Bidirectional Integrator Circuit for Wide-Range Touch Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing integrator circuit devices for touch and fingerprint sensing struggle to expand the measurable voltage range regardless of the capacitance of the sensor's capacitor, limiting their ability to accurately detect touch inputs and fingerprints.
Innovation Solution
The proposed integrator circuit device includes an integrator that performs integration in both positive and negative directions, with a switching controller that changes integration direction based on output voltage thresholds, and a counter that determines the final output voltage based on the number of direction changes, allowing for expanded voltage range measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the integrator performs integration only in a single direction (positive or negative), then the circuit structure is simple, but the measurable voltage range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The integrator circuit dynamically switches between positive and negative integration directions based on the output voltage level. The switching controller monitors the output voltage and automatically changes the integration direction when the voltage exceeds predefined thresholds, enabling the circuit to adaptively expand its measurable voltage range without requiring multiple fixed integrators.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit changes the integration direction parameter (positive or negative) based on the output voltage level. By switching the integration direction according to voltage thresholds, the system effectively multiplies the measurable voltage range while using a single integrator structure, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and measurement range.
2Measurement precision
If the capacitance of the sensor capacitor is increased to expand the measurable voltage range, then the voltage range is expanded, but the sensing capability for different touch inputs is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The integrator circuit serves multiple functions by switching between positive and negative integration directions. A single integrator structure can handle both positive and negative voltage ranges, making it universal for different touch sensing scenarios without requiring separate capacitors with different capacitance values. This maintains adaptability while expanding the measurable voltage range.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using fixed capacitance values, the system dynamically switches the integration direction based on voltage levels. This dynamic approach allows the same capacitor to effectively serve different sensing requirements, maintaining versatility across different touch input types while expanding the overall measurable voltage range through directional switching.
3Measurement precision
If the feedback capacitor value is changed to adjust the measurable voltage range, then the voltage range is adjusted, but the circuit requires additional components and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic switching of integration direction rather than changing feedback capacitor values. The switching controller changes the polarity of the integrator output based on voltage thresholds, achieving voltage range expansion without modifying the feedback capacitor configuration. This maintains circuit simplicity while achieving the desired voltage range adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of changing the feedback capacitor value parameter, the system changes the integration direction parameter (positive or negative). This parameter switching approach achieves the same effect of adjusting the measurable voltage range without requiring additional capacitors or modifying existing capacitor values, thus avoiding increased circuit complexity.
4Measurement precision
If multiple integrators with different capacitances are used to cover different voltage ranges, then the measurable voltage range is expanded, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single integrator circuit is designed to perform multiple functions by switching between positive and negative integration directions. This universal integrator can handle the entire voltage range that would otherwise require multiple specialized integrators, significantly reducing the number of components while maintaining the expanded measurable voltage range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple integrators with different capacitance values into a single integrator by combining positive and negative integration capabilities. The switching controller coordinates the integration direction changes to achieve the same effect as multiple parallel integrators, but with fewer components and reduced circuit complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrator circuit device for integrating an input signal includes an integrator configured to perform integration on an input signal in a positive direction or a negative direction to generate an output voltage, and a switching controller configured to control a switch so that the integrator performs the integration on the input signal in the positive direction or the negative direction. The integrator circuit device further includes a counter configured to count a number of times an integration direction of the integrator is changed, and a controller configured to determine a final output voltage, based on the counted number of times the integration direction is changed and the output voltage.