Touch Sensor Sub-Frame Termination for Lower Sensing Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch sensor devices consume excessive power due to full sensing cycles even when minimal changes are detected, leading to inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implement a touch sensing method that uses a subset of resulting signals to perform condition checks, determining whether to continue or terminate the sensing process based on a baseline and threshold, reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full sensing cycles are performed continuously, then touch detection reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the sensing cycle duration variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts between full sensing cycles and reduced sensing cycles based on detected touch states. When no touch is detected, reduced cycles with fewer activated electrodes are used to save power. When touch is detected, full sensing cycles are performed to maintain detection reliability, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous reliable detection and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by performing reduced sensing cycles that activate only a subset of electrodes instead of all electrodes continuously. This partial sensing is sufficient for maintaining basic detection functionality and power savings, while full sensing is performed only when necessary for reliable touch detection, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining adequate reliability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If reduced sensing cycles with fewer activated electrodes are used, then power consumption is reduced, but touch detection precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors touch detection results from reduced sensing cycles. When touch is detected or suspected, the system switches to full sensing cycles to verify and accurately determine touch position. This feedback loop ensures that precision is maintained when needed while allowing power savings during non-touch periods, resolving the contradiction between reduced precision and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between reduced and full sensing modes based on real-time detection needs. The sensing cycle configuration is not static but adapts to current operational requirements, activating more electrodes and performing comprehensive sensing only when touch detection precision is critical, thereby balancing power consumption and detection precision.
3Loss of information
If full sensing cycles are performed, then comprehensive touch information is obtained, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing reduced sensing cycles that process fewer electrodes and generate less data during periods when complete touch information is less critical. This reduces processing time and computational load while still maintaining adequate monitoring capability. Full sensing cycles are performed only when comprehensive touch information is necessary, thus balancing information completeness with processing time efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic full sensing cycles interspersed with reduced sensing cycles. Rather than continuously performing comprehensive sensing, the system uses a periodic pattern where full sensing occurs at intervals to update complete touch state information, while reduced sensing fills in between periods. This periodic approach reduces average processing time while maintaining information completeness at regular intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for touch sensing using an input device is provided. The input device comprises a display and a touch sensor. The touch sensor has a plurality of sensor electrodes and a sensor circuit. The plurality of sensor electrodes are configured to perform touch sensing for a sensing duration based on a set of sensing signals generated by the sensor circuit. The sensor circuit is configured to obtain a sub-frame based on resulting signals received from the plurality of sensor electrodes based on a subset of sensing signals in the sensing duration; determine whether the sub-frame meets a condition to terminate the touch sensing for the sensing duration; and in response to determining that the sub-frame meets the condition to terminate the touch sensing for the sensing duration, terminate the touch sensing for the sensing duration.