Patent ID: 8284080

Claim:
A method of scanning an array of sensors, comprising the steps of: scanning a first set of sensing lines, wherein a sensing line of the first set is coupled with a plurality of sensors in an x-axis direction of the array; scanning a second set of sensing lines, wherein a sensing line of the second set is coupled with a plurality of sensors in a y-axis direction of the array; scanning a third set of sensing lines, wherein a sensing line of the third set is coupled with a plurality of sensors in a third direction of the array different from the x-axis and y-axis direction; determining a location of the sensor that has been actuated; and providing a plurality of controller pins coupled to the sensing lines, wherein a number of the plurality of controller pins equals (X+Y)+Max(X,Y), wherein X is the number of sensors in an x-axis direction of the plurality of sensors, wherein Y is the number of sensors in a y-axis direction, wherein Max(X,Y) is a greater of X or Y.