Touch Input Device Selective Electrode Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch input devices face challenges in providing high-resolution touch detection while maintaining low power consumption, particularly in distinguishing between different touch objects such as fingers and stylus pens to adjust resolution needs.
Innovation Solution
A touch input device comprising a touch sensor panel with drive and receiving electrodes, a driving part, a data processor, and a controller that applies driving signals in different modes to optimize electrode usage, allowing for high-resolution detection when needed and reducing power consumption by selectively activating electrodes and processing signals based on touch object characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all drive electrodes are simultaneously driven to achieve high-resolution touch detection, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive electrodes are divided into multiple groups, and only k groups (where k < n) are driven simultaneously at any given time. This segmentation approach allows the system to achieve high-resolution touch detection in the regions where electrodes are active while reducing overall power consumption by keeping other electrodes inactive.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which drive electrodes are activated based on detected touch positions. When a touch is detected, the controller activates drive electrodes in the vicinity of the touch position to perform detailed detection, while keeping other electrodes inactive. This dynamic adaptation ensures high measurement precision where needed while minimizing energy consumption.
2Measurement precision
If all receiving electrodes are used to detect touch information, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and processes signals only from receiving electrodes that are relevant to the detected touch position. Instead of processing signals from all m receiving electrodes, the controller identifies and processes signals from a subset of s electrodes (where s < m) that are most likely to contain useful touch information, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.
3Use of energy by moving object
If drive electrodes are driven sequentially to reduce power consumption, then use of energy is reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic scanning of drive electrode groups, where k groups are driven simultaneously in a repeating cycle. This periodic action allows the system to maintain relatively high touch detection speed by continuously monitoring multiple electrode groups, while still achieving power savings compared to driving all n electrodes continuously. The cycle time is optimized to balance between detection speed and energy consumption.
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
Enables high-resolution touch detection with adjustable power consumption, effectively distinguishing between touch objects to optimize performance and energy efficiency, allowing for precise movement representation with reduced power usage.
Implementation Method 1
a touch sensor panel comprising n number of drive electrodes, m number of receiving electrodes, and a plurality of node capacitors which are formed by the drive electrodes and the receiving electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A touch input device may be provided that includes: a touch sensor panel comprising n number of drive electrodes, m number of receiving electrodes, and a plurality of node capacitors which are formed by the drive electrodes and the receiving electrodes; a driving part which applies a driving signal to the drive electrode; a data processor which receives a signal including information on a capacitance of the node capacitor through the receiving electrode and detects touch information on the touch sensor panel; and a controller which controls the driving part to apply the driving signal to k number of the drive electrodes of n number of the drive electrodes in a first drive mode. The “n”, “m”, and “k” are natural numbers greater than 2 and “k” is less than “n”.