Touch Screen Controller Hardware DMA Noise Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current touch screen controllers face performance deterioration due to the use of complex software algorithms, which slow down response times and increase power consumption, making it difficult to process touch data efficiently within the required time constraints.

Innovation Solution

Implementing hardware-based data processing using a hardware DMA (HDMA) circuit with specialized components like an ambient remover, temporal smoothing circuit, energy calculator, and display noise filter, which share resources efficiently and process data quickly, reducing the need for ultra-high-performance processors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If software algorithms are used for noise filtering and touch signal processing, then noise removal capability is improved, but data processing speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise filtering capabilityVSAvoiddata processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces software-based algorithms with hardware-based processing circuits. Specifically, it implements dedicated hardware circuits for ambient light removal, temporal smoothing, energy calculation, and display noise filtering within the touch screen controller. This hardware substitution eliminates the computational overhead of software execution, thereby maintaining effective noise filtering while significantly improving data processing speed and reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If multiple filters and algorithms are used for noise removal, then signal purity is improved, but response speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal purityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the noise filtering process into distinct hardware circuits, each dedicated to a specific filtering function: ambient light removal circuit, temporal smoothing circuit, energy calculation circuit, and display noise filter. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different noise components simultaneously, maintaining comprehensive signal purification while reducing overall processing time compared to sequential software algorithm execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces multiple sequential software algorithms with parallel hardware circuits that process different aspects of noise filtering simultaneously. This hardware parallelism maintains high signal purity through comprehensive filtering while dramatically reducing response time by eliminating software execution delays and enabling concurrent processing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If complex processing algorithms are implemented, then touch signal accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch signal accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces power-intensive software algorithm execution with efficient hardware circuit implementations. The dedicated hardware circuits for ambient light removal, temporal smoothing, energy calculation, and display noise filtering perform complex processing operations using simple, energy-efficient digital logic and arithmetic operations, thereby maintaining high touch signal accuracy while significantly reducing power consumption compared to software-based processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If software algorithms are used for processing, then flexibility in processing methods is improved, but processing efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces software-based processing with hardware circuits that provide deterministic, high-speed processing. While hardware is generally less flexible than software, the patent maintains adaptability through configurable parameters and control registers that allow adjustment of processing characteristics without sacrificing the fundamental speed advantage of hardware implementation. The processing efficiency is dramatically improved through direct hardware execution eliminates software overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10355737B2Touch screen controller for increasing data processing speed and touch system including the same

Publication Date: 2019.07.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A touch screen controller (TSC) includes: a front end circuit configured to send a control signal to a touch panel and to receive a touch signal from the touch panel; an algorithm processing circuit configured to process source data generated based on the touch signal according to a predetermined algorithm; a memory configured to store the source data and result data obtained as a result of processing the source data at the algorithm processing circuit; and a bus configured to transfer data among the front end circuit, the algorithm processing circuit, and the memory. The algorithm processing circuit includes: a buffer configured to temporarily store the source data or the result data and shared by at least two circuits; and a special function register (SFR) configured to store a setting value necessary for an operation of the algorithm processing circuit.