Latency Control System for Touch Sensitive Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Touch-sensitive systems experience variable processing times leading to noticeable latency variations, degrading the user experience as more touch events occur, as existing technologies fail to synchronize touch scan and display operations effectively.

Innovation Solution

A latency control system that synchronizes touch scan and display operations by adjusting timing parameters such as start times and frequencies based on latency feedback signals calculated from buffer write and display update times, reducing latency by adjusting scan and display operation frequencies and start times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If touch scan and display operations are performed independently without synchronization, then device complexity is reduced, but latency between touch events and graphical response increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovelatencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system measures the actual latency between touch events and graphical response, then uses this feedback to dynamically adjust timing parameters of scan and display operations. This closed-loop control reduces latency while maintaining manageable system complexity through adaptive rather than purely reactive synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the timing parameters of touch scan and display operations based on measured latency conditions. Rather than using fixed timing, the system modifies scan frequencies and display refresh timing in real-time to optimize latency performance, making the system adaptable to varying workload conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If the frequency of touch scan operations is increased to reduce latency, then responsiveness improves, but processing time per scan decreases leading to potential degradation in measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescan frequencyVSAvoidtouch event detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial scans or selective scanning of the touch surface based on detected touch activity. Rather than scanning the entire touch surface at maximum frequency continuously, the system increases scan frequency only in regions or time periods where touch events are detected, maintaining measurement precision while improving overall responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of time

If timing parameters are dynamically adjusted to synchronize touch scan and display operations, then latency is reduced, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovelatencyVSAvoidsystem operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-synchronization by automatically measuring its own latency and adjusting its timing parameters without external intervention. The touch controller autonomously monitors the timing relationship between touch scan completion and display refresh, then self-adjusts scan frequencies and timing offsets to optimize latency, eliminating the need for complex manual synchronization configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Manufacturing precision

If buffer write time is extended to ensure complete pixel data updates, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepixel data update completenessVSAvoidbuffer write time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary writes of pixel data to the display buffer ahead of the display refresh timing. By anticipating the buffer read requirements and completing writes in advance, the system ensures complete pixel data updates are finalized before display refresh begins, maintaining update completeness while reducing the critical buffer write time window during which latency is sensitive.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11016600B2Latency reduction in touch sensitive systems

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 BEECHROCK LTD

AI summary

A touch sensitive system includes a touch surface, a display, and a latency control system. The latency control system reduces the latency between a touch event occurring on the touch surface and a graphical response displayed by the display. Specifically, the latency control system is a feedback system that synchronizes touch scan and display operations. The touch scan and display operations are synchronized by adjusting timing parameters, such as the start times and frequencies of the scan and display operations. Thus, the latency control system is an adaptable system that may reduce latency even when the processing times of various operations vary over time.