Capacitive Touch Screen Noise Detection via Electrode Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Capacitive touch screen panels face performance degradation due to outside noise, which affects their ability to accurately sense user inputs, as their reception sensitivity is often insufficient to detect and distinguish spurious external signals effectively.

Innovation Solution

The touch screen panel incorporates a controller that selectively cuts off electrical connections between driving and sensing electrodes during a noise measuring mode to enhance the reception sensitivity of external noise, using switches to isolate specific electrodes and maintain connections only where necessary, allowing for improved noise detection without interfering with touch recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the touch screen panel operates in normal touch recognition mode with all electrical connections maintained, then touch input detection function is preserved, but reception sensitivity to outside noise remains too low to detect spurious external signals effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise detection sensitivityVSAvoidtouch recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching between different electrical connection states through control signals. The controller selectively connects or disconnects driving electrodes and sensing electrodes based on operational mode (noise measurement vs. touch recognition), enabling the system to adapt its sensitivity characteristics dynamically without permanent structural changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the electrical connection control by individually managing connections for different driving electrodes and sensing electrodes. By selectively disconnecting specific driving electrodes while maintaining sensing electrode connections, the system can isolate noise signals from specific regions without completely disabling touch recognition functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If switches are introduced to selectively cut off electrical connections for noise measurement, then reception sensitivity to outside noise is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise signal detection capabilityVSAvoidnumber of switches and control circuitry
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the existing driver and controller circuits multi-functional by enabling them to perform both normal touch recognition operations and noise measurement operations. The same sensing electrodes and driver circuits are reused in both modes, with the switches serving dual purposes of mode selection and signal isolation, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated noise measurement hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If electrical connection is cut off between driving electrodes and driver during noise measurement, then outside noise reception sensitivity is increased, but touch recognition mode operation is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepeak-to-peak voltage of noise signalsVSAvoidmode switching capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic alternation between noise measurement mode and touch recognition mode through controlled switching. The system can periodically disconnect driving electrode connections to measure noise, then restore connections for touch recognition, enabling both functions to operate in sequence without permanent disruption to either capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2687960B1Touch screen panel and driving method thereof
Publication Date: 2016.12.14 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2687960B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2687960B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~2A
  • EP2687960B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

A touch screen panel includes a plurality of driving electrodes, a plurality of sensing electrodes crossing the driving electrodes, a driver for supplying a driving signal to the driving electrodes in a touch recognizing mode, and a controller for receiving signals from the sensing electrodes. In a noise measuring mode, the controller is configured to cut off an electrical connection between one of the driving electrodes and the driver or between one of the sensing electrodes and the controller, maintain an electrical connection between another one of the sensing electrodes and the controller, and detect a noise signal from the other one of the sensing electrodes. The touch screen panel and a driving method of the touch screen panel can increase or maximize the reception sensitivity of outside noise.