Patent Publication Number: US-9841860-B2

Title: Modulated power supply for reduced parasitic capacitance

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/278,893, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/042,694 filed Sep. 30, 2013, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and apparatus for touch sensing, and more specifically, a capacitive touch sensing device having a modulated power supply. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Input devices including proximity sensor devices (also commonly called touchpads or touch sensor devices) are widely used in a variety of electronic systems. A proximity sensor device typically includes a sensing region, often demarked by a surface, in which the proximity sensor device determines the presence, location and/or motion of one or more input objects. Proximity sensor devices may be used to provide interfaces for the electronic system. For example, proximity sensor devices are often used as input devices for larger computing systems (such as opaque touchpads integrated in, or peripheral to, notebook or desktop computers). Proximity sensor devices are also often used in smaller computing systems (such as touch screens integrated in cellular phones). 
     Many proximity sensor devices utilize an array of sensor electrodes to measure a change in capacitance indicative of the presence of an input object, such as a finger or stylus, proximate the sensor electrode. Many schemes are possible for capacitive touch sensing. In one scheme, “matrix sensing,” sensor electrodes arranged in a grid or “matrix” are driven to generate a capacitive image. The sensor electrodes may be driven in an absolute capacitance mode, in which the sensor electrodes are driven with a signal to determine the degree of capacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes and an input object, if present. 
     Sensor electrodes driven in absolute sensing mode may experience effects related to parasitic capacitances between the sensor electrodes and conductive objects other than an input object. More specifically, conductive objects that are associated with the input device contribute to the capacitance sensed by a sensor electrode driven for capacitive sensing. The existence of parasitic capacitance reduces the ability to detect the presence of an input object. This issue is more acute in “in-cell” display embodiments, in which the sensing electrode is a part of a display pixel cell, and therefore the sensing electrode is very close to several conductive elements, such as the pixel electrode of a display cell, and the terminals of a pixel transistor, among others. 
     Thus, there is a need for an improved proximity sensor device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments described herein include an input device comprising a display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device, a method for capacitive sensing, and a processing system for a display device comprising an integrated input sensing device. 
     In one embodiment, a processing system is provided. The processing system includes sensor circuitry configured to drive a first sensor electrode of a plurality of sensor electrodes with a modulated capacitive sensing signal that is based on a modulated reference signal for capacitive sensing during a first time period; wherein during the first time period a plurality of display electrodes of a display device is driven with modulated signals based on the modulated reference signal. 
     In another embodiment, an input device is provided. The input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes, a plurality of display electrodes, a modulated power supply, and a processing system. The modulated power supply is configured to provide a modulated reference signal. The processing system is configured to drive a plurality of sensor electrodes with modulated capacitive sensing signals that are based on the modulated reference signal for capacitive sensing during a first time period and to drive a plurality of display electrodes of a display device with modulated signals based on the modulated reference signal during the first time period. 
     In another embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes driving a first sensor electrode of a plurality of sensor electrodes with a modulated capacitive sensing signal that is based on a modulated reference signal for capacitive sensing during a first time period. During the first time period a plurality of display electrodes of a display device is driven with modulated signals based on the modulated reference signal. The plurality of display electrodes and the plurality of sensor electrodes have a substantially constant voltage differential during the first time period. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an input device. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a simplified exemplary array of sensor elements that may be used in the input device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is an isometric schematic view of a display device integrated with an input device, illustrating parasitic capacitance. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional partial schematic view of a liquid crystal display cell. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a graph depicting operation of a conventional input device with touch sensing and pixel updating occurring simultaneously without a modulated power supply. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a graph depicting operation of an input device with touch sensing and pixel updating occurring simultaneously, utilizing a modulated power supply. 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a schematic diagram of a display device integrated with an input device. 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates an example circuit for providing a modulated voltage to a pixel transistor gate. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example circuit for driving a sensor electrode for capacitive touch sensing. 
         FIG. 7A  is a close-up top-down view of a portion of display panel. 
         FIG. 7B  is a close-up top-down view of a portion of display panel. 
     
    
    
     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized on other embodiments without specific recitation. The drawings referred to here should not be understood as being drawn to scale unless specifically noted. Also, the drawings are often simplified and details or components omitted for clarity of presentation and explanation. The drawings and discussion serve to explain principles discussed below, where like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Various embodiments of the present technology provide input devices and methods for reducing parasitic capacitance in a capacitive sensing input device. Particularly, embodiments described herein advantageously utilize a modulated power supply to modulate signals within an input device to reduce the parasitic capacitances experienced by sensor electrodes in the input device. Additionally, some other embodiments provide an input device integrated with a display device that includes a modulated power supply to modulate signals provided to display elements and touch sensing elements within the display and input devices. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of an input device  100 , in accordance with embodiments of the present technology. Although the illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure are shown as an input device integrated with a display device, it is contemplated that the invention may be embodied in the input devices that are not integrated with display devices. The input device  100  may be configured to provide input to an electronic system  150 . As used in this document, the term “electronic system” (or “electronic device”) broadly refers to any system capable of electronically processing information. Some non-limiting examples of electronic systems include personal computers of all sizes and shapes, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, netbook computers, tablets, web browsers, e-book readers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs). Additional example electronic systems include composite input devices, such as physical keyboards that include input device  100  and separate joysticks or key switches. Further example electronic systems include peripherals such as data input devices (including remote controls and mice), and data output devices (including display screens and printers). Other examples include remote terminals, kiosks, and video game machines (e.g., video game consoles, portable gaming devices, and the like). Other examples include communication devices (including cellular phones, such as smart phones), and media devices (including recorders, editors, and players such as televisions, set-top boxes, music players, digital photo frames, and digital cameras). Additionally, the electronic system could be a host or a slave to the input device. 
     The input device  100  can be implemented as a physical part of the electronic system, or can be physically separate from the electronic system. As appropriate, the input device  100  may communicate with parts of the electronic system using any one or more of the following: buses, networks, and other wired or wireless interconnections. Examples include I 2 C, SPI, PS/2, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Bluetooth, RF, and IRDA. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the input device  100  is shown as a proximity sensor device (also often referred to as a “touchpad” or a “touch sensor device”) configured to sense input provided by one or more input objects  140  in a sensing region  170 . Example input objects include fingers and styli, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Sensing region  170  encompasses any space above, around, in and/or near the input device  100  in which the input device  100  is able to detect user input (e.g., user input provided by one or more input objects  140 ). The sizes, shapes, and locations of particular sensing regions may vary widely from embodiment to embodiment. In some embodiments, the sensing region  170  extends from a surface of the input device  100  in one or more directions into space until signal-to-noise ratios prevent sufficiently accurate object detection. The distance to which this sensing region  170  extends in a particular direction, in various embodiments, may be on the order of less than a millimeter, millimeters, centimeters, or more, and may vary significantly with the type of sensing technology used and the accuracy desired. Thus, some embodiments sense input that comprises no contact with any surfaces of the input device  100 , contact with an input surface (e.g. a touch surface) of the input device  100 , contact with an input surface of the input device  100  coupled with some amount of applied force or pressure, and/or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, input surfaces may be provided by surfaces of casings within which the sensor electrodes reside, by face sheets applied over the sensor electrodes or any casings, etc. In some embodiments, the sensing region  170  has a rectangular shape when projected onto an input surface of the input device  100 . 
     The input device  100  may utilize any combination of sensor components and sensing technologies to detect user input in the sensing region  170 . The input device  100  comprises a plurality of sensing elements  124  for detecting user input. The sensing elements  124  include a plurality of sensor electrodes  120 . As several non-limiting examples, the input device  100  may use capacitive, elastive, resistive, inductive, magnetic acoustic, ultrasonic, and/or optical techniques. 
     Some implementations are configured to provide images that span one, two, three, or higher dimensional spaces. Some implementations are configured to provide projections of input along particular axes or planes. 
     In some resistive implementations of the input device  100 , a flexible and conductive first layer is separated by one or more spacer elements from a conductive second layer. During operation, one or more voltage gradients are created across the layers. Pressing the flexible first layer may deflect it sufficiently to create electrical contact between the layers, resulting in voltage outputs reflective of the point(s) of contact between the layers. These voltage outputs may be used to determine positional information. 
     In some inductive implementations of the input device  100 , one or more sensing elements  124  pickup loop currents induced by a resonating coil or pair of coils. Some combination of the magnitude, phase, and frequency of the currents may then be used to determine positional information. 
     In some capacitive implementations of the input device  100 , voltage or current is applied to create an electric field. Nearby input objects cause changes in the electric field, and produce detectable changes in capacitive coupling that may be detected as changes in voltage, current, or the like. 
     Some capacitive implementations utilize arrays or other regular or irregular patterns of capacitive sensing elements  124  to create electric fields. In some capacitive implementations, separate sensing elements  124  may be ohmically shorted together to form larger sensor electrodes. Some capacitive implementations utilize resistive sheets, which may be uniformly resistive. 
     As discussed above, some capacitive implementations utilize “self capacitance” (or “absolute capacitance”) sensing methods based on changes in the capacitive coupling between sensor electrodes  120  and an input object. In various embodiments, an input object near the sensor electrodes  120  alters the electric field near the sensor electrodes  120 , thus changing the measured capacitive coupling. In one implementation, an absolute capacitance sensing method operates by modulating sensor electrodes  120  with respect to a reference voltage (e.g. system ground), and by detecting the capacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes  120  and input objects  140 . 
     Additionally as discussed above, some capacitive implementations utilize “mutual capacitance” (or “transcapacitance”) sensing methods based on changes in the capacitive coupling between sensor electrodes  120 . In various embodiments, an input object  140  near the sensor electrodes  120  alters the electric field between the sensor electrodes  120 , thus changing the measured capacitive coupling. In one implementation, a transcapacitive sensing method operates by detecting the capacitive coupling between one or more transmitter sensor electrodes (also “transmitter electrodes”) and one or more receiver sensor electrodes (also “receiver electrodes”) as further described below. Transmitter sensor electrodes may be modulated relative to a reference voltage (e.g., system ground) to transmit a modulated signals. Receiver sensor electrodes may be held substantially constant relative to the reference voltage to facilitate receipt of resulting signals. A resulting signal may comprise effect(s) corresponding to one or more modulated signals, and/or to one or more sources of environmental interference (e.g. other electromagnetic signals). Sensor electrodes  120  may be dedicated transmitter electrodes or receiver electrodes, or may be configured to both transmit and receive. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the processing system  110  is shown as part of the input device  100 . The processing system  110  is configured to operate the hardware of the input device  100  to detect input in the sensing region  170 . The processing system  110  comprises parts of or all of one or more integrated circuits (ICs) and/or other circuitry components. (For example, a processing system for a mutual capacitance sensor device may comprise transmitter circuitry configured to transmit signals with transmitter sensor electrodes, and/or receiver circuitry configured to receive signals with receiver sensor electrodes). In some embodiments, the processing system  110  also comprises electronically-readable instructions, such as firmware code, software code, and/or the like. In some embodiments, components composing the processing system  110  are located together, such as near sensing element(s)  124  of the input device  100 . In other embodiments, components of processing system  110  are physically separate with one or more components close to sensing element(s)  124  of input device  100 , and one or more components elsewhere. For example, the input device  100  may be a peripheral coupled to a desktop computer, and the processing system  110  may comprise software configured to run on a central processing unit of the desktop computer and one or more ICs (perhaps with associated firmware) separate from the central processing unit. As another example, the input device  100  may be physically integrated in a phone, and the processing system  110  may comprise circuits and firmware that are part of a main processor of the phone. In some embodiments, the processing system  110  is dedicated to implementing the input device  100 . In other embodiments, the processing system  110  also performs other functions, such as operating display screens, driving haptic actuators, etc. In one or more embodiments, a grid electrode may be disposed between two or more sensor electrodes  120  and processing system  110  may be configured to drive the guard electrode with a guarding signal which may be configured to guard the sensor electrodes. In one embodiment, the guarding signal may be a shielding signal that is configured to guard and shield the sensor electrodes. The grid electrode may be disposed on the same layer as the sensor electrode and comprise one or more common electrodes. In other embodiments, the grid electrode may be disposed on a layer separate from the sensor electrodes. In on embodiment, a first grid electrode may be disposed on a first layer common with the sensor electrode a second grid electrode may be disposed on a second layer that is between the sensor electrodes and an input surface of the input device  100 . In one embodiment, the grid electrode may be segmented in to multiple segments that may be driven individually by the processing system  110 . In one embodiment a first grid electrode is disposed such that it at least partially circumscribes a first subset of sensor electrodes and a second grid electrode is disposed such that it is at least partially circumscribes a second subset of sensor electrodes. In other embodiments, the input device  100  may comprise more than two grid electrodes. In various embodiments, the grid electrode may be referred to as grid electrode. The grid electrode(s) and the sensor electrode may encompass the entire surface of the Vcom electrode. 
     The processing system  110  may be implemented as a set of modules that handle different functions of the processing system  110 . Each module may comprise circuitry that is a part of the processing system  110 , firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, different combinations of modules may be used. Example modules include hardware operation modules for operating hardware such as sensor electrodes and display screens, data processing modules for processing data such as sensor signals and positional information, and reporting modules for reporting information. Further example modules include sensor operation modules configured to operate sensing element(s)  124  to detect input, identification modules configured to identify gestures such as mode changing gestures, and mode changing modules for changing operation modes. 
     In some embodiments, the processing system  110  responds to user input (or lack of user input) in the sensing region  170  directly by causing one or more actions. Example actions include changing operation modes, as well as GUI actions such as cursor movement, selection, menu navigation, and other functions. In some embodiments, the processing system  110  provides information about the input (or lack of input) to some part of the electronic system (e.g. to a central processing system of the electronic system that is separate from the processing system  110 , if such a separate central processing system exists). In some embodiments, some part of the electronic system processes information received from the processing system  110  to act on user input, such as to facilitate a full range of actions, including mode changing actions and GUI actions. 
     For example, in some embodiments, the processing system  110  operates the sensing element(s)  124  of the input device  100  to produce electrical signals indicative of input (or lack of input) in the sensing region  170 . The processing system  110  may perform any appropriate amount of processing on the electrical signals in producing the information provided to the electronic system. For example, the processing system  110  may digitize analog electrical signals obtained from the sensing elements  124 . As another example, the processing system  110  may perform filtering or other signal conditioning. As yet another example, the processing system  110  may subtract or otherwise account for a baseline, such that the information reflects a difference between the electrical signals and the baseline. As yet further examples, the processing system  110  may determine positional information, recognize inputs as commands, recognize handwriting, and the like. 
     “Positional information” as used herein broadly encompasses absolute position, relative position, velocity, acceleration, and other types of spatial information. Exemplary “zero-dimensional” positional information includes near/far or contact/no contact information. Exemplary “one-dimensional” positional information includes positions along an axis. Exemplary “two-dimensional” positional information includes motions in a plane. Exemplary “three-dimensional” positional information includes instantaneous or average velocities in space. Further examples include other representations of spatial information. Historical data regarding one or more types of positional information may also be determined and/or stored, including, for example, historical data that tracks position, motion, or instantaneous velocity over time. 
     In some embodiments, the input device  100  is implemented with additional input components that are operated by the processing system  110  or by some other processing system. These additional input components may provide redundant functionality for input in the sensing region  170 , or some other functionality.  FIG. 1  shows buttons  130  near the sensing region  170  that can be used to facilitate selection of items using the input device  100 . Other types of additional input components include sliders, balls, wheels, switches, and the like. Conversely, in some embodiments, the input device  100  may be implemented with no other input components. 
     In some embodiments, the input device  100  comprises a touch screen interface, and the sensing region  170  overlaps at least part of an active area of a display screen of the display device  160 . For example, the input device  100  may comprise substantially transparent sensing elements  124  overlaying the display screen and provide a touch screen interface for the associated electronic system. The display screen may be any type of dynamic display capable of displaying a visual interface to a user, and may include any type of light emitting diode (LED), organic LED (OLED), cathode ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma, electroluminescence (EL), or other display technology. The input device  100  and the display device  160  may share physical elements. For example, some embodiments may utilize some of the same electrical components for displaying and sensing. As another example, the display device  160  may be operated in part or in total by the processing system  110 . 
     It should be understood that while many embodiments of the present technology are described in the context of a fully functioning apparatus, the mechanisms of the present technology are capable of being distributed as a program product (e.g., software) in a variety of forms. For example, the mechanisms of the present technology may be implemented and distributed as a software program on information bearing media that are readable by electronic processors (e.g., non-transitory computer-readable and/or recordable/writable information bearing media readable by the processing system  110 ). Additionally, the embodiments of the present technology apply equally regardless of the particular type of medium used to carry out the distribution. Examples of non-transitory, electronically readable media include various discs, memory sticks, memory cards, memory modules, and the like. Electronically readable media may be based on flash, optical, magnetic, holographic, or any other storage technology. 
       FIG. 2A  shows a portion of an exemplary pattern  200  of sensing elements  124  configured to sense in the sensing region  170  associated with the pattern  200 , according to some embodiments. For clarity of illustration and description,  FIG. 2A  shows the sensor electrodes  120  of the sensing elements  124  in a pattern of simple rectangles, and does not show various other components. The exemplary pattern  200  of sensing elements  124  comprises an array of sensor electrodes  120   X,Y  (referred collectively as sensor electrodes  120 ) arranged in X columns and Y rows, wherein X and Y are positive integers. It is contemplated that the pattern of sensing elements  124  comprises a plurality of sensor electrodes  120  having other configurations, such as polar arrays, repeating patterns, non-repeating patterns, a single row or column, or other suitable arrangement. The sensor electrodes  120  are coupled to the processing system  110  and utilized to determine the presence (or lack thereof) of an input object  140  in the sensing region  170 . 
     In a first mode of operation, the arrangement of sensor electrodes  120  ( 120 - 1 ,  120 - 2 ,  120 - 3 , . . .  120 - n ) may be utilized to detect the presence of an input object via absolute sensing techniques. That is, processing system  110  is configured to drive each sensor electrode  120  with a signal and receive a resulting signal comprising effects corresponding to the modulated signal, which is utilized by the processing system  110  or other processor to determine the position of the input object. 
     The sensor electrodes  120  are typically ohmically isolated from each other. That is, one or more insulators separate the sensor electrodes  120  and prevent them from electrically shorting to each other. In some embodiments, the sensor electrodes  120  are separated by an insulative gap. The insulative gap separating the sensor electrodes  120  may be filled with an electrically insulating material, or may be an air gap. 
     In a second mode of operation, the sensor electrodes  120  ( 120 - 1 ,  120 - 2 ,  120 - 3 , . . .  120 - n ) may be utilized to detect the presence of an input object via profile sensing techniques. That is, processing system  110  is configured to drive the sensor electrodes  120  row-by-row and then column-by-column, with modulated signals. The signals generated in response to driving the sensor electrodes  120  in this configuration provide information related to the position of an input object  140  within the sensing region. 
     In a third mode of operation, the sensor electrodes  120  may be split into groups of transmitter and receiver electrodes utilized to detect the presence of an input object via transcapacitive sensing techniques. That is, processing system  110  may drive a first group of sensor electrodes  120  with a modulated signal and receive resulting signals with the second group of sensor electrodes  120 , where a resulting signal comprising effects corresponding to the modulated signal. The resulting signal is utilized by the processing system  110  or other processor to determine the position of the input object. 
     The input device  100  may be configured to operate in any one of the modes described above. The input device  100  may also be configured to switch between any two or more of the modes described above. 
     Areas of localized capacitive coupling may be termed “capacitive pixels.” Capacitive pixels may be formed between an individual sensor electrode  120  and ground in the first mode of operation, between groups of sensor electrodes  120  and ground in the second mode of operation, and between groups of sensor electrodes  120  used as transmitter and receiver electrode in the third mode of operation. The capacitive coupling changes with the proximity and motion of input objects  140  in the sensing region  170  associated with the sensing elements  124 , and thus may be used as an indicator of the presence of the input object in the sensing region of the input device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the sensor electrodes  120  are “scanned” to determine these capacitive couplings. That is, in one embodiment, one or more of the sensor electrodes  120  are driven to transmit modulated signals. Transmitters may be operated such that one transmitter electrode transmits at one time, or multiple transmitter electrodes transmit at the same time. Where multiple transmitter electrodes transmit simultaneously, the multiple transmitter electrodes may transmit the same modulated signal and effectively produce an effectively larger transmitter electrode. Alternatively, the multiple transmitter electrodes may transmit different modulated signals. For example, multiple transmitter electrodes may transmit different modulated signals according to one or more coding schemes that enable their combined effects on the resulting signals to be independently determined. 
     The sensor electrodes  120  configured as receiver sensor electrodes may be operated singly or multiply to acquire resulting signals. The resulting signals may be used to determine measurements of the capacitive couplings at the capacitive pixels. 
     In another embodiment, the sensor electrodes may be operated such that more than one sensor electrodes is driven and received with at a time, or sensor electrodes are driven and received with at the same time. In such embodiments, an absolute capacitive measurement may be obtained from each of the one or more sensor electrodes  120  simultaneously. 
     In one embodiment each of the sensor electrodes  120  are simultaneously driven and received with, obtaining an absolute capacitive measurement simultaneously from each of the sensor electrodes  120 . In various embodiments, processing system  110  may configured to selectively drive and receive with a portion of sensor electrodes  120 . For example, the sensor electrodes may be selected based on, but not limited to, an application running on the host processor, a status of the input device, and an operating mode of the sensing device. 
     A set of measurements from the capacitive pixels form a “capacitive image” (also “capacitive frame”) representative of the capacitive couplings at the pixels. Multiple capacitive images may be acquired over multiple time periods, and differences between them used to derive information about input in the sensing region. For example, successive capacitive images acquired over successive periods of time can be used to track the motion(s) of one or more input objects entering, exiting, and within the sensing region. 
     The background capacitance of the input device  100  is the capacitive image associated with no input object in the sensing region  170 . The background capacitance changes with the environment and operating conditions, and may be estimated in various ways. For example, some embodiments take “baseline images” when no input object is determined to be in the sensing region  170 , and use those baseline images as estimates of their background capacitances. 
     Capacitive images can be adjusted for the background capacitance of the input device  100  for more efficient processing. Some embodiments accomplish this by “baselining” measurements of the capacitive couplings at the capacitive pixels to produce a “baselined capacitive image.” That is, some embodiments compare the measurements forming a capacitance image with appropriate “baseline values” of a “baseline image” associated with those pixels, and determine changes from that baseline image. 
     In some touch screen embodiments, one or more of the sensor electrodes  120  comprise one or more common electrodes used in updating the display of the display screen. In one or more embodiment, the common electrodes comprise one or more segments of a V COM  electrode, a source drive line, gate line, an anode electrode or cathode electrode, or any other display element. These common electrodes may be disposed on an appropriate display screen substrate. for example, the common electrodes may be disposed on a transparent substrate (a glass substrate, TFT glass, or any other transparent material) in some display screens (e.g., in plane switching (IPS) or plane to line switching (PLS) organic light emitting diode (OLED)), on the bottom of the color filter glass of some display screens (e.g., patterned vertical alignment (PVA) or multi-domain vertical alignment (MVA)), over an emissive layer (OLED), etc. In such embodiments, the common electrode can also be referred to as a “combination electrode”, since it performs multiple functions. In various embodiments, each of the sensor electrodes  120  comprises one or more common electrodes. In other embodiments, at least two sensor electrodes  120  may share at least one common electrode. 
     In various touch screen embodiments, the “capacitive frame rate” (the rate at which successive capacitive images are acquired) may be the same or be different from that of the “display frame rate” (the rate at which the display image is updated, including refreshing the screen to redisplay the same image). In various embodiments, the capacitive frame rate is an integer multiple of the display frame rate. In other embodiments, the capacitive frame rate is a fractional multiple of the display frame rate. In yet further embodiments, the capacitive frame rate may be any fraction or integer of the display frame rate. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 2A , the processing system  110  coupled to the sensing electrodes  120  includes a sensor module  204  and optionally, a display driver module  208 . The sensor module  204  includes circuitry configured to drive a modulated signal onto the sensing electrodes  120  during periods in which input sensing is desired. The modulated signal is generally a modulated signal containing one or more bursts over a period of time allocated for input sensing. The modulated signal may have an amplitude, frequency and voltage which may be changed to obtain more robust location information of the input object in the sensing region  170 . The sensor module  204  may be selectively coupled to one or more of the sensor electrodes  120 . For example, the sensor module  204  may be coupled to selected portions of the sensor electrodes  120 . In another example, the sensor module  204  may be coupled to a different portion of the sensor electrodes  120 . In yet another example, the sensor module  204  may be coupled to all the sensor electrodes  120  and operate in either an absolute or transcapacitive sensing mode. 
     In one or more embodiments, capacitive sensing (or input sensing) and display updating may occur during at least partially overlapping periods. For example, as a common electrode is driven for display updating, the common electrode may also be driven for capacitive sensing. In another embodiment, capacitive sensing and display updating may occur during non-overlapping periods, also referred to as non-display update periods. In various embodiments, the non-display update periods may occur between display line update periods for two display lines of a display frame and may be at least as long in time as the display update period. In such embodiment, the non-display update period may be referred to as a long horizontal blanking period, long h-blanking period or a distributed blanking period. In other embodiments, the non-display update period may comprise horizontal blanking periods and vertical blanking periods. Processing system  110  may be configured to drive sensor electrodes  120  for capacitive sensing during any one or more of or any combination of the different non-display update times, or during a display update time. 
     The sensor module  204  also includes circuitry configured to receive a resulting signal with the sensor electrodes  120  comprising effects corresponding to the modulated signal during periods in which input sensing is desired. The sensor module  204  may determine a position of the input object  140  in the sensing region  170  or may provide a signal including information indicative of the resulting signal to another module or processor, for example, a determination module or a processor of the electronic device  150  (i.e., a host processor), for determining the position of the input object  140  in the sensing region  170 . 
     The display driver module  208  may be included in or separate from the processing system  110 . The display driver module  208  includes circuitry configured to provide display image update information to the display of the display device  160  during non-sensing (e.g., display updating) periods or during sensing periods. 
     As discussed above, the sensor electrodes  120  of the sensing elements  124  may be formed as discrete geometric forms, polygons, bars, pads, lines or other shape, which are ohmically isolated from one another. The sensor electrodes  120  may be electrically coupled through circuitry to form electrodes of having larger plan area relative to a discrete one of the sensor electrodes  120 . The sensor electrodes  120  may be fabricated from opaque or non-opaque conductive materials. In embodiments wherein the sensor electrodes  120  are utilized with a display device, it may be desirable to utilize non-opaque conductive materials for the sensor electrodes  120 . In embodiments wherein the sensor electrodes  120  are not utilized with a display device, it may be desirable to utilize opaque conductive materials having lower resistivity for the sensor electrodes  120  to improve sensor performance. Materials suitable for fabricating the sensor electrodes  120  include ITO, aluminum, silver, copper, and conductive carbon materials, among others. The sensor electrodes  120  may be formed as contiguous body of conductive material having little or no open area (i.e., having a planar surface uninterrupted by holes), or may alternatively be fabricated to form a body of material having openings formed therethrough. For example, the sensor electrodes  120  may be formed of a mesh of conductive material, such as a plurality of interconnected thin metal wires. In one embodiment, at least one of the length and width of the sensor electrodes  120  may be in a range of about 1 to about 2 mm. In other embodiments, at least one of the length and width of the sensor electrodes may be less than about 1 mm or greater than about 2 mm. In other embodiment, the length and width may not be similar, and one of the length and width may be in the range of about 1 to about 2 mm. Further, on various embodiments, the sensor electrodes  120  may comprise a center to center pitch in the range of about 4 to about 5 mm; however, in other embodiments, the pitch may be less than about 4 mm or greater than about 5 mm. 
     Modulated Power Supply for Reduced Parasitic Capacitance 
     When the sensor electrodes  120  are being driven with modulated signals for capacitive sensing, the sensor electrodes  120  may experience effects related to parasitic capacitance due to capacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes  120  and other nearby conductive components such as other sensor electrodes  120 , as well as traces and other electrodes. In some embodiments, this parasitic capacitance can reduce the ability to detect the presence of that input object through the use of capacitive sensing techniques. 
     To reduce the effects related to parasitic capacitance, the power supply that provides power to the various components of the input device  100  is configured to generate modulated power supply signals and a modulated ground signal. The modulated power supply signals and modulated ground signal cause the various components of the input device  100  described above that would normally be held at a substantially constant voltage with respect to earth ground to instead be driven with a modulated signal with respect to earth ground. In other words, by powering the input device  100  with a modulated power supply, various signals in the input device  100  are modulated. The sensor electrodes  120  can then be operated simply by maintaining the sensor electrodes  120  at a constant voltage with respect to the modulated ground signal. Since the input object  140  is (generally) at earth ground, the voltage differential between the sensor electrodes  120  and the input object  140  varies with time. Further, by maintaining the sensor electrodes  120  at a constant voltage with respect to the modulated ground signal, and thus other components of the input device  100 , parasitic capacitance experienced by the sensor electrodes  120  is reduced. More specifically, parasitic capacitance is reduced because the voltage of the sensor electrodes  120  remains substantially constant with respect to other components of the input device  100 . 
     In various embodiments, input device  100  may comprise display device  160  having an integrated input sensing device. As is described above, in such embodiments, one or more display electrodes may be configured to perform both display updating and capacitive sensing. During display update periods, an electrode in the V COM  layer (common electrode or V COM  electrode) forms the fixed electrode for the storage capacitor and liquid crystal material, with the charge stored between the V COM  electrode and the pixel electrode. The amount of charge stored between the V COM  electrode and pixel electrode determine the transmission of light. For an OLED, during display update periods an electrode in the cathode layer (common electrode or cathode electrode) forms the fixed electrode for the storage capacitor, with the charge stored between the cathode layer and an anode layer. During an input sensing period, the one or more common electrodes corresponding to sensor electrodes  120  are driven to a first voltage potential and the resulting charge that is required drive the sensor electrode(s) to the first voltage potential is measured by the sensor module  204 . In various embodiments, the sensor electrodes may be driven with a modulated voltage that transitions the sensor electrode(s) between a first voltage potential and a second voltage potential. In other embodiments, processing system  110  may be configured to drive a sensor electrode with a predetermined amount of charge and the corresponding voltage on the sensor electrode is measured. In any of the above embodiments, the signal driven onto the sensor electrode may be referred to as a modulated signal and the charge or current that is measured may be referred to as resulting signals that are received with the sensor electrode(s). The resulting signal comprises both local parasitic capacitances between a sensor electrode and proximate conductors and the capacitance between the sensor electrode and the input object. In various embodiments, the capabilities of the sensor module  204  and the input device  100  may be improved by reducing the parasitic capacitances that are present in the resulting signals. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a plurality of the local parasitic capacitances for sensor electrode  120 . In the illustrated embodiment, Csource represents the parasitic capacitance between the sensor electrode and a source line, Cadj represents the parasitic capacitance between the sensor electrode and adjacent (or proximate) sensor electrodes, Cpe represents the parasitic capacitance between the sensor electrode and the pixel electrode and Cgate represents the parasitic capacitance between the sensor electrode and a gate line. The parasitic capacitances illustrated in  FIG. 2B  may a subset of a larger number of parasitic capacitances. Further, in various embodiments, there may be parasitic capacitive couplings between the sensor electrode and multiple gate lines, source lines, adjacent sensor electrodes and/or pixel electrodes. 
     In one embodiment, a parasitic capacitance may be substantially reduced or eliminated by driving a guarding signal onto a sensor electrode that is near to a sensor electrode that is driven for capacitive sensing and/or onto an electrode that serves another purpose, such as display updating. The guarding signal may be configured such that relative voltage between electrodes (i.e., gate line, source line, sensor electrodes) is substantially constant. Therefore, to eliminate or reduce the parasitic capacitance between a sensor electrode driven with a modulated signal for capacitive sensing and nearby electrodes, the nearby electrodes are driven with a guarding signal that is similar to the modulated signal in at least one of frequency, phase and/or amplitude. This guarding signal may be referred to herein as simply a “modulated signal.” 
     In one embodiment, to effectively guard is to electrically isolate an adjacent electrode (such as the pixel electrode or any other nearby electrode) from the processing system. The electrical isolation will maintain the relative voltage between this isolated electrode and a sensor electrode being driven for capacitive sensing unchanged. However, the isolated electrode will also have parasitic capacitance to other electrodes, which will cause the voltage on the isolated electrode to not be different relative to the sensor electrode driven for capacitive sensing. These other electrodes may also be driven with a guarding signal. In one embodiment the pixel electrodes are isolated when the gate line turns off the access transistor. 
     In other embodiments, nearby electrodes are driven with a guarding signal, substantially reducing the parasitic capacitance between the sensor electrode driven for capacitive sensing and nearby electrodes. In one embodiment, an amplitude of the guarding signal may be larger or smaller than the amplitude of the modulated signal. 
     Any practical form of modulation may be applied by a modulated power supply. In some embodiments, the modulation applied by the modulated power supply is a sine wave having a frequency of between 100 kHz and 500 kHz. In other embodiments, other waveforms and/or frequencies may be applied. In some embodiments, the power supply comprises an isolated power supply. In other embodiments, the power supply comprises a non-isolated power supply. 
     One benefit of including the modulated power supply in input device  100  is that because the sensor electrodes  120  are held at a constant voltage with respect to the modulated ground signal, the circuitry for driving the sensor electrodes  120  can be fabricated with minimal complexity. An example of suitable circuitry is provided with respect to  FIG. 6 . 
     A further benefit of including the modulated power supply is that when the components of the input device  100  are modulated, power consumption related to induced current drawn due to parasitic capacitance is reduced. Thus, the amount of power required to drive the sensor electrodes  120  is reduced as compared with an input device  100  that does not include a modulated power supply. 
     A further benefit of including the modulated power supply in input device  100  is realized in embodiments of the input device  100  that include a display device. With many traditional touch/display embodiments, touch sensing must be conducted at a time in which pixels in the display are not being updated. Embodiments of the present invention comprising an input device  100  integrated with a display device benefit from the inclusion of a modulated power supply because a modulated power supply helps to facilitate a touch and display timing scheme in which touch sensing and display updating are performed during at least partially overlapping time periods. This overlapping timing scheme is also referred to as “overlap timing” herein. Overlap timing is discussed in more detail with respect to  FIG. 4B . Embodiments that include a display are now discussed is greater detail with respect to  FIGS. 3-7B . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional partial schematic view of a liquid crystal display cell  300 . The display cell  300  includes a common voltage layer (V COM  layer)  302 , a source line  304 , a gate line  306 , liquid crystal material  308 , a pixel electrode  310 , and a pixel transistor  312  having a source  312   a , a gate  312   b , and a drain  312   c . Although display cell is depicted as a liquid crystal display cell  300 , it should be recognized that display cell  300  may a different type of display cell, such as, for example, organic light-emitting-diodes (OLED). 
     The V COM  layer forms one electrode of a capacitor that includes liquid crystal material  308  as the dielectric. A pixel electrode  310  forms the opposite electrode of the capacitor. Applying a voltage across liquid crystal material  308  causes the liquid crystal material  308  to change optical properties, which allows more or less light emitted from a backlight to pass through the liquid crystal material  308 . The voltage level across the liquid crystal material  308  determines the amount of light that passes through the liquid crystal material  308 . 
     Updating pixel values is thus generally accomplished by setting the pixel electrode  310  to a certain voltage with respect to the V COM  layer  302 . V COM  is typically held at a level somewhere between system ground and system Vcc (i.e., the power supply voltage). Generally, V COM  is held in the middle of these two voltages. The purpose of holding V COM  at an intermediate voltage, rather than at absolute ground or at Vcc is so that a voltage balancing scheme such as dot inversion can be used. Dot inversion is a scheme whereby liquid crystal materials  308  are alternately charged with positive and then negative voltage, so that a single voltage direction is not always applied across the liquid crystal materials  308 . Because liquid crystal materials  308  may experience fatigue if voltage in only a single direction is repeatedly or constantly applied, the inversion schemes described above help to reduce or eliminate this fatigue. 
     In addition to functioning as a reference voltage for updating pixel values, V COM  may also be operated as a sensor electrode  120  for touch sensing. In prior art input devices in which V COM  is operated as a sensor electrode  120 , pixel values are updated, and then touch sensing is conducted. In other words, typically, “overlap timing” is not performed, as described in greater detail below with respect to  FIG. 4A . However, as described with respect to  FIG. 4B , embodiments of the present invention allow touch sensing and display updating to be performed in overlapping time periods. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a graph  400  depicting operation of a conventional input device with touch sensing and pixel updating occurring simultaneously without a modulated power supply. As can be seen by V COM  graph  402 , while the voltage for V COM  is varying over time, the voltage at the pixel electrode, indicated by pixel electrode graph  404 , stays constant. Because the voltage for V COM  is varying, the voltage difference between the pixel electrode and the V COM  electrode varies over time, which means that the desired voltage differential across the liquid crystal material  308  is not being applied. This graph  400  illustrates the traditional reason why pixel updates and touch sensing cannot be performed at the same time. A different scheme, depicted in  FIG. 4B , allows pixel updates and touch sensing to be performed at the same time. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a graph  450  depicting operation of an input device with touch sensing and pixel updating occurring simultaneously, utilizing a modulated power supply. As can be seen, both the graph for V COM    452  and the graph for the pixel electrode  454  vary with time. Additionally, the voltage differential (indicated by ΔV) between the pixel electrode  454  and V COM    452  remains substantially constant. 
     Because the voltage on V COM  varies over time, V COM  can be used to detect capacitive coupling between V COM  and an input object  140 . More specifically, the varying voltage of V COM  with respect to an input object  140  will induce an amount of current flow in V COM  that can be measured. Although the voltage of the pixel electrode  454  is varying over time with respect to earth ground, the voltage differential between the pixel electrode  454  and V COM    452  remains substantially constant. Thus, a constant voltage differential is applied across the liquid crystal material  308 , which means that the liquid crystal material  308  is able to be adjusted to a desired transmittivity. Any voltage differential between the pixel electrode and V COM  may be selected. As long as this voltage differential remains substantially constant, a desired value is applied to the sub-pixel element. 
     As has been illustrated by  FIGS. 4A-4B , to use V COM  electrode(s) (or V COM ) as a sensor electrode, V COM  is modulated. This means that traditionally, updating the pixel values cannot be done at the same time that the input object is sensed. However, by modulating the power supply, V COM  is modulated with respect to earth ground, and is held constant with respect to the voltage applied to the pixel electrode  310 , which is also modulated. Further, by modulating the power supply, conductive elements within display cell  300  are modulated as well, which means that parasitic capacitance between V COM  and these conductive elements is reduced as compared with an input device  100  that does not include a modulated power supply. Further, because V COM  is modulated, sub-pixel values can be updated at the same time that the input object is sensed. 
       FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram of a display device  500  integrated with an input device and including a modulated power supply, according to an embodiment. As shown, the display device  500  includes display panel  502 , gate driver  504 , source driver/receiver module  506 , modulated power supply  508 , and processing system  510 . Processing system  510  includes various modules, such as sensor module  512 , determination module  514 , and display driver module  516 . The display panel  502  includes sensor electrodes  120  that comprise common voltage (V COM ) electrodes. The display panel also includes sub-pixel elements  520 . The sub-pixel elements  520  include components for displaying colors in pixels. The display panel  502  also includes a backlight and other components that are not shown. 
     Referring momentarily to  FIG. 3 , the sub-pixel elements  520  each include pixel transistors for driving pixel electrodes  310 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the pixel transistors include a gate  312   b , a source  312   a , and a drain  312   c . The gate  312   b  is coupled to gate driver  504 . The source  312   a  is coupled to source driver/receiver module  506 . The drain  312   c  is coupled to the pixel electrode  310 . As described with respect to  FIG. 3 , the sub-pixel elements  520  may have a construction based on a different technology than liquid crystal (such as OLED), in which case the sub-pixel elements  520  would have appropriate components. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 5A , processing system  510  generally includes the functionality of processing system  110  depicted in  FIG. 2A . The gate driver  504  and source driver/receiver module  506  generate signals to drive each of the sub-pixel elements  520  for display. More specifically, the gate driver  504  selects a row of sub-pixel elements  520  by providing a gate voltage to a particular row of sub-pixel elements  520 . The source driver/receiver module  506  provides source signals to the sub-pixel elements  520  that are to be updated. The source signals are voltage levels chosen to apply a particular voltage differential across liquid crystal material  308  in order to cause liquid crystal material  308  to transmit the desired amount of light from the backlight, in liquid crystal display embodiments. In other display technology embodiments (such as organic light emitting diode (OLED), the source signals function differently, in accord with the particular display technology. 
     The source driver/receiver module  506  also includes circuitry configured to receive resulting signals from sensor electrodes  120 . In some embodiments, the source driver/receiver module  506  includes multiple receiver channels that are each configured to measure the change in capacitance between one or more sensor electrodes  120  and an input device. In one embodiment, measuring the change in capacitance comprises holding a sensor electrode  120  at a particular voltage with respect to panel ground  532  while measuring an amount of current required to hold the sensor electrodes  120  at that voltage. An example of a receiver channel is circuit  600  depicted and described with respect to  FIG. 6 . Each of the sensing channels may be selectively coupled to one or more sensor electrodes  120  with selection circuitry such as one or more multiplexers. 
     The source driver/receiver module  506  may be embodied as one or more integrated circuit chips configured to perform both touch sensing and display updating functionality. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the functionality of the source driver/receiver module  506  is performed by the sensor module  512 . In other embodiments, the sensor module  512  directs the source driver/receiver module  506  to drive the sensor electrodes  120  with desired signals. Further, in various embodiments, sensor module  512  receives and processes the measured changes in capacitance from the source driver/receiver module  506 . 
     In some embodiments, processing system  510  is configured to cause power supply  508  to select between providing either a modulated reference signal or a non-modulated reference signal to source driver/receiver module  506  and to gate driver  504 , so that sub-pixel elements  520  may be driven with either modulated or non-modulated signals. More specifically, the gate driver  504  receives a gate driver power supply voltage  534  that is either modulated or non-modulated depending on the selection of processing system  510 . Similarly, the source driver/receiver module  506  receives a source driver power supply voltage  536  that is either modulated or non-modulated depending on the selection of processing system  510 . These two power supply voltages may be referred to herein as “reference voltages” and, when modulated, as “modulated reference voltages.” Thus, the source signals, that is, the signals provided to the source terminals  312   a  of the sub-pixel elements  520 , and the gate signals, that is, the signals provided to the gate terminals  312   b  of the sub-pixel elements  520 , are modulated or not modulated based on whether the processing system  510  causes the power supply  508  to provide modulated or non-modulated signals. 
     Referring momentarily to  FIG. 5B ,  FIG. 5B  illustrates an example circuit  550  for driving a gate line with a modulated signal, according to an embodiment. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5B , the switch (transistor pair) determines if the voltage output to the gate line is either the gate voltage low (vgl) or voltage gate high (vgh) supply voltages. When the output is high, the voltage comes from vgh which is modulated, so the output is modulated. If the output is low, the voltage comes from vgl, so the output is also modulated. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 5A , processing system  510  is configured to determine periods in which to drive sensor electrodes  120  and display electrodes (e.g., source electrodes and/or gate electrodes) together. In some embodiments, driving the display electrodes and sensor electrodes  120  together includes driving the display electrodes with display update signals and the sensor electrodes  120  with capacitive sensing signals at the same time. 
     During periods in which the processing system  510  drives the sensor electrodes  120  and display electrodes together, processing system  510  drives the sub-pixel elements  520  with modulated display update signals and also drives sensor electrodes  120  with modulated capacitive sensing signals. In some embodiments, the modulation applied to both display update signals and capacitive sensing signals comprise voltage variations to the same degree, frequency, and/or phase. In some embodiments, the modulation is applied uniformly, and thus the voltage differential between the signals applied to the source  312   a  of the pixel transistor  312  and the sensor electrode  120  remains constant. In these circumstances, sub-pixel values are updated while both the V COM  (i.e., the sensor electrodes  120 ), source lines, and gate lines are modulated with respect to earth ground. 
     In addition to driving the sensor electrodes  120  and display electrodes together, at various different times, the processing system  510  may drive either display electrodes and not sensor electrodes  120 , or sensor electrodes  120  and not display electrodes. In time periods in which the processing system  510  drives display electrodes but not sensor electrodes  120 , processing system  510  may drive the display electrodes with non-modulated signals. Since sensor electrodes  120  are not driven with modulated signals during these time periods, effects related to parasitic capacitances are generally not experienced, and therefore the display electrodes are not driven with modulated signals for guarding. 
     In one example, the sensor module  512  is configured to drive sensor electrodes  120  with capacitive sensing signals that are based on a modulated reference signal during a first time period. These capacitive sensing signals are configured to modulate sensor electrodes  120  so that capacitive sensing may be performed, as is described above. The display driver module  516  is also configured to drive display electrodes with modulated display update signals based on the modulated reference signal for display updating during the first time period. The display update signals are configured to cause voltage between the display electrodes and the sensor electrodes to remain substantially constant. Thus, in the first time period, in which both capacitive sensing and display updating occurs, the display update signals and the touch sensing signals are both modulated, which reduces the effects of parasitic capacitance. The first time period may include all or part of the display update times discussed above with respect to  FIG. 2A . 
     Additionally, in some embodiments, the sensor module  512  is configured to drive the sensor electrodes  120  for capacitive sensing during a second time period, during which no display updating occurs. In the second time period, the display electrodes may be caused to float by switching off the associated pixel transistor. In such a situation, where the display electrodes are floating, due to capacitive effects, the voltage at the display electrodes generally follows the voltage of the sensor electrodes  120  and thus does not contribute to parasitic capacitances described above. Thus, in the second time period, in which capacitive sensing occurs, but display updating does not occur, the display electrodes are not driven with modulated signals. In other embodiments, the display electrodes may be held at a constant voltage. The second time period may include all or part of the non-display update periods (also referred to as “display update times”) discussed above with respect to  FIG. 2A . 
     Further, in some embodiments, the sensor module  512  is configured to not drive the sensor electrodes  120  for capacitive sensing during a third time period, during which the display driver module  516  drives display electrodes for display updating. During the third time period, the display driver module  516  drives the display electrodes with non-modulated display signals. In the third time period, because the sensor electrodes are not driven for capacitive sensing, the parasitic capacitance effects described above generally do not affect capacitive sensing, and thus the display electrodes are not driven with modulated signals. The third time period may include all or part of the display update time discussed above with respect to  FIG. 2A . In various embodiments, any combination of the first, second, and third time periods may occur. For example, the first and second time periods may occur, the first and third time periods may occur, the second or third time periods may occur, or other combinations of such time periods. 
     The processing system  510  also includes a determination module  514  including determination circuitry configured to process signals received from source driver/receiver module  506 . In some embodiments, the processing system  510  is configured to determine changes in capacitive coupling between the sensor electrodes  120  and input object  140 . The determination module  514  may be selectively coupled to each of the receiver channels in source driver/receiver module  506 . 
     The display driver module  516  may be included in or separate from the processing system  510 . The display driver module  516  includes circuitry configured to provide display image update information to the display of the display panel  502 . More specifically, the display driver module  516  includes circuitry for controlling gate driver  504  and source driver/receiver module  506  to update sub-pixel elements  520  to specified values. 
     In one embodiment, the input device  100  comprises at least one capacitive sensing controller coupled with modulated power supply  508 . The capacitive sensing controller may be configured to provide the modulated power supply  508  with a modulated reference signal such that the modulated power supply  508  is configured to provide the modulated signals to the various display electrodes and the sensor electrodes. In one embodiment, the modulated power supply  508  is configured to provide modulated reference signals to the gate lines, source lines and/or common electrodes. In another embodiment, input comprises a timing controller coupled with a modulated power supply  508 , wherein the timing controller is configured to provide the modulated power supply  508  with the modulated reference signal. 
     When V COM  is modulated, V COM  can be used to detect the presence of an input object through capacitive coupling. As the voltage at V COM  changes because of the modulation, a signal is generated that is indicative of an amount of capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode  120  and an input object  140 . An example circuit  600  for measuring the capacitive coupling in this manner is provided below with respect to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an example analog front end channel  600 , also referred to herein as an “AFE channel” for driving the sensor electrode  120  for capacitive touch sensing. As shown, the AFE channel  600  includes a charge accumulator  602 , a modulated power supply  508 , a voltage divider  610 , and sensor electrode  120 . It should be recognized that while the modulated power supply  508  depicted in  FIG. 6  is part of an electric circuit with the AFE channel  600  and is thus electrically coupled to the other components depicted in  FIG. 6 , the modulated power supply  508  represents modulated power supply  508  depicted in  FIG. 5A . Therefore, modulated power supply  508  depicted in  FIG. 6  may be located in a different physical location from the rest of AFE channel  600 . Additionally, it should be understood that while the sensor electrode  120  is electrically coupled to the AFE channel  600  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the sensor electrodes  120  are not physically located within AFE channel  600 . 
     The AFE channel  600  includes a charge accumulator  602  for determining an amount of charge required to hold the sensor electrode at a constant voltage with respect to a modulated ground signal. The charge accumulator  602  includes an operational amplifier  604  with capacitive feedback between the inverting input and the output of the operational amplifier. The non-inverting input is coupled to a reference voltage that is modulated. In one embodiment, the modulated reference voltage is the output of voltage divider  610 , which maintains the modulated reference voltage at a fixed voltage between the voltage of modulated ground and modulated power supply voltage. The positive voltage power supply terminal and negative voltage power supply terminals of the operational amplifier are coupled to the modulated power supply line  530  and the modulated ground line  532  of the display panel  502 , respectively. 
     As the modulated power supply voltage, modulated ground voltage, and modulated reference voltage change due to the modulation, the output of the operational amplifier adjusts accordingly. More specifically, the operation amplifier is configured such that the inverting input of the operational amplifier follows the modulation signal applied to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier. Thus, the inverting input of the operational amplifier, which is coupled to the sensor electrode  120 , causes the sensor electrode  120  to follow the modulation signal. The voltage at the output of the operational amplifier indicates an amount of charge required to hold sensor electrode  120  at a constant voltage with respect to the modulated ground signal  612 . 
     The charge accumulator  602  operates to maintain the sensor electrode  120  at a constant voltage with respect to the modulated ground signal, although at a modulating voltage with respect to an input object  140 . When an input object  140  is brought into the sensing region  170  near the sensor electrode  120 , the amount of current that the operational amplifier is required to flow in order to cause the voltage of the sensor electrode  120  to track the modulation changes as compared with a state in which no input object  140  is present in the sensing region  170 . This amount of current flow is thus indicative of capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode  120  and the input object  140  and is reflected in the output of the operational amplifier. 
     The output of the charge accumulator  602  may be coupled to various supporting components such as demodulator circuitry, a low pass filter, sample and hold circuitry, other useful electronic components, such as filters and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) or the like. The supporting components function to take measurements from the charge accumulator  602  related to the capacitive coupling, or lack thereof, of the sensor electrode  120  to an input object  140 . 
     Parasitic capacitance  620  is not a discrete element, but instead represents an amount of capacitance between the sensor electrode  120  and other components in input device  100 . Modulating the power supply reduces the amount of parasitic capacitance as compared with an input device that does not include a modulated power supply. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate several display panel configurations that illustrate different layouts for routing traces to the sensor electrode  120  and sub-pixel elements  520 .  FIG. 7A  illustrates a configuration that includes a single gate line.  FIG. 7B  illustrates a configuration that includes a dual gate line. 
       FIG. 7A  is a close-up top-down view of a portion of display panel  502  depicting a configuration  700  of touch and display elements. The configuration  700  includes sensor electrodes  120  and sub-pixel elements  520 . 
     Each of the sensor electrodes  120  comprises a portion of a segmented V COM  layer. Each sensor electrode  120  is roughly rectangular in shape, as shown. Additionally, each sensor electrode  120  overlaps four sub-pixel elements  520 . In various embodiments, the sensor electrodes  120  may overlap more or fewer than four sub-pixel elements  520 . The sensor electrodes  120  are ohmically isolated from each other, so that each sensor electrode  120  can be driven separately. Although depicted with a specific shape in  FIG. 7A , the sensor electrodes  120  may be formed in any feasible shape, as those of ordinary skill in the art would understand. 
     Sub-pixel elements  520  include a pixel electrode  310 . Liquid crystal material, not shown in  FIG. 7A , is disposed between the pixel electrode  310  and the sensor electrode  120 . The pixel electrode  310  and sensor electrode  120  work together to provide a voltage across the liquid crystal material, as described with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
     Each of the sub-pixel elements  520  includes a pixel transistor  312  having a gate  312   b , a source  312   a , and a drain  312   c . Gate lines  702  couple the gates  312   b  of the pixel transistors  312  to gate driver  504 . Similarly, source lines  704  couple the sources  312   a  of the pixel transistors  312  to source driver/receiver module  506 . Sensor electrode line  706 , which is coupled to sensor electrode  120  through connection element  705 , and is disposed adjacent to source line  704 , provides signals to the sensor electrode  120 , and is coupled to source driver/receiver module  506 . 
     When a gate line  702  is activated, a signal provided over a source line  704  is driven through the pixel transistor  312  activated by the gate line  702  to the pixel electrode  310  for the sub-pixel element  520  common to both the driven gate line  702  and the driven source line  704 . At the same time, the sensor electrode  120 , acting as a V COM  electrode, is held at a constant voltage with respect to panel ground  532 . The sensor electrode  120  is coupled to an AFE channel, such as AFE channel  600 , in source driver/receiver module  506 , which determines an amount of current required to hold the sensor electrode  120  at the constant voltage. Thus, pixel updating and touch sensing are performed at the same time. 
       FIG. 7B  is a close-up top-down view of a portion of display panel  502  depicting a configuration  750  of touch and display elements. As shown, the configuration  750  depicts sensor electrodes  120  and sub-pixel elements  520 . 
     The sensor electrodes  120  and sub-pixel elements  520  are similar to those depicted in  FIG. 7A . However, each row of sub-pixel elements includes a first gate line  752   a  and a second gate line  725   b  instead of just a single gate line  702  as in  FIG. 7A . The sub-pixel elements  520  are alternatively coupled to the first gate line  752   a  and the second gate line  752   b . The use of two gate lines frees up space for the sensor electrode line  756 . This is because each of the source lines  754  can be used for two adjacent sub-pixels, which are selected by two different gate lines  752   a  and  752   b.    
     In addition to the configurations depicted in  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B , configurations in which the sensor electrode lines are disposed above or below the source lines or drain lines are possible as well. More specifically, the sensor electrode lines may be disposed directly above or below either the gate line or the source line, instead of being adjacent to either of those lines. 
     CONCLUSION 
     Various embodiments of the present technology provide input devices and methods for reducing parasitic capacitance in a capacitive sensing input device. Particularly, embodiments described herein advantageously utilize a modulated power supply to modulate signals within an input device to reduce the parasitic capacitances experienced by sensor electrodes in the input device. Additionally, some other embodiments provide a display device with touch sensing capabilities that includes a modulated power supply to modulate signals provided to display elements and touch sensing elements within the display device. With a modulated power supply, capacitive coupling between sensor electrodes and other components of the input device is reduced, thereby increasing the ability to sense input objects. 
     Thus, the embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the embodiments in accordance with the present technology and its particular application and to thereby enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. 
     In view of the foregoing, the scope of the present disclosure is determined by the claims that follow.