Touch Controller Boundary Conflict Resolution via Data Sharing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large touchscreen displays face touch performance issues due to the lack of sufficient receive and transmit lines in existing touch controllers, leading to conflicts between separate touch sensor segments and increased complexity and processing delays in resolving these conflicts.
Innovation Solution
Sharing digital touch data between touch controllers via an existing electrical interface, such as UART, I2C, or SPI, within a defined margin area adjacent to the boundary between touch-sensing layer segments, allowing each controller to accurately determine user intent and resolve boundary conflicts without the need for additional hardware or increased bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate touch controllers are used for different sensor segments of large touchscreen displays, then the touchscreen can be supported with available controllers, but touch performance issues arise due to conflicts between controllers at segment boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the touchscreen into multiple sensor segments, each handled by a separate touch controller. This segmentation allows large touchscreens to be supported using available controllers, while the segmentation itself enables independent optimization of each segment's touch performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordination mechanism that manages data exchange and conflict resolution between multiple touch controllers at segment boundaries. This intermediary layer harmonizes the operations of separate controllers, eliminating ghost touches and boundary conflicts while maintaining the benefits of segmented architecture
2Reliability
If the entire sensor segment heat map is transferred to the operating system for conflict resolution, then touch conflicts can be resolved, but increased bandwidth and processing requirements are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary boundary region data from the complete heat map for transfer between controllers and to the operating system. By taking out only the critical boundary information rather than the entire heat map, the solution resolves touch conflicts while minimizing bandwidth consumption and processing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by transferring only the portion of heat map data that is necessary for conflict resolution (boundary regions) rather than the complete heat map. This partial data transfer achieves the required conflict resolution functionality with reduced processing overhead
3Reliability
If a master/slave relationship is implemented between touch controllers, then conflict resolution is achieved, but system complexity and processing delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coordination functions of master and slave controllers into a distributed peer-to-peer architecture. Each controller operates independently but coordinates with neighbors through standardized data exchange protocols, eliminating the hierarchical delays inherent in master/slave relationships while maintaining effective conflict resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic coordination mechanism where controllers can adapt their interaction patterns based on real-time conditions. Rather than a fixed master/slave hierarchy, the system dynamically adjusts data exchange and conflict resolution strategies, reducing processing delays while maintaining coordination effectiveness
4Measurement precision
If additional hardwire connections are made between touch controllers for boundary region sharing, then touch accuracy at boundaries improves, but wiring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing communication interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART) multi-functional by using them for both standard controller communication and boundary data exchange. This universal use of existing interfaces provides the needed boundary region sharing capability without adding any physical wiring connections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of boundary region data through existing communication protocols rather than using physical hardwire connections. The boundary data is copied and transmitted electronically through standard interfaces, achieving the same functional result as direct wiring but with reduced physical complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to share digital touch data (e.g., user finger touch data, pen or stylus touch data, etc.) between two or more touch controllers that are coupled to separate respective touch-sensing segments of a common touchscreen display device. The shared digital touch data may correspond to (and be derived from) analog user touch signals received within a defined margin area of each touch-sensing layer segment that lies adjacent to a middle boundary region of the touchscreen display. Each touch controller may accurately determine or compute the user touch intent for a touch data map of its corresponding touch-sensing layer segment after resolving any existing boundary conflict between digital touch data that corresponds to adjacent touch sensor segments. An operating system (OS) executing on a host programmable integrated circuit may then reconstruct and provide the full touch data map for the entire touchscreen display device.