Abstract:
A method of having multiple devices share a circuit&#39;s input/output (I/O) terminals includes applying first and second input signals to first and second I/O terminals to generate first and second output signals at the second and first I/O terminals, respectively. The first and second I/O terminals are coupled to first, second, and third devices via a plurality of signal paths. The method determines which, if any, of the first, second, and third devices is activated based on the first and second output signals. In some embodiments, the three devices correspond to three key switches of a keyboard through which a user can enter operation instructions. In some other embodiments, the three devices correspond to three signal receivers, which are controlled by a local or remote signal source that transmits activation signals in a wired or wireless manner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of sharing input/output terminals of an electronic module, and in particular to methods and systems of scanning a keyboard having multiple key switches coupled to the module. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An electronic application is usually equipped with an input device, e.g., a keyboard including multiple key switches, for a user to enter operation-related instructions. These multiple key switches are coupled to the input/output (/I/O) terminals of an integrated circuit (IC) such as a key-scan sequencer in the electronic application in a predefined manner. The IC is configured to apply input signals to some I/O terminals and capture output signals at some other I/O terminals in accordance with a predefined key-scan process. From the captured output signals, the electronic application determines which, if any, of the multiple key switches is activated and performs operations accordingly. 
         [0003]    A problem with many conventional key-scan sequencer designs and associated key-scan processes is the low ratio of key switches to I/O terminals. In other words, they require too many I/O terminals be dedicated to the scanning of key switches in order to uniquely identify each key switch activated by a user. As a result, the IC may have fewer I/O terminals available for other important or even mandatory functions, e.g., power supply, ground connection, and data transfer. One way of easing this problem is to increase the IC&#39;s total pin count and therefore the number of I/O terminals. But this approach inevitably increases the IC&#39;s packaging cost and may increase other device costs as well. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In some embodiments, an input device comprises: first and second I/O terminals and a plurality of signal paths coupling the first I/O terminal to the second I/O terminal. The plurality of signal paths further comprise a first uni-directional signal path including a first device, a second uni-directional signal path including a second device, and a bi-directional signal path including a third device. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, an input device comprises: first, second, and third arrays of devices, multiple I/O terminals, including first and second I/O terminals, and multiple signal paths for coupling the three arrays of devices to the multiple I/O terminals. There are at least three signal paths between the first I/O terminal and the second I/O terminal, including a first uni-directional signal path including a first device of the first array of devices, a second uni-directional signal path including a second device of the second array of devices, and a bi-directional signal path including a third device of the third array of devices. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, a method of detecting user activations of devices comprises the operations of: applying a first input signal to a first I/O terminal, wherein the first I/O terminal is coupled to a second I/O terminal via a plurality of signal paths and the plurality of signal paths comprises a first uni-directional signal path including a first device, a second uni-directional signal path including a second device, and a bi-directional signal path including a third device; capturing a first output signal at the second I/O terminal in response to the first input signal at the first I/O terminal; applying a second input signal to the second I/O terminal; capturing a second output signal at the first I/O terminal in response to the second input signal at the second I/O terminal; and determining which one of the first, second, and third devices, if any, is activated based on the first and second output signals. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, a method of having multiple devices share a circuit&#39;s I/O terminals, comprises: applying first and second input signals to first and second I/O terminals to generate first and second output signals at the second and first I/O terminals, respectively, wherein the first and second I/O terminals are coupled to first, second, and third devices via a plurality of signal paths; and determining which, if any, of the first, second, and third devices is activated based on the first and second output signals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The aforementioned features and advantages of the invention as well as additional features and advantages thereof will be more clearly understood hereinafter as a result of a detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a prior art matrix configuration of an array of four key switches coupled to four I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a prior art pyramid configuration of an array of 10 key switches coupled to four I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a key switch configuration of three arrays of 22 key switches coupled to four I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a block diagram of a key switch configuration of five key switches coupled to two I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a block diagram of an alternative configuration of two key switches and three signal receivers coupled to two I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a multi-phase key-scan process as applied to the key switch configuration of  FIG. 4A  in accordance with some embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an I/O terminal sharing process in accordance with some embodiments. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    It would be desirable to have a key switch configuration that increases the ratio of key switches to I/O terminals and an associated key-scan process that can uniquely determine which key switch is activated in response to user selection of the key switches. 
         [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter presented herein. But it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
         [0019]    As noted in the background, many conventional key-scan processes have low ratios of key switches to I/O terminals. An electronic application employing these key-scan processes may have to adopt a higher pin count packaging scheme to perform predefined functions. Below are two examples of such key-scan processes. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a prior art matrix configuration of an array of four key switches coupled to four I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer. The four key switches KS_ 1  to KS_ 4  are arranged into a 2×2 matrix, each key switch having two ends and each end coupled to one of the four I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  to GPIO_ 4 . The ratio of key switches to I/O terminals is 1:1. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the four I/O terminals by default all have a logic-high level, e.g., by coupling to a power supply through pull-up resistors (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). At a predefined moment, the key-scan sequencer  100  applies a logic-low signal to the I/O terminal GPIO_ 2  and checks the output at the I/O terminal GPIO_ 3 . The output has two possible outcomes: (i) a logic-low level if the key switch KS_ 1  is currently activated (e.g., depressed) by a user or (ii) a logic-high level if the key switch KS_ 1  is not activated. During a key-scan period, the key-scan sequencer  100  repeats the same test for each key switch in the matrix to determine its state. At the end of the procedure, zero or one user-activated key switch is identified and operations associated with the user-activated key switch, if any, are performed accordingly. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a prior art pyramid configuration of an array of 10 key switches coupled to four I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer. The 10 key switches KS_ 1  to KS_ 10  occupy more than half of the positions of a 4×4 matrix. The four key switches KS_ 1  to KS_ 4  are deployed along the diagonal direction of the matrix and each of them has two ends, one coupled to an I/O terminal and the other to the ground. The six key switches KS_ 5  to KS_ 10  are located at the lower half of the matrix, each key switch having two ends and each end coupled to one of the four I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  to GPIO_ 4 . The ratio of key switches to I/O terminals in  FIG. 2  is 2.5:1, which is higher than the ratio associated with  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the key-scan sequencer  200  employs two different types of key-scan operations, one applied to the four key switches KS_ 1  to KS_ 4  and the other to the six key switches KS_ 5  to KS_ 10 . Assume that the four I/O terminals are at a logic-high level by default. At predefined moments of a key-scan period, the key-scan sequencer  200  examines the logic level at each of the four I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  to GPIO_ 4 . A logic-low level at any I/O terminal corresponds to a user activation of one of the four key switches KS_ 1  to KS_ 4 . At other predefined moments, the key-scanner sequencer  200  applies the procedure described above in connection with  FIG. 1  to determine if any of the six key switches KS_ 5  to KS_ 10  is activated. The 10 key switches can be examined in any arbitrary sequence. 
         [0024]    One feature shared by the two prior art configurations is that there is only one signal path between a pair of I/O terminals. The signal path is bi-directional and includes a key switch. For example, if a user depresses the key switch KS_ 8  in  FIG. 2 , the I/O terminal GPIO_ 1  is coupled to the I/O terminal GPIO_ 3  by the key switch KS_ 8 . The current may flow along the signal path from the I/O terminal GPIO_ 1  to the I/O terminal GPIO_ 3  or in the opposite direction, depending on the relative voltages at the two I/O terminals. The aforementioned prior art key-scan process does not consider the current flow direction in a signal path when determining which key switch is activated because there is only one key switch along the signal path. 
         [0025]    One aspect of the present invention is a key switch configuration in which there are multiple signal paths between a pair of first and second I/O terminals, including a bi-directional signal path like one described above, a first uni-directional signal path from the first I/O terminal to the second I/O terminal, and a second uni-directional signal path from the second I/O terminal to the first I/O terminal, and each signal path has one unique key switch. Consequently, the ratio of key switches to I/O terminals increases significantly. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a key switch configuration of three arrays having a total of 22 key switches that are coupled to four I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer in accordance with some embodiments. The 22 key switches are grouped into three arrays  310 ,  320 , and  330 , each array having a pyramid configuration. The 10 key switches in the array  310  are the same as the 10 key switches in  FIG. 2 . The other two arrays  320  and  330  each have six key switches and each key switch has two ends, one end directly coupled to one of the four I/O terminals and the other end connected to another one of the four I/O terminals through a diode. The ratio of key switches to I/O terminals in  FIG. 3  increases to 5.5:1, significantly higher than that of the two prior art configurations shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively. 
         [0027]    There are three signal paths between each pair of I/O terminals of the key-scan sequencer  300  in  FIG. 3 . For example, there is a bi-directional signal path  340  between the I/O terminals GPIO_ 2  and GPIO_ 3  and this bi-directional signal path  340  includes the key switch KS_ 5  in the array  310 . Bi-directional signal path  340  allows current flow either from GPIO_ 2  to GPIO_ 3  or from GPIO_ 3  to GPIO_ 4  when the key switch KS_ 5  is activated. The exact current flow direction depends on the relative voltages at the two I/O terminals at the moment when the key switch is depressed. 
         [0028]    There are two uni-directional signal paths  350 ,  360  between the two I/O terminals. The uni-directional signal path  350  includes a diode D 4  and a key switch KS_ 13 . The anode of the diode D 4  is coupled to the I/O terminal GPIO_ 2 , and therefore uni-directional signal path  350  can only have current flow from GPIO_ 2  to GPIO_ 3 . Further, current can flow from GPIO_ 2  to GPIO_ 3  only if the I/O terminal GPIO_ 3  is set to a logic-low level and the key switch KS_ 13  is depressed. 
         [0029]    The uni-directional signal path  360  includes a diode D 3  and a key switch KS_ 19 . The cathode of the diode D 3  is coupled to the I/O terminal GPIO_ 2 , and therefore uni-directional signal path  360  can only have current flow from GPIO_ 3  to GPIO_ 2 . Further, current can flow from GPIO_ 3  to GPIO_ 2  if the I/O terminal GPIO_ 2  is set to a logic-low level and the key switch KS_ 19  is depressed. 
         [0030]    For illustrative purposes, a key switch configuration and associated key-scan process involving one pair of I/O terminals are described below in connection with  FIGS. 4A-4B  and  5 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4A  is a block diagram of a key switch configuration of five key switches coupled to two I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer in accordance with some embodiments. There are three signal paths between the I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  and GPIO_ 2 : (i) the first uni-directional signal path from GPIO_ 1  to GPIO_ 2  that includes the first key switch KS_ 1 , (ii) the second uni-directional signal path from GPIO_ 2  to GPIO_ 1  that includes the second key switch KS_ 2 , and (iii) the bi-directional signal path between GPIO_ 1  and GPIO_ 2  that includes the third key switch KS_ 3 . The two I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  and GPIO_ 2  are each coupled to a power supply V_CC through a respective pull-up resistor R 1 , R 2 . If no key switch is activated, the two I/O terminals are, by default, at a logic-high level. Each of the two I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  and GPIO_ 2  can be grounded through a respective pull-down resistor R 3  or R 4  and a respective key switch KS_ 4  or KS_ 5 . In some embodiments, one or two of the key switches KS_ 4  and KS_ 5  are replaced with one or two of input channels (Input_ 1 , Input_ 2 ) and/or one or two of output channels (Output_ 1 , Output_ 2 ). As will be described below, the sequencer  400  treats input/output channels in a way similar to its treatment of a key switch. 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, at least some of the key switches in  FIG. 4A  are replaced with other devices that generate logic signals.  FIG. 4B  is a block diagram of an alternative configuration of two key switches and three signal receivers that are coupled to two I/O terminals of a key-scan sequencer in accordance with some embodiments. The three signal receivers Rcvr_ 1 , Rcvr_ 2 , Rcvr_ 3  each replace one of the key switches KS_ 1 , KS_ 2 , KS_ 3 . Activation logic signals are transmitted from a signal source  450  (which may be internal or external to the device that includes the sequencer  400 ) to the three signal receivers in a wired or wireless manner. The sequencer  400  scans the receivers to determine which of the receivers, if any, is activated and then acts accordingly. In some embodiments, the sequencer  400  repeatedly scans the receivers to detect a sequence of values, or a multi-bit value, from the signal source  450 . One exemplary signal source  450  is radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag and the corresponding exemplary signal receivers are RFID readers. Another exemplary signal source  450  is a multi-function wired or wireless remote control configured to adjust the audio and/or video characteristics of a head-mounted apparatus, such as a head-mounted display or a virtual reality headset. In this case the signal receivers are Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or infrared processing modules. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of a multi-phase key-scan process (also called a method) as applied to the key switch configuration of  FIG. 4A  in accordance with some embodiments. Note that this process is applicable to configurations that include devices other than or in addition to key switches, such as the configuration shown in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0034]    The process has at least two phases. During the first phase, the sequencer  400  determines whether or not one subset of the five key switches is activated by a single operation. During the second phase, the sequencer  400  performs operations to determine whether or not another subset of the five key switches is activated. 
         [0035]    At the beginning of a key-scan cycle, the key-scan sequencer  400  is initialized ( 502 ). In some embodiments, the initialization includes storing the current values at the I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  and GPIO_ 2  in registers or memory locations. After initialization, the sequencer  400  checks the voltage level at the I/O terminal GPIO_ 1  ( 504 ). If I/O terminal GPIO_ 1  has a logic-low voltage level ( 506 -yes), this indicates that the key switch KS_ 4  is currently activated ( 508 ) because the pull-down resistor R 3  causes the voltage level at the I/O terminal GPIO_ 1  to drop to the ground level. In some other embodiments, the logic-low voltage level ( 506 -yes) represents a logic-low input signal from the input channel Input_ 1  if the key switch KS_ 4  is replaced with the input channel Input_ 1 . The sequencer  400 , in response, saves the activated key switch KS_ 4  or the input signal from Input_ 1  in one or more registers ( 509 ) and then performs the same operations ( 510 ,  512 ,  514 ,  515 ) to the other I/O terminal GPIO_ 2 . In other words, the key-scan sequencer  400  can detect two substantially simultaneous key switch activations or input signals. 
         [0036]    If the key-scan sequencer  400  does not detect activation of either of the two key switches KS_ 4 , KS_ 5  or an input signal from either of the two input channels Input_ 1 , Input_ 2  during the first phase of the key-scan cycle ( 517 -no), the sequencer  400  starts the second phase of the key-scan cycle. Otherwise ( 517 -yes), the sequencer  400  generates one or more events associated with the key switch KS_ 4  or corresponding input signal ( 536 ) and returns to wait for the next key-scan cycle. In some embodiments, other components of the electronic application may be triggered to perform predefined operations by the activated key switch or input signal. 
         [0037]    During the second phase of the key-scan cycle, the sequencer  400  applies a logic-low input signal to the I/O terminal GPIO_ 2  and captures the output signal at the I/O terminal GPIO_ 1  ( 516 ). Depending on which of the three key switches KS_ 1 , KS_ 2 , KS_ 3  is activated, the output signal can have either a logic-low level (if the key switch KS_ 1  or KS_ 3  is activated) or a logic-high level (if the key switch KS_ 2  is activated or no key switch is activated). In either case, the sequencer  400  can not reach a definitive answer as to which of the three key switches is activated. The sequencer  400  applies a logic-low input signal to the I/O terminal GPIO_ 1  and captures the output signal at the I/O terminal GPIO_ 2  ( 518 ). The operations  516  and  518  are essentially the same except that the current flows of the two operations are in opposite directions. For operation  516 , the current flow, if existing, is from GPIO_ 1  to GPIO_ 2 . But for operation  518 , the current flow, if existing, is from GPIO_ 2  to GPIO_ 1 . 
         [0038]    From the outcomes of the two operations  516  and  518 , the sequencer  400  determines which of the three key switches, if any, is activated. For example, when both I/O terminals have a logic-low voltage level at the two operations ( 520 ), the process determines that the key switch KS_ 3  is activated ( 522 ) because the signal path including the key switch KS_ 3  is bi-directional and it allows current flow in either direction. When the I/O terminal GPIO_ 1  has a logic-high level at the operation  516  and the I/O terminal GPIO_ 2  has a logic-low level at the operation  518  ( 524 ), the process determines that the key switch KS_ 2  is activated ( 526 ) because it only allows current flow from GPIO_ 2  to GPIO_ 1 . When the I/O terminal GPIO_ 1  has a logic-low level at the operation  516  and the I/O terminal GPIO_ 2  has a logic-high level at the operation  518  ( 528 ), the process determines that the key switch KS_ 1  is activated ( 530 ) because it only allows current flow from GPIO_ 1  to GPIO_ 2 . Finally, when both I/O terminals have a logic-high level at the two operations ( 532 ), the process determines that no key switch is activated ( 534 ) because there is no current flow during the two operations. Depending on which of the three key switches, if any, is activated, the sequencer  400  generates the corresponding events ( 536 ) and returns until the next key-scan cycle starts. 
         [0039]    Note that the sequence of operations described above in connection with  FIG. 5  is illustrative of a key-scan process. Persons skilled in the art will recognize that there are many other possible operation sequences. For example, the sequencer  400  may perform the second phase and then the first phase or even mix the two phases together as long as it finishes the operations shown in  FIG. 5  within a key-scan cycle. In addition, this process can be extended to work with larger arrays of keys. 
         [0040]    Generally, for a given number of I/O terminals (n), the number of key switches (N) supported by the prior art approaches and the embodiments of present invention described above can be defined as follows:
       Matrix Configuration:
           If n is even, N=(n/2)*(n/2);   If n is odd, N=(n+1)*(n−1)/4;   
           Pyramid Configuration:
           N=n*(n+1)/2;   
           Present Invention:
           N=n*(3n−1)/2;   
               
 
         [0048]    Below is a table illustrating the significant improvement of the ratio of key switches to I/O terminals by the embodiments of the present invention described above when compared with the prior art approaches. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Number of Key Switches Supported by Different Approaches 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Number 
                 Maximum number of key switches supported (N) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 of 
                 Matrix 
                 Pyramid 
                   
               
               
                 I/Os (n) 
                 Configuration 
                 Configuration 
                 Present Invention 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 2 
                 1 
                  3 
                  5 
               
               
                 3 
                 2 
                  6 
                 12 
               
               
                 4 
                 4 
                 10 
                 22 
               
               
                 5 
                 6 
                 15 
                 35 
               
               
                 6 
                 9 
                 21 
                 51 
               
               
                 7 
                 12  
                 28 
                 70 
               
               
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0049]    In some embodiments, there is a regular time interval (e.g., 200 ms) between consecutive key-scan cycles and it takes less than 200 ms for the key-scan sequencer to finish each of the key-scan detection operations. In this case, it is possible to let the key-scan sequencer share the I/O terminals with other components of the electronic application, especially those components that transmit signals at a relatively low frequency. 
         [0050]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of an I/O terminal sharing process in accordance with some embodiments. Referring again to  FIG. 4 , in addition to being part of the three signal paths, the I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  and GPIO_ 2  are used as data input/output terminals. In this case, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the sequencer  400  may not be able to support the two key switches KS_ 4  and KS_ 5  if the sequencer  400  gets input signals from the two input channels Input_ 1 , Input_ 2 . 
         [0051]    Initially, the sequencer  400  performs non-key-scan I/O operations at the I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  and GPIO_ 2  ( 601 ). In response to a timer interrupt for key-scan operations ( 603 -yes), the sequencer  400  temporarily saves the current values at the two I/O terminals into a storage device such as registers, memory locations or the like ( 605 ). These values are brought back to continue the non-key-scan I/O operations after the key-scan operations. Next, the sequencer  400  performs key switch scanning operations ( 607 ), e.g., as described above in connection with Figures and  5 . After the key-scan operation ( 607 ) is completed, the sequencer  400  generates events associated with the user-activated key switches ( 609 ). The previously-saved values are restored at the I/O terminals GPIO_ 1  and GPIO_ 2  ( 611 ) to continue the non-key-scan I/O operations. 
         [0052]    The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. For example, the aforementioned systems and methods can be adapted to allow a large number of devices to share a small number of I/O terminals of an electronic module. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.