Dual-Controller Display and Sensing Link via Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processing systems for proximity sensor devices, such as touchpads and touch screens, face challenges in efficiently distributing processing tasks across multiple controllers to reduce size and cost while maintaining effective display updating and capacitive sensing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A processing system is implemented with a first controller coupled to a second controller via a communication link, where the first controller transmits display data and receives capacitive sensing data, enabling both display updating and capacitive sensing operations using a minimum of three wires, and allowing for configuration of capacitive sensing functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If processing tasks are distributed across multiple controllers, then device size and cost are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The processing system is divided into multiple independent controllers: a first controller for display data processing and a second controller for capacitive sensing data processing. Each controller handles specific tasks independently, reducing the overall size and cost of each controller while distributing the processing load across the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication link between controllers is designed to handle multiple functions: transmitting display data from the first controller to the second controller, and transmitting capacitive sensing data from the second controller to the first controller. This multi-functional communication interface reduces the need for separate dedicated connections for each data type.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple controllers are used, then device cost is reduced, but data transmission efficiency may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines display data transmission and capacitive sensing data transmission into a single communication link between controllers. This merging of communication channels maintains data transmission efficiency while reducing the number of physical connections needed, thereby lowering device cost and simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Device complexity
If display data and sensing data use the same communication link, then device complexity is reduced, but data transmission speed may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by alternating between display data transmission and capacitive sensing data transmission over the shared communication link. The controllers coordinate their data transmission in time-divided intervals, ensuring that both types of data are transmitted efficiently without continuous interference, thereby maintaining high transmission speeds while using a single communication link.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure generally provides a processing system that includes a first controller coupled with a second controller via a first communication link. The first controller is configured to transmit display data to the second controller via the first communication link. The second controller is configured to drive, using the display data, one or more coupled display electrodes for performing display updating. The second controller is further configured to operate one or more coupled sensor electrodes to acquire capacitive sensing data, and to transmit the capacitive sensing data to the first controller via the first communication link.