Input Sensor Electrode Segmentation for Touch Pen Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face a reduction in input detection capability, particularly when operating at high speeds, and struggle to effectively differentiate between touch and pen inputs, leading to interference and reduced accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a display panel with an input sensor featuring multiple sensing electrodes, including pen electrodes, touch electrodes, and ground electrodes, which are electrically insulated and driven at different frequency bands to independently detect pen and touch inputs, using opposite phase signals to minimize noise and enhance detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single sensing electrode is used to detect both touch and pen inputs, then the device structure remains simple, but input detection accuracy deteriorates due to interference between touch and pen signals
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing electrode is divided into multiple independent electrodes: a first sensing electrode for detecting pen inputs and a second sensing electrode for detecting touch inputs. This segmentation allows each electrode to be optimized for its specific detection function, preventing signal interference and improving detection accuracy while maintaining manageable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display panel are assigned different electrode functions with distinct electrical characteristics. The first sensing electrode region is optimized for pen detection with specific capacitance values, while the second sensing electrode region is optimized for touch detection. This local differentiation enables accurate discrimination between pen and touch inputs without requiring complete structural redesign
2Speed
If time division is used to separately detect pen and touch inputs, then detection accuracy improves, but operational speed deteriorates due to sequential detection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor controller applies periodic driving signals at different frequencies to the first and second sensing electrodes. By using frequency division multiplexing, the system can simultaneously detect both pen and touch inputs through their respective electrodes without time division, maintaining high operational frequency while achieving accurate input differentiation through frequency-based signal separation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters (frequency and phase) of the driving signals applied to different sensing electrodes. The first sensing electrode receives signals at one frequency/phase combination optimized for pen detection, while the second sensing electrode receives signals at a different frequency/phase combination optimized for touch detection. This parameter differentiation enables simultaneous detection without interference
3Reliability
If sensing electrodes are driven at the same frequency, then the control circuit remains simple, but noise and interference increase reducing detection reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor controller generates periodic driving signals with different frequencies for the first and second sensing electrodes. This frequency differentiation creates distinct signal bands that can be easily separated and processed, reducing mutual interference and noise while maintaining relatively simple control circuitry through standard frequency multiplication techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor controller acts as an intermediary that introduces frequency and phase differentiation between signals applied to different sensing electrodes. This intermediary function creates a clear separation between pen detection signals and touch detection signals, enabling reliable detection while the controller manages the signal processing complexity through systematic frequency management
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables high-speed operation with improved input detection accuracy, allowing simultaneous detection of touch and pen inputs without time division, thereby increasing operational frequency and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of sensing electrodes may include a pen electrode to detect an input tool and a touch electrode to detect a user's touch
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device, includes: a display panel; and an input sensor on the display panel, wherein the input sensor includes a plurality of sensing electrodes, each having a first region and a second region that surrounds the first region, each of the plurality of sensing electrodes including a pen electrode configured to detect an input tool and a touch electrode configured to detect a touch input, wherein the pen electrode is at the first region, and wherein the touch electrode is at the second region.