Touch Screen Controller Algorithm Partitioning for Low Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch screen devices face processing overhead and power consumption issues due to the need for complex multi-touch gesture recognition, especially with increasing display sizes and touch complexity, leading to impaired device performance and reduced battery life.
Innovation Solution
Partitioning touch-related algorithms between a touch screen controller and an application processor, allowing the touch screen controller to perform initial digital processing such as noise reduction and filtering, reducing the need for continuous raw data transmission to the host processor, thereby lowering standby power consumption and interface bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all touch sensor raw data is continuously transmitted to the application processor for digital processing, then processing accuracy is maintained, but standby power consumption increases and interface bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the touch processing system into two parts: the touch screen controller handles initial digital processing (noise reduction, image forming, touch validation) locally, while the application processor handles more complex algorithms. This segmentation allows the controller to filter and reduce data before transmission, decreasing standby power consumption and interface bandwidth requirements while maintaining processing accuracy through distributed processing.
2Productivity
If touch processing algorithms are performed entirely by the application processor, then processing capability is sufficient, but processing overhead increases and device performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides touch processing algorithms into two segments: basic functions (noise reduction, image forming, validation) executed by the touch screen controller, and advanced functions (contact identification, tracking, gesture recognition) executed by the application processor. This segmentation reduces processing overhead on the main CPU while maintaining comprehensive touch processing capability through distributed computation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If display size and touch complexity increase to support more applications, then application functionality improves, but processing overhead and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation of processing tasks between the touch screen controller and application processor, enabling the system to handle increased display sizes and touch complexity efficiently. The controller performs local filtering and data reduction, while the processor handles complex algorithms only when needed, thereby supporting enhanced functionality without proportionally increasing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch screen controller performs preliminary digital processing (noise reduction, image forming, touch validation) on touch sensor data before transmission to the application processor. This preliminary action reduces the volume and complexity of data requiring further processing, enabling the system to handle larger displays and more complex touch interactions while consuming less power.
Data Source
AI summary
Implementations disclosed herein provide systems and methods for improved processing of touch sensor data with improved scalability and reduced standby power. Touch-related algorithms may be partitioned between the touch screen controller and the application processor or host such that the system can function with low standby power and low interface bandwidth while providing a scalable solution for enhanced user experience. In some aspects, a small digital processing engine and memory remains in the analog front end (AFE) of the touch screen controller to perform imagine forming algorithms that are mostly related to noise reduction and filtering schemes.