Unified IC for Capacitive Proximity and Resistive Pointing Stick
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing input devices, such as capacitive proximity sensor devices and resistive pointing sticks, require separate processing systems and integrated circuits, leading to increased complexity and resource usage in electronic systems.
Innovation Solution
A single integrated circuit is configured to operate both capacitive proximity sensor devices and resistive pointing sticks, sharing sensor circuitry to drive voltage signals and receive resulting signals, allowing for determination of positional information and force input within a sensing region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate processing systems are used for capacitive proximity sensor devices and resistive pointing sticks, then each device can be independently optimized, but the overall system complexity and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the processing systems for capacitive proximity sensor devices and resistive pointing sticks into a single integrated circuit. The sensor circuitry includes a transmitter configured to drive voltage signals onto both the capacitive sensor electrode and resistive pointing stick, and a receiver configured to receive resulting signals from both devices. The determining circuitry processes signals from both device types within the same integrated circuit, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining independent optimization capability through separate signal processing paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated circuit is designed with universal sensor circuitry that can handle both capacitive proximity sensing and resistive pointing stick operations. The transmitter can drive varying voltage signals onto different types of sensors, and the receiver can process resulting signals from either device type. The determining circuitry is configured to determine both positional information from capacitive sensors and force information from resistive pointing sticks, providing multi-functional capability within a single processing system.
2Device complexity
If a single integrated circuit processes both sensor types, then complexity and resource usage are reduced, but signal processing accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated circuit employs segmented signal processing paths within the unified sensor circuitry. The transmitter is configured to drive separate varying voltage signals onto the capacitive proximity sensor device and the resistive pointing stick independently. The receiver is configured to receive resulting signals from each device through separate channels. The determining circuitry processes capacitive sensor signals and resistive pointing stick signals through distinct determination paths, ensuring that signal processing accuracy is maintained despite the unified architecture.
3Reliability
If multiple integrated circuits are used for different input devices, then each device can be independently optimized, but the electronic system requires more resources and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the processing functions for capacitive proximity sensor devices and resistive pointing sticks into a single integrated circuit, thereby reducing the total number of integrated circuits required in the electronic system. This consolidation reduces resource usage including power consumption, board space, and component count, while maintaining the ability to independently optimize each sensor type through separate signal processing paths within the unified circuit.
Data Source
AI summary
A single integrated circuit for operating both a capacitive proximity sensor device and a resistive pointing stick comprises sensor circuitry to drive a first varying voltage signal onto a transmitter electrode of the capacitive proximity sensor device. The sensor circuitry is also configured to drive a second varying voltage signal onto a voltage divider of the pointing stick and a third varying voltage signal onto the voltage divider of the pointing stick. The sensor circuitry is configured to receive a first resulting signal from a receiver electrode of the proximity sensor device and receive a second resulting signal from the pointing stick. The single integrated circuit includes determining circuitry configured to determine positional information for input received in a sensing region of the proximity sensor device based on the first resulting signal; and to determine force information received as input to the pointing stick based on the second resulting signal.