Electronic devices, sensing systems and methods

Abstract

To provide an electronic device, a sensing system, and a method.SOLUTION: An electronic device comprises a rotatable interface 150 configured to be placed on an input device 301, and the rotatable interface includes a conductive region 310 and an adjacent patterned region. A rotation device further includes a first coupling electrode group 361 configured to be electrically coupled to the conductive region 310 and receive a reference signal from a first electrode 313 of the input device and a second coupling electrode group 363 configured to be electrically coupled to the patterned region 320 and electrically coupled to a second electrode 323 of the input device, and the second electrode 323 is configured to receive a result signal modified by the rotatable interface 150. At least a part of each electrode of the first coupling electrode group 361 and the second coupling electrode group 363 is respectively provided underneath the conductive region 310 and the adjacent patterned region 320 and is configured to abut the input device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to electronic devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Input devices including proximity sensor devices can be used in a variety of electronic systems. A proximity sensor device may include a sensing area delimited by a surface where the proximity sensor device determines the presence, position, force, and / or movement of one or more input objects. Proximity sensor devices can be used to provide an interface to an electronic system. For example, a proximity sensor device can be used as an input device for a larger computer system, such as a notebook or desktop computer with an integrated or external touchpad. Proximity sensor devices are also frequently used in smaller computer systems, such as touchscreens integrated with mobile phones. Additionally, a proximity sensor device can be implemented as part of an automobile's multimedia entertainment system. In such cases, it may be convenient to connect a proximity sensor device to a knob. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one embodiment, the electronic device includes a rotating interface configured to be placed over an input device, the rotating interface including a conductive region and an adjacent patterned region. The rotating interface further includes a first group of coupling electrodes electrically coupled to the conductive region and configured to receive a reference signal from a first electrode of the input device, and a second group of coupling electrodes electrically coupled to the patterned region and configured to be electrically joined to a second electrode of the input device, the second electrode being configured to receive a resultant signal modified by the rotating interface. In one embodiment, at least a portion of each of the first and second groups of coupling electrodes is disposed below the conductive region and the patterned region, respectively, and configured to abut against the input device.

[0004] In another embodiment, a sensing system includes an input device and a rotation device. The input device includes a display panel, a processing circuit, a reference electrode, and a sensing electrode. The rotation device is configured to be disposed over the display panel and includes a conductive region and an adjacent patterned region, a first group of coupled electrodes electrically coupled to the conductive region and configured to receive a reference signal from the reference electrode, and a second group of coupled electrodes electrically coupled to the patterned region and the sensing electrode, the sensing electrode being configured to receive a resultant signal modified by the rotation device. In this embodiment, at least a portion of each of the first and second groups of coupled electrodes is disposed below the conductive region and the patterned region, respectively, and configured to abut against the input device.

[0005] In yet another embodiment, a method for processing a signal from an input device having a rotary interface with a conductive region and a patterned region includes providing a reference signal to a first electrode of the input device electrically coupled to the conductive region and receiving resultant signals to one or more second electrodes of the input device, each electrically coupled to a patterned electrode, each resultant signal being modified by the rotary interface. The method further includes determining a rotational position of the rotary interface based at least in part on the resultant signals. In such an embodiment, the rotary interface is disposed over a display screen of the input device.

[0006] In some embodiments of this method, the pattern area of ​​the rotary interface includes N tracks, and receiving the result signals includes receiving the M result signals respectively at M second electrodes of the input device, each track of the pattern area being coupled to one or more of the M second electrodes, where N and M are each integers greater than 0. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] So that the above-mentioned features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the present disclosure briefly summarized above will be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only some embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore should not be considered as limiting its scope, as the present disclosure may admit of other equally effective embodiments.

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an input device having a rotary knob interface, according to one or more embodiments.

[0009] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates capacitive coupling between an example user and an example input device and an example rotary knob interface.

[0010] [Figure 3] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an example rotary knob interface showing example electrode couplings of an input device, according to one or more embodiments.

[0011] [Figure 4A] FIG. 4A illustrates an example side view of the rotary knob interface of FIG. 3 in a home state, according to one or more embodiments.

[0012] [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B illustrates an example side view of the rotary knob interface of FIG. 3 in a depressed state, according to one or more embodiments.

[0013] [Figure 5A] FIG. 5A shows an example of a side view of a rotary knob interface with a conductive ring and extended coupled electrodes surrounding a pattern sub-area of ​​the ring, according to one or more embodiments.

[0014] [Figure 5B]FIG. 5B shows sensing electrodes in a predetermined area around an example knob interface used to detect a user's finger prior to rotating the knob interface, according to one or more embodiments.

[0015] [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A illustrates a top view of the rotary knob interface of FIG. 3 with an example incremental rotation encoding scheme, according to one or more embodiments.

[0016] [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B illustrates an example of a signal received at a sensing electrode of the rotary knob interface of FIG. 6A and its interpretation, according to one or more embodiments.

[0017] [Figure 7A] FIG. 7A shows a top view of the rotary knob interface of FIG. 3 with a first example of a rotary encoding scheme for determining the absolute position of the knob, according to one or more embodiments.

[0018] [Figure 7B] FIG. 7B shows a top view of the rotary knob interface of FIG. 3 with a second example of a rotary encoding scheme for determining the absolute position of the knob.

[0019] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 illustrates an example method for implementing a rotary knob interface in an example input device, according to one or more embodiments.

[0020] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a method for processing signals from an input device having a rotary interface, according to one or more embodiments.

[0021] For ease of understanding, the same reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements common to the figures. It is believed that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially used in other embodiments without specific description. The drawings should not be considered to be drawn to scale unless otherwise noted. Also, for clarity of presentation and explanation, the drawings may be simplified and details or components may be omitted. The drawings and discussion aid in the discussion of the following principles, where like elements are designated with like names. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example electronic device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device 100 may be configured to provide input to an electronic system (not shown) and / or update one or more devices. As used herein, the term “electronic system” (or “electronic device”) broadly refers to any system capable of electronically processing information. Some non-limiting examples of electronic systems include personal computers of all sizes and shapes, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, netbook computers, tablets, web browsers, e-readers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Additional examples of electronic systems include the electronic device 100 and a combination input device, such as a physical keyboard with a separate joystick or key switches. Further examples of electronic systems include peripherals such as data input devices (including remote controllers and mice) and data output devices (including display screens and printers). Other examples include remote operation terminals, information kiosks, and video game consoles (e.g., stationary game consoles, handheld game consoles, etc.). Other examples include communication devices (including mobile phones such as smartphones) and media devices (including recording, editing, and playback devices such as televisions, set-top boxes, music players, digital photo frames, and digital cameras). The electronic system may also be a host or slave to an input device. In other embodiments, the electronic system may be part of a vehicle, with electronic device 100 representing one or more sensing devices of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle may include multiple electronic devices 100, where each electronic device 100 may be configured differently from one another.

[0023] The electronic device 100 may be implemented as a physical part of an electronic system or may be physically separate from the electronic system. If desired, the electronic device 100 may communicate with parts of the electronic system using one or more of a bus, network, and other wired or wireless interconnections. Examples of these include the I 2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), PS / 2 (Personal System / 2), USB (Universal Serial Bus), Bluetooth (registered trademark), RF (Radio Frequency) and IrDA (Infrared Data Association).

[0024] In one or more embodiments, electronic device 100 may use any combination of sensor components and sensing technologies to detect user input. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , electronic device 100 includes one or more electrodes 125 that can be activated to detect an object or update one or more devices. In one embodiment, electrode 125 is a sensor electrode of a capacitive sensing device. In such an embodiment, electrode 125 includes one or more common voltage electrodes. In other embodiments, electrode 125 is an electrode of an image sensing device, a radar sensing device, or an ultrasonic sensing device. Additionally, electrode 125 may be a display electrode of a display device. In embodiments in which electrode 125 of electronic device 100 is a common electrode and has a common shape, electronic device 100 may be referred to as including Advanced Matrix Pad (AMP) technology. Some examples described herein include an AMP input device. As described in more detail below, electronic device 100 may also include a knob interface 150 that can interact with some or all of electrodes 125.

[0025] The sensor electrodes 125 may have any shape, size, and / or orientation. For example, the sensor electrodes 125 may be arranged in a two-dimensional array as shown in FIG. 1 . Each of the sensor electrodes 125 may be substantially rectangular in shape. In alternative embodiments, the sensor electrodes 125 may have other shapes. Furthermore, each of the sensor electrodes 125 may have the same shape and / or size. In other embodiments, at least one sensor electrode may have a different shape and / or size than the other sensor electrodes. In various embodiments, the sensor electrodes 125 may be diamond-shaped, may have interdigitated combs to enhance electric field coupling, and / or may have stray cutouts therein to reduce stray capacitance to nearby conductors.

[0026] In embodiments, some implementations of capacitance use a "self-capacitance" (or "absolute capacitance") sensing method based on the change in capacitive coupling between a sensor electrode and an input object. In various embodiments, an input object, such as a finger or stylus 145, in the vicinity of a sensor electrode changes the electric field in the vicinity of the sensor electrode, thus changing the measured capacitive coupling. In one implementation, the absolute capacitance sensing method works by modulating the sensor electrode relative to a reference voltage (e.g., the system ground voltage) and detecting the capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode and the input object.

[0027] Some implementations of capacitance use a “mutual capacitance” (or “transcapacitance”) sensing method based on changes in capacitive coupling between sensor electrodes. In various embodiments, an input object near the sensor electrodes changes the electric field between the sensor electrodes, thus changing the measured capacitive coupling. In one embodiment, the transcapacitance sensing method operates by sensing capacitive coupling between one or more transmitting sensor electrodes (also “transmitting electrodes” or “transmitters”) and one or more receiving sensor electrodes (also “receiving electrodes” or “receivers”). The transmitting sensor electrodes may be modulated relative to a reference voltage (e.g., a system ground voltage) to transmit a transmit signal. The receiving sensor electrodes may be held substantially constant relative to a reference voltage or may be modulated relative to the transmitting sensor electrodes to facilitate reception of a resultant signal. The resultant signal may include effects corresponding to one or more transmitted signals and / or one or more sources of environmental interference (e.g., other electromagnetic signals). The sensor electrodes may be transmit-only, receive-only, or configured for both transmit and receive.

[0028] The capacitive sensing device may be used to detect an input object in proximity to and / or in contact with the input device. Additionally, the capacitive sensing device may be used to sense fingerprint features. Additionally, as in the example of FIG. 1 , in one or more embodiments, the capacitive sensing device may include a rotary knob interface electrically coupled to the capacitive sensing device and may be used to sense the rotary position of the rotary knob. In some embodiments including a rotary knob interface, the rotary knob interface may have a home position and a depressed position, and the sensing device may be used to determine when the rotary knob is in the home position and when it is in the depressed position based on changes in the capacitive coupling of one or more electrodes 125.

[0029] Continuing with reference to FIG. 1, processing system 110 is shown as part of electronic device 100. Processing system 110 is configured to operate the hardware of electronic device 100. As shown in FIG. 1, processing system 110 includes a driver module 140, which may include a signal generator. In one or more embodiments, driver module 140 generates sense signals to drive electrodes 125. In various embodiments, processing system 110 includes some or all of one or more integrated circuits (ICs) and / or other circuit components.

[0030] In some embodiments, processing system 110 further comprises electronically readable instructions, such as firmware code, software code, and / or the like. In some embodiments, the components comprising processing system 110 are co-located, such as near the sensing elements of electronic device 100. In other embodiments, the components of processing system 110 are physically separated from one or more components near the sensing elements of electronic device 100 and one or more other components. For example, electronic device 100 may be a peripheral device coupled to a desktop computer, and processing system 110 may comprise software configured to run on the desktop computer's central processing unit (CPU) and one or more integrated circuits (ICs) (possibly with associated firmware) separate from the CPU. As another example, electronic device 100 may be physically integrated into a telephone, and processing system 110 may comprise circuitry and firmware that is part of the telephone's main processor. Furthermore, processing system 110 may be implemented in an automobile, and processing system 110 may comprise circuitry and firmware that is part of one or more electronic control units (ECUs) of the automobile. In some embodiments, processing system 110 is dedicated and implemented in electronic device 100. In other embodiments, processing system 110 also performs other functions, such as operating a display screen, driving haptic actuators, etc.

[0031] Processing system 110 may be implemented as one or more modules (e.g., driver module 140 or determination module 141) that handle different functions of processing system 110. Each module may comprise circuitry that is part of processing system 110, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, different combinations of modules may be used. One example of a module includes a hardware operation module for operating hardware such as sensor electrodes and a display screen, a data processing module for processing data such as sensor signals and position information, and a reporting module for reporting information. Another example of a module includes a sensor operation module configured to operate sensing elements to detect inputs, a recognition module configured to recognize gestures such as a mode change gesture, and a mode change module for changing operational modes. In some embodiments, processing system 110 may be implemented as a chip or as one or more chips. In some embodiments, processing system 110 may comprise a controller or part of a controller of electronic device 100.

[0032] In one or more embodiments, a display driver (e.g., driver module 140) may be configured to both update the display and sense input, and may include, for example, Touch and Display Driver Integration (TDDI) technology. In such embodiments, driver module 140 may be implemented as a TDDI chip or as part of a TDDI chip. In one or more embodiments, the electronic device may be an AMP device and may include TDDI technology.

[0033] In one or more embodiments, the processing system 110 further includes a determination module 141. In one or more embodiments, the determination module 141 may be configured to determine a change in capacitive coupling between each modulated sensor electrode and an input object, such as input object 145, from the resultant signal. In one embodiment, all of the sensor electrodes 125 may operate simultaneously for absolute capacitive sensing, such that a different resultant signal is received simultaneously from each sensor electrode, or such that a common resultant signal is received simultaneously from two or more sensor electrodes. In another embodiment, some sensor electrodes 125 may operate for absolute capacitive sensing during a first time period, and other sensor electrodes 125 may operate for absolute capacitive sensing during a second time period that does not overlap the first time period.

[0034] In some embodiments, processing system 110 responds directly to user input (or lack thereof) by triggering one or more actions. Examples of actions include changes in operational mode and GUI (Graphical User Interface) actions such as cursor movement, selection, menu navigation, and other functions. In some embodiments, processing system 110 provides information about the input (or lack thereof) to some portion of the electronic system (e.g., a central processing system of the electronic system separate from processing system 110, if such a separate central processing system exists). In some embodiments, some portion of the electronic system processes the information received from processing system 110 and takes action in response to the user input, such as facilitating a full range of actions, including mode change actions and GUI actions. Furthermore, in some embodiments, processing system 110 is configured to recognize one or more target objects and distances to the target objects. In some embodiments, processing system 110 is configured to recognize one or more rotational changes of knob interface 150, one or more state changes of knob interface 150, or both, and map these changes to desired actions.

[0035] For example, in some embodiments, processing system 110 operates electrodes 125 to generate electrical signals (result signals) representative of input (or lack of input) at the sensing area. Processing system 110 may perform any suitable amount of processing on the electrical signals in generating information provided to the electronic system. For example, processing system 110 may digitize analog electrical signals obtained from electrodes 125. As another example, processing system 110 may perform filtering or other signal conditioning, or as yet another example, processing system 110 may subtract or account for a baseline so that the information reflects the difference between the electrical signal and the baseline. As yet another example, processing system 110 may determine location information, recognize an input as a command, recognize handwriting, recognize fingerprint information, recognize distance to a target object, etc.

[0036] As used herein, "position information" broadly encompasses absolute position, relative position, velocity, acceleration, and other types of spatial information. Examples of "zero-dimensional" position information include near / far or contact / no-contact information. An example of "one-dimensional" position information includes position along an axis. "two-dimensional" position information includes movement in a plane. An example of "three-dimensional" position information includes instantaneous or average velocity in space. Further examples include other representations of spatial information. Historical data regarding one or more types of position information can also be determined and / or stored, including, for example, historical data tracking position, movement, or instantaneous velocity over time.

[0037] While many embodiments of the present disclosure are described in the context of a fully functional device, it should be understood that the mechanisms of the present disclosure may be distributed as a program product (e.g., software) in various forms. For example, the mechanisms of the present disclosure may be implemented and distributed as a software program on an information medium readable by an electronic processor (e.g., a non-transitory information medium that is computer-readable and / or recordable / writable and readable by the processing system 110). Additionally, embodiments of the present disclosure apply equally regardless of the particular type of medium used for distribution. Examples of non-transitory electronically readable media include various disks, memory sticks, memory cards, memory modules, etc. The electronically readable media may be based on flash, optical, magnetic, holographic, or any other storage technology.

[0038] In one or more embodiments, processing system 110 is configured to generate voltage signals for driving electrodes 125 during a display update interval and during an input sensing interval, respectively. In such embodiments, the voltage signals generated for driving electrodes 125 during a display update interval are substantially constant or fixed voltages, and the voltage signals generated for driving electrodes 125 during an input sensing interval may be referred to as sensing signals having waveforms with periodically varying voltages. In one or more embodiments, the values ​​of the voltage signals for driving electrodes 125 during a display update interval may be predetermined. For example, the voltage values ​​may be provided by a manufacturer of electronic device 100 and / or electrodes 125 or may be specific to electronic device 100.

[0039] In one embodiment, the driver module 140 includes circuitry configured to provide the sense signal. For example, the driver module circuitry may include an oscillator, one or more current conveyors, and / or digital signal generation circuitry. In one embodiment, the driver module circuitry generates a voltage signal based on a clock signal, the output of the oscillator, and the parameters described above.

[0040] As described above, in one or more embodiments, the driver module 140 generates signals to drive the electrodes 125 during each of the display update periods and the input sense update periods. In such embodiments, the input sense update period is located between two display update periods and is shorter in length than the display update periods. In such embodiments, there are multiple display update periods and input sense update periods per display frame. In one or more embodiments, by obtaining the resultant signal over successive input sense periods, the rotation of the rotary knob interface 150, whether it is in the home position or pressed, can be tracked.

[0041] As noted above, in one or more embodiments, an additional input device, such as a rotary knob interface 150, may be provided on the display panel 120 of the electronic device 100, which may be electrically coupled to some or all of the electrodes 125 located nearby or below it. In one or more embodiments, the additional device may provide a way for a user to provide input to the electronic device 100 other than by touching or hovering a finger or stylus near the display screen. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the rotary knob interface 150 is mounted on the display panel 120 and may overlap the display panel 120 partially (as shown) or completely (not shown). As noted, in one or more embodiments, the rotary knob interface 150 may have two regions: a first conductive region 151 containing electrical conductors (the shaded inner ring in FIG. 1) and a second patterned region 152 (the transparent outer ring in FIG. 1). While the example of rotatable knob interface 150 in FIG. 1 shows conductive region 151 as an inner region surrounded by outer patterned region 152, this is one of many possible examples, and alternative configurations and relative placements of conductive and patterned regions of a rotatable knob interface are possible, all of which are within the scope of this disclosure.

[0042] 6A, 7A, and 7B. In one or more embodiments, the rotation imparted to the rotatable knob interface by the user may be detected by the electronic device 100 in either a relative or absolute sense. In one or more embodiments, the rotatable knob interface 150 may also be depressed downward by the user and thus have two positions: a home or “non-depressed” position at a first specified distance above the display panel 120, and a “depressed” position at a second specified distance above the display panel 120, which the user maintains by depressing the knob interface 150 against a biasing spring and then holding the knob interface 150 against the upper surface of the display panel 120. In some embodiments, the second specified distance may be zero, such that the rotatable knob interface 150 may contact the display panel 120. In one or more embodiments, the direction and angle of rotation of the rotary knob interface 150, whether a user is pressing or releasing the knob, may be interpreted by the processing system 110, such as by the determination module 141, and mapped to various user input actions, signals, or commands.

[0043] It should be noted that in one or more embodiments, a user may rotate the rotary knob interface in a variety of ways, including, for example, grasping and rotating the outer housing of the rotary knob interface, grasping and rotating a flange protruding from the top of the rotary knob interface or the side of the rotary knob interface, or placing one or more fingertips in or on a recessed channel in the top surface of the rotary knob interface, for example.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, the electronic device 100 of FIG. 1 may be located in a vehicle. In some embodiments, all forms of user input to the electronic device may be disabled except via the rotary knob interface 150. Thus, in such embodiments, the electrodes 125 are not activated to perform their standard sensing functions during sensing periods. As a result, if a finger or other object 145 moves into or out of its vicinity, no resulting signal is acquired, or if acquired, processed. In embodiments, this may be done as a safety precaution to prevent the driver of the vehicle from attempting to touch the display panel 120 while driving, and therefore to interact with the electronic device 100 only via the rotary knob interface 150. In some embodiments, disabling the standard sensing functions of the electrodes 125 may be performed during certain vehicle activities but not during other activities. For example, disabling of the standard sensing function of electrodes 125 may be performed while the vehicle is actually moving, but at all other times some electrodes 125, e.g., not close enough to the rotary knob interface to interfere with signals obtained from the rotary knob interface, may operate to perform standard sensing as described above.

[0045] Thus, in an embodiment, when standard sensing of all electrodes 125 is disabled, the only way a driver of the vehicle can provide input to electronic device 100, whether during active driving of the vehicle or at any time, is via rotary knob interface 150, using predefined combinations of rotations and / or presses on rotary knob interface 150. These actions modify result signals, which are received by electronic device 100 during a sensing period and which electronic device 100 then interprets, such as using determination module 141. Note that the result signals are the same sense signals with which driver module 140 drives electrodes 125, after they have been modified by the capacitive coupling of rotary knob interface 150.

[0046] In another embodiment, for example, only some of the electrodes 125, particularly those near or below the rotary knob interface 150, may be disabled for standard capacitive sensing, while the remaining electrodes 125 on the electronic device 100 are enabled for standard capacitive sensing. In such an alternative embodiment, the electrodes that are disabled for standard capacitive sensing are sufficiently close to the rotary knob interface 150 that driving them for standard capacitive sensing may interfere with the resulting signals obtained from the electrodes 125 electrically coupled to the rotary knob interface 150 (its conductive regions 151 or its patterned regions 152). To illustrate this feature, a dashed boundary 155 is shown in FIG. 1 . Electrodes 125 within the boundary 155 are within a “blackout zone” and are not driven with standard sensing signals. Rather, as described in more detail below, any electrodes within the blackout zone that are electrically coupled to the rotary knob interface are driven to detect rotations and presses of the rotary knob interface, as described below.

[0047] Generally, within the blackout zone, a first group of electrodes 125 are coupled to a conductive region 151 of the rotatable knob interface 150, and a second group of electrodes 125 are coupled to a patterned region 152 of the rotatable knob interface 150. In an embodiment, the first group is driven with a reference signal, and the second group is driven with a sense signal to obtain a resultant signal that is modified by the then-current rotational configuration of the rotatable knob interface 150. Thus, in each of these alternative embodiments, all electrodes within the blackout zone boundary 155 may have standard capacitive sensing disabled at all times.

[0048] It should be noted that with respect to electrodes, the term "disabling" may include, for example, not driving an electrode at all, driving it with a guard signal, or driving it with a constant signal.

[0049] Continuing with reference to FIG. 1 , for electrodes of the electronic device 100 that are electrically coupled to the rotary knob interface 150, a reference signal is provided from the driver module 140 to the first group of electrodes 125 and a sense signal is provided to the second group of electrodes 125 during an input sense period, as described above. In one or more embodiments, the reference signal may be a configurable DC output provided by the processing system 110. In some embodiments, this DC signal may be the ground signal of the electronic device 100. In one or more embodiments, a result signal is obtained from the second group of electrodes 125, this result signal being the sense signal modified by the configuration of the rotary knob interface 150. The result signal is then interpreted by the determination module 141 to determine the rotation of the rotary knob interface 150, or to determine whether the knob interface has been pressed downward to contact a surface of the electronic device 100, for example. In one or more embodiments, this rotation may be determined in a relative sense, such as a differential angular change from a previous position, or in an absolute sense, such as a positive or negative angular change from a home position.

[0050] FIG. 2, discussed next, illustrates the capacitance associated between an example knob interface 150 and surrounding objects when the knob interface is isolated without any further electrical coupling. Referring to FIG. 2, a knob interface 150 is shown schematically mounted on the surface of an example display panel 120 and rotated by a user's hand 142. The knob interface 150 has a housing 153, which may be made of an insulating material such as plastic. A user physically interacts with the knob interface 150 by holding or touching the housing 153, and possibly by rotating or depressing it. As discussed above, the knob interface 150 includes a conductive region 151 and an adjacent patterned region 152.

[0051] Continuing with reference to FIG. 2, two variable capacitances 160, 161 are shown. The first variable capacitance 160 exists between the conductive region 151 of the rotary knob interface and the display panel 120, and the second variable capacitance 161 exists between the conductive region 151 of the rotary knob interface and the user's hand 142. Note that, without any further electrical connection, the conductive region 151 is not grounded and is therefore floating. As a result, the variable capacitance 160 is indeterminate. Furthermore, the capacitive coupling 161 between the conductive region 151 and the user's hand 142 depends on how and with what the user grips the housing 153 of the rotary knob interface 150. Thus, the variable capacitance 161 varies depending on whether the user's hand is bare or gloved, how many fingers he or she uses to hold the housing 153, and the dielectric properties of the housing 153.

[0052] To address these issues, in one or more embodiments, conductive region 151 may be electrically coupled to one or more first electrodes of an example electronic device driven with a reference signal. Additionally, pattern region 152 may be electrically coupled to one or more second electrodes of the electronic device that obtain a result signal. The result signal is a sensed signal modified by the rotational position and depression state of the rotary knob interface. In one or more embodiments, the electronic device may be electronic device 100 of FIG. 1. Examples of these electrode coupling implementations are described below with reference to FIGS. 3, 6A, and 7A, respectively.

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an example of an electronic device 301 having a rotary knob interface 150 coupled to two electrode groups of the electronic device 301, according to one or more embodiments. The electronic device 301 may be, for example, the electronic device 100 of FIG. 1 or equivalent thereto. The rotary knob interface 150 may be equivalent to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. In the example of FIG. 3, the rotary knob interface 150 may be affixed to the input device 301 in a "home" position on the surface thereof, where it may be freely rotatable without mechanical friction or resistance with the surface. In one or more embodiments, the rotary knob interface 150 is biased to this home position, for example, by a spring or other biasing device. In one or more embodiments, the rotary knob interface 150 further includes a "press" position that a user can press to transition to. Additionally, it may include TDDI technology. In the example of FIG. 3, the electronic device 301 may be an AMP device. Several of the electrodes of the electronics 301 are coupled to respective portions of the rotatable knob interface 150, and these electrodes are shown in FIG. 3. Thus, electrode 313 is disposed beneath and electrically coupled to an inner conductive region 310 of the rotatable knob interface 150, and two electrodes 323 are disposed beneath and electrically coupled to an outer patterned region 320 of the rotatable knob interface 150. In one or more embodiments, during a sensing period of the electronics 301, electrode 313 may be driven with a reference signal, two electrodes 323 may be driven with sense signals, and resultant signals may be received at these two electrodes. In one or more embodiments, these signals may be provided by processing circuitry 360, which may operate in the same or equivalent manner as processing system 110 of FIG. 1 described above, as shown. In some examples, processing circuitry 360 may include a TDDI driver circuit. Furthermore, in one or more embodiments, the electrodes 313, 323 of the electronic device 301 are electrically coupled to two regions of the rotatable knob interface 150, respectively, via coupling electrodes provided on the rotatable knob interface 150.3 shows a top view and therefore the coupling electrodes are not shown, however the coupling electrodes of the rotatable knob interface 150 are shown in Figures 4A, 4B and 5 and are described below.

[0054] Continuing with reference to FIG. 3, in one or more embodiments, the reference signal provided to electrode 313 of electronic device 301 may be a DC level signal, with this electrode electrically coupled to conductive region 310 inside rotary knob interface 150. In some embodiments, the reference signal may be a ground signal of electronic device 301. For example, electronic device 301 may output a ground signal from an optional AFE (Analog Front End), and this ground signal may be used as the reference signal provided to electrode 313. Note that this reference signal is different from the sensed waveform of electronic device 301.

[0055] In one or more embodiments, the sense signal provided to the electrodes 323 of the electronic device 301 that are electrically coupled to the patterned region 320 of the rotatable knob interface 150 may be any sense signal that may be output by the processing circuitry 360. Note that in embodiments, the coupled electrodes on the rotatable knob interface 150 never change position relative to the electronic device 301 while the knob is manipulated; therefore, only the rotatable knob moves.

[0056] In one or more embodiments, processing circuitry 360 may drive a reference signal to electrode 313. Additionally, processing circuitry 360 may select between a guard voltage, e.g., VGUARD, and a DC level voltage. In such an embodiment, the DC voltage may be used for normal sensing of the rotary knob interface as described above. However, during baseline processing in a firmware algorithm, processing circuitry 360 may apply the guard voltage to reference electrode 313. In one or more embodiments, this reduces the incorporation of responses from the rotary knob interface into the baseline. Additionally, in one or more embodiments, switching between driving a VGUARD signal and a DC signal to the reference electrode allows for accurate measurement of the coupled electrode position of the rotary knob interface, for example, for fine calibration for variations between mechanical parts in the mounting of the rotary knob interface or for automatic detection of the presence and position of a knob on a display screen (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD)) of electronic device 301.

[0057] 4A and 4B, described next, show both the coupled electrodes of an example rotary knob interface and the depression function of the rotary knob interface, according to various embodiments.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 4A , the electronics 301 and rotatable knob interface 150 of FIG. 3 are shown, this time in a side view. The side view of FIG. 4A allows for the different layers of both the electronics 301 and the rotatable knob interface 150 to be seen. Thus, at the top of the figure, there is an inner conductive region 310, which is shown shaded, and an outer patterned region 320, which is shown in white. Below these two regions of the rotatable knob interface 150 are three coupled electrodes 361, 363, which are part of the rotatable knob interface 150. The coupled electrode 361 is coupled to the inner conductive region 310 and a first instrument electrode 313 of the electronics 301, and the coupled electrode 363 is coupled to the outer patterned region 320 and a second instrument electrode 323 of the electronics 301. Each of the instrument electrodes 313, 323 may be, for example, one of the electrodes 125 shown in FIG. 1 that is within the boundary 155 of FIG. 1. The coupling electrode 361 of the rotatable knob interface 150 is disposed on its underside, and thus above the display screen or lens of the electronic device 301. In some embodiments, the coupling electrodes 361, 363 may each be shaped to form a parallel plate capacitance with the inner conductive region 310 and the outer patterned region 320, or, for example, the coupling electrodes may be coupled to these structures via fringe coupling. Alternatively, as shown, the first and second device electrodes 313, 323 may be disposed below the lens and other layers of the electronic device 301.

[0059] Note that FIG. 4A shows the "home" position of the rotary knob interface 150. Thus, the coupling electrodes 361, 363 abut the surface of the electronic device 301 and are spaced apart from the inner conductive region 310 and outer pattern region 320 of the rotary knob interface 150, and as shown, there is a capacitance between each coupling electrode and the ring to which it is electrically coupled. If this capacitance increases significantly, or if there is an electrical short, between the inner conductive region 310 and the coupling electrode 361, the coupling of the reference signal provided to the first instrument electrode 313 will increase. This is the basis for detecting a change from the configuration of FIG. 4A , which shows the home position of the rotary knob interface 150, to the configuration of FIG. 4B , which shows the "pressed" position of the rotary knob interface 150. This change detection will be referred to hereinafter as the "press function," as described next.

[0060] FIG. 4B illustrates an example of the side view of FIG. 4A , but with the example rotary knob interface 150 in a pressed state, according to one or more embodiments. Thus, in one or more embodiments, the press function may be realized by electrically shorting the knob interface 150 to the coupled electrodes 361, 363, thereby increasing the coupling (or electrical short) of the coupled electrode 361 with the reference signal provided to the instrument electrode 313. In one or more embodiments, this increase in the reference signal may be determined and interpreted as indicating a pressed state of the rotary knob interface 150. For example, an increase in the amplitude of the reference signal may be measured by an AFE that senses the capacitance of the electronics 301. In such a case, the increase in the measured signal appears in the AFE as an increase in current in the short-circuit case shown in FIG. 4B .

[0061] In one or more embodiments, rotations of the knob interface may be initiated by the user and compounded by the electronic device 301, even while the rotary knob interface is in its depressed state.

[0062] FIG. 5A shows a side cross-sectional view of the example rotatable knob interface 150 of FIG. 3. The cross-section shown is taken through the center of the rotatable knob interface, thereby revealing a hole 315 in the center of the example rotatable knob interface 150, surrounded on both sides by an inner conductive region 310. The outer side of the inner conductive region 310 is adjacent to an outer patterned region 320, as shown. In various other embodiments, two coupled electrodes are shown on the left side of FIG. 5A, each having a wraparound shape. These wraparound coupled electrodes may be used in place of, for example, coupled electrodes 361 and 363 of FIG. 4A. Thus, coupled electrode 351 is coupled to inner conductive region 310, and coupled electrode 350 is coupled to outer patterned region 320. In one or more embodiments, the illustrated enveloping electrodes 350, 351 increase coupling with respective regions of the rotatable knob interface 150 and with electrodes of the electronics 301 through drawn capacitance, as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0063] 3-5, it should be noted that in embodiments, as described above with reference to FIG. 2, because the inner conductive region 310 is coupled to an instrument electrode of the electronic device 301 to which a reference voltage, e.g., ground voltage, is applied, the rotary knob interface 150 is essentially unaffected by capacitive coupling with a user's gloved or ungloved hand.

[0064] In some embodiments within a vehicle, it may be useful for the electronic device to report whether the knob of a connected rotary knob interface is being grasped by a user, even before the knob is rotated or pressed by the user. Thus, in one or more embodiments, sensing electrodes in a predefined area around the knob may be used to detect a user's finger, gloved or not, hovering over the sensing electrodes. This may be used as an indication that the user has grasped the knob. In an embodiment, the predefined area may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 5B , two fingers 145 of a user are approaching a rotary knob interface 150 provided on a display panel 120 of an example electronic device 100. The electronic device 100 may be the same device as that shown in FIG. 1 , which shows electrodes 126 proximately surrounding the rotary knob interface 150. The electrodes 126 in FIG. 5B are a subset of the electrodes 125 in FIG. 1. In one or more embodiments, the electrodes 126 may be used to sense the user's fingers 145 grasping or presumably attempting to grasp the rotary knob interface 150. In one or more embodiments, the same sensing signal may be used to drive the electrodes 126 in FIG. 5B as was used to drive the second device electrode 323 electrically coupled to the outer pattern region 320 of the rotary knob interface 150 shown in FIG. 4A . The resulting signal at electrode 323 in FIG. 4A is taken and used to determine any rotation, and the resulting signal at electrode 126 in FIG. 5B is taken and used to determine the presence or proximity of a finger.

[0066] As noted above, in one or more embodiments, the knob interface includes a patterned region to provide rotary encoding of the absolute position of the knob or incremental encoding of the position. Figures 6A, 7A, and 7B show three example rotary encoding schemes that may be used to pattern an example patterned region of the knob interface in such an embodiment.

[0067] FIG. 6A illustrates a top view of the inner conductive region 310 and outer patterned region 320 of the example rotatable knob interface 150 of FIG. 3, where the outer patterned region 320 comprises a first example of a rotary encoding scheme according to one or more embodiments. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6A, in one embodiment, the electronics 301 may be an AMP device. In other embodiments, various other electronics may be used. Referring to FIG. 6A, the inner conductive region 310 is shown surrounded by the outer patterned region 320. The outer patterned region 320 is divided into, for example, two concentric circular tracks 321, 322, each of which has alternating conductive portions, shown in black, and non-conductive portions or voids, shown in white. The inner conductive region 310 is electrically coupled to an example first device electrode 313 of the electronics 301, which is provided with a reference signal as described above. As noted above, but not shown in FIG. 6A because FIG. 6A is a top view, first instrument electrode 313 is electrically coupled to inner conductive region 310 via a coupling electrode of the rotatable knob interface. Similarly, each track of outer pattern region 320 is electrically coupled to an example second instrument electrode of electronics 301. In an embodiment, the second instrument electrodes are driven with a sense signal, as described above. Thus, for example, inner track 322 is coupled to second instrument electrode 323 (via a coupling electrode, not shown), and outer track 321 is coupled to second instrument electrode 324 (via a coupling electrode, not shown). In the illustrated example, second instrument electrodes 323, 324 are in the same column of the sensor array of electronics 301. Second instrument electrodes 323, 324 are each driven with a sense signal, and a resultant signal is obtained therefrom, as described above. Accordingly, the second instrument electrodes may hereinafter be referred to as "sense electrodes." Similarly, the first device electrode may hereinafter be referred to as the "reference electrode."

[0068] Continuing with reference to FIG. 6A , when a user rotates the rotary knob interface, the two concentric circular tracks 321, 322 rotate while the two second instrument electrodes, which are at fixed positions in the sensor array of the electronic device 301, remain fixed. Thus, when the black portion of each track is coupled to the second instrument electrodes (sensing electrodes) 323, 324, and the tracks rotate, the capacitive coupling between the conductive region 310 and the sensing electrodes 323, 324 is greatest. Similarly, when the white portion of each track is coupled to the sensing electrodes 323, 324, the capacitive coupling between the inner conductive region 310 and the sensing electrodes 323, 324 is least. By analyzing the resulting signal at each of the second instrument electrodes 323, 324, the orientation and relative rotation of the rotary knob interface with respect to the previous sensing period can be determined.

[0069] FIG. 6B illustrates an example of a result signal that may be received by the sensing electrodes 323, 324 of FIG. 6A as modified by a rotary knob interface with the patterned region as shown in FIG. 6A, according to one or more embodiments, and the interpretation of these result signals. Note that the signals shown in FIG. 6B are binary. In embodiments, the conversion from the continuous output from the AFE sensing from the electrodes may be provided by a software threshold or, for example, as a summation process performed by analog hardware. In such embodiments, after thresholding, the binary signal may be converted to the direction of knob rotation according to a table (e.g., +1 or −1 for left or right in the table of FIG. 6B).

[0070] FIG. 7A shows a top view of the inner conductive region 310 and outer pattern region 320 of the example rotary knob interface of FIG. 3 , where the outer pattern region 320 includes a second example of a rotary encoding scheme for determining the absolute position of the knob, according to one or more embodiments. Referring to FIG. 7A , the outer pattern region 320 is encoded with a sequential Gray code. This is implemented by providing arc-shaped electrodes 341, 342, and 343 of varying arc lengths on the outer ring of the outer pattern region 320. In this example, the outer ring of the outer pattern region 320 is also coupled to a set of sensing electrodes, such as five electrodes 720, 721, 722, 723, and 724, each of which is provided on the electronics 301 below the outer ring of the outer pattern region 320. The five sensing electrodes 720, 721, 722, 723, 724 are arranged at five equally spaced positions below the outer ring such that as the knob interface 150 is rotated, each of the three arc-shaped electrodes 341, 342, 343 couples with some, one, or none of the sensing electrodes.

[0071] Additionally, inner conductive region 310 is coupled to a reference electrode, or "first instrument electrode" 713. In an embodiment, first instrument electrode 713 is supplied with a reference signal, and second instrument (sensing) electrodes 720-724 are driven with sense signals by processing circuitry 360, as described above. When a user rotates the knob of an exemplary rotatable knob interface 150, these two regions rotate, while the sense electrodes 720-724, which are at fixed positions in the sensor array of electronic device 301, remain fixed. Thus, as the arc-shaped electrode passes over them, the capacitive coupling between inner conductive region 310 and each of the sense electrodes 720-724 changes. By analyzing the resulting signals obtained from the sense electrodes 720-724, the absolute position of knob interface 150 can be determined.

[0072] FIG. 7B illustrates a third example of a pattern that may be provided in the outer pattern region 320 of the rotatable knob interface 150 of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 7B, in one or more embodiments, the outer pattern region 320 includes a rotary encoding scheme for determining the absolute position of the knob. Referring to FIG. 7B, the inner conductive region 310 of the rotatable knob interface 150 is shown surrounded by the outer pattern region 320. The inner conductive region 310 is coupled to a first instrument electrode 713, which receives a reference voltage from the electronics 301 via a coupling electrode (not shown) of the rotatable knob interface 150, as described above. The outer pattern region 320 is encoded with a 3-bit Gray code and is therefore divided into three concentric tracks, each having an alternating pattern of conductors and air gaps, as shown. Each track is further coupled to a sense electrode, as described below. The innermost track, sense track 701, is coupled to sense electrode 721. The center track, sensing track 702, is coupled to sensing electrode 722, and the outermost track, sensing track 703, is coupled to sensing electrode 723. Sensing electrodes 721-723 are each provided on electronics 301 below pattern area 320 as shown, such that as the knob interface is rotated, the three sensing tracks 701, 702, 703 can pass over their respective sensing electrodes.

[0073] As described above, in an embodiment, the reference electrode 713 is supplied with a reference signal, and the sense electrodes 721-723 are driven with sense signals by the processing circuitry. As a user rotates the rotatable knob interface 150, the outer pattern region 320 rotates, while the sense electrodes 721-723, which are at fixed positions in the sensor array of the electronic device 301, remain fixed. Thus, the capacitive coupling between the inner conductive region 310 and each of the sense electrodes 721-723 changes as the conductive portions of the three sense tracks 701-703 pass over them, respectively. By analyzing the resulting signals acquired at each of the sense electrodes 721-723, the absolute rotational position of the rotatable knob interface 150 can be determined.

[0074] 8 is a process flowchart illustrating a method 800 for implementing a rotary knob interface in an exemplary electronic device and determining the position and / or state of the rotary knob interface, according to one or more embodiments. For example, the electronic device may be a combination display and sensing device, such as one including TDDI technology, as described above.

[0075] Method 800 includes blocks 810 through 850. In alternative embodiments, method 800 may have more or fewer blocks. Method 800 begins at block 810, where an electronic device is provided with a rotary knob interface having conductive and patterned regions and one or more coupling electrodes respectively coupled to the respective regions. For example, the rotary knob interface may be any of those illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7B, described above.

[0076] Method 800 proceeds from block 810 to block 820, where the conductive region of the rotary knob interface is electrically coupled to a first set of electrodes of the electronic device via coupling electrodes of the conductive region. The first set of electrodes of the electronic device is configured to receive a reference signal. For example, the first set of electrodes may be electrodes 313 of FIG. 3 or FIG. 6A or first device electrodes 713 of FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B. Or, for example, the first set of electrodes may include multiple electrodes. The reference signal may be a ground signal generated by processing circuitry of the electronic device, such as processing circuitry 360 of electronic device 301 of FIG. 3. As another example, the reference signal may be a ground signal output by the TDDI device from an optionally selected analog front end.

[0077] Method 800 proceeds from block 820 to block 830, where the patterned region of the rotary knob interface is electrically coupled to a second set of electrodes of the electronics via coupling electrodes of the patterned region. The second set of electrodes of the electronics is configured to receive a resultant signal of the electronics modified by the rotary knob interface. For example, the second set of electrodes may be electrodes 323 of FIG. 3 or electrodes 323 and 324 of FIG. 6A, or, for example, electrodes 720 through 724 of FIG. 7A or electrodes 721 through 723 of FIG. 7B.

[0078] From block 830, method 800 proceeds to block 840, where the first group of electrodes is supplied with a DC voltage as a reference signal, and each of the second group of electrodes receives a resultant signal from the electronics that is modified by the rotary knob interface. As described above, the resultant signal is the same signal as the signal used to drive each of the second group of electrodes, except modified by the rotational position of the rotary knob interface at the time of measurement.

[0079] The method 800 proceeds from block 840 to block 850, where a rotational position of the rotary knob interface is determined based at least in part on the resultant signal. The method 800 ends at block 850.

[0080] 9 is a process flow diagram illustrating a method 900 for processing signals from an electronic device having a rotary interface, the rotary interface having conductive and patterned areas, where the rotary interface is disposed over a display screen of the electronic device, according to various embodiments. For example, the electronic device may include TDDI technology as described above, and the rotary interface may be any of the rotary knobs shown in FIGS. 1 through 7B above.

[0081] Method 900 includes blocks 910 through 930, and optionally, block 940. In alternative embodiments, method 900 may have more or fewer blocks. Method 900 begins at block 910, where a reference signal is provided to a first electrode of an electronic device that is electrically coupled to a conductive region of a rotating interface. The reference signal may be, for example, a ground signal of the electronic device, or may be another signal generated, for example, by a processing circuit of the electronic device.

[0082] Method 900 proceeds from block 910 to block 920, where the resulting signal is received at each of one or more second electrodes of the electronics, each electrically coupled to the patterned region, and each resulting signal is modified by the rotary interface. For example, the second electrodes may each be electrically coupled to a different portion of the patterned region, such as a different track. This is shown, for example, in FIG. 6A above, where second device electrodes 323, 324 are each electrically coupled to two separate tracks of the outer patterned region 320 of the knob interface 150. Another example is shown in FIG. 7A above, where electrodes 720-724 are electrically coupled to five different locations evenly spaced along the outer ring of the outer patterned region 320 of the knob interface 150. A further example is shown in FIG. 7B above.

[0083] Method 900 proceeds from block 920 to block 930, where a rotational position of the rotational interface is determined based at least in part on the resultant signal. For example, this determination may be made by a determination module of the electronic device, such as determination module 141 of electronic device 100 of FIG. 1. Method 900 may end at block 930 or, in some embodiments, may optionally proceed to optional block 940.

[0084] In such embodiments, method 900 may optionally proceed from block 930 to block 940, where it may be determined whether the rotational interface is in the home position or the depressed position based at least in part on the strength of the reference signal provided to the first electrode of the electronic device. In such embodiments, method 900 may end at optional block 940.

[0085] Thus, in one or more embodiments, a rotary knob interface may be provided on an electronic device, the rotary knob interface including fixed coupling electrodes for interconnecting with sensing electrodes of the electronic device. The rotary knob interface may include a conductive ring and a pattern ring, the pattern ring being patterned with a rotary encoder. In embodiments, the conductive region is coupled via a first set of coupling electrodes to a first set of electrodes of the electronic device, the latter being driven with a reference voltage. Similarly, the pattern region is coupled via a second set of coupling electrodes to a second set of electrodes of the electronic device configured to receive a result signal modified by the rotary knob interface. Based at least in part on the result signal, a processing circuit of the electronic device may determine a rotational position of a knob of the rotary knob interface.

[0086] Thus, the embodiments and examples set forth herein are presented to best explain the present technology and embodiments thereof for particular applications, and to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the above description and examples have been presented for purposes of illustration and example only. The description set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed.

[0087] In view of the above, the scope of the present disclosure is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. a rotating device comprising a first conductive region and a second patterned region; a sensor array comprising a plurality of electrodes, a first set of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes coupled to the first conductive region and a second set of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes coupled to the second pattern region, the rotation device being disposed above the sensor array; a processing system coupled to the sensor array; A system comprising: the processing system comprising: driving each of the first set of electrodes with a reference signal; driving each of the second set of electrodes with a sense signal to obtain a result signal; configured to determine a rotational position of the rotating device based on the resulting signals from the second set of electrodes; the first and second sets of electrodes are part of a first region of the sensor array corresponding to the rotating device; the sensor array further comprising a second region separate from the first region, the second region comprising a third set of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes configured to be driven with a touch sense signal for capacitive touch sensing; The system is part of a vehicle, and the processing system is configured to disable the first, second, and third sets of electrodes while the vehicle is in operation. system.

2. The first conductive region and the second pattern region form two concentric rings. The system of claim 1 .

3. The second pattern region corresponds to an outer ring surrounding an inner ring corresponding to the first conductive region. The system of claim 2 .

4. the rotating device further comprising a plurality of coupling electrodes configured to couple each electrode of the first and second sets of electrodes of the sensor array to the first conductive region and the second pattern region, respectively. The system of claim 1 .

5. the second pattern area comprises a plurality of tracks; Each track comprises one or more conductive portions and one or more non-conductive portions. The system of claim 1 .

6. The second pattern area is annular in shape, and each track of the plurality of tracks forms a concentric ring within the second pattern area. The system of claim 5.

7. The second pattern region includes a plurality of arc-shaped electrodes having various arc lengths. The system of claim 1 .

8. the rotation device is configured to be actuated between an undepressed state and a depressed state; The processing system is further configured to determine whether the rotating device is in the unpressed state or the pressed state based on an amount of coupling relative to the reference signal. The system of claim 1 .

9. a rotating device comprising a first conductive region and a second patterned region; a sensor array comprising a plurality of electrodes, wherein a first set of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes is coupled to the first conductive region of the rotating device, each of the electrodes of the first set being configured to be driven with a reference signal, and a second set of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes is coupled to the second pattern region, each of the electrodes of the second set being configured to be driven with a sense signal to obtain a result signal; An electronic device comprising: the rotation device is provided above the sensor array; the first and second sets of electrodes are part of a first region of the sensor array corresponding to the rotating device; the sensor array further comprising a second region separate from the first region, the second region comprising a third set of electrodes of the plurality of electrodes configured to be driven with a touch sense signal for capacitive touch sensing; The electronic device is part of a vehicle, and the first, second, and third sets of electrodes are configured to be disabled while the vehicle is in operation. electronic equipment.

10. 1. A method for processing a rotational input received via a rotation device disposed above a sensor array, comprising: Driving, by electronics, each electrode of the first set of electrodes of the sensor array coupled to a first conductive region of the rotating device with a reference signal; driving, by the electronics, each electrode of a second set of electrodes of the sensor array coupled to a second pattern region of the rotating device with a sense signal; acquiring, by the electronics, a resultant signal via the second set of electrodes of the sensor array in response to driving each electrode of the second set of electrodes of the sensor array; determining a rotational position of the rotation device based on the obtained result signal; A method comprising: the first and second sets of electrodes are part of a first region of the sensor array corresponding to the rotating device; the sensor array further comprising a second region separate from the first region, the second region comprising a third set of electrodes of the sensor array configured to be driven with a touch sense signal for capacitive touch sensing; The electronic device is part of a vehicle, and the method further includes disabling the first, second, and third sets of electrodes while the vehicle is in operation. method.

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