Touch-Screen Transmit/Receive Switching for Multi-Mode Scans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch-screen systems are not configurable to perform both forward, row, and column scans, limiting their functionality and versatility in detecting touch inputs.
Innovation Solution
A touch-screen system with configurable transceivers that can operate in pass-through and crossover modes, allowing the system to sense local electrostatic fields between rows and columns, as well as between adjacent rows and columns, enabling the performance of forward, row, and column scans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transmitters and receivers are hard wired to the touch-screen, then the system structure is simple, but the system cannot be configured to perform multiple scanning routines (forward scan, row scan, column scan)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the transmitter and receiver connections dynamic rather than fixed. Switches are introduced to allow the transmitters and receivers to be dynamically connected to different rows and columns based on the scanning mode required (forward scan, row scan, or column scan). This enables a single hardware system to adapt its configuration for different scanning routines without requiring separate hard-wired circuits for each mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a single touch-screen system with multi-functional transmitters and receivers that can serve multiple purposes through configurable connections. The same transmitter can be connected to different rows or columns depending on the scanning mode, and the same receiver can receive signals from different sources. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated circuits for each scanning type while maintaining the ability to perform all three scanning routines.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system is designed for a single scanning routine, then the device complexity is low, but the functionality and versatility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic switching to enable a single hardware design to support multiple scanning routines. Switches are configured to dynamically route signals between transmitters, rows, columns, and receivers based on the required scanning mode. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt its topology for forward scanning, row scanning, or column scanning without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each mode, thereby enhancing functionality while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the touch-screen detection system into modular components (transmitters, receivers, rows, columns) that can be independently connected through switches. This modular segmented architecture allows the system to be configured for different scanning routines by changing the connection topology between segments rather than redesigning the entire system. Each segment maintains its basic function while the overall configuration adapts to different scanning requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the touch-screen system to detect touch inputs with greater flexibility and accuracy, enhancing its ability to interpret commands and data from users by configuring transceivers to operate in different modes for various scanning routines.
Implementation Method 1
Local electrostatic fields form between the rows and the columns in response to the measurement signals
Implementation Method 2
The operator disrupts certain local electrostatic fields between the rows and the columns by touching, or being sufficiently proximate, to the display area
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus that is configurable to perform a forward scan, a row scan, and a column scan is disclosed. The apparatus includes a path selection module coupled to a transmitter and a receiver. The path selection module includes a row-transmit switch, a column-receive switch, a row-receive switch, and a column-transmit switch that are configurable to form various transmit paths and receive paths to perform the forward scan, a row scan, and a column scan. The row-transmit switch and the column-transmit switch cascades switching transistors to protect against large voltage swings present in an output of the transmitter, controls the gate voltage that is applied to these switching transistors to protect against the large voltage swings, and includes additional protection circuitry to ensure their reliability. The column-receive switch and the row-receive switch uses thick oxide transistors to protect thin oxide transistors against the large voltage swings and/or includes additional protection circuitry to ensure their reliability.