PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11269457-B1
Application Number: US-202117166738-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Systems and methods for improved touch screen selectivity and sensitivity

Abstract:
In some examples, an electronic device can classify patches of touch data obtained by a touch screen as corresponding to intentional user inputs or not corresponding to intentional user inputs. The device can include a touch screen on a first side of housing of the device and a drive electrode on a second side of the housing of the device in some examples. In some examples, the drive electrode on the second side of the housing of the device can apply a signal to the body of the user and the device can classify patches of touch data including characteristics of this signal as corresponding to intentional touches provided by the user. The device can perform subsequent operations in response to intentional touches provided by the user and forgo performing operations in response to patches of touch data that do not correspond to intentional touches provided by the user.

Claims:
The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing including a first side and a second side; 
 a touch screen disposed on the first side of the housing, the touch screen including one or more touch electrodes coupled to first circuitry configured to apply a first signal to the one or more touch electrodes; 
 a drive electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, the drive electrode coupled to second circuitry configured to provide a second signal to the drive electrode; and 
 one or more processors configured to:
 receive touch signals sensed at the one or more touch electrodes of the touch screen; 
 identify a patch of touch data based on the touch signals, the patch of touch data corresponding to an object; and 
 determine whether the patch of touch data corresponds to a touch input based on a characteristic of the second signal detected in the touch signals. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sense electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 sense a third signal at the sense electrode; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the third signal does not include a respective characteristic of the second signal, modify performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input. 
 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first cover material disposed on the second side of the electronic device between the drive electrode and the sense electrode. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second cover material disposed on the first side of the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein modifying performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input includes forgoing determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein modifying performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input includes modifying one or more threshold values for determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive electrode is a multi-functional electrode further configured to sense physiological data of a user of the electronic device. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is a wearable device further comprising a strap configured to couple the electronic device to a user such that the drive electrode is in contact with the user. 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second circuitry is configured to modulate a connection of the drive electrode to ground to create the second signal. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first side is opposite from the second side. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 apply a baseline to the touch data; 
 identify a centroid of the patch of touch data; 
 track movement of the patch of touch data over a plurality of frames of touch data; and 
 aggregate classification of the patch of touch data included in the touch signals over the plurality of frames of touch data. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 in accordance with a determination that the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input, perform an operation on the electronic device in accordance with the patch of touch data; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the patch of touch data does not correspond to the touch input, forgo performing the operation. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a sense electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 sense a third signal at the sense electrode; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the third signal does not include a respective characteristic of the second signal, modify performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the one or more processers are further configured to determine a plurality of frames of touch data from the touch signals, wherein the plurality of frames of touch data are sampled at different times, 
 identifying the patch of touch data includes identifying the patch of touch data in the plurality of frames of touch data, and 
 determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input is based on the characteristic of the second signal detected in the plurality of frames of touch data. 
 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more processers are further configured to determine a plurality of frames of touch data from the touch signals, wherein the plurality of frames of touch data are sampled at different times, identifying the patch of touch data includes identifying the patch of touch data in the plurality of frames of touch data, and 
 determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input is based on the characteristic of the second signal detected in the plurality of frames of touch data. 
 
     
     
       16. A portable consumer electronic device comprising:
 an energy storage device; 
 communication circuitry; 
 a housing including a first side and a second side; 
 a touch screen disposed on the first side of the housing, the touch screen including one or more touch electrodes coupled to first circuitry configured to apply a first signal to the one or more touch electrodes; 
 a drive electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, the drive electrode coupled to second circuitry configured to provide a second signal to the drive electrode; and 
 one or more processors configured to:
 receive touch signals sensed at the one or more touch electrodes; 
 identify a patch of touch data based on the touch signals, the patch of touch data corresponding to an object; and 
 determine whether the patch of touch data corresponds to a touch input based on a characteristic of the second signal detected in the touch signals. 
 
 
     
     
       17. A method, comprising:
 at an electronic device including a housing, a touch screen including one or more touch electrodes disposed on a first side of the housing, a drive electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, and one or more processors: 
 applying, via first circuitry, a first signal to the one or more touch electrodes; 
 applying, via second circuitry, a second signal to the drive electrode; 
 receiving touch signals sensed at the one or more touch electrodes; 
 identifying a patch of touch data based on the touch signals; and 
 determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to a touch input based on a characteristic of the second signal detected in the touch signals. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the electronic device further includes a sense electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, and the method further comprises
 sensing, via sense circuitry, a third signal at the sense electrode; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the third signal does not include a respective characteristic of the second signal, modifying performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 in accordance with a determination that the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input, performing an operation on the electronic device in accordance with the respective patch of touch data; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the patch of touch data does not correspond to the touch input, forgoing performing the operation. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining a plurality of frames of touch data from the touch signals, wherein the plurality of frames of touch data are sampled at different times, wherein identifying the patch of touch data includes identifying the patch of touch data in the plurality of frames of touch data, and wherein determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input is based on the characteristic of the second signal detected in the plurality of frames of touch data.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This relates generally to electronic devices including touch screens and, more specifically, to an electronic device with additional drive electrodes that apply a signal to the user for the purpose of classifying touches as being caused by the user or not being caused by the user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Many types of input devices are presently available for performing operations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, joysticks, touch sensor panels, touch screens and the like. Touch screens, in particular, are popular because of their ease and versatility of operation as well as their declining price. Touch screens can include a touch sensor panel, which can be a clear panel with a touch-sensitive surface, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) display or organic light emitting diode (OLED) display that can be positioned partially or fully behind the panel so that the touch-sensitive surface can cover at least a portion of the viewable area of the display device. Touch screens can allow a user to perform various functions by touching the touch sensor panel using a finger, stylus or other object at a location often dictated by a user interface (UI) being displayed by the display device. In general, touch screens can recognize a touch and the position of the touch on the touch sensor panel, and the computing system can then interpret the touch in accordance with the display appearing at the time of the touch, and thereafter can perform one or more actions based on the touch. In the case of some touch sensing systems, a physical touch on the display is not needed to detect a touch. For example, in some capacitive-type touch sensing systems, fringing electrical fields used to detect touch can extend beyond the surface of the display, and objects approaching near the surface may be detected near the surface without actually touching the surface. 
     Capacitive touch sensor panels can be formed by a matrix of transparent, semi-transparent or non-transparent conductive plates made of materials such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). In some examples, the conductive plates can be formed from other materials including conductive polymers, metal mesh, graphene, nanowires (e.g., silver nanowires) or nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes). In some implementations, due in part to their substantial transparency, some capacitive touch sensor panels can be overlaid on a display to form a touch screen, as described above. Some touch screens can be formed by at least partially integrating touch sensing circuitry into a display pixel stackup (i.e., the stacked material layers forming the display pixels). 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to electronic devices including touch screens and, more specifically, to an electronic device with additional drive electrodes that apply a signal to the user for the purpose of classifying touches as being caused by the user or not being caused by the user. In some examples, a touch screen can detect objects proximate to or touching a surface of the touch screen, including the body (e.g., a finger) of the user, input devices, and other objects not intentionally brought into contact with or close proximity to the touchscreen (e.g., drops of water). It can be advantageous in some examples to classify patches of touch data as corresponding to an intentional touch by the user or an unintentional touch (e.g., a drop of water). For example, the electronic device can perform operations in response to patches of touch data that correspond to intentional touches provided by the user and forgo performing operations in response to patches of touch data that do not correspond to intentional touches provided by the user. 
     In some examples, an electronic device can include a touch screen and additional drive electrodes separate from the touch screen. The additional drive electrodes can apply a signal to the body of the user in some examples and this signal can be detected in the touch data obtained by the touch screen. For example, a wearable device can include a touchscreen that is visible while the device is worn by the user (e.g., coupled to the user via a strap) and an additional drive electrode that can be in contact with or in close proximity to the body of the user while the device is worn by the user. In some examples, the electronic device can classify patches of touch data including characteristics of the signal applied to the additional drive electrode as touches provided by the user to improve classification of touches as intentional or not intentional. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1E  illustrate example systems that can use secondary electrode techniques according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example computing system including a touch screen that can use flex circuit bonding techniques according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit corresponding to a self-capacitance measurement of a touch node electrode and sensing circuit according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit corresponding to a mutual-capacitance drive line and sense line and sensing circuit according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates touch screen with touch electrodes arranged in rows and columns according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates touch screen with touch node electrodes arranged in a pixelated touch node electrode configuration according to examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section of an exemplary electronic device according to some examples of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 6A-6B  illustrate exemplary frames of touch data according to some examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary method  700  of processing touch(es) detected by touch screen  504  according to some examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8A  illustrates an exemplary sense electrode arrangement according to some examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8B  illustrates an exemplary sense electrode arrangement according to some examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8C  illustrates an exemplary sense electrode arrangement according to some examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8D  illustrates an exemplary sense electrode arrangement according to some examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8E  illustrates an exemplary sense electrode arrangement according to some examples of the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 9A-9D  illustrate exemplary drive electrode arrangements that can be incorporated into an electronic device according to some examples of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary method differentiating touch data indicative of a user from touch data indicative of another proximate or touching object (e.g., a water droplet) according to some examples of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In the following description of examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which it is shown by way of illustration specific examples that can be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples can be used and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed examples. 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to electronic devices including touch screens and, more specifically, to an electronic device with additional drive electrodes that apply a signal to the user for the purpose of classifying touches as being caused by the user or not being caused by the user. In some examples, a touch screen can detect objects proximate to or touching a surface of the touch screen, including the body (e.g., a finger) of the user, input devices, and other objects not intentionally brought into contact with or close proximity to the touchscreen (e.g., drops of water). It can be advantageous in some examples to classify patches of touch data as corresponding to an intentional touch by the user or an unintentional touch (e.g., a drop of water). For example, the electronic device can perform operations in response to patches of touch data that correspond to intentional touches provided by the user and forgo performing operations in response to patches of touch data that do not correspond to intentional touches provided by the user. 
     In some examples, an electronic device can include a touch screen and additional drive electrodes separate from the touch screen. The additional drive electrodes can apply a signal to the body of the user in some examples and this signal can be detected in the touch data obtained by the touch screen. For example, a wearable device can include a touchscreen that is visible while the device is worn by the user (e.g., coupled to the user via a strap) and an additional drive electrode that can be in contact with or in close proximity to the body of the user while the device is worn by the user. In some examples, the electronic device can classify patches of touch data including characteristics of the signal applied to the additional drive electrode as touches provided by the user to improve classification of touches as intentional or not intentional. 
       FIGS. 1A-1H  illustrate example systems that can use secondary electrode techniques according to examples of the disclosure.  FIG. 1A  illustrates an example mobile telephone  136  that includes a touch screen  124  that can use secondary electrode techniques according to examples of the disclosure.  FIG. 1B  illustrates an example digital media player  140  that includes a touch screen  126  that can use secondary electrode techniques according to examples of the disclosure.  FIG. 1C  illustrates an example personal computer  144  that includes a touch screen  128  and a touch sensor panel  134  (e.g., a trackpad) that can use secondary electrode techniques according to examples of the disclosure.  FIG. 1D  illustrates an example tablet computing device  148  that includes a touch screen  130  that can use secondary electrode techniques according to examples of the disclosure.  FIG. 1E  illustrates an example wearable device  150  that includes a touch screen  132  and can be attached to a user using a strap  152  and that can use secondary electrode techniques according to examples of the disclosure. 
     In some examples, touch screens  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130  and  132  and touch sensor panel  134  can be based on self-capacitance. A self-capacitance based touch system can include a matrix of small, individual plates of conductive material or groups of individual plates of conductive material forming larger conductive regions that can be referred to as touch electrodes or as touch node electrodes (as described below with reference to  FIG. 4B ). For example, a touch screen can include a plurality of individual touch electrodes, each touch electrode identifying or representing a unique location (e.g., a touch node) on the touch screen at which touch or proximity is to be sensed, and each touch node electrode being electrically isolated from the other touch node electrodes in the touch screen/panel. Such a touch screen can be referred to as a pixelated self-capacitance touch screen, though it is understood that in some examples, the touch node electrodes on the touch screen can be used to perform scans other than self-capacitance scans on the touch screen (e.g., mutual capacitance scans). During operation, a touch node electrode can be stimulated with an alternating current (AC) waveform, and the self-capacitance to ground of the touch node electrode can be measured. As an object approaches the touch node electrode, the self-capacitance to ground of the touch node electrode can change (e.g., increase). This change in the self-capacitance of the touch node electrode can be detected and measured by the touch sensing system to determine the positions of multiple objects when they touch, or come in proximity to, the touch screen. In some examples, the touch node electrodes of a self-capacitance based touch system can be formed from rows and columns of conductive material, and changes in the self-capacitance to ground of the rows and columns can be detected, similar to above. In some examples, a touch screen can support multi-touch, single touch, projection scan, etc., touch functionality. 
     In some examples, touch screens  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130  and  132 , touch sensor panel  134  can be based on mutual capacitance. A mutual capacitance based touch system can include electrodes arranged as drive and sense lines (e.g., as described below with reference to  FIG. 4A ) that may cross over each other on different layers (in a double-sided configuration) or may be adjacent to each other on the same layer. The crossing or adjacent locations can form touch nodes. During operation, the drive line can be stimulated with an AC waveform and the mutual capacitance of the touch node can be measured. As an object approaches the touch node, the mutual capacitance of the touch node can change (e.g., decrease). This change in the mutual capacitance of the touch node can be detected and measured by the touch sensing system to determine the positions of multiple objects when they touch, or come in proximity to, the touch screen. As described herein, in some examples, a mutual capacitance based touch system can form touch nodes from a matrix of small, individual plates of conductive material. 
     In some examples, touch screens  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130  and  132  and touch sensor panel  134  can be based on mutual capacitance and/or self-capacitance. The electrodes can be arranged as a matrix of small, individual plates of conductive material (e.g., as in touch node electrodes  408  in touch screen  402  in  FIG. 4B ) or as drive lines and sense lines (e.g., as in row touch electrodes  404  and column touch electrodes  406  in touch screen  400  in  FIG. 4A ), or in another pattern. The electrodes can be configurable for mutual capacitance or self-capacitance sensing or a combination of mutual and self-capacitance sensing. For example, in one mode of operation, electrodes can be configured to sense mutual capacitance between electrodes and in a different mode of operation electrodes can be configured to sense self-capacitance of electrodes. In some examples, some of the electrodes can be configured to sense mutual capacitance therebetween and some of the electrodes can be configured to sense self-capacitance thereof. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example computing system including a touch screen that can use flex circuit bonding techniques according to examples of the disclosure. Computing system  200  can be included in, for example, a mobile phone, tablet, touchpad, portable or desktop computer, portable media player, wearable device or any mobile or non-mobile computing device that includes a touch screen or touch sensor panel. Computing system  200  can include a touch sensing system including one or more touch processors  202 , peripherals  204 , a touch controller  206 , and touch sensing circuitry (described in more detail below). Peripherals  204  can include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM) or other types of memory or storage, watchdog timers, co-processor(s) and the like. Touch controller  206  can include, but is not limited to, one or more sense channels  208 , channel scan logic  210  and driver logic  214 . Channel scan logic  210  can access RAM  212 , autonomously read data from the sense channels and provide control for the sense channels. In addition, channel scan logic  210  can control driver logic  214  to generate stimulation signals  216  at various frequencies and/or phases that can be selectively applied to drive regions of the touch sensing circuitry of touch screen  220 , as described in more detail below. In some examples, touch controller  206 , touch processor  202  and peripherals  204  can be integrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and in some examples can be integrated with touch screen  220  itself. 
     It should be apparent that the architecture shown in  FIG. 2  is only one example architecture of computing system  200 , and that the system could have more or fewer components than shown, or a different configuration of components. The various components shown in  FIG. 2  can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits. 
     Computing system  200  can include a host processor  228  for receiving outputs from touch processor  202  and performing actions based on the outputs. For example, host processor  228  can be connected to program storage  232  and a display controller/driver  234  (e.g., a Liquid-Crystal Display (LCD) driver). It is understood that although some examples of the disclosure may be described with reference to LCD displays, the scope of the disclosure is not so limited and can extend to other types of displays, such as Light-Emitting Diode (LED) displays, including Organic LED (OLED), Active-Matrix Organic LED (AMOLED) and Passive-Matrix Organic LED (PMOLED) displays. Display driver  234  can provide voltages on select (e.g., gate) lines to each pixel transistor and can provide data signals along data lines to these same transistors to control the pixel display image. 
     Host processor  228  can use display driver  234  to generate a display image on touch screen  220 , such as a display image of a user interface (UI), and can use touch processor  202  and touch controller  206  to detect a touch on or near touch screen  220 , such as a touch input to the displayed UI. The touch input can be used by computer programs stored in program storage  232  to perform actions that can include, but are not limited to, moving an object such as a cursor or pointer, scrolling or panning, adjusting control settings, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making a selection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral device connected to the host device, answering a telephone call, placing a telephone call, terminating a telephone call, changing the volume or audio settings, storing information related to telephone communications such as addresses, frequently dialed numbers, received calls, missed calls, logging onto a computer or a computer network, permitting authorized individuals access to restricted areas of the computer or computer network, loading a user profile associated with a user&#39;s preferred arrangement of the computer desktop, permitting access to web content, launching a particular program, encrypting or decoding a message, capturing an image with a camera in communication with the electronic device, exiting an idle/sleep state of the electronic device, and/or the like. Host processor  228  can also perform additional functions that may not be related to touch processing. 
     Note that one or more of the functions described herein, including the configuration of switches, can be performed by firmware stored in memory (e.g., one of the peripherals  204  in  FIG. 2 ) and executed by touch processor  202 , or stored in program storage  232  and executed by host processor  228 . The firmware can also be stored and/or transported within any non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” can be any medium (excluding signals) that can contain or store the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. In some examples, RAM  212  or program storage  232  (or both) can be a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. One or both of RAM  212  and program storage  232  can have stored therein instructions, which when executed by touch processor  202  or host processor  228  or both, can cause the device including computing system  200  to perform one or more functions and methods of one or more examples of this disclosure. The computer-readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus or device, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM) (magnetic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) (magnetic), a portable optical disc such a CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, or DVD-RW, or flash memory such as compact flash cards, secured digital cards, USB memory devices, memory sticks, and the like. 
     The firmware can also be propagated within any transport medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “transport medium” can be any medium that can communicate, propagate or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The transport medium can include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic or infrared wired or wireless propagation medium. 
     Touch screen  220  can be used to derive touch information at multiple discrete locations of the touch screen, referred to herein as touch nodes. Touch screen  220  can include touch sensing circuitry that can include a capacitive sensing medium having a plurality of drive lines  222  and a plurality of sense lines  223 . It should be noted that the term “lines” is sometimes used herein to mean simply conductive pathways, as one skilled in the art will readily understand, and is not limited to elements that are strictly linear, but includes pathways that change direction, and includes pathways of different size, shape, materials, etc. Drive lines  222  can be driven by stimulation signals  216  from driver logic  214  through a drive interface  224  and resulting sense signals  217  generated in sense lines  223  can be transmitted through a sense interface  225  to sense channels  208  in touch controller  206 . In this way, drive lines and sense lines can be part of the touch sensing circuitry that can interact to form capacitive sensing nodes, which can be thought of as touch picture elements (touch pixels) and referred to herein as touch nodes, such as touch nodes  226  and  227 . This way of understanding can be particularly useful when touch screen  220  is viewed as capturing an “image” of touch (“touch image”). In other words, after touch controller  206  has determined whether a touch has been detected at each touch nodes in the touch screen, the pattern of touch nodes in the touch screen at which a touch occurred can be thought of as an “image” of touch (e.g., a pattern of fingers touching the touch screen). As used herein, an electrical component “coupled to” or “connected to” another electrical component encompasses a direct or indirect connection providing electrical path for communication or operation between the coupled components. Thus, for example, drive lines  222  may be directly connected to driver logic  214  or indirectly connected to drive logic  214  via drive interface  224  and sense lines  223  may be directly connected to sense channels  208  or indirectly connected to sense channels  208  via sense interface  225 . In either case an electrical path for driving and/or sensing the touch nodes can be provided. It should be understood that, in some examples, touch screen  220  can perform self-capacitance measurements to detect touch and drive lines  222  and sense lines  223  can instead function as self-capacitance touch electrodes. In some examples, the touch electrodes can be disposed in an array as described below with reference to  FIG. 4B . 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit corresponding to a self-capacitance measurement of a touch node electrode  302  and sensing circuit  314  (e.g., corresponding to a sense channel  208 ) according to examples of the disclosure. Touch node electrode  302  can correspond to a touch electrode  404  or  406  of touch screen  400  or a touch node electrode  408  of touch screen  402 . Touch node electrode  302  can have an inherent self-capacitance to ground associated with it, and also an additional self-capacitance to ground that is formed when an object, such as finger  305 , is in proximity to or touching the electrode. The total self-capacitance to ground of touch node electrode  302  can be approximated as capacitance  304  as capacitance  304  can be much smaller than the body capacitance  309  and thus can dominate the overall ground capacitance. Touch node electrode  302  can be coupled to sensing circuit  314 . Sensing circuit  314  can include an operational amplifier  308 , feedback resistor  312  and feedback capacitor  310 , although other configurations can be employed. For example, feedback resistor  312  can be replaced by a switched capacitor resistor in order to minimize a parasitic capacitance effect that can be caused by a variable feedback resistor. Touch node electrode  302  can be coupled to the inverting input (−) of operational amplifier  308 . An AC voltage source  306  (V ac ) can be coupled to the non-inverting input (+) of operational amplifier  308 . Touch sensor circuit  300  can be configured to sense changes (e.g., increases) in the total self-capacitance  304  of the touch node electrode  302  induced by a finger or object either touching or in proximity to the touch sensor panel. The output voltage amplitude of amplifier  308  is approximately V ac *(1+X FB /(X CS +X CSNS )), where X FB , X CS  and X CSNS  are the impedances of the feedback network, capacitors  307  and  304 , respectively, at the frequency of V ac . The output of the amplifier  308  can be demodulated at the frequency of stimulus signal V ac  (homodyne or synchronous detection) by demodulator  328  and then integrated (or averaged) by filter  332 . The resulting output  320  can be used by a processor to determine the presence of a proximity or touch event, or the output can be inputted into a discrete logic network to determine the presence of a proximity or touch event. Note that in some examples, demodulator can be an I/Q demodulator. In some examples, the demodulator can be in the digital domain, where the output of amplifier  308  could be digitized first by an ADC before performing digital demodulation. It should be appreciated that circuitry for measuring the self-capacitance of touch electrodes can vary without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit  350  corresponding to a mutual-capacitance drive line  322  and sense line  326  and sensing circuit  314  (e.g., corresponding to a sense channel  208 ) according to examples of the disclosure. Drive line  322  can be stimulated by stimulation signal  306  (e.g., an AC voltage signal). Stimulation signal  306  can be capacitively coupled to sense line  326  through mutual capacitance  324  between drive line  322  and the sense line. When a finger or object  305  approaches the touch node created by the intersection of drive line  322  and sense line  326 , mutual capacitance  324  can change (e.g., decrease). This change in mutual capacitance  324  can be detected to indicate a touch or proximity event at the touch node, as described herein. The sense signal coupled onto sense line  326  can be received by sensing circuit  314 . Sensing circuit  314  can include operational amplifier  308  and at least one of a feedback resistor  312  and a feedback capacitor  310 .  FIG. 3B  illustrates a general case in which both resistive and capacitive feedback elements are utilized. The sense signal (referred to as V in ) can be inputted into the inverting input of operational amplifier  308 , and the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier can be coupled to a reference voltage V ref . Operational amplifier  308  can drive its output to voltage Vo to keep yin substantially equal to V ref , and can therefore maintain V in  constant or virtually grounded. A person of skill in the art would understand that in this context, equal can include deviations of up to 15%. Therefore, the gain of sensing circuit  314  can be mostly a function of the ratio of mutual capacitance  324  and the feedback impedance, comprised of resistor  312  and/or capacitor  310 , and the impedance of mutual capacitance  324 . The output of the amplifier  308  is demodulated at the frequency of stimulus signal V ac  (homodyne or synchronous detection) by demodulator  328  and then integrated (or averaged) by filter  332 . Note that in some examples, demodulator can be an I/Q demodulator. In some examples, the demodulator (or I/Q demodulator) can be in the digital domain, where the output of amplifier  308  can be digitized first by an ADC before performing demodulation and filtering. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , in some examples, touch screen  220  can be an integrated touch screen in which touch sensing circuit elements of the touch sensing system can be integrated into the display pixel stack-ups of a display. The circuit elements in touch screen  220  can include, for example, elements that can exist in LCD or other displays (LED display, OLED display, etc.), such as one or more pixel transistors (e.g., thin film transistors (TFTs)), gate lines, data lines, pixel electrodes and common electrodes. In a given display pixel, a voltage between a pixel electrode and a common electrode can control a luminance of the display pixel. The voltage on the pixel electrode can be supplied by a data line through a pixel transistor, which can be controlled by a gate line. It is noted that circuit elements are not limited to whole circuit components, such as a whole capacitor, a whole transistor, etc., but can include portions of circuitry, such as only one of the two plates of a parallel plate capacitor. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates touch screen  400  with touch electrodes  404  and  406  arranged in rows and columns according to examples of the disclosure. Specifically, touch screen  400  can include a plurality of touch electrodes  404  disposed as rows, and a plurality of touch electrodes  406  disposed as columns. Touch electrodes  404  and touch electrodes  406  can be on the same or different material layers on touch screen  400 , and can intersect with each other, as illustrated in  FIG. 4A . In some examples, the electrodes can be formed on opposite sides of a transparent (partially or fully) substrate and from a transparent (partially or fully) semiconductor material, such as ITO, though other materials are possible. Electrodes displayed on layers on different sides of the substrate can be referred to herein as a double-sided sensor. In some examples, touch screen  400  can sense the self-capacitance of touch electrodes  404  and  406  to detect touch and/or proximity activity on touch screen  400 , and in some examples, touch screen  400  can sense the mutual capacitance between touch electrodes  404  and  406  to detect touch and/or proximity activity on touch screen  400 . Although the touch electrodes  404  and  406  are illustrated as being rectangle-shaped, it should be understood that other electrode shapes and structures (e.g., diamond-, square-, stripe- or circle-shaped electrodes connected by jumpers or vias) are possible. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates touch screen  402  with touch node electrodes  408  arranged in a pixelated touch node electrode configuration according to examples of the disclosure. Specifically, touch screen  402  can include a plurality of individual touch node electrodes  408 , each touch node electrode identifying or representing a unique location on the touch screen at which touch or proximity (i.e., a touch or proximity event) is to be sensed, and each touch node electrode being electrically isolated from the other touch node electrodes in the touch screen/panel, as previously described. Touch node electrodes  408  can be on the same or different material layers on touch screen  402 . In some examples, touch screen  402  can sense the self-capacitance of touch node electrodes  408  to detect touch and/or proximity activity on touch screen  402 , and in some examples, touch screen  402  can sense the mutual capacitance between touch node electrodes  408  to detect touch and/or proximity activity on touch screen  402 . Although touch node electrodes  408  are illustrated as having rectangular shapes, it should be understood that other electrode shapes (e.g., diamonds, circles, stripes etc.) and structures are possible. 
     As described above, in some examples, an electronic device can use mutual or self-capacitance-based touch sensing to detect one or more objects proximate to or in contact with a surface of a touch screen incorporated into or in communication with an electronic device. For example, the electronic device can detect one or more user inputs via a touchscreen when the user touches or hovers a part of their body (e.g., a finger) or an input device (e.g., a stylus or other conductive object) over the touchscreen. In some situations, users may wish to use their electronic device in wet environments (e.g., swimming pools, showers, while exercising, while exposed to rainy weather). Droplets of water can collect on the surface of the touchscreen and, in some situations, if the droplets of water are coupled to a reference voltage of the electronic device, such as by being in contact with a conductive housing of the electronic device, the touchscreen may detect the droplets of water. In some examples, it can be desirable to distinguish drops of water or other objects other than the body of the user or an input device in use by the user from intentional touches provided by the user (e.g., via the body of the user or an input device in use by the user). 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cross section of an exemplary electronic device  500  according to some examples of the disclosure. In some examples, the electronic device  500  can correspond to one of the electronic devices described above with reference to  FIGS. 1A-1E . The electronic device can include a housing  502 , a touch screen  504 , touch circuitry  510 , a sense electrode  512 , one or more drive electrodes  514 , and a strap  518  that can be used to attach the electronic device  500  to the user (e.g., for a wearable device such as a smart watch). It should be understood that the touch screen  504  can also include touch electrodes different from drive electrode  514  and sense electrode(s)  512 . In some examples, the touch screen  504  can be operatively coupled to touch circuitry  510  or the electronic device  500  can further include second touch circuitry operatively coupled to touch screen  504 . The touch screen  504  can detect the user&#39;s finger  508  and a drop of water  506  in contact with the surface of the touch screen  504  in some examples. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in some examples, the electronic device  500  can include a first surface  520  along which the touch screen  504  can be disposed and a second surface  522  along which the one or more drive electrodes  514  can be disposed. Although only portions of strap  518  are shown in  FIG. 5  for ease of illustration, it should be understood that strap  518  can extend beyond the portions shown and can form a connected loop or can include a clasp to enable the strap  518  to be used to attach device  500  to the user. In some examples, while the electronic device  500  is attached to the user via strap  518 , at least a portion of the second surface  522  can be in contact with the user&#39;s body. Thus, for example, when the electronic device  500  applies a drive signal to the drive electrode(s)  514 , the drive signal can be coupled to the user&#39;s body. In some examples, the drive signal may not couple to the drop of water  506  (e.g., because the water  506  may not be in contact with or proximate to the drive electrodes  514  on the second side  522  of the device  500 ). 
     In some examples, the electronic device  500  can use touch circuitry  510  to control modulation of a connection between the drive electrode(s)  514  and a reference voltage (e.g., ground) of the electronic device  500  via switches  516   a - 516   b . In some examples, touch circuitry  510  can apply drive signals to drive electrode(s)  514  and, optionally, switches  516   a - 516   b  may be omitted. Thus, in some examples, patches of touch data corresponding to the finger  508  of the user can share one or more characteristics (e.g., such as modulation to the reference voltage) with the drive signal applied to the drive electrodes  514 , whereas patches of touch data corresponding to the drop of water  506  may not share the characteristics with the drive signal. As will be described in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 6A-6B , the electronic device can identify characteristic(s) of the drive signal applied to drive electrode(s)  514  in the touch data to identify patches of touch data corresponding to user touches. 
     In some situations, however, the user may use the electronic device  500  without being in contact with the second surface  522  of the electronic device. For example, the user may use the electronic device  500  without the electronic device  500  being attached to the user, there may be an object between the second surface  522  of the electronic device and the user (e.g., the user&#39;s clothing, a protective case for the device, etc.), or the strap  518  may fit loosely around the user such that the second surface  522  may not make good contact with the body of the user. In some examples, in these situations, the drive signal applied to the drive electrodes  514  may not couple to the user&#39;s skin, so patches of touch data corresponding to the user may not share characteristics with the drive signal applied to the drive electrode(s). 
     In some examples, sense electrode  512  can be used to sense the coupling of the drive signal of drive electrode(s)  514  to the skin of the user. Sense electrode  512  can be sensed using self-capacitance in some examples. In some examples, if the data sensed at the sense electrode does not include the signal applied to the drive electrode(s)  514 , the electronic device  500  can determine that the user is poorly coupled or not coupled to the drive electrode(s)  514  or strongly coupled to a reference voltage other than the signal provided by drive electrode(s)  514 . For example, the user may be strongly coupled to ground of the electronic device  500  (e.g., through the housing  502  of the electronic device  500 ), which may interfere with the ability of drive electrode(s)  514  to drive a signal onto the body of the user. While the user is poorly coupled or not coupled to the drive electrode(s)  514 , the electronic device  500  can forgo classifying patches of touch data based on characteristics of the drive signal of drive electrode(s)  514  (e.g., because patches of touch data caused by user inputs will not include characteristics of the drive signal while the user is poorly coupled or not coupled to drive electrode(s)  514 ) and/or modify the classification algorithm (e.g., to change the threshold values (e.g., touch detection threshold, secondary drive signal threshold, etc.)). Moreover, in some examples, sense electrode  512  can be used to measure the phase of the drive signal coupled to the user, which can be used to identify patch(es) of touch data corresponding to the user based on the patch(es) including a characteristic (e.g., modulation) of the coupled drive signal. In some examples, sense electrode  512  can be disposed beneath a cover material  524  of surface  522 . 
       FIGS. 6A-6B  illustrate exemplary frames of touch data according to some examples of the disclosure. In some examples, the electronic device  500  in  FIG. 5  can periodically sense touch data to obtain a plurality of frames of touch data, each frame of touch data being sensed at a different instant in time. For example, touch data frame  600  in  FIG. 6A  and touch data frame  610  in  FIG. 6B  can be sensed at different times. 
     In  FIG. 6A , the touch data frame  600  can include a first patch  602  of touch data and a second patch  604   a  of touch data. In some examples, the patches  602  and  604   a  of touch data can correspond to objects proximate to or in contact with the touch screen  504  of electronic device  500 . For example, patch  602  can correspond to water  506  and patch  604   a  can correspond to the user&#39;s finger  508 . In some examples, the electronic device  500  can be configured to track the patches  602  and  604   a  of touch data across multiple frames of data. Tracking patches of touch data over multiple frames of touch data can enable the electronic device to detect touch gestures (e.g., movement of an object proximate to or in contact with touch screen  504 ) and/or detect characteristics of the drive signal of drive electrode(s)  514  in patches of touch data over time. 
     In  FIG. 6A , the touch data frame  610  can include the first patch  602  of touch data and the second patch  604   b  of touch data. In some examples, patch  602  in frame  600  and  610  can correspond to the same object (e.g., water  506 ) and patch  604   a  in frame  600  and  604   b  in frame  610  can correspond to the same object (e.g., the finger  508  of the user). The shading of patch  602  in  FIGS. 6A and 6B  can indicate that the intensity (e.g., signal strength) of the patch  602  can remain substantially (e.g., within 1%, 2%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, etc. of) constant across frames  600  and  610 , for example. In some examples, the shading of patch  604   a  in  FIG. 6A  and the shading of patch  604   b  in  FIG. 6B  can indicate that the intensity (e.g., signal strength) of patch  604   a - b  can vary across frames  600  and  610 . For example, the intensity of patch  604   a - b  can vary because the touch signal of patch  604   a - b  can be modulated with the drive signal applied to drive electrode(s)  514 . 
     Thus, in some examples, by identifying the variation of signal strength of patch  604   a - b  across frames  600  and  610  that corresponds to a characteristic (e.g., modulation) of the drive signal of drive electrode(s)  514 , the electronic device  500  can distinguish a patch of data  604   a - b  caused by the user touching the touch screen  504  with their finger  508  from a patch  602  of touch data caused by water  506 . In some examples, this technique can be used by the system in a touch processing method  700  described below with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary method  700  of processing touch(es) detected by touch screen  504  according to some examples of the disclosure. At  702 , the electronic device  500  can subtract a baseline from the touch data. In some examples, the baseline can correspond to the touch data measured while there are no objects in contact with or proximate to the touch screen  504 . At  704 , the electronic device  500  can perform image conditioning to condition the image for further processing. At  706 , the electronic device  500  can identify the one or more patches of touch data based on the detected centroids. At  708 , the electronic device  500  can calculate the centroid of each patch in each of a plurality of frames of data. At  710 , the electronic device  500  can track movement of each patch of data, such as by tracking movement of the centroid of each patch of touch data across multiple frames of touch data. At  712 , the electronic device  500  can classify one or more patches of touch data as being caused by a user touch (e.g., patch  604   a - b ) or being caused by an object other than the user, such as water (e.g., patch  602 ), as described above with reference to  FIG. 6 . At  714 , the electronic device  500  can aggregate the classification results over several frames of touch data, including tracking patches that move from one frame to the next, to reduce errors in the classification and finalize the identification of patches of touch data corresponding to user interaction and patches of touch data not corresponding to user interaction. The output  716  can include determining the location and/or movement over several frames of touch data of patch(es) of touch data corresponding to user touch. 
     In some examples, the electronic device  500  can perform one or more operations in accordance with touch inputs corresponding to user touch. For example, the electronic device  500  can perform operations such as making a selection, initiating playback of an item of content, initiating display of a user interface associated with a selected user interface element, initiate communication with another electronic device, and the like. In some examples, the electronic device can forgo performing actions in accordance with touch data that does not correspond to user input (e.g., touch data corresponding to water). For example, in response to detecting a touch at a location of a user interface element, the electronic device  500  performs the action in accordance with the user interface element if the touch is determined to be a user touch and forgoes the action if the touch is determined not the be a user touch (e.g., water). 
     In some examples, there are various possible arrangements for the drive electrode(s)  514  and sense electrode  512  to enable the electronic device  500  to perform method  700 .  FIGS. 8A-8E  illustrate various possible sense electrode  512  arrangements and  FIGS. 9A-9D  illustrate various possible drive electrode arrangements. It should be understood that other designs are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 8A  illustrates an exemplary sense electrode  808   a  arrangement  800  that can be incorporated into electronic device  500  according to some examples of the disclosure. In some examples, arrangement  800  can be incorporated into electronic device  500  described above with reference to  FIG. 5 . For example, arrangement  800  can include cover material  806  and sense electrode  808   a  that can correspond to cover material  524  and sense electrode  512 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In some examples, arrangement  800  can further include a printed circuit board (PCB)  802  including sensors  804 , a substrate  810   a , and a shield electrode  812 . 
     In some examples, sensors  804  can include optical sensors. For example, the optical sensors  804  can be used by the electronic device  500  to measure a physiological characteristic of the user, such as heart rate. Thus, in some examples, shield electrode  812 , substrate  810   a , sense electrode  808   a , and cover material  806  can be at least partially transparent (e.g., at least at locations of sensors  804 ). 
     In some examples, shield electrode  812  can be disposed on substrate  810   a  such that the substrate  810   a  is between the shield electrode  812  and the sense electrode  808   a . In some examples, as shown in  FIG. 8A , the shield electrode  812  is between the sense electrode  808   a  and the sensors  804 , which can reduce parasitic coupling between the sense electrode  808   a  and other electronic components of the electronic device  500 , including sensors  804 , any other components of PCB  802 , or any other components of the electronic device  500 . In some examples, sense electrode  808   a  can be coupled to the cover material  806  via lamination or another suitable technique. In some examples, shield electrode  812  can be coupled to PCB  802  using an adhesive (e.g., ACF) or another suitable technique. In some examples, the positions of shielding electrode  812  and sense electrode  808   a  can be reversed with the sense electrode  808   a  being disposed between the shield electrode  812  and the sensors  804  (e.g., to shield the sense electrode  808   a  from drive electrodes  514 . Moreover, in some examples, additional shielding can be used to provide shielding both between sense electrode  808   a  and sensors  804  and also between sense electrode  808   a  and drive electrodes  514 . 
     It should be understood that  FIG. 8A  illustrates a subset of components that can be included in an electronic device according to arrangement  800 . For example, the electronic device can further include the components described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
       FIG. 8B  illustrates exemplary sense electrode  808   b  arrangement  820  that can be incorporated into electronic device  500  according to some examples of the disclosure. In some examples, arrangement  820  can be incorporated into electronic device  500  described above with reference to  FIG. 5 . For example, arrangement  820  can include cover material  806  and sense electrode  808   b  that can correspond to cover material  524  and sense electrode  512 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In some examples, arrangement  820  can further include PCB  802  and optical sensors  804 , as described above with reference to  FIG. 8A . Arrangement  820  can further include a substrate  810   b  to which the sense electrode  808   b  can be coupled. 
     In some examples, sense electrode  808   b  can be disposed between substrate  810   b  and cover material  806  and the substrate  810   b  can be disposed between the sense electrode  808   b  and the PCB  802 . For example, the substrate  810   b  can be coupled to the PCB  802  via an adhesive, such as a conductive adhesive (e.g., silver epoxy). It should be understood that  FIG. 8B  illustrates a subset of components that can be included in an electronic device according to arrangement  820 . For example, the electronic device can further include the components described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
       FIG. 8C  illustrates exemplary sense electrode  808   c  arrangement  840  that can be incorporated into electronic device  500  according to some examples of the disclosure. In some examples, arrangement  840  can be incorporated into electronic device  500  described above with reference to  FIG. 5 . For example, arrangement  840  can include cover material  806  and sense electrode  808   c  that can correspond to cover material  524  and sense electrode  512 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In some examples, arrangement  840  can further include PCB  802  and optical sensors  804 , as described above with reference to  FIGS. 8A-8B . 
     In some examples, sense electrode  808   c  can be disposed between PCB  802  and cover material  806 . In some examples, sense electrode  808   c  can be deposited on cover material  806  using physical vapor deposition (PVD) or another suitable technique and/or adhered to PCB  802  using an adhesive, such as a conductive epoxy (e.g., silver epoxy).  FIG. 8C  can be a cross-section of arrangement  840  so, although the portions of sense electrode  808   c  can appear to be separate components, in some examples, the portions of sense electrode  808   c  in  FIG. 8C  can be connected at locations not shown in  FIG. 8C . For example, electrode  808   c  can have a hollow ring, rectangle, or other structure. In some examples, electrode  808   c  can be shaped to reduce, substantially eliminate, or eliminate overlap with sensors  804 , thus enabling the sense electrode  808   c  to be formed from an opaque material without obstructing sensors  804 , which can be optical sensors. It should be understood that  FIG. 8C  illustrates a subset of components that can be included in an electronic device according to arrangement  820 . For example, the electronic device can further include the components described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
       FIG. 8D  illustrates exemplary sense electrode  808   d  arrangement  860  that can be incorporated into electronic device  500  according to some examples of the disclosure. In some examples, arrangement  860  can be incorporated into electronic device  500  described above with reference to  FIG. 5 . For example, arrangement  860  can include cover material  806  and sense electrode  808   d  that can correspond to cover material  524  and sense electrode(s)  512 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In some examples, arrangement  860  can further include PCB  802  and optical sensors  804 , as described above with reference to  FIGS. 8A-8C . 
     In some examples, sense electrode  808   d  can be a multifunctioning component that also acts as the ground plane for PCB  802 . In some examples, operation of sense electrode  808   d  can be time-multiplexed to be coupled to a reference voltage (e.g., functioning as a ground electrode) during one or more first time periods and to be coupled to sense circuitry (e.g., functioning as a sense electrode) during one or more second time periods. In some examples, sense electrode  808   d  may not be coupled to a reference voltage. Thus, in some examples, arrangements  800 ,  820 ,  840 , and  880  in  FIGS. 8A-C  and  8 E can further include ground planes (e.g., that are either coupled or not coupled to a reference voltage) at the location of sense electrode  808   d  in  FIG. 8D . In some examples, sense electrode  808   d  can include a conductive material such as copper. It should be understood that  FIG. 8D  illustrates a subset of components that can be included in an electronic device according to arrangement  860 . For example, the electronic device can further include the components described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
       FIG. 8E  illustrates exemplary sense electrode  808   e  arrangement  880  that can be incorporated into electronic device  500  according to some examples of the disclosure. In some examples, arrangement  880  can be incorporated into electronic device  500  described above with reference to  FIG. 5 . For example, arrangement  880  can include cover material  806  and sense electrode  808   e  that can correspond to cover material  524  and sense electrode  512 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In some examples, arrangement  880  can further include PCB  802  and optical sensors  804 , as described above with reference to  FIGS. 8A-8D . 
     In some examples, sense electrode  808   e  can be a multifunctioning component that also acts as an inductive charging component for the electronic device. In some examples, the multifunctioning sense electrode  808   e  can include a ferrite coil disposed around the PCB  802 . Although the portions of the sense electrode  808   e  in  FIG. 8E  appear to be separate components, it should be understood that, in some examples, the portions of sense electrode  808   e  can be connected at locations not shown in  FIG. 8E , which can be a cross-section of arrangement  880 . For example, the sense electrode  808   e  can have a coil or other hollow shape with the PCB  802  disposed in the hollow portion of the sense electrode  808   e . It should be understood that  FIG. 8E  illustrates a subset of components that can be included in an electronic device according to arrangement  880 . For example, the electronic device can further include the components described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-5 . 
       FIGS. 9A-9D  illustrate exemplary drive electrode arrangements that can be incorporated into electronic device  500  according to some examples of the disclosure. In some examples, the drive electrode(s)  514  can be disposed on, embedded in, or proximate to surface  522  of the electronic device  500 . In some examples, while the electronic device  500  is attached to the user (e.g., via strap  518 ), surface  522  can be in contact with the body of the user.  FIGS. 9A-9D  can illustrate a plurality of exemplary arrangements of the drive electrode(s)  514  when viewing surface  522  of the electronic device. 
       FIG. 9A  illustrates an exemplary arrangement  900  of drive electrodes  904   a - b  according to some examples of the disclosure. Arrangement  900  can include surface  902  and electrodes  904   a - b , for example. In some examples, electronic device  500  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 5  can include arrangement  900 . For example, surface  902  and electrodes  904   a - b  in  FIG. 9A  can correspond to surface  522  and drive electrode(s)  514  in  FIG. 5 , respectively. 
     In some examples, electrodes  904   a - b  can be multifunctioning electrodes that can be used to apply the drive signal to the body of the user and sense a physiological characteristic of the user. For example, electrodes  904   a - b  can be used to measure an electrocardiogram (ECG) of the user in an automatic or on-demand ECG measurement process. In some examples, the functions of the electrodes  904   a - b  can be time-multiplexed: during one or more first time periods (e.g., while touch is being sensed with touch screen  504 ), the electronic device  500  can use the electrodes  904   a - b  to drive the secondary drive signal to the user&#39;s body as described above and during one or more second time periods (e.g., while an ECG measurement process is being performed), the electronic device  500  can use the electrodes  904   a - b  to measure the user&#39;s heartbeat for the ECG. 
       FIG. 9B  illustrates an exemplary arrangement  910  of drive electrode  912  according to some examples of the disclosure. Arrangement  910  can include surface  906 , drive electrode  912 , and physiological electrodes  908   a - 908   b  for example. In some examples, electronic device  500  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 5  can include arrangement  910 . For example, surface  906  and drive electrode  912  in  FIG. 9B  can correspond to surface  522  and drive electrode(s)  514  in FIG.  5 , respectively. In some examples, drive electrode  912  can be used to apply the drive signal to the body of the user, as described above with reference to  FIGS. 5-7 . In some examples, physiological electrodes  908   a - 908   b  can be used to measure an electrocardiogram (ECG) of the user in an automatic or on-demand ECG measurement process. 
       FIG. 9C  illustrates an exemplary arrangement  920  of drive electrode  916  according to some examples of the disclosure. Arrangement  920  can include surface  914 , drive electrode  916 , and physiological electrode  918  for example. In some examples, electronic device  500  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 5  can include arrangement  920 . For example, surface  914  and drive electrode  916  in  FIG. 9C  can correspond to surface  522  and drive electrode(s)  514  in  FIG. 5 , respectively. 
     In some examples, drive electrode  916  can be a multifunctioning electrode that can be used to apply the drive signal to the body of the user and sense a physiological characteristic of the user. Physiological electrode  918  can be used with drive electrode  916  to sense the physiological characteristic of the user in some examples. For example, drive electrode  916  and physiological electrode  918  can be used to measure an ECG of the user in an automatic or on-demand ECG measurement process. In some examples, the functions of the drive electrode  916  can be time-multiplexed: during one or more first time periods (e.g., while touch is being sensed with touch screen  504 ), the electronic device  500  can use the drive electrode  916  to drive the secondary drive signal to the user&#39;s body as described above and during one or more second time periods (e.g., while an ECG measurement process is being performed), the electronic device  500  can use the drive electrode  916  and physiological electrode  918  to measure the user&#39;s heartbeat for the ECG. 
     Although  FIG. 9C  illustrates one possible arrangement  920  of drive electrode  916  and physiological electrode  918 , it should be understood that in some examples, the positions of drive electrode  916  and  918  can vary from those shown in  FIG. 9C  without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, the positions of drive electrode  916  and physiological electrode  918  can be reversed or rotated. 
       FIG. 9D  illustrates an exemplary arrangement  930  of drive electrodes  924   a - b  according to some examples of the disclosure. Arrangement  930  can include surface  922 , drive electrodes  924   a - b , and physiological electrodes  926   a - b , for example. In some examples, electronic device  500  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 5  can include arrangement  930 . For example, surface  922  and drive electrodes  924   a - b  in  FIG. 9D  can correspond to surface  522  and electrode(s)  514  in  FIG. 5 , respectively. 
     In some examples, drive electrodes  924   a - b  can be multifunctioning electrodes that can be used to apply the drive signal to the body of the user and sense a physiological characteristic of the user. Physiological electrodes  926   a - b  can be used with drive electrodes  924   a - b  to sense the physiological characteristic of the user in some examples. For example, drive electrodes  924   a - b  and physiological electrodes  926   a - b  can be used to measure an ECG of the user in an automatic or on-demand ECG measurement process. In some examples, the functions of the drive electrodes  924   a - b  can be time-multiplexed: during one or more first time periods (e.g., while touch is being sensed with touch screen  504 ), the electronic device  500  can use the drive electrodes  924   a - b  to drive the secondary drive signal to the user&#39;s body as described above and during one or more second time periods (e.g., while an ECG measurement process is being performed), the electronic device  500  can use the drive electrodes  924   a - b  and physiological electrodes  926   a - b  to measure the user&#39;s heartbeat for the ECG. In some examples, drive electrodes  924   a - b  only function as drive electrodes and the electronic device  500  uses physiological electrodes  926   a - b  without drive electrodes  924   a - b  to perform the ECG measurement process (e.g., automatically or on-demand). 
     Although  FIG. 9D  illustrates one possible arrangement  930  of drive electrodes  924   a - b  and physiological electrodes  926   a - b , it should be understood that in some examples, the positions of drive electrode  924   a - b  and  926   a - b  can vary from those shown in  FIG. 9D  without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, the positions of drive electrodes  924   a - b  and physiological electrode  924   a - b  can be reversed or rotated. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary method  1000  differentiating touch data indicative of a user from touch data indicative of another proximate or touching object (e.g., a water droplet) according to some examples of the disclosure. Method  1000  can be used with any of the electronic devices, methods, component arrangements, and other details described above with reference to  FIGS. 5-9D . 
     At  1002 , in some examples, the electronic device  500  can apply a first signal to the touch electrodes of touch screen  504 . In some examples, the first signal can be a drive signal applied to drive electrodes of a mutual capacitance touch screen or a self-capacitance signal applied to the touch electrodes of the self-capacitance touch screen. 
     In some examples, at  1004 , the electronic device  500  can apply a second signal to the drive electrode(s)  514 . The drive signal can be applied using circuitry  510  in some examples. For example, the drive signal can be a modulation of a connection to a reference voltage of the electronic device (e.g., ground) via switches  516   a - b . In some examples, the drive electrode(s)  514  can be disposed according to one of the arrangements  900 ,  910 ,  920 , or  930  described above with reference to  FIGS. 9A-9D . 
     At  1006 , in some examples, the electronic device  500  can receive touch signals at the touch electrodes of touch screen  504 . For example, the electronic device  500  can sense touch signals at sense electrodes of a mutual capacitance touch screen and/or sense touch signals at the electrodes of a self-capacitance touch screen. 
     In some examples, at  1008 , the electronic device  500  can determine a plurality of frames of touch data. Each frame of touch data can include touch measurements at each touch node of the touch screen  504  that represent an image of touch at the touch screen  504  during the period of time in which the touch data included in the frame were sensed, for example. In some examples, the electronic device  500  can capture a plurality of frames of touch data representative of the images of touch at the touch screen  504  at different periods of time. In some examples, the drive signals applied to the touch screen  504  can vary across frames. For example, a drive signal with a first phase may be applied to the touch screen  504  while measuring a first frame of touch data and a drive signal with a second phase may be applied to touch screen  504  while measuring a second frame of touch data. 
     At  1010 , in some examples, the electronic device  500  can identify one or more patches in the plurality of frames of touch data. In some examples, each patch can represent a respective object touching or proximate to the touch screen. Identifying the one or more patches can enable the electronic device  500  to track movement of objects touching or proximate to the touch screen across multiple frames of data. 
     In some examples, at  1012 , the electronic device  500  can perform a classification process to determine which patches in the touch data represent user input and which represent other objects (e.g., water). In some examples, the electronic device  500  can classify the patches by detecting characteristics of the drive signal applied to drive electrode(s)  514  (e.g., frequency, modulation to ground, etc.) in one or more patches over a plurality of frames of touch data. For example, patches including the characteristic of the drive signal can correspond to user touch and patches that do not include the characteristic of the drive signal can correspond to other objects (e.g., water). In some examples, performing the classification can include one or more steps of method  700  described above with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
     Some examples of the disclosure are directed to an electronic device comprising a housing including a first side and a second side; a touch screen disposed on the first side of the housing, the touch screen including one or more touch electrodes coupled to first circuitry configured to apply a first signal to the one or more touch electrodes; a drive electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, the drive electrode coupled to second circuitry configured to provide a second signal to the drive electrode; and one or more processors configured to: receive touch signals sensed at the one or more touch electrodes; identify a patch of touch data based on the touch signals, the patch of touch data corresponding to an object; and determine whether the patch of touch data corresponds to a touch input based on a characteristic of the second signal detected in the touch signals. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the electronic device further includes a sense electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: sense a third signal at the sense electrode; and in accordance with a determination that the third signal does not include a respective characteristic of the second signal, modify performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the electronic device further includes a first cover material disposed on the second side of the electronic device between the drive electrode and the sense electrode. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the electronic device further includes a second cover material disposed on the first side of the electronic device. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples modifying performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input includes forgoing determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples modifying performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input includes modifying one or more threshold values for determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the drive electrode is a multi-functional electrode further configured to sense physiological data of a user of the electronic device. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the electronic device is a wearable device further comprising a strap configured to couple the electronic device to a user such that the drive electrode is in contact with the user. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the second circuitry is configured to modulate a connection of the drive electrode to ground to create the second signal. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the first side is opposite from the second side. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the one or more processors are further configured to: apply a baseline to the touch data; identify a centroid of the patch of touch data; track movement of the patch of touch data over a plurality of frames of touch data; and aggregate classification of the patch of touch data included in the touch signals over the plurality of frames of touch data. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the one or more processors are further configured to in accordance with a determination that the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input, perform an operation on the electronic device in accordance with the patch of touch data; and in accordance with a determination that the patch of touch data does not correspond to the touch input, forgo performing the operation. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the one or more processers are further configured to determine a plurality of frames of touch data from the touch signals, wherein the plurality of frames of touch data are sampled at different times, identifying the patch of touch data includes identifying the patch of touch data in the plurality of frames of touch data, and determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input is based on the characteristic of the second signal detected in the plurality of frames of touch data. 
     Some examples of the disclosure are directed to a portable consumer electronic device comprising an energy storage device; communication circuitry; a housing including a first side and a second side; a touch screen disposed on the first side of the housing, the touch screen including one or more touch electrodes coupled to first circuitry configured to apply a first signal to the one or more touch electrodes; a drive electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, the drive electrode coupled to second circuitry configured to provide a second signal to the drive electrode; and one or more processors configured to: receive touch signals sensed at the one or more touch electrodes; identify a patch of touch data based on the touch signals, the patch of touch data corresponding to an object; and determine whether the patch of touch data corresponds to a touch input based on a characteristic of the second signal detected in the touch signals. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the electronic device further includes a sense electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: sense a third signal at the sense electrode; and in accordance with a determination that the third signal does not include a respective characteristic of the second signal, modify performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples modifying performance of the classification process includes forgoing the classification process. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples modifying performance of the classification process includes modifying one or more threshold values of the classification process. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the one or more processers are further configured to determine a plurality of frames of touch data from the touch signals, wherein the plurality of frames of touch data are sampled at different times, identifying the patch of touch data includes identifying the patch of touch data in the plurality of frames of touch data, and determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input is based on the characteristic of the second signal detected in the plurality of frames of touch data. 
     Some examples of the disclosure are directed to a method, comprising: at an electronic device including a housing, a touch screen including one or more touch electrodes disposed on a first side of the housing, a drive electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, and one or more processors: applying, via first circuitry, a first signal to the one or more touch electrodes; applying, via second circuitry, a second signal to the drive electrode; receiving touch signals sensed at the one or more touch electrodes; identifying a patch of touch data based on the touch signals; and determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to a touch input based on a characteristic of the second signal detected in the touch signals. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the electronic device further includes a sense electrode disposed on the second side of the housing, and the method further comprises sensing, via sense circuitry, a third signal at the sense electrode; and in accordance with a determination that the third signal does not include a respective characteristic of the second signal, modifying performance of the classification process. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples modifying performance of determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples modifying performance of the classification process includes modifying one or more threshold values of the classification process. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the method further includes applying a baseline to the touch data; identifying a centroid of the patch of touch data; tracking movement of the patch of touch data over a plurality of frames of touch data; and aggregating classification of the patch of touch data included in the touch signals over the plurality of frames of touch data. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the method further includes in accordance with a determination that the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input, performing an operation on the electronic device in accordance with the respective patch of touch data; and in accordance with a determination that the patch of touch data does not correspond to the touch input, forgoing performing the operation. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples the method includes determining a plurality of frames of touch data from the touch signals, wherein the plurality of frames of touch data are sampled at different times, wherein identifying the patch of touch data includes identifying the patch of touch data in the plurality of frames of touch data, and wherein determining whether the patch of touch data corresponds to the touch input is based on the characteristic of the second signal detected in the plurality of frames of touch data. 
     Although the disclosed examples have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the disclosed examples as defined by the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20210203
Publication Date: 20220308
Grant Date: 20220308
Priority Date: 20210203
Inventors: HOLLANDS, MATTHEW DOMINIC
KOEBERL, ANDREAS JOHANNES
MERCED-GRAFALS, EMMANUELL JOSE
ZHANG, Sai
WINOKUR, ERIC S.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04182", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04166", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0393", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0445", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0446", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04186", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04166", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/011", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04166", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/011", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0446", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0445", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04186", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 80473491