Capacitive Touch Acquisition Using Parallel Channel Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch interface systems face noise interference issues due to environmental factors like moisture and unwanted mutual capacitance, leading to reduced noise tolerance and parsing speed.
Innovation Solution
Implementing contemporaneous acquisition of sensed signals from multiple capacitive sensor channels and applying spread encoding techniques to improve noise tolerance, allowing for faster parsing speeds while maintaining signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional single-channel acquisition methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but noise tolerance deteriorates and parsing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the acquisition process into multiple parallel channels, where each channel processes sensed signals independently with its own acquisition circuitry. This segmentation allows simultaneous processing of multiple sensor channels, improving noise tolerance through diversity while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple sensed signals from different channels into a combined output that represents the aggregate information. By combining signals from multiple channels simultaneously, the system achieves improved noise tolerance through signal integration while maintaining parsing speed through parallel processing
2Productivity
If conventional single-channel acquisition methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but parsing speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The acquisition system is segmented into multiple independent channels that operate in parallel, allowing simultaneous processing of multiple sensor inputs. This segmentation enables faster overall parsing by dividing the workload across multiple channels rather than processing sequentially
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous acquisition across multiple channels simultaneously, ensuring that useful action (signal processing) continues without interruption. All channels acquire and process signals in parallel, maximizing productivity through continuous concurrent operation rather than sequential processing
3Reliability
If spread encoding techniques are implemented across multiple channels, then noise tolerance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The encoding function is segmented and distributed across multiple channels, with each channel applying spread encoding independently to its sensed signals. This segmentation allows complex encoding operations to be performed in parallel, improving signal-to-noise ratio while managing complexity through distributed processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal spread encoding mechanism that can be applied across all sensor channels using the same encoding principles. This multi-functional approach improves noise tolerance through consistent encoding while reducing complexity by reusing the same encoding logic across multiple channels
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosure relate, generally, to techniques for parallel acquisition and measurements and related circuits, systems and devices that implement those techniques. A technique for parallel acquisition and measurement generally includes simultaneously acquiring sensed signals from multiple sensor channels and determining which sensed signal of the acquired sensed signals has the largest relative contribution to a measurement.