Touch Sensor Interface Using Targeted Transform-Based Reading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensor interfacing technologies face challenges in balancing performance, power consumption, and circuit complexity, particularly in multi-application environments, where user experience and power efficiency are compromised.
Innovation Solution
Implementing transform-based reading of touch sensors using intelligent selection of sensing lines and excitation frequencies based on touch targets, allowing for dynamic adjustment of read configurations to optimize power usage and detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all sensing lines are excited continuously to ensure comprehensive touch detection coverage, then touch detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the excitation configuration of sensing lines based on active touch targets. Instead of continuously exciting all sensing lines, the controller selectively activates only those sensing lines that correspond to currently active touch targets, thereby maintaining detection reliability while reducing power consumption during idle periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different excitation strategies to different regions of the touch sensor based on local requirements. Sensing lines associated with active touch targets receive excitation signals, while those without active targets remain inactive. This localized approach ensures reliable detection where needed while conserving power in inactive regions
2Use of energy by moving object
If transform-based reading with selective sensing line excitation is used to reduce power consumption, then power efficiency is improved, but touch detection precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the controller receives information about active touch targets from the host system and adjusts the excitation configuration accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that the selective excitation strategy maintains adequate touch detection precision by adapting to the actual usage state and activating sufficient sensing lines to preserve measurement accuracy
3Measurement precision
If more sensing lines and excitation frequencies are used to enhance touch detection resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by exciting only a subset of sensing lines and excitation frequencies based on the number and position of active touch targets. Rather than continuously activating all available sensing resources, the system dynamically adjusts the excitation level to match the current touch detection requirements, thereby achieving adequate resolution while reducing circuit complexity and power consumption
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (40) and method (700) provide power-efficient reading of a touch sensor (10) by performing transform-based reading of the touch sensor (10) according to a read configuration (80) that accounts for touch-surface areas that are indicated as touch targets (68) for receiving touch input. Advantages such as power savings and more robust touch detection flow from the intelligent selection of which sensing lines (14) of the touch sensor (10) to excite and which excitation frequencies (52) to use for exciting them.