exemplary, and the number of rows, the number of columns, the number of regions in each column, and the number of discrete column electrodes 556 in each region may vary according to various examples of the present disclosure. Additionally, the actual discrete column electrodes 556 in each region may vary. FIG. 5B to FIG. 5D , and the order of steps may be different from FIG. 5B to FIG. 5D. For example, each of the multiple regions in columns C1-C7 may be stimulated in any order. Furthermore, the number of separate column drivers 598 and regions may be dictated by the number of I / O channels in an existing touch controller and / or the availability (or lack of I / O channels) of so-called "multi-stimulus" touch controller functionality (e.g., stimulating multiple drive regions simultaneously), but in other examples any number of separate drivers may be employed.

[0065] FIG. 6A to FIG. 6G A touch sensor panel 644 and a series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans are shown according to an example of the present disclosure. FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C Continuous row electrodes 654 (discrete column electrodes not shown) on touch sensor panel 644 are shown, which are configured for coupling to row drive / sense circuits 638 (e.g., Figure 3A-1 Projected self-capacitance sensing may be performed using row drive / sense circuitry 338 in . The voltage (e.g., the amplitude of the AC signal) on some or all of the consecutive row electrodes 654 due to changes in self-capacitance may be measured during each projected self-capacitance scan, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0066] Step 1 of a series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans in Fig. 6A In step 1, the row drive / sense circuit 638 may apply an excitation signal to consecutive row electrodes 654 in rows R1, R4, and R7, and also measure the voltage (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal) on those consecutive row electrodes. Step 2 of a series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans is shown in FIG. Figure 6B In step 2, the row drive / sense circuit 638 may apply an excitation signal to consecutive row electrodes 654 in rows R2, R5, and R8, and also measure the voltage (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal) on those consecutive row electrodes. Step 3 of a series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans is shown in FIG. Figure 6C . In step 3, the row drive / sense circuit 638 may apply an excitation signal to consecutive row electrodes 654 in rows R3, R6, and R9, and also measure the voltage (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal) on those consecutive row electrodes. At the end of steps 1 to 3 of the projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scan, the AC signals measured at each consecutive row electrode 654 in R1-R9 and any changes in the amplitude of these AC signals may indicate the amount of touch detected at each row, but not necessarily the location of the touch along each row.

[0067] FIG. 6D to FIG. 6GDiscrete column electrodes 656 (continuous row electrodes not shown) on touch sensor panel 644 are shown, which are configured for coupling to column drive / sense circuits 634 (e.g., Figure 3B-1 The column drive / sensing circuit 334 in the projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel is used for projected self-capacitive sensing. Fig.6D . In step 4, the first column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R1, R4, and R7 (marked with number 1) in the first region of column C1, and also measure the voltage in the first region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The second column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R2, R5, and R8 (marked with number 8) in the second region of column C1, and also measure the voltage in the second region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The third column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R3, R6, and R9 (marked with number 15) in the third region of column C1, and also measure the voltage in the third region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The fourth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R1, R4, and R7 (labeled with number 3) in the first region of column C3, and also measure the voltage in the first region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The fifth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R2, R5, and R8 (labeled with number 10) in the second region of column C3, and also measure the voltage in the second region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The sixth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R3, R6, and R9 (labeled with number 17) in the third region of column C3, and also measure the voltage in the third region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). In some examples, the excitation and measurement of the six regions in step 4 may be performed simultaneously, but in other examples, some regions may be excited and measured simultaneously, while other regions may be excited and measured sequentially. It should also be noted that the six concurrent self-capacitance measurements performed in step 4 are merely one example, and that in other examples the number of concurrent self-capacitance measurements may be different (larger or smaller) and may depend on limitations of existing touch controller chip designs.

[0068] A series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans in step 5 Fig. 6E. In step 5, the first column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in the rows R1, R4, and R7 (marked with the number 5) in the first region of column C5, and also measure the voltage in the first region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The second column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in the rows R2, R5, and R8 (marked with the number 12) in the second region of column C5, and also measure the voltage in the second region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The third column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in the rows R3, R6, and R9 (marked with the number 19) in the third region of column C5, and also measure the voltage in the third region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The fourth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R1, R4, and R7 (labeled with number 7) in the first region of column C7, and also measure the voltage in the first region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The fifth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R2, R5, and R8 (labeled with number 14) in the second region of column C7, and also measure the voltage in the second region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The sixth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R3, R6, and R9 (labeled with number 21) in the third region of column C7, and also measure the voltage in the third region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). In some examples, the excitation and measurement of the six regions in step 5 may be performed simultaneously, but in other examples, some regions may be excited and measured simultaneously, while other regions may be excited and measured sequentially.

[0069] A series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans in step 6 Fig. 6F. In step 6, the first column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R1, R4, and R7 (labeled with number 2) in the first region of column C2, and also measure the voltage in the first region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The second column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R2, R5, and R8 (labeled with number 9) in the second region of column C2, and also measure the voltage in the second region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The third column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R3, R6, and R9 (labeled with number 16) in the third region of column C2, and also measure the voltage in the third region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The fourth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in the rows R1, R4, and R7 (labeled with the number 4) in the first region of the column C4, and also measure the voltage in the first region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The fifth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in the rows R2, R5, and R8 (labeled with the number 11) in the second region of the column C4, and also measure the voltage in the second region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The sixth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in the rows R3, R6, and R9 (labeled with the number 18) in the third region of the column C4, and also measure the voltage in the third region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). In some examples, the excitation and measurement of the six regions in step 6 may be performed simultaneously, but in other examples, some regions may be excited and measured simultaneously, while other regions may be excited and measured sequentially.

[0070] A series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans in step 7 Figure 6G . In step 7, the first column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in the rows R1, R4, and R7 (marked with number 6) in the first region of column C6, and also measure the voltage in the first region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The second column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in the rows R2, R5, and R8 (marked with number 13) in the second region of column C6, and also measure the voltage in the second region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal). The third column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in the rows R3, R6, and R9 (marked with number 20) in the third region of column C6, and also measure the voltage in the third region (e.g., the amplitude of the excitation signal).

[0071] As described above, steps 1 through 7 of a series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans are sufficient to capture self-capacitance measurements for all regions in columns C1-C7. However, it may be advantageous to configure at least the touch sensor panel 644 to measure the self-capacitance of regions in a second column (e.g., column C4) in step 7 to provide measurement symmetry, even if these regions were previously measured in step 6, such as Fig. 6F As shown. When the number of sensing channels varies between each step, the sensitivity of the touch controller to noise interferers may vary slightly, which can cause measurement inaccuracies when the noise interferers are at or close to the operating frequency of the touch controller. Therefore, in some examples of the present disclosure, the number of areas measured (and therefore the number of channels used for measurement within the touch controller) remains the same in all measurement steps.

[0072] Thus, in the optional step 7 configuration, the fourth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R1, R4, and R7 (labeled with number 4) in the first region of column C4, the fifth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R2, R5, and R8 (labeled with number 11) in the second region of column C4, and the sixth column drive / sense circuit 634 may apply an excitation signal to the directly electrically connected discrete column electrodes 656 in rows R3, R6, and R9 (labeled with number 18) in the third region of column C4. As described above, the measurement of the region in C4 represents only one example, and another column may be selected in other examples. These optional additional projected self-capacitance measurement configurations ensure that step 7 contains six concurrent projected self-capacitance measurement configurations, just as in steps 1 to 6, and the sensing channel does not change between each step. In some examples, although the touch sensor panel 644 may be configured to measure changes in self-capacitance in the region of column C4 in the optional configuration of step 7 as described above, no measurements are actually captured, saved, or processed, and in other examples, measurements may be captured but then discarded or ignored in subsequent data processing steps. In other examples, the measurements may be used with previous measurements of the region in column C4 (e.g., the self-capacitance measurements may be averaged, one may be discarded in favor of another, etc.). Although the excitation and measurement of the six regions in step 7 may be performed simultaneously to achieve measurement symmetry, in other examples, some regions may be excited and measured simultaneously, while other regions may be excited and measured sequentially.

[0073] At the end of steps 4 to 7 of the PCS touch sensor panel scan, the AC signals measured in each region C1-C7 and any changes in the amplitude of these AC signals can indicate the amount of touch detected in each region C1-C7, rather than the specific location of the touch in each column, because FIG. 6D to FIG. 6G , each region in a column is formed by three discrete column electrodes 656. However, the row touch information of steps 1 to 3 (indicating touches at one or more rows) can be combined with the regional touch information of steps 4 to 7 (indicating touches at one or more rows within one or more columns) to capture an image of the touch at each of the touch pixels in the touch sensor panel 544, including disambiguated multiple touches (e.g., multi-touch) occurring at approximately the same time.

[0074] This series of projected self-capacitive touch sensor panel scans can complement the series of mutual capacitance touch sensor panel scans. In some examples, since mutual capacitance touch sensing can be affected by negative pixels and reduced signal amplitude, self-capacitance scanning can be used to confirm or correct the touch image captured by the mutual capacitance touch sensor panel scans.

[0075] Figure 7-1 to Figure 7-28 The previously described example according to the present disclosure is symbolically shown. FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D and FIG. 6A to FIG. 6G The scan plan described and shown in FIG. Figure 7-1 to Figure 7-28 Each of the figures shows a touch sensor panel 744 including 9 rows (R1-R9) of continuous row electrodes 754 and 7 columns (C1-C7) of discrete column electrodes 756. Figure 7-1 to Figure 7-21 Shown with FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D 1. A series of 21 mutual capacitance touch sensor panel scans corresponding to the touch sensor panel configuration of FIG. 1, wherein the dimmed discrete column electrodes 756 represent driven mutual capacitance discrete column electrodes and the shaded continuous row electrodes 754 represent sensed mutual capacitance continuous row electrodes. Figure 7-22 to Figure 7-28 Shown with FIG. 6A to FIG. 6G The touch sensor panel configuration corresponds to a series of seven projected self-capacitance touch sensor panel scans, where the shaded continuous row electrodes 754 represent sensed projected self-capacitance continuous row electrodes, and the dimmed discrete column electrodes 756 represent sensed projected self-capacitance discrete column electrodes.

[0076] Figure 8 Touch sensor panel 844 is shown during a mutual capacitance touch sensor panel scan according to an example of the present disclosure, wherein discrete column electrodes 856 that are not stimulated and continuous row electrodes 854 that are not measured are optionally held at a fixed potential, such as ground. Figure 8 The example shows the superposition of Figure 5A The mutual capacitance sensing configuration above Figure 5B The mutual capacitance drive configuration of step 4 of FIG. 4, wherein the first region in column C4 (e.g., the discrete column electrode 556 labeled with the number 4) is driven by a driver (e.g., Figure 5B The row drivers 598 in FIG. 8 are used to generate emission or drive signals and the row drive / sense circuits 838 are used to measure the successive row electrodes 854 in rows R1, R4, and R7. Figure 8 In the example of , the discrete column electrodes 856 in column C4 and all other non-stimulated areas in all other columns C1-C3 and C5-C7 are maintained at a fixed potential, such as ground. Optionally, all continuous row electrodes 854 (e.g., R2, R3, R5, R6, R8, and R9) in all unmeasured rows can also be maintained at a fixed potential, such as ground.

[0077] When the object is poorly or ungrounded, there may be a small capacitive path through the object to ground (e.g., finger-to-ground capacitance or C FG Therefore, less charge is shunted to ground through the object than with a well-grounded object, and the mutual capacitance (ΔC SIG ) is reduced less. Because the magnitude of the reduction in mutual capacitance is smaller, it may be more difficult to detect the presence of an object. In addition, when a poorly grounded or ungrounded object is located over multiple mutual capacitance touch pixels, such as when two fingers touch the touch panel, the charge that would have been coupled to the ground portion (if the object was well grounded) may instead be coupled back to a nearby sense electrode (e.g., through the finger to sense capacitance, or C FS ), due to the unexpected increase in charge at the nearby sensing electrode, a so-called "negative pixel" is generated at that location. The reduction in touch detection capability and negative pixels caused by poorly grounded or ungrounded objects can lead to touch detection errors. Grounding the discrete column electrodes 856 in the unstimulated area of ​​the column and optionally grounding the unmeasured continuous row electrodes 854 can provide a capacitive path to the ground portion for the touch object, whether the object is well grounded or poorly grounded. Due to this capacitive path to the ground portion, more charge is shunted to the ground portion through the object compared to a poorly grounded object, and the reduction in mutual capacitance between the drive electrode and the sensing electrode is smaller. Due to the significant reduction in mutual capacitance, the presence of the object can be more easily detected. In addition, when the object is located above multiple mutual capacitance touch pixels, such as when two fingers touch the touch panel, more charge is coupled to the ground portion and less charge is coupled back to the nearby sensing electrodes, thereby reducing the "negative pixel" at that location. Therefore, fewer touch detection errors can occur.

[0078] exist Figure 8In the example of , the discrete column electrodes 856 (identified by the number 4) in the first region of column 4 (and, additionally, the discrete column electrodes in all regions of all columns) are separated by two grounded discrete column electrodes. Although in other examples, the discrete column electrodes 856 in each region of a column may be separated by a different number of grounded discrete column electrodes (e.g., one, three, four, etc.), it will be understood that, in general, increasing the number of grounded discrete column electrodes can increase the charge shunted to ground by an object, which can reduce the negative pixel effect and reduce mutual capacitance to a greater extent, thereby improving object detection. In some examples, the number of grounded discrete column electrodes 856 between each driven discrete column electrode can be a function of the maximum object (e.g., finger) size, and the negative pixels and reduced signal amplitude will compensate for the maximum object size. The benefits of grounded discrete column electrodes 856 can be seen in examples such as Figure 8 The illustrated example is explained in the context of a medium sized object contact area 889 and a large sized contact area 887, as described below.

[0079] like Figure 8 As shown in the example of , the medium-sized object contact area 889 is located above the touch pixel at R5 / C4, but not above the touch pixel at R4 / C4. Therefore, when the discrete column electrode marked with the number 4 is stimulated, the fringing electric field formed between the discrete column electrode 856 at R4 / C4 and the continuous row electrode 854 in R4 is only minimally interrupted by the object at the object contact area, and thus the mutual capacitance (ΔC SIG ) has only minimal changes. However, the medium-sized object contact area 889 is directly above the grounded touch pixel at R5 / C4. Therefore, any charge coupled to the object from the stimulated discrete column electrode 856 at R4 / C4 passes through the grounded touch pixel at R5 / C4 (e.g., through C FG ) is shunted to the ground portion, thereby minimizing the negative pixel effect. In contrast, the large-sized object contact area 887 is located above the touch pixel at R4 / C4, and therefore the object at this location will interfere with the electric field at the touch pixel and cause a change in mutual capacitance. In addition, the large-sized object contact area 887 is also located above the grounded touch pixels at R5 / C4 and R6 / C4. Any charge coupled to the object from the excited discrete column electrode 856 at R4 / C4 will be shunted to the ground portion through the two grounded touch pixels at R5 / C4 and R6 / C4. Therefore, any charge coupled to the object from the excited discrete column electrode 856 at R4 / C4 is shunted to the ground portion through the grounded touch pixel at R5 / C4 and the grounded touch pixel at R6 / C4, and the negative pixel effect is minimized.

[0080] Fig. 9An example of the present invention is shown. Figure 7-1 to Figure 7-28 At block 985, discrete column electrodes in one region in a column are stimulated, and an AC signal indicative of mutual capacitance at the consecutive row electrodes where the stimulated discrete column electrodes are located is measured. The stimulation of discrete column electrodes in a region and the measurement of corresponding consecutive row electrodes are repeated for all regions in all columns. Block 985 corresponds to Figure 7-1 to Figure 7-21 At block 983, an AC signal indicative of self capacitance at a plurality of consecutive row electrodes is measured for each of the one or more rows. The measurement of the AC signal at the plurality of consecutive row electrodes in each of the one or more rows is repeated for all rows. Block 983 corresponds to Figure 7-22 to Figure 7-24 At block 981, an AC signal indicative of self capacitance at a discrete column electrode in each region of the plurality of columns is measured. Measuring the AC signal at the discrete column electrode in each region of the plurality of columns is repeated for all columns. Block 981 corresponds to Figure 7-25 to Figure 7-28 .

[0081] Thus, in accordance with the above, some examples of the present invention are directed to a touch sensing system for detecting one or more touches occurring at least partially simultaneously on a surface of a device, comprising a touch sensor panel, the touch sensor panel comprising a plurality of discrete column electrodes arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of continuous row electrodes arranged in a plurality of rows, wherein a first continuous row electrode of the plurality of continuous row electrodes located in a first row surrounds a first subset of the plurality of discrete column electrodes located in the first row. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the touch sensing system further comprises one or more regions in each of the plurality of columns, each region in a particular column comprising one or more discrete column electrodes located in the column, wherein all discrete column electrodes in a particular region of the one or more discrete column electrodes are electrically connected together. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, one or more discrete column electrodes in a particular region in a particular column are separated by at least one discrete column electrode associated with a different region. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the plurality of discrete column electrodes and the plurality of continuous row electrodes are formed on the same layer. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the touch sensing system also includes a touch controller that is communicatively coupled to the touch sensor panel and is configured to utilize the touch sensor panel to implement a scan plan that includes both mutual capacitance sensing and self capacitance sensing. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the touch controller is further configured to perform mutual capacitance sensing by sequentially driving one or more discrete column electrodes in each of one or more regions in each of a plurality of columns with an excitation signal, and based on driving one or more discrete column electrodes in a specific region of a specific column with an excitation signal, measuring an AC signal at each of one or more continuous row electrodes in which the one or more discrete column electrodes excited in the specific region are located, each measured AC signal indicating a mutual capacitance at a touch pixel defined at an intersection of each of the measured continuous row electrodes with one of the excited discrete column electrodes. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, the touch controller is further configured to couple one or more non-stimulated discrete column electrodes to a reference voltage based on driving one or more discrete column electrodes in a specific region of a specific column with an excitation signal. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the touch controller is further configured to couple one or more non-monitored continuous row electrodes to a reference voltage based on a measurement of an AC signal at each of one or more continuous row electrodes in which the one or more discrete column electrodes stimulated in the specific region are located.In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the touch controller is further configured to perform self-capacitance sensing by driving one or more of a plurality of continuous row electrodes with an excitation signal, and measuring an AC signal at each of the one or more continuous row electrodes driven with the excitation signal, wherein the AC signal measured at each driven continuous row electrode indicates the self-capacitance at the driven continuous row electrode. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the touch controller is further configured to couple one or more undriven continuous row electrodes to a reference voltage based on the measurement of the AC signal at each of the one or more continuous row electrodes driven with the excitation signal. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the touch controller is further configured to perform self-capacitance sensing by driving one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of one or more columns with an excitation signal, and based on driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns with the excitation signal, measuring an AC signal at the driven one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns, the measured AC signal indicating the self-capacitance at the region. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the touch controller is configured to couple one or more non-driven discrete column electrodes to a reference voltage based on the measurement of the AC signal at the driven one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns.

[0082] Some examples of the present disclosure relate to a method for detecting one or more touches occurring at least partially simultaneously on a touch sensor panel, the touch sensor panel having a plurality of discrete column electrodes arranged into a plurality of columns and a plurality of continuous row electrodes arranged into a plurality of rows, the method comprising performing mutual capacitance touch sensing by sequentially driving one or more discrete column electrodes in each of one or more regions in each of the plurality of columns with an excitation signal, and measuring an AC signal at each of one or more continuous row electrodes where the one or more discrete column electrodes of the specific region are located based on driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in the specific region with the excitation signal, each measured AC signal indicating a mutual capacitance at a touch pixel defined at an intersection of each measured continuous row electrode in the measured continuous row electrodes and one of the excited discrete column electrodes, and performing self capacitance touch sensing by driving one or more continuous row electrodes in the plurality of continuous row electrodes with the excitation signal, and measuring an AC signal at each of the driven continuous row electrodes in the driven continuous row electrodes based on driving the one or more continuous row electrodes with the excitation signal, the measured AC signal at each driven continuous row electrode indicating a self capacitance at the driven continuous row electrode. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the method further includes performing mutual capacitance sensing by coupling one or more non-excited discrete column electrodes to a reference voltage based on driving one or more discrete column electrodes in a specific area with an excitation signal. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the method further includes performing mutual capacitance sensing by coupling one or more non-measured continuous row electrodes to a reference voltage based on a measurement of an AC signal at each of one or more continuous row electrodes in which the one or more discrete column electrodes excited in the specific area are located. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the method further includes performing self-capacitance sensing by coupling one or more non-driven continuous row electrodes to a reference voltage based on a measurement of an AC signal at each of one or more continuous row electrodes driven. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the method also includes performing self-capacitance sensing by driving one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of one or more columns with an excitation signal, and based on driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns with the excitation signal, measuring an AC signal at the driven one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns, the measured AC signal indicating the self-capacitance at the region.In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the method further includes coupling one or more undriven discrete column electrodes to a reference voltage based on a measurement of an AC signal at one or more driven discrete column electrodes in each region of one or more columns. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the method further includes coupling one or more undriven discrete column electrodes to a reference voltage based on a measurement of an AC signal at one or more driven discrete column electrodes in each region of one or more columns. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the method further includes a computing device configured to perform one or more of the methods disclosed above. In addition to or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by one or more processors at a touch sensing device, cause the one or more processors to perform one or more of the examples disclosed above.

[0083] Although the examples of the present disclosure have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It should be understood that such changes and modifications are understood to be included within the scope of the examples of the present disclosure defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A touch sensing system for detecting one or more touches occurring at least partially simultaneously on a surface of a device, the touch sensing system comprising: A touch sensor panel, the touch sensor panel comprising: a plurality of discrete column electrodes arranged in a plurality of columns; and a plurality of continuous row electrodes arranged in a plurality of rows; Wherein a first continuous row electrode of the plurality of continuous row electrodes located in a first row surrounds a first subset of the plurality of discrete column electrodes located in the first row.

2. The touch sensing system according to claim 1, further comprising: one or more regions in each of the plurality of columns, each region in a particular column comprising one or more of the discrete column electrodes located in that column; and All discrete column electrodes in a specific region of the one or more discrete column electrodes are electrically connected together. 3 . The touch sensing system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more discrete column electrodes in a particular region in a particular column are separated by at least one discrete column electrode associated with a different region. 4 . The touch sensing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete column electrodes and the plurality of continuous row electrodes are formed on a same layer.

5. The touch sensing system of claim 2 , further comprising a touch controller communicatively coupled to the touch sensor panel and configured to utilize the touch sensor panel to implement a scanning plan that includes both mutual capacitance sensing and self capacitance sensing.

6. The touch sensing system according to claim 5, wherein the touch controller is further configured to perform the mutual capacitance sensing by: sequentially driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in each of the one or more regions in each of the plurality of columns with an excitation signal; and Based on driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in a specific area of ​​a specific column with the excitation signal, an AC signal is measured at each of the one or more continuous row electrodes where the one or more discrete column electrodes of the specific area are located, and each measured AC signal indicates a mutual capacitance at a touch pixel defined at the intersection of each measured continuous row electrode among the measured continuous row electrodes and one of the one or more discrete column electrodes being excited.

7. The touch sensing system according to claim 6, wherein the touch controller is further configured to: In response to driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in a particular region of a particular column with the excitation signal, one or more non-activated discrete column electrodes are coupled to a reference voltage.

8. The touch sensing system according to claim 6, wherein the touch controller is further configured to: One or more unmonitored consecutive row electrodes are coupled to a reference voltage based on the measurement of the AC signal at each of the one or more consecutive row electrodes where the one or more discrete column electrodes being stimulated in the particular region are located.

9. The touch sensing system according to claim 5, wherein the touch controller is further configured to perform the self-capacitance sensing by: driving one or more consecutive row electrodes of the plurality of consecutive row electrodes with an excitation signal; and Based on driving each of the one or more continuous row electrodes with the excitation signal, an AC signal is measured at each of the one or more driven continuous row electrodes, and the measured AC signal at each driven continuous row electrode indicates the self-capacitance at the driven continuous row electrode.

10. The touch sensing system according to claim 9, wherein the touch controller is further configured to: One or more undriven consecutive row electrodes are coupled to a reference voltage based on a measurement of the AC signal at each of the one or more driven consecutive row electrodes.

11. The touch sensing system according to claim 9, wherein the touch controller is further configured to perform the self-capacitance sensing by: driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of one or more columns with an excitation signal; and Based on driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns with the excitation signal, an AC signal is measured at the driven one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns, the measured AC signal indicating the self-capacitance at the region.

12. The touch sensing system according to claim 11, wherein the touch controller is further configured to: Based on the measurement of the AC signal at the driven one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns, one or more non-driven discrete column electrodes are coupled to a reference voltage.

13. A method for detecting one or more touches occurring at least partially simultaneously on a touch sensor panel having a plurality of discrete column electrodes arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of continuous row electrodes arranged in a plurality of rows, the method comprising: Mutual capacitance touch sensing is performed by: sequentially driving one or more discrete column electrodes in each of the one or more regions in each of the plurality of columns with an excitation signal, and Measuring an AC signal at each of the one or more continuous row electrodes where the stimulated one or more discrete column electrodes of the specific area are located based on driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in the specific area with the stimulation signal, each measured AC signal indicating a mutual capacitance at a touch pixel defined at an intersection of each of the measured continuous row electrodes and one of the stimulated one or more discrete column electrodes; and Self-capacitance touch sensing is performed by: driving one or more of the plurality of consecutive row electrodes with an excitation signal, and Based on driving the one or more continuous row electrodes with the excitation signal, an AC signal is measured at each of the one or more driven continuous row electrodes, and the measured AC signal at each driven continuous row electrode indicates the self-capacitance at the driven continuous row electrode.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising performing the mutual capacitance sensing by: In response to driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in a particular region with the excitation signal, one or more discrete column electrodes that are not excited are coupled to a reference voltage.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising performing the mutual capacitance sensing by: Based on the measurement of the AC signal at each of the one or more continuous row electrodes where the one or more discrete column electrodes being stimulated in the specific region are located, one or more unmeasured continuous row electrodes are coupled to a reference voltage.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising performing the self-capacitance sensing by: One or more undriven consecutive row electrodes are coupled to a reference voltage based on a measurement of the AC signal at each of the one or more driven consecutive row electrodes.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising performing the self-capacitance sensing by: driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of one or more columns with an excitation signal; and Based on driving the one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns with the excitation signal, an AC signal is measured at the driven one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns, the measured AC signal indicating the self-capacitance at the region.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: Based on the measurement of the AC signal at the driven one or more discrete column electrodes in each region of the one or more columns, one or more non-driven discrete column electrodes are coupled to a reference voltage.

19. A computing device configured to perform the method according to any one of claims 13 to 18.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors at a touch sensing device, cause the one or more processors to perform the method of any one of claims 13 to 18.

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