Touch Sensor Controller for Display Noise Separation in Thin Screens

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch screen technologies face challenges in distinguishing touch inputs from display noise, particularly in ultra-thin screens where parasitic capacitance increases, leading to reduced touch sensing sensitivity and difficulty in proximity sensing.

Innovation Solution

A touch sensor controller is developed that includes a driving circuit to provide signals to driving electrodes, a read-out circuit to generate touch and display noise data, and a processor to determine touch inputs based on these data, while also performing display noise sensing to improve signal reliability and sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the touch sensor is made ultra-thin to reduce overall screen thickness, then the screen becomes more compact and modern, but parasitic capacitance increases which reduces touch sensing sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescreen thicknessVSAvoidtouch sensing sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sensing function by separating touch sensing from display noise measurement. The touch sensor controller performs touch sensing at first time points and display noise measurement at second time points, effectively dividing the measurement process into distinct segments that can be processed independently to improve touch sensing accuracy in ultra-thin screens

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by measuring display noise characteristics before they interfere with touch sensing. The controller measures display noise at specific time points when no touch input is expected, then uses this pre-measured noise data to compensate and correct touch sensing results, thereby maintaining sensitivity in ultra-thin configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If display noise sensing is performed continuously to improve touch detection accuracy, then touch sensing sensitivity improves, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch detection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by performing display noise sensing at specific intervals rather than continuously. The touch sensor controller alternates between touch sensing time points and display noise measurement time points, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining accurate touch detection through periodic noise characterization and compensation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Measurement precision

If parasitic capacitance is reduced to improve touch sensing, then touch sensitivity improves, but screen thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensing sensitivityVSAvoidscreen thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by measuring display noise characteristics and using this information to compensate for parasitic capacitance effects in real-time. The controller calculates noise values from display noise measurements and applies compensation to touch sensing results, effectively counteracting the negative effects of parasitic capacitance without requiring increased screen thickness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 enhances touch sensing sensitivity by effectively separating touch signals from display noise, improving the accuracy of touch input detection and proximity sensing, even in ultra-thin touch screens.

Implementation Method 1

Existing touch screen technologies face challenges in distinguishing touch inputs from display noise, particularly in ultra-thin screens where parasitic capacitance increases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectParasitic capacitance: Parasitic Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS12067201B2Touch sensor controller, operating method of touch sensor controller, and touch screen driving circuit

Publication Date: 2024.08.20 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A touch sensor controller for driving a touch sensor that is stacked on a display panel and includes driving electrodes and receiving electrodes crossing the driving electrodes, the touch sensor controller including: a driving circuit configured to sequentially provide driving signals to the driving electrodes; a read-out circuit configured to, in response to the driving signals, generate touch data based on first sensing signals received from the receiving electrodes and generate display noise data based on a second sensing signal received from a first driving electrode to which a driving signal of the driving signals is not applied from among the driving electrodes; and a touch processor configured to determine whether a touch input has occurred on the touch sensor based on the touch data and the display noise data.