PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9261997-B2
Application Number: US-54560409-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Touch regions in diamond configuration

Abstract:
Touch regions in a diamond configuration in a touch sensitive device are disclosed. Touch regions can include drive regions of display pixels to receive stimulation signals and sense regions of display pixels to send touch signals based on a touch or near touch. The drive regions and sense regions can be disposed diagonally adjacent to each other to form a diamond configuration. In an example diamond configuration, diagonal drive regions can be separate and unconnected from each other, while diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected to each other via their sense lines. The diagonal sense region connections can be in a forward diagonal direction, a backward diagonal direction, or a combination thereof. In an alternate example diamond configuration, diagonal drive regions can be electrically connected to each other via their drive lines, while diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected to each other via their sense lines. The diagonal drive and sense region connections can be in a forward diagonal direction, a backward diagonal direction, or combinations thereof. An exemplary touch sensitive device having a diamond configuration can be a touch screen.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A touch sensitive device comprising:
 a plurality of display pixels configured to display graphics or data in a display mode and to sense a touch event in a touch mode, 
 wherein, during the touch mode, some of the display pixels are electrically connected together by at least a first common voltage line to form drive regions for receiving a stimulation signal and others of the display pixels are electrically connected together by at least a second common voltage line to form sense regions for sending a touch signal based on the touch event, a first drive region being separated from a second drive region by a first area, and a first sense region being separated from a second sense region by a second area, and 
 wherein, during the touch mode, the drive regions and the sense regions are adjacently disposed in a diamond configuration, the first drive region and the second drive region are electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least the first common voltage line within the first area, and the first sense region and the second sense region are electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least the second common voltage line within the second area. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each drive region comprises a plurality of drive lines formed by common voltage lines. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein each sense region comprises a plurality of sense lines formed by common voltage lines. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the drive regions and the sense regions form a matrix of rows and columns, each row and column has alternate drive regions and sense regions, and each diagonal of the matrix has either all drive regions or all sense regions, to form the diamond configuration. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , wherein, in each diagonal of drive regions, the drive regions are disposed in a forward diagonal direction or in a backward diagonal direction. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 4 , wherein, in each diagonal of sense regions, the sense regions are electrically connected together in a forward diagonal direction or in a backward diagonal direction. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sizes of the drive regions and the sense regions are substantially the same. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the sizes of the drive regions and the sense regions are substantially different. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1  incorporated into at least one of a mobile telephone, a digital media player, or a personal computer. 
     
     
       10. A touch sensitive device comprising:
 a plurality of first common voltage lines in a first plurality of display pixels and a first plurality of second common voltage lines in the first plurality of display pixels electrically connected to form a first of a plurality of first regions for driving a stimulation signal, the first of the first regions being separated from a second of the first regions by a first area; and 
 a second plurality of second common voltage lines in a second plurality of display pixels forming a second of a plurality of second regions for transmitting a touch signal based on a touch event, a first of the second regions being separated from the second of the second regions by a second area, 
 wherein, while in a touch mode configured to sense the touch event, the plurality of first and second regions are adjacently disposed in a diamond configuration, the first of the first regions and the second of the first regions are electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least a first of the plurality of first common voltage lines within the first area, and the first of the second regions and the second of the second regions are electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least a first of the plurality of second common voltage lines within the second area. 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of first common voltage lines are oriented either horizontally or diagonally in the plurality of first regions. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of second common voltage lines are oriented either vertically or diagonally in the plurality of first regions. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the second plurality of second common voltage lines are oriented either vertically or diagonally in the plurality of second regions. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the first regions and the second regions form a matrix of rows and columns, each row and column has alternate first regions and second regions, and each diagonal of the matrix has either all first regions or all second regions, and 
 wherein, in each diagonal of first regions, the first regions are disposed in either a forward or a backward diagonal direction and, in each diagonal of second regions, the second regions are electrically connected together in either a forward or a backward diagonal direction, to form the diamond configuration. 
 
     
     
       15. A method for operating a touch sensitive device having touch regions in a diamond configuration, comprising:
 receiving a touch on a touch sensitive device in a first region of display pixels electrically connected together by at least a first common voltage line, the first region disposed among a plurality of first regions in a diamond configuration, the first of the first regions being separated from a second of the first regions by a first area, the first of the first regions and the second of the first regions electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least the first common voltage line within the first area; and 
 sensing the received touch in a second region of display pixels electrically connected together by at least a second common voltage line, the second region disposed among a plurality of second regions in the diamond configuration, a first of the second regions being separated from the second of the second regions by a second area, the first of the second regions and the second of the second regions electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least the second common voltage line within the second area, 
 wherein 
 the first region that receives the touch and the second region that senses the received touch are adjacent to each other. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein receiving the touch comprises receiving a touch or near touch of an object in the first region. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein sensing the received touch comprises sensing, in the adjacent sense region, a change in capacitance by the first region. 
     
     
       18. A touch sensitive device comprising:
 a plurality of touch regions formed during a touch mode of the device, some of the touch regions being drive regions comprising display pixels electrically connected by at least a first common voltage line and configured to drive a stimulation signal, and the other of the touch regions being sense regions comprising display pixels electrically connected by at least a second common voltage line and configured to sense a touch or near touch, a first drive region being separated from a second drive region by a first area, and a first sense region being separated from a second sense region by a second area, 
 wherein the drive regions and the sense regions are formed into adjacent diagonals to form a diamond configuration, the first drive region and the second drive region are electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least the first common voltage line within the first area, and the first sense region and the second sense region are electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least the second common voltage line within the second area. 
 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18 , wherein each diagonal of sense regions electrically connects capacitive elements of the display pixels in the sense regions together to form the diamond configuration. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 18 , wherein each diagonal of sense regions extends a sense region along the diagonal to form the diamond configuration. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 18 , wherein each diagonal of drive regions electrically connects capacitive elements of the display pixels in the drive regions together to form the diamond configuration. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 18 , wherein each diagonal of drive regions disposes the drive regions unconnected along the diagonal to form the diamond configuration. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 18 , wherein each drive region comprises:
 a plurality of first common voltage lines intersecting with a plurality of second common voltage lines; and 
 a grouping of the intersecting lines to form the drive region. 
 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 18 , wherein each sense region comprises:
 a plurality of common voltage lines; and 
 a grouping of the lines to form the sense region. 
 
     
     
       25. A touch screen comprising:
 a plurality of display pixels configured to display graphics or data in a display mode and to sense a touch event in a touch mode, 
 wherein, during the touch mode, some of the display pixels are electrically connected together by at least a first common voltage line to form drive regions for receiving a stimulation signal to drive the drive regions to receive the touch event, and others of the display pixels are electrically connected together by at least a second common voltage line to form sense regions for sending a touch signal based on the touch event, a first drive region being separated from a second drive region by a first area, and a first sense region being separated from a second sense region by a second area, and 
 wherein, during the touch mode, the drive regions and the sense regions are adjacently disposed in a diamond configuration, the first drive region and the second drive region are electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least the first common voltage line within the first area, and the first sense region and the second sense region are electrically connected in the diamond configuration using at least the second common voltage line within the second area.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/149,270, filed Feb. 2, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     This relates to touch sensitive devices having touch regions formed in a particular configuration and, more particularly, to touch sensitive device having touch regions formed in a diamond configuration. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many types of input devices are available for performing operations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, touch sensor panels, joysticks, touch pads, touch screens, and the like. Touch screens, in particular, are becoming increasingly 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) that can be positioned behind the panel so that the touch sensitive surface can substantially cover the viewable area of the display device. Touch screens can generally allow a user to perform various functions by touching or near touching the touch sensor panel using one or more fingers, a stylus or other object at a location dictated by a user interface (UI) including virtual buttons, keys, bars, displays, and other elements, being displayed by the display device. In general, touch screens can recognize a touch event and the position of the touch event on the touch sensor panel, and the computing system can then interpret the touch event in accordance with the display appearing at the time of the touch event, and thereafter can perform one or more actions based on the touch event. 
     Touch screens that integrate touch circuitry with display circuitry are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/760,080, entitled “Touch Screen Liquid Crystal Display,” and Ser. No. 12/240,964, entitled “Display with Dual-Function Capacitive Elements,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. In these touch screens, display pixels can be grouped into drive regions to receive a stimulation signal and sense regions to transmit a touch signal based on a touch or near touch. These regions can generally be disposed in a rectangular configuration with, from left to right, some drive regions aligning vertically, a sense region extending vertically along the lengths of the drive regions, more drive regions aligning vertically, another sense region extending vertically along the lengths of the drive regions, and so on. 
     Because of this rectangular configuration, horizontal drive lines for transmitting the stimulation signal and vertical sense lines for transmitting the touch signal can cross numerous times in the sense regions, creating parasitic capacitance that can interfere with the ability of the touch screen to effectively sense the touch or near touch. However, to reduce the effects of this parasitic capacitance, more expensive and powerful sensing circuitry may be needed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the touch signal. 
     SUMMARY 
     This relates to a touch sensitive device having touch regions formed in a diamond configuration. Touch regions can include drive regions, which can have drive lines to receive a stimulation signal, and sense regions, which can have sense lines to transmit a touch signal based on a received touch or near touch. The drive regions and the sense regions can include display pixels having capacitive elements for sensing touch. The drive regions and sense regions can be disposed diagonally adjacent to each other to form a diamond configuration for sensing the touch or near touch. 
     In some embodiments, diagonal drive regions can be separate and unconnected from each other, while diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected to each other via their sense lines. The diagonal sense regions can all be connected in the forward diagonal direction, all in the backward diagonal direction, or some in the forward diagonal direction and others in the backward diagonal direction. 
     In some embodiments, diagonal drive regions can be electrically connected together via their drive lines and diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected together via their sense lines. The diagonal regions can all be connected in the forward diagonal direction, all in the backward diagonal direction, drive regions in the forward diagonal direction and sense regions in the backward diagonal direction, drive regions in the backward diagonal direction and sense regions in the forward diagonal direction, and any combination thereof. 
     The diamond configuration can advantageously reduce the parasitic capacitance in the touch sensitive device, e.g., by reducing the number of crossovers in the sense regions between the drive and sense lines. This can result in cost and power savings for the touch sensitive device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary touch sensitive device having touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a partial circuit diagram of exemplary pixels having display and touch capabilities that can be grouped to form touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary layout of connections between a touch sensitive device&#39;s touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates another exemplary layout of connections between a touch sensitive device&#39;s touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates still another exemplary layout of connections between a touch sensitive device&#39;s touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary layout of connections between a touch sensitive device&#39;s touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates still another exemplary touch sensitive device having touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary computing system having a touch screen with touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 11   a  illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone having a touch screen with touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 11   b  illustrates an exemplary digital media player having a touch screen with touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 11   c  illustrates an exemplary personal computer having a touch screen with touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of various embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which it is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which can be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be used and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. 
     This relates to a touch sensitive device having touch regions disposed in a diamond configuration. Touch regions can include drive regions, which can receive a stimulation signal, and sense regions, which can send a touch signal based on a received touch or near touch. The drive regions and sense regions can be disposed diagonally adjacent to each other to form a diamond configuration. In some embodiments, diagonal drive regions can be separate and unconnected from each other, while diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected to each other via their sense lines. The diagonal sense regions can all be connected in the forward diagonal direction, all in the backward diagonal direction, or some in the forward diagonal direction and others in the backward diagonal direction. In some embodiments, diagonal drive regions can be electrically connected together via their drive lines and diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected together via their sense lines. The diagonal regions can all be connected in the forward diagonal direction, all in the backward diagonal direction, drive regions in the forward diagonal direction and sense regions in the backward diagonal direction, drive regions in the backward diagonal direction and sense regions in the forward diagonal direction, and any combination thereof. The diamond configuration can advantageously reduce the parasitic capacitance in the touch sensitive device by reducing the number of crossovers in the sense regions between the drive and sense lines, which can result in cost and power savings for the touch sensitive device. 
     A “diamond” configuration can refer to any configuration in which the drive and sense regions are disposed in slant, tilt, angle, oblique, diagonal, or otherwise mainly non-horizontal or non-vertical patterns. Among several regions, a group of the drive regions together, a group of the sense regions together, or a combination of drive and sense regions together so disposed can resemble a diamond shape. 
     The terms “drive line,” “horizontal common voltage line,” and “xVcom” can refer generally to the conductive lines of the LCD used to transmit a stimulation signal. In most cases, though not always, the term “drive line” can be used when referring to these conductive lines in the drive regions of the LCD because they can be used to transmit a stimulation signal to drive the drive regions. 
     The terms “sense line,” “vertical common voltage line,” and “yVcom” can refer generally to the conductive lines of the LCD used to transmit a touch signal. In most cases, though not always, the term “sense line” can be used when referring to these conductive lines in the sense regions of the LCD because they can be used to transmit a touch signal to sense the touch or near touch. 
     The term “subpixel” can refer to a red, green, or blue display component of the LCD, while the term “pixel” can refer to a combination of a red, a green, and a blue subpixel. 
     Although some embodiments may be described herein in terms of touch screens, it should be understood that embodiments are not so limited, but are generally applicable to any devices utilizing touch and other types of sensing technologies. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary touch sensitive device having touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 1 , touch sensitive device  100  can have touch regions, which can include drive (D) regions  110  and sense (S) regions  120 . The drive regions  110  can be configured to receive a stimulation signal. The sense regions  120  can be configured to send a touch signal based on a touch or near touch by an object, such as a finger. The touch regions can form a matrix of rows and columns, where the drive regions  110  and the sense regions  120  can alternate in the rows and the columns. The matrix diagonals can then have either all drive regions  110  or all sense regions  120 . 
     In this example, the drive regions  110  in a diagonal can be separate and unconnected from each other. The sense regions  120  in a backward diagonal can be electrically connected to each other via connection  121 . The connections will be described in more detail later. These drive and sense region diagonals can form a diamond configuration for the touch sensitive device  100 . 
     In operation, the touch sensitive device  100  can stimulate the drive regions  110  with stimulation signals to form electric field lines between the stimulated drive regions and adjacent sense regions  120 . When an object touches or near touches a stimulated drive region  110 , the object can affect some of the electric field lines extending to the adjacent sense regions  120 , thereby reducing the amount of charge coupled to these adjacent sense regions  120 . This reduction in charge can be sensed by the sense regions  120  as an “image” of touch. This touch image can be transmitted along the diagonal sense regions  120 , which include the sense region that sensed the touch, via the connections  121  to touch circuitry for further processing. For example, if a touch or near touch happens in the upper left drive region  110 , some of the electrical field lines extending to the horizontal neighboring sense region  120  can be affected. The sense region  120  can sense the reduction in charge and transmit the sensed reduction along the diagonal via its connection  121  to the next sense region, which can in turn transmit the sensed reduction to touch circuitry for further processing. 
     In alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the sense regions electrically connected in their respective diagonals in a forward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the sense regions electrically connected in their respective diagonals in a combination of forward and backward diagonal directions. 
     In some embodiments, one or more of the drive regions in a row can be electrically connected together via their drive lines. Optionally or alternatively, one or more of the drive regions can be electrically connected in their respective diagonals in the forward, backward, or both diagonal directions via their drive lines. 
     It is to be understood that the configuration of the touch regions in a touch sensitive device is not limited to that shown here, but can include any other suitable diagonal, slant, tilt, angle, oblique, and the like configurations according to various embodiments. It is further to be understood that the touch regions need not form a matrix of rows and columns as shown here, but can form any other suitable layout according to various embodiments. It is also to be understood that the touch regions are not limited to the rectangular shapes and orientations shown here, but can include any other suitable shapes and orientations according to various embodiments. 
     Touch regions, e.g., drive regions and sense regions, of a touch sensitive device can be formed by groups of pixels electrically connected together. A touch sensitive device can include a touch screen, a touch panel, and the like. For example, touch regions in a touch screen can be formed by groups of pixels having display and touch capabilities, in which the pixels can be used to display graphics or data and to sense a touch or near touch. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a partial circuit diagram of exemplary pixels having display and touch capabilities that can be grouped to form touch regions according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 2 , touch sensitive device  200 , e.g., a touch screen, can include subpixels according to various embodiments. The subpixels of the device  200  can be configured such that they are capable of dual-functionality as both display subpixels and touch sensor elements. That is, the subpixels can include circuit elements, such as capacitive elements, electrodes, etc., that can operate as part of the display circuitry of the pixels, during a display mode of the device, and that can also operate as elements of touch sensing circuitry, during a touch mode of the device. In this way, the device  200  can operate as a display with integrated touch sensing capability.  FIG. 2  shows details of subpixels  201 ,  202 ,  203 , and  204  of device  200 . Note that each of the subpixels can represent either red (R), green (G) or blue (B), with the combination of all three R, G and B subpixels forming a single color pixel. 
     Subpixel  202  can include thin film transistor (TFT)  255  with gate  255   a , source  255   b , and drain  255   c . Subpixel  202  can also include storage capacitor, Cst  257 , with upper electrode  257   a  and lower electrode  257   b , liquid crystal capacitor, Clc  259 , with subpixel electrode  259   a  and common electrode  259   b , and color filter voltage source, Vcf  261 . If a subpixel is an in-plane-switching (IPS) device, Vcf can be, for example, a fringe field electrode connected to a common voltage line in parallel with Cst  257 . If a subpixel does not utilize IPS, Vcf  251  can be, for example, an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) layer on the color filter glass. Subpixel  202  can also include a portion  217   a  of a data line for green (G) color data, Gdata line  217 , and portion  213   b  of gate line  213 . Gate  255   a  can be connected to gate line portion  213   b , and source  255   b  can be connected to Gdata line portion  217   a . Upper electrode  257   a  of Cst  257  can be connected to drain  255   c  of TFT  255 , and lower electrode  257   b  of Cst  257  can be connected to a portion  221   b  of a common voltage line that runs in the x-direction, xVcom  221 . Subpixel electrode  259   a  of Clc  259  can be connected to drain  255   c  of TFT  255 , and common electrode  259   b  of Clc  259  can connected to Vcf  251 . 
     The circuit diagram of subpixel  203  can be identical to that of subpixel  202 . However, as shown in  FIG. 2 , color data line  219  running through subpixel  203  can carry blue (B) color data. Subpixels  202  and  203  can be, for example, known display subpixels. 
     Similar to subpixels  202  and  203 , subpixel  201  can include thin film transistor (TFT)  205  with gate  205   a , source  205   b , and drain  205   c . Subpixel  201  can also include storage capacitor, Cst  207 , with upper electrode  207   a  and lower electrode  207   b , liquid crystal capacitor, Clc  209 , with subpixel electrode  209   a  and common electrode  209   b , and color filter voltage source, Vcf  211 . Subpixel  201  can also include a portion  215   a  of a data line for red (R) color data, Rdata line  215 , and a portion  213   a  of gate line  213 . Gate  205   a  can be connected to gate line portion  213   a , and source  205   b  can be connected to Rdata line portion  215   a . Upper electrode  207   a  of Cst  207  can be connected to drain  205   c  of TFT  205 , and lower electrode  207   b  of Cst  207  can be connected to a portion  221   a  of xVcom  221 . Subpixel electrode  209   a  of Clc  209  can be connected to drain  205   c  of TFT  205 , and common electrode  209   b  of Clc  209  can be connected to Vcf  211 . 
     Unlike subpixels  202  and  203 , subpixel  201  can also include a portion  223   a  of a common voltage line running in the y-direction, yVcom  223 . In addition, subpixel  201  can include a connection  227  that connects portion  221   a  to portion  223   a . Thus, connection  227  can connect xVcom  221  and yVcom  223 . 
     Subpixel  204  (only partially shown in  FIG. 2 ) can be similar to subpixel  201 , except that a portion  225   a  of a yVcom  225  can have a break (open)  231 , and a portion  221   b  of xVcom  221  can have a break  233 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the lower electrodes of storage capacitors of subpixels  201 ,  202 , and  203  can be connected together by xVcom  221 . This can be, for example, a type of connection in known display panels and, when used in conjunction with known gate lines, data lines, and transistors, can allow subpixels to be addressed. The addition of vertical common voltage lines along with connections to the horizontal common voltage lines can allow grouping of subpixels in both the x-direction and y-direction, as described in further detail below. For example, yVcom  223  and connection  227  to xVcom  221  can allow the storage capacitors of subpixels  201 ,  202 , and  203  to be connected to storage capacitors of subpixels that are above and below subpixels  201 ,  202 ,  203  (the subpixels above and below are not shown). For example, the subpixels immediately above subpixels  201 ,  202 , and  203  can have the same configurations as subpixels  201 ,  202 , and  203 , respectively. In this case, the storage capacitors of the subpixels immediately above subpixels  201 ,  202 , and  203  would be connected to the storage capacitors of subpixels  201 ,  202 , and  203 . 
     In general, a display can be configured such that the storage capacitors of all subpixels in the display can be connected together, for example, through at least one vertical common voltage line with connections to horizontal common voltage lines. Another display can be configured such that different groups of subpixels can be connected together to form separate regions of connected-together storage capacitors. 
     One way to create separate regions can be by forming breaks (opens) in the horizontal and/or vertical common lines. For example, yVcom  225  of device  200  can have break  231 , which can allow subpixels above the break to be isolated from subpixels below the break. Likewise, xVcom  221  can have break  233 , which can allow subpixels to the right of the break to be isolated from subpixels to the left of the break. 
     A drive region can be formed by connecting at least one vertical common voltage line yVcom  223 ,  225  of a pixel with at least one horizontal common voltage line xVcom  221  of the pixel, thereby forming a drive region including a row of pixels. A drive plate (e.g., an ITO plate) can be used to cover the drive region and connect to the vertical and horizontal common voltage lines so as to group the capacitive elements of the pixels together to form the drive region for touch mode. Generally, a drive region can be larger than a single row of pixels in order to effectively receive a touch or near touch on the touch sensitive device. For example, a drive region can be formed by connecting vertical common voltage lines yVcom with horizontal common voltage lines xVcom, thereby forming a drive region including a matrix of pixels. In some embodiments, drive regions proximate to each other can share horizontal common voltage lines xVcom as drive lines, which can transmit stimulation signals that stimulate the drive regions, as previously described. In some embodiments, drive regions proximate to each other can share vertical common voltage lines yVcom with breaks in the lines between the drive regions in order to minimize the lines causing parasitic capacitance that could interfere with the received touch or near touch. Optionally and alternatively, the vertical common voltage line breaks can be omitted and the lines shared in their entirety among the drive regions. 
     A sense region can be formed by at least one vertical common voltage line yVcom  223 ,  225  of a pixel, thereby forming a sense region including a column of pixels. A sense plate (e.g., an ITO plate) can be used to cover the sense region and connect to the vertical common voltage line without connecting to a cross-under horizontal common voltage line so as to group the capacitive elements of the pixels together to form the sense region for touch mode. Generally, a sense region can be larger than a single column of pixels in order to effectively sense a received touch or near touch on the touch sensitive device. For example, a sense region can be formed by vertical common voltage lines yVcom, thereby forming a sense region including columns of pixels. In some embodiments, a sense region can use the vertical common voltage lines yVcom as sense lines, which can transmit a touch signal based on a touch or near touch on the touch sensitive device. In the sense region, the vertical common voltage lines yVcom can be unconnected from and cross over the horizontal common voltage lines xVcom to form a mutual capacitance structure for touch sensing. This cross over of yVcom and xVcom can also form additional parasitic capacitance between the sense and drive ITO regions that can be minimized. 
     It is to be understood that the pixels used to form the touch regions are not limited to those described above, but can be any suitable pixels having touch capabilities according to various embodiments. It is to be further understood that the combinations of the pixels in the touch regions are not limited to those described above, but can include any suitable combinations according to various embodiments. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary layout of connections between a touch sensitive device&#39;s touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 3 , touch sensitive device  300  can have touch regions, which can include drive regions  310  and sense regions  320 . Each drive region  310  can have pixels  303 , horizontal common voltage lines xVcom  301 , and vertical common voltage lines yVcom  302 , covered by a drive plate. For simplicity, each pixel  303  is shown as a single block, which can represent a set of red, green, and blue subpixels. The horizontal common voltage lines  301  can connect drive regions  310  in the same row. The vertical common voltage lines  302  can have breaks  312  between adjacent regions  310 ,  320  in the same column. In the example of  FIG. 3 , in the left column, the drive region  310  illustrated above the sense region  320  can include vertical common voltage lines  302  that can have breaks just below the drive region and do not extend to the sense region. In the right column, the drive region  310  illustrated below the sense region  320  can include vertical common voltage lines  302  that can have breaks just above the drive region and do not extend to the sense region. Each sense region  320  can have pixels  303  and vertical common voltage lines  302 , covered by a sense plate. The vertical common voltage lines  302  can connect (via connection  321 ) sense regions  320  in the same diagonal, as will be described below. The horizontal common voltage lines  301  can cross underneath  311  the sense region  320  without electrically connecting to the region. 
     The drive regions  310  and the sense regions  320  can lie in diagonals to form a diamond configuration. The drive regions  310  in their diagonals can be separate and unconnected from each other, while the drive regions in a row can be electrically connected to each other via the horizontal common voltage lines  301  as drive lines. The sense regions  320  in their diagonals can be electrically connected to each other via connection  321 . The connection  321  can be made with the vertical common voltage lines  302  that form the sense regions  320 , where the lines can pass through one sense region, veer diagonally in a backward direction to another sense region, pass through that sense region, and so on either to the next sense region or to touch circuitry. 
     By the sense regions  320  being disposed in the diamond configuration, some of the horizontal common voltage lines  301  can either cross under the connection  321  outside of the sense regions  320  or be eliminated entirely, thereby reducing the parasitic capacitance effects caused by the crossings and/or the sense plate, e.g., an ITO plate, within the sense regions themselves. As a result, more expensive and powerful sensing circuitry need not be used to, in part, address these parasitic capacitance effects in order to effectively sense a touch or near touch. These improved effects can similarly be realized in any of the diamond configurations described below. 
     In operation, the horizontal common voltage lines  301  can stimulate the drive regions  310  with stimulation signals to form electric field lines between the stimulated drive regions and adjacent sense regions  320 . When an object touches or near touches a stimulated drive region  310 , the reduction in charge in the adjacent sense region  320  can be sensed and a corresponding signal transmitted along the vertical common voltage lines  302  of that sense region and subsequent sense regions diagonally electrically connected in the backward diagonal direction to the touch circuitry for further processing. 
     The connection  321  in  FIG. 3  has a separate line for each vertical common voltage line  302 . Alternatively, the connection  321  can tie all of the vertical common voltage lines  302  in a particular sense region  320  together and have a single line between sense regions. 
     In alternate embodiments, the vertical common voltage lines  302  in the sense regions  320  can form a connection between diagonal sense regions in the forward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the vertical common voltage lines  302  in the drive regions  310  can form a connection between diagonal drive regions in either the forward or the backward diagonal direction. 
     It is to be understood that the layout of the connections is not limited to that shown, but can include any suitable layout, e.g., any number and configuration of horizontal and vertical common voltage lines, pixels, touch regions, and so on, according to various embodiments. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another exemplary layout of connections between a touch sensitive device&#39;s touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 4 , touch sensitive device  400  can have touch regions, which can include drive regions  410  and sense regions  420 , each having pixels  403 . The four boundaries of a pixel  403  can be formed by adjacent forward diagonal common voltage lines  401  and adjacent backward diagonal common voltage lines  402 . Each drive region  410  can have pixels  403 , forward diagonal common voltage lines xVcom  401 , and backward diagonal common voltage lines yVcom  402 . The forward diagonal common voltage lines  401  can connect drive regions  410  in the same forward diagonal. The backward diagonal common voltage lines  402  can have breaks  412  between drive regions in the same backward diagonal. Each sense region  420  can have pixels  403  and backward diagonal common voltage lines  402 . The backward diagonal common voltage lines  402  can connect sense regions  420  in the same backward diagonal, as will be described below. The forward diagonal common voltage lines  401  can cross underneath  411  the sense region  420  without electrically connecting to the region. 
     The drive regions  410  and the sense regions  420  can lie in diagonals to form a diamond configuration. The drive regions  410  in their forward diagonals can be electrically connected to each other via the forward diagonal common voltage lines  401  as drive lines, while the drive regions in a row can be separate and unconnected from each other. The sense regions  420  in their diagonals can be electrically connected to each other via connection  421 . The connection  421  can be made with the backward diagonal common voltage lines  402  that form the sense regions  420 , where the lines can pass through each sense region in the backward diagonal to the touch circuitry. 
     In operation, the forward diagonal common voltage lines  401  can stimulate the drive regions  410  with stimulation signals to form electric field lines between the stimulated drive regions and adjacent sense regions  420 . When an object touches or near touches a stimulated drive region  410 , the reduction in charge in the adjacent sense region  420  can be sensed and a corresponding signal transmitted along the backward diagonal common voltage lines  402  of that sense region and subsequent sense regions diagonally electrically connected in the backward diagonal direction to the touch circuitry for further processing. 
     In alternate embodiments, the backward diagonal common voltage lines  402  in the sense regions  420  can form a connection between diagonal sense regions in the forward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the backward diagonal common voltage lines  402  in the drive regions  410  can form a connection between diagonal drive regions in either the forward or the backward diagonal direction. In further alternate embodiments, the forward diagonal common voltage lines  401  in the sense regions  420  that do not connect to a drive region  410  at all can be omitted. 
     It is to be understood that the layout of the connections is not limited to that shown, but can include any suitable layout, e.g., any number and configuration of horizontal and vertical common voltage lines, pixels, touch regions, and so on, according to various embodiments. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another exemplary layout of connections between a touch sensitive device&#39;s touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 5 , touch sensitive device  500  can have touch regions, which can include drive regions  510  and sense regions  520 , each including pixels  503 . The top and bottom boundaries of a pixel  503  can be formed by adjacent horizontal common voltage lines  501  and the left and right boundaries of the pixel can be formed by adjacent backward diagonal common voltage lines  502 . Each drive region  510  can have pixels  503 , horizontal common voltage lines xVcom  501 , and backward diagonal common voltage lines yVcom  502 . The horizontal common voltage lines  501  can connect drive regions  510  in the same row. The backward diagonal common voltage lines  502  can have breaks  512  between drive regions in the same diagonal. Each sense region  520  can have pixels  503  and backward diagonal common voltage lines  502 . The backward diagonal common voltage lines  502  can connect sense regions  520  in the same diagonal, as will be described below. The horizontal common voltage lines  501  can cross underneath  511  the sense region  520  without electrically connecting to the region. 
     The drive regions  510  and the sense regions  520  can lie in diagonals to form a diamond configuration. The drive regions  510  in their diagonals can be separate and unconnected from each other, while the drive regions in a row can be electrically connected to each other via the horizontal common voltage lines  501  as drive lines. The sense regions  520  in their diagonals can be electrically connected to each other via connection  521 . The connection  521  can be made with the backward diagonal common voltage lines  502  that form the sense regions  520 , where the lines can pass through the sense regions in the diagonal to touch circuitry. 
     In operation, the horizontal common voltage lines  501  can stimulate the drive regions  510  with stimulation signals to form electric field lines between the stimulated drive regions and adjacent sense regions  520 . When an object touches or near touches a stimulated drive region  510 , the adjacent sense region  520  can sense the touch or near touch and transmit a corresponding signal along the backward diagonal common voltage lines  502  of that sense region and subsequent sense regions diagonally electrically connected in the backward diagonal direction to the touch circuitry for further processing. 
     In alternate embodiments, the backward diagonal common voltage lines  502  in the sense regions  520  can form a connection between diagonal sense regions in the forward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the backward diagonal common voltage lines  502  in the drive regions  510  can form a connection between diagonal drive regions in either the forward or the backward diagonal direction. In further alternate embodiments, the horizontal common voltage lines  501  can be in a forward or backward diagonal direction and the backward diagonal common voltage lines  502  in a vertical direction. 
     It is to be understood that the layout of the connections is not limited to that shown, but can include any suitable layout, e.g., any number and configuration of horizontal and vertical common voltage lines, pixels, touch regions, and so on, according to various embodiments. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 6 , touch sensitive device  600  can have touch regions, which can include drive (D) regions  610  and sense (S) regions  620 . The drive regions  610  in a diagonal can be separate and unconnected from each other. The sense regions  620  in a backward diagonal can be electrically connected to each other via connection  621 . The connections can be similar to those previously describe in  FIGS. 3-5 . These drive and sense region diagonals can form a diamond configuration for the touch sensitive device  600 . Unlike the example of  FIG. 1 , the drive regions  610  and the sense regions  620  can be substantially different in size. For example, the sense regions  620  can be narrower than the drive regions  610 . The touch sensitive device  600  can operate in a similar manner to that described in  FIG. 1 . 
     In alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the sense regions electrically connected in their respective diagonals in a forward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the sense regions electrically connected in their respective diagonals in a combination of forward and backward diagonal directions. 
     In some embodiments, one or more of the drive regions in a row can be electrically connected together via their drive lines. Optionally or alternatively, one or more of the drive regions can be electrically connected in their respective diagonals in the forward, backward, or both diagonal directions via their drive lines. 
     It is to be understood that the configuration of the touch regions in a touch sensitive device is not limited to that shown here, but can include any other suitable diagonal, slant, oblique, and the like configurations according to various embodiments. It is further to be understood that the touch regions need not form a matrix of rows and columns as shown here, but can form any other suitable layout according to various embodiments. It is also to be understood that the touch regions are not limited to the rectangular shapes and orientations shown here, but can include any other suitable shapes and orientations according to various embodiments. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary layout of connections between a touch sensitive device&#39;s touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 7 , similar to that of  FIG. 3 , touch sensitive device  700  can have touch regions, which can include drive regions  710  and sense regions  720 . Each drive region  710  can have pixels  703 , horizontal common voltage lines xVcom  701 , and vertical common voltage lines yVcom  702 . The horizontal common voltage lines  701  can connect drive regions  710  in the same row. The vertical common voltage lines  702  can have breaks  712  between drive regions in the same column. Each sense region  720  can have pixels  703  and vertical common voltage lines  702 . The vertical common voltage lines  702  can connect sense regions  720  in the same diagonal, as will be described below. The horizontal common voltage lines  701  can cross underneath  711  the sense region  720  without electrically connecting to the region. 
     The drive regions  710  and the sense regions  720  can lie in diagonals to form a diamond configuration. The drive regions  710  in their diagonals can be separate and unconnected from each other, while the drive regions in a row can be electrically connected to each other via the horizontal common voltage lines  701  as drive lines. The sense regions  720  in their diagonals can be electrically connected to each other via connection  721 . The connection  721  can be made with the vertical common voltage lines  702  that form the sense regions  720 , where the lines can pass through one sense region, veer diagonally in a backward direction to another sense region, pass through that sense region, and so on either to the next sense region or to touch circuitry. 
     In operation, the horizontal common voltage lines  701  can stimulate the drive regions  710  with stimulation signals to form electric field lines between the stimulated drive regions and adjacent sense regions  720 . When an object touches or near touches a stimulated drive region  710 , the reduction in charge in the adjacent sense region  720  can be sensed and a corresponding signal transmitted along the vertical common voltage lines  702  of that sense region and subsequent sense regions diagonally electrically connected in the backward diagonal direction to the touch circuitry for further processing. 
     The connection  721  in  FIG. 7  can have a separate line for each vertical common voltage line  702  in the sense region  720  or can have a single line for all the vertical common voltage lines tied together in the sense region. 
     In alternate embodiments, the vertical common voltage lines  702  in the sense regions  720  can form a connection between diagonal sense regions in the forward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the vertical common voltage lines  702  in the drive regions  710  can form a connection between diagonal drive regions in either the forward or the backward diagonal direction. 
     Other layouts similar to those of  FIGS. 4 and 5  can also be used. 
     It is to be understood that the layout of the connections is not limited to that shown, but can include any suitable layout, e.g., any number and configuration of horizontal and vertical common voltage lines, pixels, touch regions, and so on, according to various embodiments. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 8 , touch sensitive device  800  can have touch regions, which can include drive (D) regions  810  and sense (S) regions  820 . The drive regions  810  in a diagonal can be separate and unconnected from each other. The sense regions  820  in a forward diagonal can be electrically connected to each other via connection  821 . The connection  821  can involve combinations of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal common voltage lines as described in  FIGS. 3-5 . These drive and sense region diagonals can form a diamond configuration for the touch sensitive device  800 . Like the example of  FIG. 6 , the drive regions  810  and the sense regions  820  can be substantially different in size. For example, the sense regions  820  can be narrower than the drive regions  810 . The touch sensitive device  800  can operate in a similar manner to that described in  FIG. 1 . 
     In alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the sense regions electrically connected in their respective diagonals in a backward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the sense regions electrically connected in their respective diagonals in a combination of forward and backward diagonal directions. 
     In some embodiments, one or more of the drive regions in a row can be electrically connected together via their drive lines. Optionally or alternatively, one or more of the drive regions can be electrically connected in their respective diagonals in the forward, backward, or both diagonal directions via their drive lines. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 9 , touch sensitive device  900  can have touch regions, which can include drive (D) regions  910  and sense (S) regions  920 . The drive regions  910  in a diagonal can be separate and unconnected from each other. The sense regions  920  can extend in a forward diagonal. Unlike other examples, the sense regions  920  can form single regions, rather than separate regions connected in a diagonal via connections. These drive and sense region diagonals can form a diamond configuration of the touch regions for the touch sensitive device  900 . The drive regions  910  and the sense regions  920  can be substantially different in size. For example, the sense regions  920  can be narrower and longer than the drive regions  910 . The touch sensitive device  900  can operate in a similar manner to that described in  FIG. 1 . 
     In alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the sense regions extend in a backward diagonal. In other alternate embodiments, the sense regions can extend in a combination of forward and backward diagonals. 
     In some embodiments, one or more of the drive regions in a row can be electrically connected together via their drive lines. Optionally or alternatively, one or more of the drive regions can be electrically connected in their respective diagonals in the forward, backward, or both diagonal directions via their drive lines. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary computing system that can include one or more of the various embodiments described herein. In the example of  FIG. 10 , computing system  1000  can include one or more panel processors  1002  and peripherals  1004 , and panel subsystem  1006 . Peripherals  1004  can include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM) or other types of memory or storage, watchdog timers and the like. Panel subsystem  1006  can include, but is not limited to, one or more sense channels  1008 , channel scan logic (analog or digital)  1010  and driver logic (analog or digital)  1014 . Channel scan logic  1010  can access RAM  1012 , autonomously read data from sense channels  1008  and provide control signals  1017  for the sense channels. In addition, channel scan logic  1010  can control driver logic  1014  to generate stimulation signals  1016  at various phases that can be simultaneously applied to drive regions of touch screen  1024 . Panel subsystem  1006  can operate at a low digital logic voltage level (e.g. 1.7 to 3.3V). Driver logic  1014  can generate a supply voltage greater that the digital logic level supply voltages by cascading two charge storage devices, e.g., capacitors, together to form charge pump  1015 . Charge pump  1015  can be used to generate stimulation signals  1016  that can have amplitudes of about twice the digital logic level supply voltages (e.g. 3.4 to 6.6V). Although  FIG. 10  shows charge pump  1015  separate from driver logic  1014 , the charge pump can be part of the driver logic. In some embodiments, panel subsystem  1006 , panel processor  1002  and peripherals  1004  can be integrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 
     Touch screen  1024  (i.e., a touch sensitive device) can include a capacitive sensing medium having drive regions  1029  and sense regions  1027  in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. The sense regions  1027  can be electrically connected along their respective diagonals with connections  1021 . Each drive region  1029  and each sense region  1027  can include capacitive elements, which can be viewed as pixels and which can be particularly useful when touch screen  1024  is viewed as capturing an “image” of touch during touch mode of the touch screen. (In other words, after panel subsystem  1006  has determined whether a touch event has been detected at each touch sensor in the touch screen, the pattern of touch sensors in the multi-touch panel at which a touch event occurred can be viewed as an “image” of touch (e.g. a pattern of fingers touching the panel).) The presence of a finger or other object near or on the touch screen can be detected by measuring changes to a signal charge present at the pixels being touched, which is a function of Csig. Each sense region  1027  of touch screen  1024  can drive sense channel  1008  in panel subsystem  1006 . During display mode, the pixels can be used to display graphics or data on touch screen  1024  during display mode. 
     Computing system  1000  can also include host processor  1028  for receiving outputs from panel processor  1002  and performing actions based on the outputs that can include, but are not limited to, moving one or more objects 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 coupled 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, and/or the like. Host processor  1028  can also perform additional functions that may not be related to panel processing, and can be coupled to program storage  1032  and touch screen  1024  such as an LCD for providing a user interface to a user of the device. 
     Note that one or more of the functions described above can be performed by firmware stored in memory (e.g. one of the peripherals  1004  in  FIG. 10 ) and executed by panel processor  1002 , or stored in program storage  1032  and executed by host processor  1028 . The firmware can also be stored and/or transported within any 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 “computer-readable storage medium” can be any medium that can contain or store the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 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 readable medium can include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic or infrared wired or wireless propagation medium. 
     It is to be understood that the touch screen is not limited to touch, as described in  FIG. 10 , but may be a proximity screen or any other screen switchable between a display mode, in which the screen pixels can be used to display graphics or data, and another mode, in which the screen pixels can be used for another function, according to various embodiments. In addition, the touch screen described herein can be either a single-touch or a multi-touch screen. 
       FIG. 11   a  illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone  1136  that can include touch screen  1124  having touch regions in a diamond configuration and other computing system blocks that can be utilized for the telephone. 
       FIG. 11   b  illustrates an exemplary digital media player  1140  that can include touch screen  1124  having touch regions in a diamond configuration and other computing system blocks that can be utilized for the media player. 
       FIG. 11   c  illustrates an exemplary personal computer  1144  that can include touch screen  1124  having touch regions in a diamond configuration, touch sensor panel (trackpad)  1126  having touch regions in a diamond configuration, and other computing system blocks that can be utilized for the personal computer. 
     The mobile telephone, media player, and personal computer of  FIGS. 11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  can realize cost and power savings by utilizing touch screens having touch regions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. 
     Although various embodiments 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 embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20090821
Publication Date: 20160216
Grant Date: 20160216
Priority Date: 20090202
Inventors: CHANG SHIH CHANG
YOUSEFPOR MARDUKE
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/0412", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0446", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04166", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0446", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04113", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0412", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04108", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0412", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04166", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 42397275