Multiplexing Terminals for Touch-Sensing and LED Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for capacitive touch screens face inefficiencies due to separate software and hardware modules for touch-sensing and LED-control, leading to slow processing speeds, complex programming, uneven LED brightness, and excessive resource consumption, as well as complicated circuits and large space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A circuit system utilizing a control chip with multiplexing terminals for both touch-sensing and LED-control functions, employing time-division multiplexing to enable simultaneous operation of touch-sensing and LED-control functions using shared terminals, allowing for the driving of a large number of LEDs without increasing the number of terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate software modules are used to implement touch-sensing and LED-control functions, then implementation flexibility is improved, but processing speed deteriorates and processor resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch-sensing function and LED-control function into a single integrated control chip. The control chip includes both touch-sensing capacitors and LED control circuits, allowing both functions to be implemented simultaneously without requiring separate software modules. This integration eliminates the need for frequent context switching between different software modules, thereby improving processing speed while maintaining implementation flexibility.
2Reliability
If separate hardware circuits are used to implement touch-sensing and LED-control functions, then functional independence is improved, but circuit complexity and space requirements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate touch-sensing hardware circuits and LED-control hardware circuits into a single integrated control chip. The control chip includes m first multiplexing terminals and n second multiplexing terminals that can be configured to connect with both touch-sensing capacitors and LEDs. This merging reduces the overall number of separate hardware circuits and connection terminals required, thereby reducing circuit complexity and space requirements while maintaining functional independence through software-controlled multiplexing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control chip is designed with multiplexing terminals that can serve multiple functions. The same terminals used for LED control can also be used for touch-sensing detection, and vice versa. This multi-functionality is achieved through time-division multiplexing, where the terminals are switched between different functions based on timing signals. This approach allows a single control chip to replace what would traditionally require separate dedicated circuits for each function.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple terminals are used for LED control, then LED control precision is improved, but the number of required terminals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs time-division multiplexing to periodically switch the multiplexing terminals between different functions. The control chip includes a timing signal generation unit that generates timing signals to control the switching of multiplexing terminals. By using periodic switching, the system can achieve precise LED control without requiring a dedicated terminal for each LED, as the same terminals are reused in a time-division manner. This reduces the total number of terminals required while maintaining control precision through precise timing control.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for touch sensing and LED control for a touch screen. For example, the system comprises: a control chip including m first multiplexing terminals and n second multiplexing terminals, wherein m and n are integers greater than 2; k LEDs, wherein a rth LED of the k LEDs is connected to an ith first multiplexing terminal of the m first multiplexing terminals and to a jth second multiplexing terminal of the n second multiplexing terminals; wherein: the rth LED is in between the ith first multiplexing terminal and the jth second multiplexing terminal; r is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to k; i is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to m; j is an integer greater than 0 and less than or equal to n; and (m+n) touch-sensing capacitors.