Touch Electrode Signal Correction for Thin EMR Stylus Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-magnetic resonance (EMR) type passive stylus pens struggle with miniaturization and thinning due to dense coil arrangements in digitizers, leading to inflexibility in design and reduced sensitivity for delicate touches.
Innovation Solution
A touch device with a single-layer design incorporating touch electrodes connected by traces, utilizing a touch controller to correct output signals using n-th order functions, determining touch positions by analyzing current directions induced by a stylus pen's resonance circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If coils are densely arranged in digitizers to receive EMR signals from passive stylus pens, then touch sensing capability is improved, but device miniaturization and thinning are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coil structure from the digitizer and replaces it with a simplified trace pattern directly formed on the touch sensor substrate. This removes the bulky coil component while maintaining EMR signal reception capability through the trace electrodes themselves, enabling device thinning without sacrificing touch sensing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The trace electrodes serve dual functions: they act as both the signal transmission paths for touch control and as the EMR signal reception antennas. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate coil structures, reducing overall device thickness while maintaining both touch control and stylus pen detection capabilities
2Measurement precision
If coils are densely arranged in digitizers to receive EMR signals from passive stylus pens, then touch sensing capability is improved, but design flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the rigid coil structure and replacing it with flexible trace patterns that can be directly printed or formed on the substrate, the design gains flexibility in layout and configuration. The trace electrodes can be adapted to various device forms and sizes without being constrained by coil geometry requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters from fixed coil geometries to variable trace patterns that can be easily modified through standard PCB design tools. This allows for flexible adaptation to different device configurations, sizes, and form factors while maintaining EMR signal reception functionality
3Ease of manufacture
If passive stylus pens are used instead of active stylus pens, then manufacturing cost is reduced and battery requirement is eliminated, but touch input sensitivity for delicate touches is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements signal correction through feedback processing. The touch controller measures output signals from multiple touch electrodes, identifies signal variations caused by trace connections, and applies correction algorithms to compensate for these variations. This feedback mechanism enhances the sensitivity and accuracy of passive stylus pen detection, making it comparable to active stylus pens while maintaining the cost advantages of passive designs
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 approach reduces manufacturing costs, enables a thinner and smaller form factor, improves signal-to-noise ratio, enhances touch input sensitivity, and allows for more accurate touch position calculation.
Implementation Method 1
electro-magnetic resonance (EMR) type of pen among passive stylus pens, a digitizer transfers an electromagnetic signal to the pen, and then the digitizer receives a resonance signal from the pen
Implementation Method 2
a current in a first direction may be induced in some of the plurality of touch electrodes by a resonance circuit of a stylus pen adjacent to the plurality of touch electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A touch device according to an example embodiment includes a plurality of touch electrodes each of which has a first end and a second end, a plurality of first traces that is connected to the first ends of a plurality of first touch electrodes among the plurality of touch electrodes, a plurality of second traces that is connected to the second ends of a plurality of second touch electrodes among the plurality of touch electrodes, and a touch controller configured to correct the plurality of first output signals and/or the second output signals based on a first reference output signal of a first touch electrode adjacent to the plurality of second touch electrodes among a plurality of first output signals received through the plurality of first traces, and a second reference output signal of a second touch electrode adjacent to the plurality of first touch electrode among a plurality of second output signals received through the plurality of second traces.