Touch sensing device and power management method thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a touch sensing device and a power management method thereof. The touch sensing device comprises a touch panel, a power supply and a capacitance circuit. The power supply is used for providing a driving voltage to the touch panel in a plurality of first sub-periods of an uplink signal emission period, and stopping providing the driving voltage to the touch panel in a plurality of second sub-periods of the uplink signal emission period. The capacitor circuit obtains recycled electric energy in a second sub-period of the uplink signal emission period according to discharge charges flowing out of the touch panel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a touch sensing device and a power management method thereof, and more particularly to a touch sensing device and a power management method thereof that can save power consumption. Background Art

[0002] In today's electronic devices, human-machine interaction through a touch mechanism has become an important function. In known touch sensing devices, the touch sensing device needs to generate an uplink signal to communicate with a stylus. The uplink signal is composed of multiple pulses and needs to be generated by performing multiple charging and discharging operations on the touch panel. These repeated charging and discharging operations will cause meaningless loss of electric energy and result in waste of electric energy. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a touch sensing device and a power management method thereof, which can effectively reduce the power consumption required by the touch sensing device.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the touch sensing device includes a touch panel, a power supply, and a capacitor circuit. The power supply is coupled to the touch panel to provide a driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of first sub-periods during the uplink signal transmission, and to stop providing the driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of second sub-periods during the uplink signal transmission. The capacitor circuit is coupled to the touch panel to obtain recovered electric energy according to the discharge charge flowing out of the touch panel during the second sub-period during the uplink signal transmission.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the power management method includes: causing the power supply to provide a driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of first sub-periods during the uplink signal transmission, and to stop providing the driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of second sub-periods during the uplink signal transmission. Causing the capacitor circuit to obtain recovered electric energy according to the discharge charge flowing out of the touch panel during the second sub-period during the uplink signal transmission.

[0006] Based on the above, when the voltage of the uplink signal is pulled low, the touch sensing device of the present invention provides the generated discharge charge to the capacitor circuit, and enables the capacitor circuit to obtain recovered electric energy according to the discharge charge flowing out of the touch panel. In this way, the electric energy of the discharge charge is not wasted, and the power consumption required by the touch sensing device is effectively saved. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0008] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the operation flow of the touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 3 For Figure 2 Schematic diagram of amplification of the uplink signal in the embodiment;

[0010] Figure 4 Schematic diagram showing a touch sensing device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 5A And Figure 5B Schematic diagrams showing touch sensing devices according to different embodiments of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 6 Flowchart showing a power management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0013] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0014] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 Schematic diagram showing a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The touch sensing device 100 includes a touch panel TP, a power supply 110, and a capacitor circuit 120. In this embodiment, an equivalent capacitor CTP can be considered between the touch panel TP and the reference ground terminal GND. The touch panel TP is also coupled to the power supply 110 through a transmission wire W1, and the transmission wire W1 has a transmission resistance RW. On the other hand, the capacitor circuit 120 is also coupled to the touch panel TP through the transmission wire W1.

[0015] During the uplink signal transmission period, the touch panel TP in the touch sensing device 100 can transmit an uplink signal to the stylus to sense whether the stylus exists and further communicate with the stylus. In an embodiment of the present invention, during the uplink signal transmission period, the power supply 110 can provide a driving voltage to the touch panel TP in a plurality of first sub-periods. And, during a plurality of second sub-periods in the uplink signal transmission period, the power supply 110 can stop providing the driving voltage to the touch panel TP, and instead the capacitor circuit 120 receives the discharge charge flowing out from the touch panel TP through the transmission wire W1 and obtains recovered electrical energy according to the received discharge charge.

[0016] In the above description, the plurality of first sub-periods and the plurality of second sub-periods occur alternately. In each first sub-period, the touch panel TP can receive an uplink signal of a first voltage, and in each second sub-period, the touch panel TP can receive and transmit an uplink signal of a second voltage, where the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.

[0017] As can be seen from the above description, in the touch sensing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, during the uplink signal transmission period, when the uplink signal is pulled down from the first voltage to the second voltage, the discharged charge generated can flow to the capacitive circuit, and the capacitive circuit performs the action of recovering electrical energy. In this way, the power consumption of the touch sensing device 100 can be effectively reduced, achieving the effect of energy saving.

[0018] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 , which shows a schematic diagram of the operation flow of the touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Among them, in a frame FR, the operation mode of the touch sensing device can be switched among multiple periods such as the uplink signal transmission period UPL, the idle period IDL, the downlink signal reception period DNL, and the touch sensing period TD. Among them, in Figure 2 the first uplink signal transmission period UPL, the touch panel can send an uplink signal US1; in the downlink signal reception period DNL, the touch panel can receive a downlink reception signal DS1; in the touch sensing period TD, the touch panel can send a touch sensing drive signal TDS1; and, in Figure 2 the second uplink signal transmission period UPL, the touch panel can send the uplink signal US1 again.

[0019] In this embodiment, the uplink signal US1 can be a pulse width modulation signal and transitions between the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2. The downlink reception signal DS1 can be a DC voltage signal. The touch sensing drive signal TDS1 can be a pulse signal with a fixed duty cycle. In addition, during the idle period IDL, the voltage on the touch panel can be maintained equal to a DC voltage, such as equal to the ground voltage.

[0020] Please synchronously refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , Figure 3 is Figure 2 an amplified schematic diagram of the uplink signal of the embodiment. Among them, the uplink signal transmission period UPL includes a plurality of first sub-periods T1 and a plurality of second sub-periods T2. Figure 3 Only some of the first sub-periods T1 and some of the second sub-periods T2 are shown in

[0021] During the first sub-period T1, the touch panel can receive a driving voltage for charging and raise the voltage of the upward signal US1 to a first voltage V1. During the second sub-period T2, the touch panel can stop receiving the driving voltage and start discharging to lower the voltage of the upward signal US1 to a second voltage V2.

[0022] Please refer to the following Figure 4 , Figure 4 FIG. shows a schematic diagram of a touch sensing device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The touch sensing device 400 includes a touch panel TP, a power supply 410, a capacitor circuit 420, and a charge transfer circuit 430. The power supply 410 and the capacitor circuit 420 are coupled to the touch panel TP through a transmission wire W1. The power supply 410 includes a power supply switch SW1, where the power supply switch SW1 is coupled between the driving power supply 411 and the touch panel TP. The driving power supply 411 is used to generate a driving voltage VD. The power supply switch SW1 is turned on during each first sub-period of the upward signal transmission period, and the driving voltage VD generated by the driving power supply 411 can be transmitted to the touch panel TP through the transmission wire W1 to charge the equivalent capacitor CTP on the touch panel TP.

[0023] In addition, during each second sub-period of the upward signal transmission period, the power supply switch SW1 can be cut off. The power supply 410 stops supplying the driving voltage VD to the touch panel TP.

[0024] In this embodiment, the capacitor circuit 420 is, for example, a charge pump circuit, and the multiple capacitors C1~C3 in the capacitor circuit 420 can be flying capacitors coupled to the charge pump circuit. During each second sub-period of the upward signal transmission period, the equivalent capacitor CTP discharges and generates a discharge current Idis. The discharge current Idis can flow to the capacitor circuit 420, and the discharge current Idis charges at least one of the capacitors C1~C3 in the capacitor circuit 420 to obtain recovered electrical energy.

[0025] In this embodiment, the capacitor circuit 420 can generate an offset voltage VSH. The capacitor circuit 420 can generate a charging current Id1 based on the offset voltage VSH to charge the energy storage capacitor CPM on the charge transfer circuit 430 with the recovered electrical energy stored in the capacitor circuit 420.

[0026] In some embodiments of the present invention, the magnitude of the voltage generated by the offset power supply VSH can be dynamically adjusted.

[0027] In this embodiment, the charge transfer circuit 430 can receive the stored electrical energy in the energy storage capacitor CPM and use it as the operating electrical energy for the application circuit that performs other functions in the touch sensing device 100. In this way, the recycled electrical energy stored in the capacitor circuit 420 can be recycled and reused, improving the utilization efficiency of electrical energy.

[0028] It should be noted that the charge transfer circuit 430 in the embodiment of the present invention can be a power management circuit. It can distribute the stored electrical energy in the energy storage capacitor CPM to any circuit of the electronic device corresponding to the touch sensing device and provide auxiliary electrical energy for the corresponding circuit.

[0029] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the capacitor circuit 420 is a voltage pump circuit and can be used to provide the voltage required for the display panel of the electronic device to display an image. Therefore, when the display panel of the electronic device enters the dark screen state, the voltage generation circuit 430 will be idle and not perform operations. In this case, the capacitors C1 to C3 on the capacitor circuit 420 can be unused and can be used as a medium for storing recycled electrical energy. That is to say, in the embodiment of the present invention, the capacitors C1 to C3 on the capacitor circuit 420 can be constructed using existing components without setting additional components, which can reduce the required circuit cost.

[0030] It is worth mentioning that in other embodiments of the present invention, other capacitors can be set in the capacitor circuit 420, or the idle capacitors inside the capacitor circuit 420 can be used as a medium for storing recycled electrical energy.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 5A , Figure 5A FIG. shows a schematic diagram of a touch sensing device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The touch sensing device 501 includes a touch panel TP, a power supply 410, and a charge transfer circuit 430. In this embodiment, the charge transfer circuit 430 can act as a capacitor circuit and be coupled to the touch panel TP and the power supply 410. Continuing Figure 4 from the embodiment, during each second sub-period of the uplink signal transmission period, the discharge charge generated by the discharge of the equivalent capacitor CTP can directly charge the energy storage capacitor CPM on the charge transfer circuit 430 and recycle the electrical energy. The charge transfer circuit 430 can be coupled to an application circuit (not shown) and provide the recycled electrical energy as part of the operating electrical energy required for the application circuit to operate.

[0032] Referring again to Figure 5B , Figure 5BSchematic diagram of a touch sensing device showing another embodiment of the present invention. The touch sensing device 502 includes a touch panel TP, a power supply 410, a capacitance circuit 420, and an application circuit 510. In this embodiment, the capacitance circuit 420 can provide a charging current according to the stored recovered electrical energy to charge the application circuit 510, and thereby provide part of the operating electrical energy required when the application circuit 510 operates.

[0033] Please refer to the following Figure 6 , Figure 6 Flowchart showing a power management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 The power management method is applicable to the touch sensing device. Among them, in step S610, the power supply is made to provide a driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of first sub-periods during the uplink signal transmission, and to stop providing the driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of second sub-periods during the uplink signal transmission. And, in step S620, the capacitance circuit can be made to obtain recovered electrical energy according to the discharge charge flowing out of the touch panel during the second sub-period during the uplink signal transmission.

[0034] Regarding the implementation details of the above steps, detailed descriptions have been given in the foregoing embodiments, and will not be elaborated here.

[0035] In summary, for the touch sensing device of the present invention, during the uplink signal transmission, when the touch panel generates a discharge current, the capacitance circuit is provided to generate recovered electrical energy according to the discharge charge. Accordingly, the electrical energy consumed during the discharge operation of the touch panel will not be wasted without reason, and the electrical energy consumption required by the touch sensing device can be effectively reduced, achieving the effect of energy saving.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A touch sensing device, comprising: Touch panel; A power supply device coupled to the touch panel, configured to provide a driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of first sub-periods of an uplink signal transmission period, and stop providing the driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of second sub-periods of the uplink signal transmission period; as well as The capacitor circuit is coupled to the touch panel and obtains recovered electric energy according to the discharged charges flowing out of the touch panel during the plurality of second sub-periods during the uplink signal transmission period. 2 . The touch sensing device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first sub-periods are interlaced with the plurality of second sub-periods. 3 . The touch sensing device according to claim 1 , wherein the touch panel generates an uplink signal of a first voltage in each of the first sub-periods, and pulls down the uplink signal to a second voltage in each of the second sub-periods.

4. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises: A switch is coupled between the driving power source and the touch panel, wherein the switch is turned on during each of the first sub-periods to provide the driving voltage generated by the driving power source to the touch panel, The switch is further turned off during each of the second sub-periods.

5. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive circuit is coupled to a charge transfer circuit, The touch sensing device further comprises: The application circuit is coupled to the charge transfer circuit and receives the recovered electric energy as operating electric energy.

6. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive circuit is a charge transfer circuit, and the charge transfer circuit receives the discharged charge to obtain the recovered electric energy. The touch sensing device further comprises: The application circuit is coupled to the charge transfer circuit and receives the recovered electric energy as operating electric energy.

7. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive circuit is further coupled to: The offset power supply is used to superimpose the voltage on the capacitor circuit to generate an adjusted voltage, and provide the adjusted voltage to charge the energy storage capacitor.

8. The touch sensing device according to claim 7, further comprising: The application circuit is coupled to the capacitor circuit and receives the stored electric energy of the energy storage capacitor as part of the operating electric energy. 9 . The touch sensing device according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitive circuit provides at least one capacitor as a medium for storing the recovered electric energy, and the at least one capacitor is an external or internal idle capacitor. 10 . The touch sensing device according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one capacitor is an idle capacitor when a display panel corresponding to the touch sensing device enters a dark screen state.

11. A power management method, comprising: The power supply device provides a driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of first sub-periods of the uplink signal transmission period, and stops providing the driving voltage to the touch panel during a plurality of second sub-periods of the uplink signal transmission period; as well as The capacitor circuit is enabled to obtain recovered electric energy according to the discharged charges flowing out of the touch panel during the plurality of second sub-periods of the uplink signal transmission period. 12 . The power management method according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first sub-periods are interlaced with the plurality of second sub-periods.

13. The power management method according to claim 11, further comprising: The touch panel generates an uplink signal of a first voltage in each of the first sub-periods, and pulls down the uplink signal to a second voltage in each of the second sub-periods.

14. The power management method according to claim 11, wherein the step of causing the power supply to provide the driving voltage to the touch panel during the first sub-periods of the uplink signal transmission period and stopping providing the driving voltage to the touch panel during the second sub-periods of the uplink signal transmission period comprises: A switch is arranged between the driving power source and the touch panel; The switch is turned on during each of the first sub-periods, so that the driving voltage generated by the driving power source is provided to the touch panel; as well as The switch is further turned off during each of the second sub-periods.

15. The power management method according to claim 11, further comprising: coupling the capacitive circuit to a charge transfer circuit, The touch sensing device further includes an application circuit, and the application circuit is coupled to the charge transfer circuit to receive the recovered electric energy as operating electric energy.

16. The power management method according to claim 11, further comprising: The capacitive circuit is a charge transfer circuit; enabling the charge transfer circuit to receive the discharged charge to obtain the recovered electric energy; as well as The touch sensing device further includes an application circuit, and the application circuit is coupled to the charge transfer circuit to receive the recovered electric energy as operating electric energy.

17. The power management method according to claim 11, further comprising: providing an offset power supply to be superimposed on the voltage on the capacitor circuit to generate an adjusted voltage; as well as The adjusted voltage is provided to charge the energy storage capacitor.

18. The power management method according to claim 17, further comprising: The stored electric energy of the energy storage capacitor is provided to an application circuit to serve as a part of the operating electric energy of the application circuit.

19. The power management method according to claim 11, further comprising: The capacitor circuit provides at least one capacitor as a medium for storing the recovered electric energy, and the at least one capacitor is an external or internal idle capacitor.

20. The power management method according to claim 19, further comprising: When the display panel corresponding to the touch sensing device enters a dark screen state, the at least one capacitor is an idle capacitor.

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