Touch Signal Synchronization via Hardware Interrupts
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-speed, high-frequency touch signal processing systems, synchronization defects between multiple integrated circuits (ICs) lead to temporal errors and reduced touch accuracy due to inconsistent signal synchronization, affecting noise filtering and touch control efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A synchronization method where a first detecting unit sends a wake-up signal to a second detecting unit via a hardware pin, allowing both units to start touch signal detection simultaneously by switching to a working mode after a predetermined delay, ensuring synchronized operation and minimizing unexpected time differentiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software polling with program codes is used for synchronization between different ICs, then the slave IC can read signals from the master IC, but temporal errors of 1-4 NOPs occur due to code length variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the software-based polling mechanism with a hardware-based interrupt mechanism. The master IC generates an interrupt signal that directly triggers the slave IC's wake-up routine, eliminating the need for software program code execution during synchronization. This hardware-level interaction removes the temporal errors (1-4 NOPs) that were inherent in the software polling approach, as hardware interrupts are processed with fixed and predictable timing regardless of code length.
2Productivity
If multiple ICs are used to process touch signals with multiple high-speed ADCs, then processing power and multi-task ability are increased, but signal synchronization inconsistency occurs between different ICs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the synchronization function into the hardware interrupt mechanism itself. Instead of treating synchronization as a separate software task that runs on top of the multiple ICs, the interrupt signal from the master IC directly coordinates the slave IC's operation at the hardware level. This unified hardware-based approach ensures that all multiple ICs in the system synchronize their ADC operations simultaneously, maintaining signal synchronization consistency while preserving the increased processing power provided by multiple high-speed ADCs.
3Reliability
If the slave IC polls with program codes to read signals from the master IC, then synchronization can be established, but the synchronization rate is affected by code length causing unexpected time differentiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the time-consuming software polling process with a hardware interrupt mechanism. When the master IC needs the slave IC to synchronize, it sends a hardware interrupt signal that immediately triggers the slave IC's wake-up routine. This eliminates the variable time delays caused by different program code lengths, as hardware interrupts are processed with fixed, minimal latency regardless of the subsequent code execution. The synchronization is established reliably through the interrupt mechanism while minimizing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A synchronization method for a touch signal processing system is provided. The touch signal processing system includes a first and a second detecting unit. The method includes the following steps. First, the second detecting unit sends a sync start signal to the first detecting unit and then switches to an idle mode. After receiving the sync start signal, the first detecting unit sends a wake-up signal through a first hardware pin to the second detecting unit. The first detecting unit is then put on hold for a predetermined delay time. After receiving the wake-up signal through a second hardware pin, the second detecting unit switches to a working mode. The first detecting unit which has been put on hold for the predetermined delay time and the second detecting unit that is in the working mode respectively drive one or more analog-to-digital converters, so as to detect touch signals.