Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/USRE46317E1/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 18:49:38
Document Index: 551912605

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'arts 800', 'arts 800', 'arts 800', 'arts 800', 'arts 800', 'Application No. 097125030']

USRE46317E1 - Normalizing capacitive sensor array signals - Google Patents
Normalizing capacitive sensor array signals Download PDF
USRE46317E1
USRE46317E1 US14/171,746 US201414171746A USRE46317E US RE46317 E1 USRE46317 E1 US RE46317E1 US 201414171746 A US201414171746 A US 201414171746A US RE46317 E USRE46317 E US RE46317E
US14/171,746
Ryan D. Seguine
2007-07-03 Priority to US94790307P priority Critical
2008-07-03 Priority to US12/167,552 priority patent/US8086417B2/en
2011-06-08 Priority to US13/156,297 priority patent/US8315832B1/en
2014-02-03 Application filed by Monterey Research LLC filed Critical Monterey Research LLC
2014-02-03 Priority to US14/171,746 priority patent/USRE46317E1/en
2016-09-14 Assigned to MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC reassignment MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
2017-02-21 Publication of USRE46317E1 publication Critical patent/USRE46317E1/en
2028-07-03 Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for reporting position information. Position information received from a plurality of capacitive sensors in an array of capacitive sensors is adjusted based on predetermined adjustment values to generate adjusted position information. Each predetermined adjustment value is associated with at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors. A signal representative of the adjusted position information is generated. In another embodiment, the sensitivity of at least one of the capacitive sensors is adjusted based on the position of the at least one capacitive sensor within the array.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/167,552, filed Jul. 3, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/947,903, filed on Jul. 3, 2007, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to capacitive sensor arrays.
As computing technology has developed, user interface devices have advanced correspondingly. User interfaces have become increasingly significant in the usability of a computing device.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for processing position signal information using high impedance capacitive sensors. The processing of the signal information overcomes the signal loss caused by series impedance of an array of capacitive sensors. Embodiments of the present invention thus facilitate accurate reporting of position information from an array of capacitive sensors that utilize high impedance capacitive substrates.
FIG. 1 shows block diagram of an exemplary capacitive sensor array, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
FIG. 1 shows block diagram of an exemplary capacitive sensor array, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Capacitive sensor array 100 may provide a user interface (e.g., touchpad, track pad, touch screen, and the like) for a variety of devices including, but not limited to, servers, desktop computers, laptops, tablet PCs, mobile devices, music devices, video devices, cellular telephones, and smartphones etc. Capacitive sensor array 100 may include a plurality of sensor elements in a row and column configuration that utilize a high impedance capacitance substrate. Another possible structure for a capacitive sensing array is described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0229470.
FIGS. 2 and 4-6 illustrate example components used by various embodiments of the present invention. Although specific components are disclosed in circuits 200, 400, 500, and 600 it should be appreciated that such components are examples. That is, embodiments of the present invention are well suited to having various other components or variations of the components recited in systems 200, 400, 500, and 600. It is appreciated that the components in systems 200, 400, 500, and 600 may operate with other components than those presented, and that not all of the components of systems 200, 400, 500, and 600 may be required to achieve the goals of systems 200, 400, 500, and 600.
V Start = 1 f · C x · iDAC
Where f is the frequency of the switching of switch 218, Cx is the capacitance of the sensor capacitor 222, and iDAC is the current of current source 204.
R Equivalent = 1 f s · C x
Where fs is the switching frequency of phases 1 and 2 as described herein, and Cx is the capacitance of sensor capacitor 22.
V Start = 1 f s · C x · iDAC
Where fs is the switching frequency of phases 1 and 2 as described herein, and Cx is the capacitance of sensor capacitor 222 and iDAC is current of current source 204.
The charge/discharge cycle of the external modification capacitor 528 is manifested as a bit stream on the output of comparator 520. The bit-stream of comparator 520 is ‘ANDed’ with pulse-width modulator 510 via and gate 516 to enable timer 512. Pulse width modulator 510 sets the time-frame or measurement window in which the bit-stream enables and disables timer 512. The capacitance measurement and therefore the presence of an object is a matter of comparing the bit-stream of the comparator to the known, baseline value.
The output of timer 512 is used for processing the level of capacitance change and determining the sensor activation state. The duration of these steps is compared relative to each other by looking at the comparator bit-stream density. If the density of the bit-stream is relatively high, the sensor is read as “on”. The bit-stream output of comparator 520 is synchronized with system clock via latch 518.
FIG. 7 illustrates example components used by various embodiments of the present invention. Although specific components are disclosed in system 700 it should be appreciated that such components are examples. That is, embodiments of the present invention are well suited to having various other components or variations of the components recited in system 700. It is appreciated that the components in system 700 may operate with other components than those presented, and that not all of the components of system 700 may be required to achieve the goals of system 700.
With reference to FIGS. 8-10, exemplary flowcharts 800-1000 each illustrate example blocks used by various embodiments of the present invention. Although specific blocks are disclosed in flowcharts 800-1000, such blocks are examples. That is, embodiments are well suited to performing various other blocks or variations of the blocks recited in flowcharts 800-1000. It is appreciated that the blocks in flowcharts 800-1000 may be performed in an order different than presented, and that not all of the blocks in flowcharts 800-1000 may be performed.
adjusting position information received from a plurality of capacitive sensors in an array of capacitive sensors based on predetermined adjustment values to generate adjusted position information, wherein each predetermined adjustment value is associated with at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors, and wherein each predetermined adjustment value is derived from a distance between the at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors and a connection of the array of capacitive sensors; and
generating a signal representative of the adjusted position information.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein each predetermined adjustment value is derived from a position of the at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors within the array of capacitive sensors.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein each predetermined adjustment value is a scalar value, and the predetermined adjustment values are stored in a matrix corresponding to the array of capacitive sensors.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the adjusting of the position information comprises multiplying the position information received from the plurality of capacitive sensors by the respective predetermined adjustment values.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a centroid computation based on the adjust position information.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the array of capacitive sensors comprises a high impedance substrate.
7. A method for reporting position information comprising:
adjusting the sensitivity of at least one capacitive sensor in a capacitive sensor array based on a distance between the at least one capacitive sensor and a connection of the capacitive sensor array;
receiving position information from the at least one capacitive sensor; and
generating a signal representative of the position information.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating the position information with the at least one capacitive sensor, wherein the generating of the position information comprises charging the at least one capacitive sensor based on the operation of a switch.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the operation of the switch is controlled by a pseudo random generator.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the adjusting of the sensitivity of the at least one capacitive sensor comprises adjusting a scan time of the at least one capacitive sensor.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting of the scan time of the at least one capacitive sensor comprises adjusting a current source coupled to the at least one capacitive sensor.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting of the scan time of the at least one capacitive sensor comprises adjusting the pulse width modulation of a pulse width modulator.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one capacitive sensor is coupled to a capacitor, and the adjusting of the scan time of the at least one capacitive sensor comprises adjusting a reference voltage to which a voltage across the capacitor is compared.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one capacitive sensor is coupled to a capacitor, and the adjusting of the scan time of the at least one capacitor comprises adjusting the capacitance of the capacitor.
15. A method for reporting position information, the method comprising:
storing a plurality of predetermined adjustment values, wherein each predetermined adjustment value is associated with at least one of a plurality of capacitive sensors in an array of capacitive sensors, and wherein each predetermined adjustment value is derived from a distance between at least one of the plurality of capacitive sensors and a connection of the array of capacitive sensors; and
generating a signal based on the predetermined adjustment values and received position information.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein generating the signal further comprises adjusting position information received from the plurality of capacitive sensors based on the stored predetermined adjustment values to generate adjusted position information.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein each predetermined adjustment value is a scalar value, and the predetermined adjustment values are stored in a matrix corresponding to the array of capacitive sensors.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting the position information by multiplying the received position information by the respective predetermined adjustment values.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising performing a centroid computation based on the adjusted position information.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the array of capacitive sensors comprises a high impedance substrate.
US14/171,746 2007-07-03 2014-02-03 Normalizing capacitive sensor array signals Active USRE46317E1 (en)
US94790307P true 2007-07-03 2007-07-03
US12/167,552 US8086417B2 (en) 2007-07-03 2008-07-03 Normalizing capacitive sensor array signals
US13/156,297 US8315832B1 (en) 2007-07-03 2011-06-08 Normalizing capacitive sensor array signals
US14/171,746 USRE46317E1 (en) 2007-07-03 2014-02-03 Normalizing capacitive sensor array signals
US13/156,297 Reissue US8315832B1 (en) 2007-07-03 2011-06-08 Normalizing capacitive sensor array signals
USRE46317E1 true USRE46317E1 (en) 2017-02-21
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US14/171,746 Active USRE46317E1 (en) 2007-07-03 2014-02-03 Normalizing capacitive sensor array signals
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