.......
`co
`0
`0)
`
`UTILITY
`~ATENT APPLICATION
`a TRANSMITIAL
`
`(Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 CFR l.53(b))
`
`APPLICA
`
`Express Mail Label No. EV839871107US
`
`ADDRESS TO:
`
`Commissioner tor Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`(SubmW an origlnat and a duplicate
`
`2. 0 Applicant claims small entity status.
`See 37 CFR 1.27.
`[Total Pages 55 1
`3. 181 Specification
`Both the claims and abstract must start on a new page
`(For lntormation on the preferred arrangement. see MPE!.P 6()8.0l(a))
`4."'~SJ Drawlng(s) (35 U.S. C. 113)
`[Total Sheets 1Q J
`[Total Pages ;I_ 1
`5. . Oath or Declaration (signed)
`181 Newly executed (original or copy)
`a.
`· i
`b. 0 Copy from a prior application (37 CFR 1.63(d))
`(for continuation/divisional with Box 18 completed)
`i. 0 DELETION OF INVENTOR($)
`
`Signed statement attached deleting inventor(s)
`named in the prior application, see 37 CFR
`t.63(d)(2) and 1.3:l(b).
`6. D Application Data Sheet. See 37 CFR 1. 76
`7. D CD-ROM or CD-R in duplicate, large table or
`Computer Program (Appendix)
`8. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Submission
`(if applicable, all necessary)
`a. 0 Computer Readable Form (CRF)
`b. Specification Sequence Listing on:
`i. 0 CD-ROM or CD-R (2 copies); or
`ii. 0 paper
`c. 0
`Statements verifying identity of above copies
`
`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATION PARTS
`9. 181. Assignment Papers (cover sheet & document(s))
`Name of Assignee CVoress Semiconductor Corporation
`181 Power of Attorney
`
`10. 0. 37 CFR 3.73(b) Statement
`(when there is an assignee)
`
`11. D . English Translation Document (if applicable)
`
`12. 181. Information Disclosure Statement (PTO/SB/08 or PT0-1449)
`181 Copies of citations attached
`13. 0. Preliminary Amendment
`0 Application Amended to Reflect Claim of Priority
`14. 181. Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`(Should be specifically ~temized)
`
`15. D. Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`(if foreign priority is claimed}
`16. O . Nonpubllcatlon Request under 35 U.S.C. 122 (b)(2)(B)(i).
`Applicant must attach form PTO/SB/35 or its equivalent.
`
`17. 0 . Other:
`
`lsp,ec/1fication following the title, or in an Application Data Sheet under 37
`1. 76:
`0. Continuation 0 Divisional
`0 Continuation-in-part (CIP)
`of prior application No: -----------------
`Exammer __________________________ __
`Group/Art Unit: _____ _
`
`Far CONTINUATION OR DIVISIONAL APPS onty: The enttre disclosure at the prior eppUcaUon, tram which an oath or declaration Ia aupptled under eox Sb, ta considered a
`part at the disclosure at the accompanying continuation or divisional apptlcaUon and Ia hereby Incorporated by reference. The Incorporation l<I!D..llllll!. be retied upon when
`has been lnadvertenUy omitted tram the submitted application parts.
`
`~ Customer Number
`
`08791
`
`or
`
`181 Coffespondence address below
`
`EXHIBIT 1011
`IPR Petition for U.S. Patent No. 8,004,497
`
`CY00000694
`
`

`

`Effective 12/08/2004
`Fees pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (H.R. 4818) .
`
`FEE TRANSMITTAL
`for FY 2005
`
`Applicant claims small entity status . See 37 CFR 1 .27 .
`
``
`
`TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
`
`($)
`
`1,040 .00
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT (check all that apply)
`
`Complete ff Known
`
`1
`
`Application Number
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor
`Examiner Name
`Art Unit
`Attorney Docket No .
`
`Jiang XiaoPing
`
`16820P456
`
`n None
`► _l Check n Credit card n Money Order
`n Deposit Account Deposit Account Number : 02-2666
`
`n Other (please identify):
`Deposit Account Name : Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
`
`For the above-identified deposit account, the Director is hereby authorized to : (check all that apply)
`n Charge fee(s) indicated below, except for the filing fee
`n Charge fee(s) indicated below
`► _i Charge any additional fee(s) or underpayment of fee(s)
`Credit any overpayments
`under 37 CFR §§ 1 .16, 1 .17, 1 .18 and 1 .20.
`
`FEE CALCULATION
`BASIC FILING, SEARCH, AND EXAMINATION FEES
`1 .
`RUNG FEES
`SEARCH FEES
`Sinai Entity
`Sind Emily
`Feel Fee_)
`Fee~j Fee(3)
`300
`150
`500
`250
`200
`100
`100
`50
`200
`100
`300
`150
`500
`250
`0
`0
`
`onTvpe
`
`AGP
`Utility
`Design
`Plant
`Reissue
`Provisional
`
`100
`
`Fee(s)Paid($)
`1 000 .00
`
`E(AMINATICN FEES
`Small Entdy
`
`Let(S)
`200
`130
`160
`600
`0
`
`100
`65
`80
`300
`0
`
`Small Enllv
`FACE Fe(li)
`50
`25
`200
`100
`360
`180
`Multiple Dependent Claims
`Fee ($)
`Fee Paid
`
`200
`EXCESS CLAIM FEES
`2.
`Fee Description
`Each claim over 20 (including Reissues)
`Each independent claim over 3 (including Reissues)
`Multiple independent claims
`Total Claims
`Fee Paid
`Fee ($)
`Extra Claims
`50.00
`50.00 =
`0
`20
`X
`- 20 or HP =
`HP = highest number of total claims paid for, if greater than 20
`Indep . Claims
`Extra Claims
`Fee ($)
`Fee Paid
`x
`0
`200 00 =
`$0.00
`3 or HP =
`3
`-
`HP = highest number of independent claims paid for, if greater than 3
`APPLICATION SIZE FEE
`3 .
`If the specification and drawings exceed 100 sheets of paper (excluding electronically filed sequence or computer listings under 37 CFR
`1 .52(e)), the application size fee due is $250 ($125 for small entity) for each additional 50 sheets or fraction thereof . See 35 U .S .C.
`41(a)(1)(G) and 37 CFR 1 .16(s).
`Total Sheets Extra Sheets
`/ 50 =
`- 100 =
`65
`-35
`
`Number of each additional 50 or fraction thereof
`(round up to a whole number) X
`
`Fee ($)
`
`Fee Paid ($)
`
`=
`
`OTHER FEE(S)
`4 .
`Non-English Specification, $130 fee (no small entity discount)
`Other:
`Recording of a patent assignment
`TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
`5 .
`
`Fees Paid ($l
`
`40.00
`
`t. SUBMITTED BY
`Name (Pnnt/rype)
`Da
`
`E. Ov
`
`ez' 7
`
`Registration
`(Attomey/Agent)
`
`No .
`
`41,236
`
`t
`Signature
`Based on PTO/SB/17 (12-04v2)' modified by BlaKey, Solokolt,1fg Zafman (w1i1.1 1130/2005.
`SEND TO: Mall Stop Patent Application, Commissioner for Patents, P .O . Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`($)
`
`L040 00
`
`Complete (if applicable)
`(408) 720-8300
`Telephone
`
`Date
`
`S//~~4~
`
`1
`
`CY00000695
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`

`

`I
`
`UTILITY
`PATENT APPLICATION Title
`o
`TRANSMITTAL
`
`Attorney Docket No.
`
`16820P456
`
`First Inventor
`
`I Jiang XiaoPing
`
`TWO-PIN BUTTONS
`Express Mail Label No. EV839871107US
`
`(Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 CFR 1 .53(b))
`
`0c
`
`n
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`6.
`7.
`
`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents
`Fee Transmittal Form (e .g., PTO/SB/17)
`(Submit an original and a duplicate for lee processing)
`Applicant claims small entity status.
`See 37 CFR 1.27.
`(Total Pages 55 ]
`Specification
`Both the claims and abstract must start on a new page
`(For information on the preferred arrangement, see MPEP 608.01(a))
`4. jel
`Drawing(s)
`(35 U.S .C. 113) [Total Sheets 10 ]
`5.
`. Oath or Declaration (signed)
`[Total Pages 3 ]
`a. ® Newly executed (original or copy)
`Copy from a prior application (37 CFR 1 .63(d))
`b.
`(for continuation/divisional with Box 18 completed)
`DELETION OF INVENTOR(S)
`Signed statement attached deleting inventor(s)
`named in the prior application, see 37 CFR
`1 .63(d)(2) and 1 .33(b).
`Application Data Sheet. See 37 CFR 1 .76
`CD-ROM or CD-R in duplicate, large table or
`Computer Program (Appendix)
`8. Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid Sequence Submission
`(if applicable, all necessary)
`a.
`Computer Readable Form (CRF)
`b. Specification Sequence Listing on:
`i. q
`CD-ROM or CD-R (2 copies) ; or
`ii. q
`paper
`Statements verifying identity of above copies
`
`c.
`
`ADDRESS TO:
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`P .O . Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATION PARTS
`
`9. ® Assignment Papers (cover sheet & document(s))
`Name of Assignee Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
`
`10.
`
`It .
`
`12.
`
`13.
`
`14.
`
`15.
`
`16.
`
`37 CFR 3.73(b) Statement
`(when there is an assignee)
`
`® Power of Attorney
`
`English Translation Document (if applicable)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement (PTO/SB/08 or PTO-1449)
`® Copies of citations attached
`
`. Preliminary Amendment
`Application Amended to Reflect Claim of Priority
`
`Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`(Should be specifically itemized)
`
`Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`(if foreign priority is claimed)
`
`Nonpublication Request under 35 U .S.C. 122 (b)(2)(B)(i).
`Applicant must attach form PTO/SB/35 or its equivalent.
`
`17.q
`
`. Other:
`
`18. If a CONTINUING APPLICATION, check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information below and in the first sentence of the
`specification following the title, or in an Application Data Sheet under 37 CFR 1 .76:
`Divisional
`Continuation-in-part (CIP) of prior application No:
`. Continuation
`Group/Art Unit
`Prior application Information : Examiner
`
`For CONTINUATION OR DIVISIONAL APPS only: The entire disclosure of the prior application, from which an oath or declaration Is supplied under Box 5b, Is considered a
`part of the disclosure of the accompanying continuation or divisional application and Is hereby Incorporated by reference . The Incorporation can only be relied upon when
`a portion has been Inadvertently omitted from the submitted application parts.
`19. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`08791
`
`or
`
`Correspondence address below
`
`® Customer Number
`
`Name
`
`Address
`
`Daniel E. Ovanezian
` Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
`12400 Wilshire Boulevard, 7th Floor
`
`Los Angeles
`
`90025
`
`Based on PTO/SB/05 (04-05) as modified by Blakey, S . okoft, Taylor . 4.. !man (wlr) 11/30/2005.
`SEND TO: Mall Stop Patent Application, Commissioner for PatP .O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`CY00000696
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`q
`
`
`q
`q
`q
`q
`q
`q
`q
`
`q
`▪
`q
`q
`▪
`q
`q
`q
`q
`q
`
`
`
`

`

`Effective 12/08/2004
`Fees pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (H.R. 4818) .
`
`FEE TRANSMITTAL
`for FY 2005
`
`Applicant claims small entity status . See 37 CFR 1 .27 .
`
``
`
`TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
`
`($)
`
`1,040 .00
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT (check all that apply)
`
`Complete ff Known
`
`1
`
`Application Number
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor
`Examiner Name
`Art Unit
`Attorney Docket No .
`
`Jiang XiaoPing
`
`16820P456
`
`n None
`► _l Check n Credit card n Money Order
`n Deposit Account Deposit Account Number : 02-2666
`
`n Other (please identify):
`Deposit Account Name : Blakely, Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
`
`For the above-identified deposit account, the Director is hereby authorized to : (check all that apply)
`n Charge fee(s) indicated below, except for the filing fee
`n Charge fee(s) indicated below
`► _i Charge any additional fee(s) or underpayment of fee(s)
`Credit any overpayments
`under 37 CFR §§ 1 .16, 1 .17, 1 .18 and 1 .20.
`
`FEE CALCULATION
`BASIC FILING, SEARCH, AND EXAMINATION FEES
`1 .
`RUNG FEES
`SEARCH FEES
`Sinai Entity
`Sind Emily
`Feel Fee_)
`Fee~j Fee(3)
`300
`150
`500
`250
`200
`100
`100
`50
`200
`100
`300
`150
`500
`250
`0
`0
`
`onTvpe
`
`AGP
`Utility
`Design
`Plant
`Reissue
`Provisional
`
`100
`
`Fee(s)Paid($)
`1 000 .00
`
`E(AMINATICN FEES
`Small Entdy
`
`Let(S)
`200
`130
`160
`600
`0
`
`100
`65
`80
`300
`0
`
`Small Enllv
`FACE Fe(li)
`50
`25
`200
`100
`360
`180
`Multiple Dependent Claims
`Fee ($)
`Fee Paid
`
`200
`EXCESS CLAIM FEES
`2.
`Fee Description
`Each claim over 20 (including Reissues)
`Each independent claim over 3 (including Reissues)
`Multiple independent claims
`Total Claims
`Fee Paid
`Fee ($)
`Extra Claims
`50.00
`50.00 =
`0
`20
`X
`- 20 or HP =
`HP = highest number of total claims paid for, if greater than 20
`Indep . Claims
`Extra Claims
`Fee ($)
`Fee Paid
`x
`0
`200 00 =
`$0.00
`3 or HP =
`3
`-
`HP = highest number of independent claims paid for, if greater than 3
`APPLICATION SIZE FEE
`3 .
`If the specification and drawings exceed 100 sheets of paper (excluding electronically filed sequence or computer listings under 37 CFR
`1 .52(e)), the application size fee due is $250 ($125 for small entity) for each additional 50 sheets or fraction thereof . See 35 U .S .C.
`41(a)(1)(G) and 37 CFR 1 .16(s).
`Total Sheets Extra Sheets
`/ 50 =
`- 100 =
`65
`-35
`
`Number of each additional 50 or fraction thereof
`(round up to a whole number) X
`
`Fee ($)
`
`Fee Paid ($)
`
`=
`
`OTHER FEE(S)
`4 .
`Non-English Specification, $130 fee (no small entity discount)
`Other:
`Recording of a patent assignment
`TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
`5 .
`
`Fees Paid ($l
`
`40.00
`
`t. SUBMITTED BY
`Name (Pnnt/rype)
`Da
`
`E. Ov
`
`ez' 7
`
`Registration
`(Attomey/Agent)
`
`No .
`
`41,236
`
`t
`Signature
`Based on PTO/SB/17 (12-04v2)' modified by BlaKey, Solokolt,1fg Zafman (w1i1.1 1130/2005.
`SEND TO: Mall Stop Patent Application, Commissioner for Patents, P .O . Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`($)
`
`L040 00
`
`Complete (if applicable)
`(408) 720-8300
`Telephone
`
`Date
`
`S//~~4~
`
`1
`
`CY00000697
`
`
`
`
`
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`

`

`UNITED STATES PATENT APPLICATION
`
`For
`
`TWO-PIN BUTTONS
`
`Inventor:
`
`Jiang XiaoPing
`
`BSTZ Docket No .: 16820P456
`Cypress Reference No . : CD06039
`
`Prepared By:
`Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP
`12400 Wilshire Boulevard, Seventh Floor
`Los Angeles, CA 90025-1030
`(408) 720-8300
`
`EV839871107US
`May 18, 2006
`("Express Mail" mailing label number)
`(Date of Deposit)
`I hereby certify that I am causing this paper or fee to be deposited with the United States Postal Service
`"Express Mail Post Office to Addressee" service on the date indicated above and that this paper or fee has
`been addressed to the Commissioner for Patents, P .O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`(Signature of person mailing paper or fee)
`
`
`
`sndb(/7(Date 66f Sig ture)
`
`CY00000698
`
`
`
`
`

`

`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`TWO-PIN BUTTONS
`
`[0001]
`
`This invention relates to the field of user interface devices and, in
`
`particular, to touch-sensing devices.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0002]
`
`Computing devices, such as notebook computers, personal data assistants
`
`(PDAs), and mobile handsets, have user interface devices, which are also known as
`
`human interface device (HID) . One user interface device that is common is a touch-
`
`sensor button . A basis touch-sensor button emulates the function of a mechanical button.
`
`Touch-sensor buttons may be embedded into different types of operational panels of
`
`electronic devices . For example, touch-sensor buttons may be used on operational or
`
`control panels of household appliances, consumer electronics, mechanical devices, and
`
`the like . Touch-sensor buttons may also be used in conjunction with, or in place of, other
`
`user input devices, such as keyboards, mice, trackballs, or the like.
`
`[0003]
`
`Figure 1A illustrates a conventional sensing device having three touch-
`
`sensor buttons . Conventional sensing device 100 includes button 101, button 102, and
`
`button 103 . These buttons are conventional touch-sensor buttons . These three buttons
`
`may be used for user input using a conductive object, such as a finger.
`
`[0004]
`
`Figure 1B illustrates a conventional sensing device of three touch-sensor
`
`buttons 101-103 coupled to a processing device 110 . Processing device 110 is used to
`
`detect whether a conductive object is present on either, or none, of the touch-sensor
`
`buttons 101-103 . To detect the presence of the conductive object, the processing device
`
`110 may include capacitance sensors 104-106, which are coupled to buttons 101-103,
`
`-1-
`
`Attorney Docket No. : 16820P456
`
`CY00000699
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`

`

`respectively . The capacitance sensors of the processing device are coupled to the touch-
`
`sensor buttons in a one-to-one configuration . Accordingly, the processing device 110
`
`scans the touch-sensor buttons 101-103 using the capacitance sensors 104-106, and
`
`measures the capacitance on the touch-sensor buttons 101-103.
`
`[0005]
`
`Each of the conventional touch-sensor buttons 101-103 may be made of a
`
`sensor element of conductive material, such as copper-clad . The conductive material may
`
`be form shaped in a circular shape (illustrated in Figure 1A), or even in a rectangular
`
`shape (illustrated in Figure 1B) . The touch-sensor buttons may be capacitance sensor
`
`buttons, which may be used as non-contact switches . These switches, when protected by
`
`an insulating layer, offer resistance to severe environments.
`
`[0006]
`
`It should be noted that the conventional configuration of Figure 1B
`
`includes a one-to-one configuration of touch-sensor buttons to capacitance sensors.
`
`There are other conventional configurations that may use less capacitance sensors to
`
`measure the capacitance on the three touch-sensor buttons . These conventional
`
`configurations, however, still require a one-to-one configuration of pins to touch-sensor
`
`buttons . Accordingly, by adding more buttons, the processing device needs to have more
`
`pins to correspond to the one-to-one configuration of pins to touch-sensor buttons.
`
`Similarly, by increasing the pin count, the scan time to scan the sensor elements
`
`increases . In addition, the memory of the processing device, which may be used to store
`
`program data and/or temporary data (e .g., raw measurement data, differential counts,
`
`baseline measurement data, and the like), increases by increasing the pin count.
`
`-2-
`
`Attorney Docket No.: 16820P456
`
`CY00000700
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0007]
`
`The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of
`
`limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
`
`[0008]
`
`Figure 1A illustrates a conventional sensing device having three touch-
`
`sensor buttons.
`
`[0009]
`
`Figure 1B illustrates a conventional sensing device of three touch-sensor
`
`buttons coupled to a processing device.
`
`[0010]
`
`Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic
`
`system having a processing device for detecting a presence of a conductive object.
`
`[0011]
`
`[0012]
`
`[0013]
`
`Figure 3A illustrates a varying switch capacitance.
`
`Figure 3B illustrates one embodiment of a relaxation oscillator.
`
`Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a capacitance
`
`sensor including a relaxation oscillator and digital counter.
`
`[0014]
`
`Figure 5A illustrates a top-side view of one embodiment of a sensor array
`
`having a plurality of sensor elements for detecting a presence of a conductive object on
`
`the sensor array of a touch-sensor pad.
`
`[0015]
`
`Figure 5B illustrates a top-side view of one embodiment of a sensor array
`
`having a plurality of sensor elements for detecting a presence of a conductive object on
`
`the sensor array of a touch-sensor slider
`
`[0016]
`
`Figure 5C illustrates a top-side view of one embodiment of a two-layer
`
`touch-sensor pad.
`
`[0017]
`
`Figure 5D illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the two-layer
`
`touch-sensor pad of Figure 5C .
`
`-3-
`
`Attorney Docket No.: 16820P456
`
`CY00000701
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`[0018]
`
`Figure 6A illustrates one embodiment of a sensing device having three
`
`touch-sensor buttons.
`
`[0019]
`
`Figure 6B illustrates one embodiment of the sensing device of Figure 6A
`
`coupled to a processing device.
`
`[0020]
`
`Figure 6C illustrates another embodiment of a sensing device having three
`
`touch-sensor buttons.
`
`[0021]
`
`Figure 6D illustrates another embodiment of a sensing device having three
`
`touch-sensor buttons.
`
`[0022]
`
`Figure 7A illustrates another embodiment of a sensing device having four
`
`touch-sensor buttons.
`
`[0023]
`
`Figure 7B illustrates another embodiment of a sensing device having five
`
`touch-sensor buttons .
`
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`Attorney Docket No.: 16820P456
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`CY00000702
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`[0024]
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`Described herein is an apparatus and method for detecting a presence of a
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`conductive object on a sensing device, and recognizing three or more button operations
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`performed by the conductive object using two sensing areas of the sensing device . The
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`following description sets forth numerous specific details such as examples of specific
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`systems, components, methods, and so forth, in order to provide a good understanding of
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`several embodiments of the present invention . It will be apparent to one skilled in the art,
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`however, that at least some embodiments of the present invention may be practiced
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`without these specific details . In other instances, well-known components or methods are
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`not described in detail or are presented in simple block diagram format in order to avoid
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`unnecessarily obscuring the present invention . Thus, the specific details set forth are
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`merely exemplary . Particular implementations may vary from these exemplary details
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`and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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`[0025]
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`Embodiments of a method and apparatus are described to recognize three
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`or more button operations performed by the conductive object on three or more sensor
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`elements that are coupled to two pins of a processing device . In one embodiment, the
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`apparatus may include a sensing device (e .g., touch-sensor button) that has first, second,
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`and third sensor elements . The third sensor element has a first portion coupled to the first
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`sensor element, and a second portion coupled to the second sensor element . These
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`portions of the third sensor element are electrically isolated from one another.
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`[0026]
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`The embodiments describe herein permit the expansion of additional
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`buttons (e .g., three or more total buttons) to the sensing device, while using only two pins
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`on the processing device . Conversely, since the conventional configuration has
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`Attorney Docket No .: 16820P456
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`CY00000703
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`implemented a one-to-one configuration of sensor elements to pins of the processing
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`device, each button added requires an additional pin on the processing device . Using only
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`two pins, the scan time does not increase by adding additional buttons to implement three
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`or more buttons on the sensing device . By maintaining two pins for three or more
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`buttons, the scan time to scan the sensor elements is not increased . In other words, more
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`buttons may be implemented without increasing the total scan time of the sensing device.
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`Similarly, the memory of the processing device is not increased to accommodate
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`additional program data and/or temporary data (e .g., raw measurement data, differential
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`counts, baseline measurement data, and the like) for the additional buttons.
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`[0027]
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`The sensing device may use two capacitive switch relaxation oscillator
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`(CSR) pins of a processing device to realize more than two buttons on the sensing device.
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`For example, the three or more buttons may be realized by using two sensing areas . Each
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`sensing area may include a bar of conductive material and several interconnected sub-
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`bars. The sub-bars of the two sensing areas are interleaved and are electrically isolated.
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`In other words, one set of interconnected sub-bars are connected to one pin, while the
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`other set is coupled to the other pin . The two sensing areas make up three or more sensor
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`elements that are used to form the touch-sensor buttons . The different buttons contain
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`different percentages of surface area of the sensing areas . Alternatively, each sensing area
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`may include two or more bars of conductive material with or without several
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`interconnected sub-bars.
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`[0028]
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`For example, a three-button scheme using two pins includes one sensor
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`element that has 100% of the first sensing area, the second sensor element has 50% of the
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`first sensing area and 50% of the second sensing area, and the third sensor element has
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`-6-
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`Attorney Docket No.: 16820P456
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`CY00000704
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`100% of the second sensing area . Accordingly, by scanning and measuring the
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`capacitance (e .g ., capacitance variation of the capacitance minus the baseline, as
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`described below) on the two pins to detect the presence of the conductive object, the
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`processing device can distinguish between the presence of the conductive object on the
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`first, second, and third sensor elements . For example, if the capacitance variation 8, ,
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`measured on the first pin, is greater than zero, and the capacitance variation 8 2 , measured
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`on the second pin is equal to approximately zero, then the first button has been pressed.
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`Similarly, if the capacitance variation 81 , measured on the first pin, is equal to the
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`capacitance variation 82 , measured on the second pin, then the second button has been
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`pressed . If the capacitance variation 8, , measured on the first pin, is equal to
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`approximately zero, and the capacitance variation 8 2 , measured on the second pin is
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`greater than zero, then the third button has been pressed.
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`[0029]
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`The embodiments herein may be beneficial to help reduce the pin count of
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`the processing device . This may decrease the complexity of the processing device, or
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`allow the processing device to support additional functionality, such as cursor positioning
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`and selecting functionality, keyboard functionality, slider functionality, or the like.
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`Furthermore, the embodiments may be beneficial to help reduce the scan time of the
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`sensing device. Using two pins of the processing device to measure the capacitance on
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`two sensing areas to realize three or more buttons is faster than measuring the capacitance
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`on three or more touch-sensor buttons of the conventional configuration (e .g., one-to-one
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`configuration). In addition, using two pins reduces the RAM/FLASH space needed in the
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`sensing device, as compared to the conventional configuration.
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`-7-
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`Attorney Docket No. : 16820P456
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`CY00000705
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`[0030]
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`The embodiments described herein may be used in different types of
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`operational panels of electronic devices . For example, touch-sensor buttons may be used
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`on operational or control panels of household appliances, consumer electronics,
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`mechanical devices, and the like . Touch-sensor buttons may also be used in conjunction
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`with, or in place of, other user input devices, such as keyboards, mice, trackballs, or the
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`like.
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`[0031]
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`Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic
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`system having a processing device for detecting a presence of a conductive object.
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`Electronic system 200 includes processing device 210, touch-sensor pad 220, touch-
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`sensor slider 230, touch-sensor buttons 240, host processor 250, embedded controller
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`260, and non-capacitance sensor elements 270 . The processing device 210 may include
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`analog and/or digital general purpose input/output ("GPIO") ports 207 . GPIO ports 207
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`may be programmable . GPIO ports 207 may be coupled to a Programmable Interconnect
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`and Logic ("PM"), which acts as an interconnect between GPIO ports 207 and a digital
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`block array of the processing device 210 (not illustrated) . The digital block array may be
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`configured to implement a variety of digital logic circuits (e .g., DAC, digital filters,
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`digital control systems, etc .) using, in one embodiment, configurable user modules
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`("UMs"). The digital block array may be coupled to a system bus . Processing device 210
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`may also include memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 205 and program flash
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`204. RAM 205 may be static RAM (SRAM), and program flash 204 may be a non-
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`volatile storage, which may be used to store firmware (e .g., control algorithms executable
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`by processing core 202 to implement operations described herein) . Processing device 210
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`Attorney Docket No .: 16820P456
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`CY00000706
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`may also include a memory controller unit (MCU) 203 coupled to memory and the
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`processing core 202.
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`[0032]
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`The processing device 210 may also include an analog block array (not
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`illustrated) . The analog block array is also coupled to the system bus . Analog block array
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`also may be configured to implement a variety of analog circuits (e .g., ADC, analog
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`filters, etc .) using, in one embodiment, configurable UMs . The analog block array may
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`also be coupled to the GPIO 207.
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`[0033]
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`As illustrated, capacitance sensor 201 may be integrated into processing
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`device 210. Capacitance sensor 201 may include analog I/O for coupling to an external
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`component, such as touch-sensor pad 220, touch-sensor slider 230, touch-sensor buttons
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`240, and/or other devices . Capacitance sensor 201 and processing device 202 are
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`described in more detail below.
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`[0034]
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`It should be noted that the embodiments described herein are not limited to
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`touch-sensor pads for notebook implementations, but can be used in other capacitive
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`sensing implementations, for example, the sensing device may be a touch-sensor slider
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`230, or a touch-sensor button 240 (e .g., capacitance sensing button) . Similarly, the
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`operations described herein are not limited to notebook cursor operations, but can include
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`other operations, such as lighting control (dimmer), volume control, graphic equalizer
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`control, speed control, or other control operations requiring gradual adjustments . It
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`should also be noted that these embodiments of capacitive sensing implementations may
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`be used in conjunction with non-capacitive sensing elements, including but not limited to
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`pick buttons, sliders (ex . display brightness and contrast), scroll-wheels, multi-media
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`Attorney Docket No. : 16820P456
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`CY00000707
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`control (ex . volume, track advance, etc) handwriting recognition and numeric keypad
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`operation.
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`[0035]
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`In one embodiment, the electronic system 200 includes a touch-sensor pad
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`220 coupled to the processing device 210 via bus 221 . Touch-sensor pad 220 may
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`include a multi-dimension sensor array . The multi-dimension sensor array comprises a
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`plurality of sensor elements, organized as rows and columns . In another embodiment, the
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`electronic system 200 includes a touch-sensor slider 230 coupled to the processing device
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`210 via bus 231 . Touch-sensor slider 230 may include a single-dimension sensor array.
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`The single-dimension sensor array comprises a plurality of sensor elements, organized as
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`rows, or alternatively, as columns . In another embodiment, the electronic system 200
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`includes a touch-sensor button 240 coupled to the processing device 210 via bus 241.
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`Touch-sensor button 240 may include a single-dimension or multi-dimension sensor
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`array. The single- or multi-dimension sensor array comprises a plurality of sensor
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`elements . For a touch-sensor button, the plurality of sensor elements may be coupled
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`together to detect a presence of a conductive object over the entire surface of the sensing
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`device. Alternatively, the touch-sensor button 240 has a single sensor element to detect
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`the presence of the conductive object . In one embodiment, the touch-sensor button 240
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`may be a capacitance sensor element . Capacitance sensor elements may be used as non-
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`contact switches . These switches, when protected by an insulating layer, offer resistance
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`to severe environments.
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`[0036]
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`The electronic system 200 may include any combination of one or more of
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`the touch-sensor pad 220, touch-sensor slider 230, and/or touch-sensor button 240 . In
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`another embodiment, the electronic system 200 may also include non-capacitance sensor
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`-10-
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`Attorney Docket No .: 16820P456
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`CY00000708
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`elements 270 coupled to the processing device 210 via bus 271 . The non-capacitance
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`sensor elements 270 may include buttons, light emitting diodes (LEDs), and other user
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`interface devices, such as a mouse, a keyboard, or other functional keys that do not
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`require capacitance sensing . In one embodiment, buses 271, 241, 231, and 221 may be a
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`single bus. Alternatively, these buses may be configured into any combination of one or
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`more separate buses.
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`[0037]
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`The processing device may also provide value-added functionality such as
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`keyboard control integration, LEDs, battery charger and general purpose I/O, as
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`illustrated as non-capacitance sensor elements 270 . Non-capacitance sensor elements 270
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`are coupled to the GPIO 207.
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`[0038]
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`Processing device 210 may include internal oscillator/clocks 206 and
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`communication block 208 . The oscillator/clocks block 206 provides clock signals to one
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`or more of the components of processing device 210 . Communication block 208 may be
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`used to communicate with an external component, such as a host processor 250, via host
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`interface (I/F) line 251 . Alternatively, processing block 210 may also be coupled to
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`embedded controller 260 to communicate with the external components, such as host
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`250. Interfacing to the host 250 can be through various methods . In one exemplary
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`embodiment, interfacing with the host 250 may be done using a standard PS/2 interface to
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`connect to an embedded controller 260, which in turn sends data to the host 250 via low
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`pin count (LPC) interface . In some instances, it may be beneficial for the processing
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`device 210 to do both touch-sensor pad and keyboard control operations, thereby freeing
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`up the embedded controller 260 for other housekeeping functions . In another exemplary
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`embodiment, interfacing may be done using a universal serial bus (USB) interface
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`-11-
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`Attorney Docket No .: 16820P456
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`CY00000709
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`directly coupled to the host 250 via host interface line 251 . Alternatively, the processing
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`device 210 may communicate to external components, such as the host 250 using industry
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`standard interfaces, such as USB, PS/2, inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus