Touch Sensor Chip Pin Reduction via Signal Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch sensing apparatuses require a large number of pins and a significant size for touch sensor chips due to the need for multiple touch sensors in proportion to the size of the touch panel, leading to increased complexity and resource usage.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensing apparatus and method that utilize a switching unit to transmit sensing signals from multiple touch sensors through a single line to a touch controller, reducing the number of pins and size of the touch sensor chip by using multiplexers to select and transmit signals from each sensor through a single communication line.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple touch sensors are provided in proportion to the size of the touch panel, then touch sensing coverage and accuracy are improved, but the number of pins and size of the touch sensor chip are greatly increased
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple touch sensors that were previously connected through separate dedicated lines are merged into a single shared communication line. The switching unit acts as a signal router that time-division multiplexes the connections between multiple sensors and the single line, allowing one line to serve multiple sensors sequentially rather than requiring a separate line for each sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
A switching unit is introduced as an intermediary component between the touch sensors and the communication line. This switching unit includes a switching circuit that selectively connects different touch sensors to the single communication line based on control signals, enabling multiple sensors to share the same physical line without signal interference.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple touch sensors are provided in proportion to the size of the touch panel, then touch sensing coverage is improved, but the size of the touch sensor chip is greatly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor interfaces into a single communication line, reducing the total number of connection points that must be routed through the chip. This consolidation allows the touch sensor chip to maintain full functionality across a large touch panel area while using fewer pins, thereby reducing the overall chip footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The single communication line is designed to serve multiple touch sensors through time-division multiplexing controlled by the switching unit. This universal line performs the function of multiple dedicated lines, allowing the chip to support extensive sensor coverage with a single shared interface rather than requiring separate dedicated paths for each sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensing apparatus includes a plurality of touch sensors provided in a touch panel and a switching unit for transmitting sensing signals per column or row of the touch sensors through a single line to a touch controller.