Patent Publication Number: US-10326445-B2

Title: Sensing apparatus and method based on electromagnetic induction type

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This continuation application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/728,588, filed on Dec. 27, 2012 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jan. 6, 2012, and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0002049, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a sensing apparatus and method based on an electromagnetic induction input type, and more particularly, to a sensing apparatus and method of controlling the sensing apparatus that reduce a number of channels used. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When entering a specific command into a smartphone or onto a touchscreen, a user can input the specific command or specify a particular icon by placing a part of his/her body or an Electromagnetic Induction (EI) pen on a specific position. 
     The contact with the part of the user&#39;s body can be implemented as a capacitive type. A touchscreen adopting the capacitive type generally includes a condenser component between transparent electrodes. When a user contacts the touchscreen with a part of his/her body, a capacity of the condenser is changed accordingly and the touch can be detected based on the change in capacity. 
     In this regard, the capacitive type is problematic in that an accurate input is difficult due to a relatively wide contact area that is consumed for the touchscreen contact. In contrast, an EI type requires a small area to receive an input. 
     For the EI type, a voltage is controlled to be applied to a loop coil arranged on a circuit board to generate an electromagnetic field for propagation to an EI pen. The EI pen may include a condenser and a loop, and may emit the propagated electromagnetic field to have a certain frequency component. 
     The electromagnetic field emitted by the EI pen may propagate back to the loop coil on the circuit board, thus enabling a determination of which position of the touchscreen the EI pen comes closest. 
     In the conventional EI type, channels for input and output signals have to be assigned for every loop coil included in the circuit board to apply an electromagnetic filed to the EI pen. Thus, if there are many loop coils on the circuit board, many channels are required and thus, the number of operations required to process signals from the channels may be increased. At the same time, high-performance processors may be required to process the increased number of operations, placing a huge burden on firmware. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention provides a sensing apparatus and method of controlling the sensing apparatus that may use fewer channels and accurately determine an input position of a touch object. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a sensing apparatus is provided for determining an input point of a pen. The sensing apparatus includes a sensing loop unit, including a plurality of loops, configured to output a first signal in response to a signal received from the pen, wherein each of the plurality of loops includes two sub-loops separated by a predetermined distance; an area determination loop unit including at least one loop configured to output a second signal in response to the signal received from the pen; and a controller configured to determine a plurality of candidates of the input point based on the first signal and determine the input point from the plurality of candidates of the input point based on the second signal, wherein the two sub-loops are connected to each other in series, wherein one sub-loop of the two sub-loops is disposed inside of an area in which one loop of the area determination loop unit is disposed and another sub-loop of the two sub-loops is disposed outside of the area in which the one loop is disposed, and wherein each of the plurality of loops of the sensing loop unit is configured to determine the plurality of candidates of the input point. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a sensing apparatus is provided for determining an input point of a pen. The sensing apparatus includes a first sensing loop unit, comprising a plurality of loops, configured to output a first signal in response to a signal received from the pen, wherein each of the plurality of loops comprises two sub-loops separated by a predetermined distance; a second sensing loop unit arranged in an outermost part of the sensing apparatus and comprising a single loop configured to output a third signal in response to the signal received from the pen; an area determination loop unit including at least one loop configured to output a second signal in response to the signal outputted from the pen; and a controller configured to determine a plurality of candidates of the input point based on the first signal when the input point lies in the first sensing loop unit and determine the input point from the plurality of candidates of the input point based on the second signal, wherein two sub-loops are connected to each other in series, wherein one sub-loop of the two sub-loops is disposed inside of an area in which one loop of the area determination loop is disposed and another sub-loop of the two sub-loops is disposed outside of the area in which the one loop is disposed, and wherein each of the plurality of loops of the first sensing loop unit is for determining the plurality of candidates of the input point. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling a sensing apparatus having a sensing loop unit that includes a plurality of loops, each of the plurality of loops having two sub-loops separated by a predetermined distance, and an area determination loop unit. The method includes receiving a first signal from at least one of the plurality of loops and a second signal from the area determination loop unit; determining a plurality of candidates of an input point based on the first signal; and determining the input point from the plurality of candidates of the input point based on the second signal. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a sensing apparatus is provided for determining an input point of a pen. The sensing apparatus includes a substrate that includes first, second, third, and fourth areas; a sensing loop unit, comprising a first plurality of loops and a second plurality of loops, configured to output a first signal in response to a signal received from the pen, wherein each of the first plurality of loops has two sub-loops arranged in the first area and the third area respectively, and each of the second plurality of loops has two sub-loops arranged in the third area and the fourth area respectively; an area determination loop unit that includes a first area determination loop and a second area determination loop configured to output a second signal in response to the signal received from the pen, wherein the first area determination loop is arranged in the first area or in the first and a part of the second area and the second area determination loop is arranged in the fourth area or in a part of the third and fourth area; and a controller configured to determine a plurality of candidates of the input point based on the first signal and determines the input point from the plurality of candidates of the input point based on the second signal, wherein two sub-loops are connected to each other in series, wherein one sub-loop of the two sub-loops of each of the first plurality of loops is disposed inside of an area in which the first area determination loop is disposed and another sub-loop of the two sub-loops of each of the first plurality of loops is disposed outside of the area in which the first area determination loop is disposed, and wherein each of the first and second plurality of loops is configured to determine the plurality of candidates of the input point. 
     In according with another aspect of the present invention, a sensing apparatus is provided for determining an input point of a pen. The sensing apparatus includes a sensing loop unit, including a plurality of loops, configured to output a first signal in response to a signal received from the pen, wherein each of the plurality of loops includes a plurality of sub-loops separated by a predetermined distance; a plurality of area determination loops configured to output a second signal in response to the signal received from the pen; and a controller configured to determine the input point based on the first signal and the second signal, wherein the plurality of sub-loops are connected to each other in series, wherein one sub-loop of the plurality of sub-loops is disposed inside of an area in which one loop of the plurality of area determination loops is disposed and another sub-loop of the plurality of sub-loops is disposed outside of the area in which the one loop is disposed, and wherein each of the plurality of loops of the sensing loop unit is configured to determine the plurality of candidates of the input point. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a diagram illustrating the sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a diagram illustrating the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2C  is a diagram illustrating an implementation of the sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a loop arrangement of the sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are diagrams illustrating the loop arrangement of the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the loop arrangement of the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar components may be designated by the same or similar reference numerals although they are illustrated in different drawings. Detailed descriptions of constructions or processes know in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sensing apparatus includes a loop unit  110  and a controller  120 . The loop unit  110  includes a sensing loop unit  111  and an area determination loop unit  112 . 
     The sensing loop unit  111  may include at least one loop. The loop may have two sub-loops separated by a predetermined distance. The two sub-loops may be connected in series, and each sub-loop may have one winding or multiple windings. Each sub-loop may have a predetermined area and preferably be a rectangular shape, although embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. 
     The sensing loop unit  111  may receive a received signal inputted to the sensing apparatus from outside. The received signal may originate from a touch of an object. The touch may be a means for emitting a predetermined electromagnetic field, and may be implemented with, e.g., an EI pen, a manual EI pen, etc. The EI pen that exists around the sensing loop unit  111  may receive the electromagnetic field induced from the sensing loop unit  111 , and then emit the electromagnetic field back. The EI pen is just an example, and the object may be embodied as any means for receiving the electromagnetic field and then emitting it back. The sensing loop unit  111  may not only detect the received signal but may also output a predetermined transmission signal. The transmission signal may be inputted to the EI pen and then may be outputted from it. 
     Loops included in the sensing loop unit  111  may detect changes in electromagnetic fields. The controller  120  may determine candidates of an input point of the touch based on magnitudes of a largest sensing signal detected from a largest signal loop that detects the largest sensing signal and sensing signals detected from loops adjacent to the largest signal loop. The ‘candidates of an input point’ are termed because loops of the sensing loop unit  111  each have two sub-loops, and thus, the input point of the touch object is assumed to be somewhere near the two sub-loops. 
     The controller  120  may determine the input point of the touch from among the candidates of the input point. Specifically, the controller  120  may determine the input point of the touch from among the candidates of the input point based on an input signal from the area determination loop unit  112 . Determination of the input point of the touch based on the input signal from the area determination loop unit  112  is described in greater detail below. The controller  120  may be implemented with microprocessors, Integrated Circuits (ICs), or micro-computers, but is not limited thereto, and may be embodied as any means able to perform predetermined operations. 
     As described above, the sensing apparatus of embodiments of the present invention may determine the candidates of the input point of the touch based on the input signal from the sensing loop unit  111 . The sensing apparatus may also determine the input point of the touch based on the input signal from the area determination loop unit  112 . Each loop of the sensing loop unit  111  may have two sub-loops connected in series, and thus, the number of channels is reduced in half when compared with conventional technology. 
       FIG. 2A  is a diagram illustrating the sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the sensing apparatus includes a controller  200 , a first loop  210 , a second loop  220 , a third loop  230 , a first area determination loop  241 , and a second area determination loop  242 . For ease in description,  FIG. 2A  illustrates an implementation enabling a determination of the input point of the touch in the x-direction. 
     The first loop  210  includes a first sub-loop  211  and a second sub-loop  212 . An end of the first sub-loop  211  is connected to the controller  200 , and the other end of the first sub-loop  211  is connected to an end of the second sub-loop  212 . The other end of the second sub-loop  212  is connected to the controller  200 . A switch may be connected between one end of the first sub-loop  211  and the controller  200 , the switch being ON for a period of scanning each channel and being OFF for a non-scanning period. Accordingly, the first sub-loop  211  and the second sub-loop  212  may be connected in series. 
     An end of a first sub-loop  221  of the second loop  220  is connected to the controller  200 , and the other end of the first sub-loop  221  is connected to an end of a second sub-loop  222  of the second loop  220 . An end of a first sub-loop  231  of the third loop  230  is connected to the controller  200 , and the other end of the first sub-loop  231  is connected to an end of a second sub-loop  232  of the third loop  230 . 
     The controller  200  may determine candidates  201  and  202  of an input point based on input signals from the first, second, and third loops  210 ,  220 , and  230 . Specifically, the controller  200  may compare the input signals from the first, second, and third loops  210 ,  220 , and  230 , and determine the candidates  201  and  202  of the input point based on the largest input signal and input signals from nearby loops. As described above, each loop  210 ,  220 , or  230  includes two sub-loops, and thus, candidates of the input point may be determined to have two. 
     The controller  200  may determine the input point from among the candidates of the input point based on the input signals from the area determination loop units  241  and  242 . In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the first area determination loop  241  is a loop arranged in an area where the first sub-loop  211  of the first loop  210 , the first sub-loop  221  of the second loop  220 , and the first sub-loop  231  of the third loop  230  are arranged. The second area determination loop  242  is a loop arranged in an area where the second sub-loop  212  of the first loop  210 , the second sub-loop  222  of the second loop  220 , and the second sub-loop  232  of the third loop  230  are arranged. The first and second area determination loops  241  and  242  are each connected to the controller  200 . A switch may also be connected between the first or second area determination loops  241  or  242  and the controller  200 , the switch being ON during a scanning period of the area determination loops  241  or  242 , and being OFF during a non-scanning period. 
     The controller  200  may determine the candidates of the input point to be two points  201  and  202 , as described above. The controller  200  may determine the input point based on input signals from the first and second area determination loops  241  and  242 . For example, if the magnitude of the input signal from the first area determination loop  241  is larger than that of the input signal from the second area determination loop  242 , the controller  200  may determine the candidate  201  on the left as the input point. In another example, if the magnitude of the input signal from the second area determination loop  242  is larger than that of the input signal from the first area determination loop  241 , the controller  200  may determine the candidate  202  on the right as the input point. 
     As described above, the controller  200  determines candidates of the input point based on signals from the loops each having two sub-loops. In the foregoing procedure, since each loop includes two sub-loops connected in series, required channels may be reduced in half. However, a loop arranged in an outermost part of the sensing loop unit  111  may include a single loop instead of two sub-loops. The method of determining the input point from candidates of the input point may have an effect of reducing an amount of operations by adopting the simple mechanism that compares magnitudes of input signals from the area determination loops. 
       FIG. 2B  is a diagram illustrating the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The sensing apparatus of  FIG. 2B  determines input points in an x-direction and a y-direction, as opposed to the sensing apparatus of  FIG. 2A . 
     The sensing apparatus of  FIG. 2B  includes the controller  200 , the first loop  210 , the second loop  220 , the third loop  230 , the first area determination loop  241 , and the second area determination loop  242 , as well as a forth loop  250 , a fifth loop  260 , a sixth loop  270 , a third area determination loop  281 , and a fourth area determination loop  282 . The first, second, and third loops  210 ,  220 , and  230 , and the first and second area determination loops  241  and  242  are used to determine the input point of the touch in the x-direction. The fourth, fifth, and sixth loops  250 ,  260 , and  270 , and the third and fourth area determination loops  281  and  282  are used to determine the input point of the touch in the y-direction. 
     In the embodiment of the preset invention illustrated in  FIG. 2A , the first area determination loop  241  is arranged in an area where the first sub-loop of the first loop  210 , the first sub-loop of the second loop  220 , and the first sub-loop of the third loop  230  are arranged. The second area determination loop  242  is arranged in an area where the second sub-loop of the first loop  210 , the second sub-loop of the second loop  220 , and the second sub-loop of the third loop  230  are arranged. The first and second area determination loops  241  and  242  are each connected to the controller  200 . 
     The third area determination loop  281  is arranged in an area where the first sub-loop of the fourth loop  250 , the first sub-loop of the fifth loop  260 , and the first sub-loop of the sixth loop  270  are arranged. The fourth area determination loop  282  is arranged in an area where the second sub-loop of the fourth loop  250 , the second sub-loop of the fifth loop  260 , and the second sub-loop of the sixth loop  270  are arranged. The third and fourth area determination loops  281  and  282  are each connected to the controller  200 . 
     The controller  200  may determine candidates of the input point in the x-direction based on input signals from the first to third loops  210  to  230 , and may determine candidates of the input point in the y-direction based on input signals from the fourth to sixth loops  250  to  270 . The controller  200  may determine four candidates  201 ,  202 ,  203  and  204  of the input point by combining the candidates of the input point. 
     The controller  200  may determine the input point in the x-direction based on input signals from the first and second area determination loops  241  and  242 . For example, if the magnitude of the input signal from the first area determination loop  241  is larger than that of the input signal from the second area determination loop  242 , the controller  200  may determine the candidate  201  or  202  on the left as the input point. In another example, if the magnitude of the input signal from the second area determination loop  242  is larger than that of the input signal from the first area determination loop  241 , the controller  200  may determine the candidate  203  or  204  on the right as the input point. 
     The controller  200  may determine the input point in the y-direction based on input signals from the third and fourth area determination loops  281  and  282 . For example, if the magnitude of the input signal from the third area determination loop  281  is larger than that of the input signal from the fourth area determination loop  282 , the controller  200  may determine the candidate  201  or  204  in the downside as the input point. In another example, if the magnitude of the input signal from the fourth area determination loop  282  is larger than that of the input signal from the third area determination loop  281 , the controller  200  may determine the candidate  202  or  203  in the upside as the input point. 
     The controller  200  may determine the input point based on magnitudes of input signals from the first to fourth area determination loops  241 ,  242 ,  281  and  282 . For example, if the magnitude of the input signal from the first area determination loop  241  is larger than that of the input signal from the second area determination loop  242 , and the magnitude of the input signal from the third area determination loop  281  is larger than that of the input signal from the fourth area determination loop  282 , the candidate  201  of the input point on the lower left is determined to be the input point. 
       FIG. 2C  is a diagram illustrating an implementation of the sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2C , the controller  200  is implemented with ICs arranged on a printed circuit board. However, the controller  200  of  FIG. 2C  is just exemplary, and may be included in, e.g., a controller chip of a cell phone that has the electromagnetic sensing apparatus, or the Central Processing Unit (CPU) on the printed circuit board. The controller  200  includes a connector unit  209 . The connector unit  209  may include a signal transmitting means for inputting/outputting input/output signals on a plurality of channels. The connector unit  209  may be implemented in, e.g., a gold finger form, but embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The number of gold fingers shown in  FIG. 2C  is also exemplary. 
     Meanwhile, a loop unit  290  includes a sensing loop unit  292  and area determination loop units  293  and  294 . Each of the sensing loop unit  292  and the area determination loop unit  293  and  294  are connected to an independent channel, i.e., an independent connector  291 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a loop arrangement of the sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The sensing apparatus of  FIG. 3  includes a first loop having a first sub-loop  311  and a second sub-loop  312 , a second loop having a first sub-loop  321  and a second sub-loop  322 , and a third loop having a first sub-loop  331  and a second sub-loop  332 . Each sub-loop of each of the first to third loops may have multiple windings. Furthermore, the sensing apparatus includes first and second area determination loops  301  and  302 . 
     When each sub-loop has multiple windings, a current induced against the same electromagnetic flux may be larger than in a case each sub-loop has a single winding. Thus, the larger magnitude of the input signal leads to more accurate control of signals and facilitates a more accurate determination of the input point. In addition, if the sub-loops emit electromagnetic fields, low power operations may be achieved. 
     The sensing apparatus of  FIG. 3 , as opposed to that of  FIG. 2A , is implemented such that the area determination loops  301  and  302  do include all of the loops. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first area determination loop  301  includes first sub-loops  311  and  321 , and only a part of the first sub-loop  331  of the third loop. 
     The sensing apparatus may determine candidates of an input point based on magnitudes of input signals from loops, and may determine the input point based on magnitudes of input signals from the area determination loops  301  and  302 . As such, even when the area determination loop does not include all of the sub-loops, the input point may be determined, and thus, a more flexible loop arrangement is possible. 
       FIG. 4A  is a diagram illustrating the loop arrangement of the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 4A , the sensing apparatus includes a first loop  410 , a second loop  420 , a third loop  430 , a fourth loop  440 , a fifth loop  450 , a sixth loop  460 , a first area determination loop  401 , and a second area determination loop  402 . The area determination loops of  FIG. 4A  may not includes all of the first sub-loops, as opposed to the sensing apparatus of  FIG. 2A . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the first area determination loop  401  only includes first sub loops of the fourth through sixth loops  440 ,  450 , and  460 . The second area determination loop  402  only includes second sub loops of the first through third loops  410 ,  420 , and  430 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a diagram illustrating the loop arrangement of the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 4B , the sensing apparatus includes the first loop  410 , the second loop  420 , the third loop  430 , the fourth loop  440 , the fifth loop  450 , the sixth loop  460 , a first area determination loop  403 , and a second area determination loop  404 . The sensing apparatus of  FIG. 4B  is arranged, as opposed to the sensing apparatus of  FIG. 4A , so that the first and second area determination loops  403  and  404  include sub-loops on the left of the first, second, and third loops  410 ,  420 , and  430  and sub-loops on the right of the fourth, fifth, and sixth loops  440 ,  450 , and  460 , respectively. Specifically, it is assumed that an area in which sub-loops on the left of the first, second, and third loops  410 ,  420 , and  430  is referred to as a first area, an area in which sub-loops on the left of the fourth, fifth, and sixth loop  440 ,  450 , and  460  is referred to as a second area, an area in which sub-loops on the right of the first, second, and third loops  410 ,  420 , and  430  is referred to as a third area, and an area in which sub-loops on the right of the fourth, fifth, and sixth loop  440 ,  450 , and  460  is referred to as a fourth area. The first area determination loop  403  is arranged in the first area. Alternatively, the first area determination loop  403  may be arranged in parts of the first and second areas. This is because respective sub-loops of the first and second loops may be superimposed. The second area determination loop  404  may be arranged in the fourth area. Alternatively, the first area determination loop  404  may be arranged in parts of the third and fourth areas. This is because respective sub-loops of the third and fourth loops may be superimposed. 
     Thus, even when the area determination loop does not include all of the sub-loops, the input point may be determined, and thus, a more flexible loop arrangement is possible. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a loop arrangement of the sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sensing apparatus of  FIG. 5 , as opposed to the sensing apparatus of  FIG. 3 , includes loops  510  and  560  that do not include two sub-loops. As shown in  FIG. 5 , some loops  520  to  550  each include two sub-loops separated by a predetermined distance, but the outermost loops  510  and  560  are each implemented in a single loop form. Thus, if it is determined that the input point is around the loops  520  to  550  that include the sub-loops, the sensing apparatus determines the input point according to the foregoing procedure in connection with  FIG. 2A . If it is determined that the input point is around the loops  510  and  560  that each include a single loop, the sensing apparatus may determine the input point based on strengths of input signals from the single loops and nearby loops. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The sensing apparatus includes a controller  600 , a loop unit  610 , a switching unit  620 , a driving unit  630 , and a signal processing unit  640 . The loop unit  610  includes a sensing loop unit  611  and an area determination loop unit  612 . 
     The switching unit  620  may output a current outputted from the driving unit  630  to the sensing loop unit  611  under control of the controller  600 . Each loop included in the sensing loop unit  611  is controlled to be connected to the controller  600  during a scanning period, but is not connected to the controller  600  during a non-scanning period. The switching unit  620  may include a plurality of switches, each of which may be implemented with a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) device, a load switch, or the like. When the switch is implemented with an N-type MOSFET device, an additional bootstrapping circuit may also be included. 
     The driving unit  630  may generate a current and output the current to the switching unit  620 . It will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the driving unit  630  may be embodied as any means for storing a certain power to generate a current at a predetermined magnitude. 
     The signal processor  640  may process and output an input signal from the loop unit  610  into a form to be processed by the controller  600 . The signal processor  640  may include a filtering means, an amplifying means, an analog to digital converting means, etc. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating the sensing apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the sensing apparatus includes a controller  700 , a first loop  710 , a second loop  720 , a third loop  730 , and an area determination loop  741 . As opposed to the sensing apparatus of  FIG. 2A , the sensing apparatus of  FIG. 7  does not include a second area determination unit. 
     The controller  700  may determine candidates  701  and  702  of an input point based on input signals from first, second, and third loops  710 ,  720 , and  730 . Since each loop  710 ,  720 , or  730  includes two sub-loops, the candidates of the input point may be determined to have two. 
     The controller  700  may determine the input point from among the candidates of the input point based on the input signal from the area determination loop unit  741 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the area determination loop  741  may be a loop including an area where a first sub-loop  711  of the first loop  710 , a first sub-loop  721  of the second loop  720 , and a first sub-loop  731  of the third loop  730  are arranged. 
     The controller  700  may determine the candidates of the input point to be two points  701  and  702 , as described above. The controller  700  may determine the input point based on the input signal from the area determination loop unit  741 . For example, if the magnitude of the input signal from the first area determination loop  741  is larger than a predetermined value, the controller  700  may determine the candidate  701  on the left as the input point. Also, for example, if the magnitude of the input signal from the first area determination loop  741  is less than the predetermined value, the controller  700  may determine the candidate  702  on the right as the input point. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling the sensing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     The sensing apparatus may include the sensing loop unit that includes at least one loop each having two sub-loops separated by a predetermined distance and the area determination loop unit for determining one of the two sub-loops of each of the plurality of loops that corresponds to the input point. 
     The sensing apparatus receives input signals from the sensing loop unit and the area determination loop unit, in step S 810 . The sensing apparatus determines candidates of the input point based on the input signal from the sensing loop unit, in step S 820 . The sensing apparatus determines the input point from among the candidates of the input point based on the input signal from the area determination loop unit, in step S 830 . 
     According to embodiments of the present invention, a sensing apparatus and method of controlling the sending apparatus that may use fewer channels and accurately determine an input position of a touch object are provided. Specifically, the sensing apparatus of embodiments of the present invention may be implemented to have approximately half the number of channels when compared with a conventional sensing apparatus. In addition, a time required for an entire scanning may be decreased. A burden on firmware may also be substantially alleviated. 
     In addition, the number of switches to be connected to a sensing loop is also reduced, which is followed by a reduction in the number of pins of driving chip sets and connectors. Thus, the mounting area may be reduced. Furthermore, a required driving current is decreased because of an increase of the number of windings of each loop, and a low-cost switch may be used because the switch&#39;s load is reduced. 
     While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims but the equivalents.