Touch Array Sensing Modes for Finger and Active Pen Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in efficiently recognizing touches from both fingers and active pens while maintaining display functionality, particularly as devices become larger and faster, leading to deteriorated sensing performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a touch array comprising driving and sensing electrodes, utilizing different sensing modes to concurrently sense touches through mutual and self-capacitance changes, allowing for improved reliability in detecting inputs from both fingers and active pens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If displays become large in size and speed increases, then display performance is improved, but sensing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The touch array is divided into multiple regions with different sensing modes. Some regions use mutual capacitance sensing while others use self-capacitance sensing, allowing different areas to be optimized for different touch types (finger vs. active pen) without compromising overall performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different sensing modes (mutual capacitance, self-capacitance, and uplink signal transmission) based on the detected touch type and position. This dynamic adaptation allows the display to maintain high sensing performance across different touch scenarios while supporting large screen sizes
2Area of stationary object
If displays become large in size, then display area is increased, but sensing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the large display are assigned different sensing characteristics. Edge regions may use mutual capacitance for active pen detection while center regions use self-capacitance for finger touch, ensuring optimal sensing performance across the entire large display area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third sensing dimension by implementing uplink signal transmission capability in addition to traditional mutual and self-capacitance sensing. This additional dimension allows the system to detect active pen touches with high precision across large display areas without compromising finger touch sensitivity
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensing modes are implemented, then touch detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch electrodes serve multiple functions: they can detect mutual capacitance changes, self-capacitance changes, and transmit/receive uplink signals. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware structure to support multiple sensing modes, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically switches between different sensing modes based on detected touch events. Rather than continuously operating all sensing modes simultaneously, the system activates appropriate modes based on real-time needs, reducing computational complexity while maintaining comprehensive touch detection capability
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
The solution enables simultaneous and reliable detection of touches from fingers and active pens, enhancing the operational reliability of touch devices and display devices by optimizing sensing performance across various modes.
Implementation Method 1
A mutual capacitance may be formed between an adjacent pair of one of the driving electrodes and one of the sensing electrodes
Implementation Method 2
A mutual capacitance may be formed between an adjacent pair of one of the driving electrodes and one of the sensing electrodes, wherein the touch driver is configured to apply the mutual driving signal to the driving electrodes in the first sensing mode, and is configured to sense a change in the mutual capacitance through a mutual sensing signal received from the sensing electrodes
Implementation Method 3
Self-capacitances may be respectively formed in the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes, wherein the touch driver is configured to supply charges to the self-capacitances by applying a self-driving signal to the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes in a second sensing mode, and is configured to sense a change in the self-capacitances
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a touch array including driving electrodes that extend in a first direction, and that are arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction, and sensing electrodes that extend in the second direction, and that are arranged in the first direction, and a touch driver configured to transmit uplink signals to an external device adjacent to the touch array through the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes in a third sensing mode, and to sense a touch by applying a mutual driving signal to the touch array in a first sensing mode, the external device being configured to calculate position information using the uplink signals.