US008587555B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Chang et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,587,555 B2
`*Nov. 19, 2013
`
`(54) METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CAPACITIVE
`POSITION DETECTION
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75) Inventors: Chin-Fu Chang, Taipei (TW);
`Cheng-Han Lee, Taipei (TW); Chi-Hao
`Tang, Taipei (TW); Shun-Lung Ho,
`Taipei (TW)
`(73) Assignee: EGALAX EMPLA Technology Inc.,
`Taipei (TW)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 292 days.
`This patent is Subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`Notice:
`
`(*)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(65)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`Appl. No.: 12/923,803
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 8, 2010
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2011 FOO84936A1
`Apr. 14, 2011
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Provisional application No. 61/298,252, filed on Jan.
`26, 2010, provisional application No. 61/298,243,
`filed on Jan. 26, 2010, provisional application No.
`61/250,051, filed on Oct. 9, 2009.
`
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. C.
`G06F 3/045
`U.S. C.
`USPC ........................................... 345/174; 34.5/173
`Field of Classification Search
`USPC .................... 345/156-174; 178/1801–18.06;
`324/658: 463/16, 20, 25
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`1/1987 Rympalski et al. ........... 345,174
`4,639,720 A *
`5,374,787 A * 12/1994 Miller et al. .......
`... 178.18.06
`5,412,200 A *
`5/1995 Rhoads ..........
`... 250,201.9
`5,543,588 A * 8/1996 Bisset et al. ...
`... 178.18.06
`5,644,512 A * 7/1997 Chernoff et al. ................ 7O2/85
`5,825,670 A * 10/1998 Chernoff et al. ................ 7O2/85
`5,861,583 A *
`1/1999 Schedivvy et al. .
`178/1806
`6,075,520 A * 6/2000 Inoue et al. ........
`... 345,173
`6,150,809 A * 1 1/2000 Tiernan et al. .
`... 324.238
`6,723,929 B2 * 4/2004 Kent ..............
`178/1804
`6,781,577 B2 * 8/2004 Shigetaka .
`345,173
`7,072,778 B2 * 7/2006 Swanson ......................... 702/57
`7,167,773 B2 *
`1/2007 Schneider et al.
`TOOf 198
`7.315,793 B2 *
`1/2008 Jean .......................
`TO2,150
`7.339,580 B2 * 3/2008 Westerman et al. .......... 345/173
`7,663,607 B2 *
`2/2010 Hotelling et al. ......
`... 345,173
`7,728,816 B2 * 6/2010 Xu et al. ............
`... 345,163
`8,089.470 B1* 1/2012 Schedivvy et al. .
`... 345,173
`8, 102,376 B2 *
`1/2012 Lii et al. ........................ 345,173
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`CN
`CN
`
`11, 1997
`1164286
`3, 2005
`1596412
`(Continued)
`Primary Examiner — Ricardo L Osorio
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — WPAT, PC; Justin King
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`The method and device for capacitive position detection are
`disclosed. The touch related sensors within a sensing device
`with a plurality of sensors are detected first. Therefore at least
`a range of the mutual capacitance detection for detecting
`sensing information can be determined according to the touch
`related sensors. The sensing information within the range of
`the mutual capacitance detection can be used for generating a
`two-dimension sensing information.
`21 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`PROVIDING CAPACTIVE SENSING DEVICE WITH A
`PLURALITY OF SENSORS.
`61
`
`DETECTING EACH TOUCH RELATED SENSOR.
`620
`
`RMTU
`RTR
`s
`
`CAPACTANCE DETECT ON BASED ON ALL TOUCH
`
`RELATED SENSORS.
`
`PERFORMING MUTUAL CAPACTIVE DETECTION ONSAID
`AT LEAST ONE RANGE FOR MUTUAL CAPACTANCE
`DETECTION TO ETERMNE SENSING INFORMATION OF
`THIS RANGE.
`640
`
`GENERATING 2-D SENSING INFORMATION BASED ON
`SENSING INFORMATION OF THISRANGE.
`650
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 1
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 1
`
`

`

`US 8,587,555 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`8,169,421
`8,212,782
`2005/0173820
`2006/0O28457
`2006/0071674
`2006/0244735
`2007/02294.66
`2007/0273574
`2008/0048990
`2008.0143681
`2008/O147350
`2008. O1581.85
`2008. O1804.04
`2008/O196945
`2008/0309634
`2009/0066669
`2009/0085894
`2009/O174675
`2009/021 1817
`2009/0273571
`2010.0007629
`2010.0007630
`2010.0007631
`2010, 0026656
`2010, 00794.05
`
`5, 2012
`T/2012
`8, 2005
`2, 2006
`4, 2006
`11, 2006
`10, 2007
`11/2007
`2, 2008
`6, 2008
`6, 2008
`T/2008
`T/2008
`8, 2008
`12, 2008
`3, 2009
`4, 2009
`T/2009
`8, 2009
`11/2009
`1, 2010
`1, 2010
`1, 2010
`2, 2010
`4, 2010
`
`Wright et al. ................. 345,179
`Cho et al. .......
`345,173
`Schneider et al. ........... 264/40.1
`Burns ........................... 345,179
`Jean .....
`324,686
`Wilson .....
`345,173
`Peng et al.
`345,173
`Barnum ...
`... 342/90
`Cho et al. .
`345,173
`XiaoPing .
`345,173
`Jean ............
`702,150
`Westerman ................... 345,173
`Han et al. ...................... 345,173
`Konstas ......
`178,1803
`Hotelling et al.
`... 345,173
`Olson ............
`345,174
`Gandhi et al. .
`345, 175
`Gillespie et al.
`... 345,173
`Chang et al. ...
`178.18.01
`BOWens ........................ 345,173
`Chang et al.
`Chang et al.
`Chang et al.
`Hotelling et al. ............. 345,174
`Bernstein ...................... 345,174
`
`2010.0156852 A1*
`2010/0283785 A1*
`2010, O295821 A1*
`2012, 0043141 A1*
`2012fOO44150 A1*
`
`6, 2010
`11, 2010
`11, 2010
`2, 2012
`2, 2012
`
`
`
`Chu et al. ...................... 345,176
`Satulovsky ...
`... 345,440
`Chang et al. .
`... 345,175
`Xiaoping ................... 178/1806
`Karpin et al. ................. 345,173
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`CN
`1720498
`CN
`1811680
`CN
`1845045
`CN
`1885251
`CN
`1004 19657
`CN
`1942853
`CN
`101.059741
`CN
`2011.56246
`CN
`201181467
`CN
`101369200
`CN
`1014.52360
`CN
`101526871
`CN
`101539832
`CN
`102023768
`EP
`1191430
`EP
`1630652
`GB
`2009007704
`TW
`201015413
`WO
`2008.083362
`* cited by examiner
`
`1, 2006
`8, 2006
`10, 2006
`12/2006
`12/2006
`4/2007
`10/2007
`11, 2008
`1, 2009
`2, 2009
`6, 2009
`9, 2009
`9, 2009
`4/2011
`3, 2001
`3, 2006
`1, 2009
`4/2010
`T 2008
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 2
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 of 15
`
`US 8,587,555 B2
`
`
`
`FIG. 1A (PRIOR ART)
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 3
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 3
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
`
`
`
`140
`
`FIG. 1B (PRIOR ART)
`
`Ul 15
`
`FIG. C
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 4
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 4
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 3 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 5
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 5
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 4 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Driving/
`Detecting Unit
`130
`
`FIG. F
`
`
`
`Display
`110
`
`
`
`Central
`Processing
`Unit
`171
`
`Storage Unit
`173
`
`Driving/Detecting
`Unit
`130
`
`Controller
`160
`
`FIG. 1G
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 6
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 6
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 5 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`
`
`/ / / /
`Z77
`
`/ / / /7
`7 A
`77
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`40A 140B
`
`10
`
`FIG. 2A
`
`120
`
`-w
`
`Detecting Unit
`130B
`
`
`
`-
`
`A / / /
`M / / /
`
`/ / / 77
`/ / / ZZ
`
`
`
`
`
`140A
`
`40B
`
`10
`
`FIG. 2B
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 7
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 7
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 6 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`Switch
`-ing :
`Circuit
`310
`
`
`
`Driving Unit
`320
`
`ADC circuit
`330
`
`SI
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 8
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 8
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 7 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`
`
`I
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 9
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 9
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 8 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 10
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 10
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 9 Of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`
`
`W.
`
`FIG.3J
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 11
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 11
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 10 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`
`
`
`
`FIG 4A
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 12
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 12
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 11 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`14
`
`Threshold
`Value
`
`0 0 O O O 0 0 1
`
`1
`
`1
`
`1 0 O 0 0 O O
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`7- 16
`”-
`
`Threshold
`Value
`
`0 0 O O O 0 0 1
`
`1
`
`1 O 0 0 O 0 0
`
`FIG 4C
`
`17
`
`Threshold
`Value
`
`VV
`
`V.
`
`0 0 0 O O O 0 0 1
`
`1 0 O O 0 0 0 0
`
`FIG. 4D
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 13
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 13
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 12 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`520
`-1N
`521
`522
`
`
`
`-
`510
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 14
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 14
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`US 8,587,555 B2
`
`PROVIDING CAPACITIVE SENSING DEVICE WITH A
`PLURALITY OF SENSORS.
`610
`
`DETECTING EACH TOUCH RELATED SENSOR.
`620
`
`DETERMINING AT LEAST ONE RANGE FOR MUTUAL
`CAPACITANCE DETECTION BASED ON ALL TOUCH
`RELATED SENSORS.
`
`PERFORMING MUTUAL CAPACITIVE DETECTION ON SAID
`AT LEAST ONE RANGE FOR MUTUAL CAPACITANCE
`DETECTION TO DETERMINE SENSING INFORMATION OF
`THIS RANGE.
`640
`
`
`
`GENERATING 2-D SENSING INFORMATION BASED ON
`SENSING INFORMATION OF THIS RANGE.
`650
`
`FIG. 6A
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 15
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 15
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
`
`Sheet 14 of 15
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`US 8,587,555 B2
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`
`
`SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDING ALL FIRST SENSORS WITH
`DRIVING SIGNAL.
`621
`
`DETECTING SIGNALS OF FIRST SENSORS TO GENERATE
`FIRST 1-D SENSING INFORMATION WHEN ALL FIRST
`SENSORS SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDED WITH DRIVING
`SIGNAL.
`622
`
`DETECTING SIGNALS OF FIRST SENSORS TO GENERATE
`SECOND 1-D SENSING INFORMATION WHEN ALL FIRST
`SENSORS SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDED WITH DRIVING
`SIGNAL.
`623
`
`DETERMINING EACH TOUCH RELATED SENSOR BASED
`ON FIRST 1-D SENSING INFORMATION AND SECOND 1-D
`SENSING INFORMATION.
`624
`
`FIG. 6B
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 16
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 16
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2013
`
`Sheet 15 Of 15
`
`US 8,587,555 B2
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`OBTAINING 2-D SENSING INFORMATION
`710
`
`OBTAINING AT LEAST ONE 1-D SENSING INFORMATION.
`720
`
`DETERMINING AT LEAST ONE DETECTED RANGE IN 2-D
`SENSING INFORMATION BASED ON SAID AT LEAST ONE 1
`D SENSING INFORMATION WHEN CAPACTIVE SENSING
`DEVICE BEING TOUCHEED OR APPROACHED.
`730
`
`DETERMINING EACH TOUCH RELATED SENSING
`INFORMATION IN AT LEAST ONE DETECTED RANGE.
`740
`
`FIG. 7A
`
`
`
`DETERMINING EACH TOUCH RELATED SENSING
`INFORMATION OF AT LEAST ONE 1-D SENSING
`INFORMATION.
`731
`
`DECIDING A TOUCH RELATED RANGE IN 2-D SENSING
`INFORMATION FOR EACH TOUCH RELATED SENSING
`INFORMATIO.
`732
`
`DETERMINING AT LEAST ONE DETECTED RANGE BASED
`ON EACH TOUCH RELATED RANGE.
`733
`
`FIG. 7B
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 17
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 17
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`

`

`US 8,587,555 B2
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`15
`
`1.
`METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CAPACTIVE
`POSITION DETECTION
`
`2
`and further determines the position of the external object. For
`example, when there is no external object touching or
`approaching the touchpanel, Subsequent sensing information
`with respect to the baseline will be or close to Zero. Thus, the
`5 controller can determine whether there is an external object
`touching or approaching by determining whether the sensing
`information with respect to the baseline is or close to Zero.
`This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
`As shown in FIG. 1A, when an external object 12 (e.g. a
`Application No. 61/298.252, filed on Jan. 26, 2010, Provi-
`finger) touches or approaches a sensing device 120 of a touch
`sional Application No. 61/298,243, filed on Jan. 26, 2010 and
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/250,051, filed on Oct. 9, 10 display 10, sensing information of sensors 140 on an axis (e.g.
`2009, which is herein incorporated by reference for all intents
`X axis) is converted into signal values as shown in FIG. 1B.
`and purposes.
`Corresponding to the appearance of the finger, the signal
`values show a waveform or finger profile. The location of the
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO COMPUTER
`peak 14 of the finger profile indicates the position touched or
`PROGRAM LISTING APPENDDC
`approached by the finger.
`Normally, a 2-D sensing information consists of a plurality
`Appendix A contains the following file in one CD-ROM in
`of 1-D sensing information, that is, it is generated after sev
`IBM-PC format and compatible with Microsoft Windows (of
`eral detections on a plurality of sensors, requiring a consid
`which two identical copies are attached hereto). Appendix A
`20 erable amount of time. When sampling frequency for touch
`is a part of the present disclosure and is incorporated by
`location is required to be higher, how to reduce the time for
`reference herein in its entirety.
`Directory of E:\
`generating 2-D sensing information becomes critical. How
`Oct. 8, 2010, 127,488 appendix.doc
`ever, 2-D sensing information is mostly irrelevant to touches,
`1 File(s) 127,488 bytes
`and continuous performing detections that are irrelevant to
`0 Dir(s) 0 bytes free
`25 touches can be time and energy consuming. How to save
`The files of Appendix A form source code of computer
`energy and time has become very important.
`programs for implementing an illustrative embodiment of the
`From the above it is clear that prior art still has shortcom
`present invention.
`ings. In order to solve these problems, efforts have long been
`made in vain, while ordinary products and methods offering
`no appropriate structures and methods. Thus, there is a need
`in the industry for a novel technique that solves these prob
`lems.
`
`COPYRIGHT NOTICE
`
`30
`
`A portion of the disclosure of this patent document con
`tains material which is Subject to copyright protection. The
`copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduc-
`tion by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclo- 35
`Sure, as it appears in the patent and trademark office patent
`files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights
`whatsoever.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention provides a method and device for
`p
`p
`capacitive position detection. The present invention generates
`2-D sensing information by self capacitance detection in con
`a junction with mutual capacitance detection or determines
`touch related sensing information from 2-D sensing informa
`tion.
`1. Field of the Invention
`Normally, a 2-D sensing information consists of a plurality
`The present invention relates to a method and device for
`of 1-D sensing information, that is, it is generated after sev
`position detection, and more particularly, to a method and
`45 eral detections on a plurality of sensors, requiring a consid
`device for capacitive position detection.
`erable amount of time. When sampling frequency for touch
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`location is required to be higher, how to reduce the time for
`Touch displays have been widely used in the various elec-
`generating 2-D sensing information becomes critical.
`tronic devices. One approach is to employ a touch sensitive
`However, most of the ranges in 2-D sensing information
`panel to define a two-dimension (2-D) touch area on the touch
`display, where sensing information is obtained by scanning 50 are irrelevant to touches, so if only signals of touch related
`along horizontal and vertical axes of the touch panel for
`sensors are detected, one can save a significant amount of
`determining the touch or proximity of an external object (e.g.
`time.
`a finger) on or near the touch panel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,639.720
`Moreover, when detecting touch related information in 2-D
`discloses a capacitive touch display.
`sensing information, the larger the 2-D sensing information,
`Sensing information can be converted into a plurality of 55 the greater the range that needs to be detected, and accord
`continuous signal values by an analog-to-digital converter
`ingly, the greater the amount of computations. However, most
`(ADC). By comparing signal values before and after the
`of the ranges in 2-D sensing information are irrelevant to
`touch or approaching of the external object, the location
`touches, so if only touch related sensing information are
`touched or approached by the external object can be deter-
`detected at those areas where touches may have occurred, one
`mined.
`60 can save a significant amount of time.
`Generally, a controller controlling the touchpanel will first
`The present invention includes at least the following objec
`obtain sensing information when there is no external object
`tives:
`touching or approaching as a baseline. For example, in a
`1. a range of mutual capacitance detection is decided based
`capacitive touch panel, each conductive line corresponds to a
`on the result of self capacitance detection;
`respective baseline. The controller determines whether there 65
`2. a range of mutual capacitance detection is decided based
`is an external object touching or approaching by comparing
`on the result of a capacitance detection under reduced water
`sensing information obtained Subsequently with the baseline,
`stains or conductive impurities;
`
`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 18
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`DELL EXHIBIT 1006 PAGE 18
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`

`

`3
`3. 2-D sensing information encompassing the entire sens
`ing device is generated based only on touch related sensing
`information; and
`4. a range for detecting touch related sensing information
`on 2-D sensing information is decided based on the result of
`self capacitance detection or 1-D sensing information
`deduced from 2-D sensing information.
`The objectives of the present invention can be achieved by
`the following technical Schemes. A method for capacitive
`position detection proposed by the present invention
`includes: providing a capacitive sensing device including a
`plurality of sensors that include a plurality of first sensors and
`a plurality of second sensors, wherein these first and second
`sensors overlap at a plurality of overlapping points; detecting
`each touch related sensor; determining at least one range of
`mutual capacitance detection based on all the touch related
`sensors; performing a mutual capacitance detection on the at
`least one range of mutual capacitance detection to determine
`a sensing information of the at least one range of mutual
`capacitance detection; and generating a 2-D sensing informa
`tion based on the sensing information of the at least one range
`of mutual capacitance detection. Moreover, a device for
`capacitive position detection proposed by the present inven
`tion includes: a capacitive sensing device including a plural
`ity of sensors that include a plurality of first sensors and a
`plurality of second sensors, wherein these first and second
`sensors overlap at a plurality of overlapping points; and a
`controller for performing operations including: detecting
`each touch related sensor; determining at least one range of
`mutual capacitance detection based on all the touch related
`sensors; performing a mutual capacitance detection on the at
`least one range of mutual capacitance detection to determine
`a sensing information of the at least one range of mutual
`capacitance detection; and generating a 2-D sensing informa
`tion based on the sensing information of the at least one range
`of mutual capacitance detection.
`The objectives of the present invention can also be
`achieved by the following technical schemes. A method for
`capacitive position detection proposed by the present inven
`tion includes: obtaining a 2-D sensing information; obtaining
`at least one 1-D sensing information; determining at least one
`detected range in the 2-D sensing information based on the at
`least one 1-D sensing information when a capacitive sensing
`device is being touched or approached; and determining each
`touch related sensing information in the at least one detected
`range. Moreover, a device for capacitive position detection
`proposed by the present invention includes: a capacitive sens
`ing device including a plurality of sensors that include a
`plurality of first sensors and a plurality of second sensors,
`wherein these first and second sensors overlap at a plurality of
`overlapping points; and a controller for performing opera
`tions including: obtaining a 2-D sensing information; obtain
`ing at least one 1-D sensing information; determining at least
`one detected range in the 2-D sensing information based on
`the at least one 1-D sensing information when a capacitive
`sensing device is being touched or approached; and determin
`ing each touch related sensing information in the at least one
`detected range.
`By aforementioned technical schemes, the present inven
`tion achieves at least the following advantages and benefits:
`1. By deciding the range of mutual capacitance detection
`based on the result of self capacitance detection, the range for
`mutual capacitance detection can be reduced significantly,
`thereby saving a considerable amount of detection time;
`2. By deciding the range of mutual capacitance detection
`based on the result of a capacitance detection under reduced
`water stains or conductive impurities, the circumstances of
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`Some embodiments of the present invention are described
`in details below. However, in addition to the descriptions
`given below, the present invention can be applicable to other
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`performing mutual capacitance detection in the range inter
`fered by water stains or conductive impurities can be reduced;
`3. By generating the 2-D sensing information encompass
`ing the entire sensing device based only on touch related
`sensing information, less time is required for generating the
`2-D sensing information;
`4. By deciding the range for detecting touch related sensing
`information on 2-D sensing information based on the result of
`self capacitance detection or 1-D sensing information
`deduced from 2-D sensing information, time required for
`detecting touch related sensing information can be reduced.
`The above description is only an outline of the technical
`schemes of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of
`the present invention are provided below in conjunction with
`the attached drawings to enable one with ordinary skill in the
`art to better understand said and other objectives, features and
`advantages of the present invention and to make the present
`invention accordingly.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present invention can be more fully understood by
`reading the following detailed description of the preferred
`embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying
`drawings, wherein:
`FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram depicting a prior-art touch
`sensitive device;
`FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating prior-art signal
`values;
`FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram illustrating differences
`according to the present invention;
`FIGS. 1D and 1E are schematic diagrams illustrating dual
`differences according to the present invention;
`FIG. 1F is a schematic diagram illustrating a sensing
`device according to the present invention;
`FIG. 1G is a block diagram illustrating functions of a
`computing system according to the present invention;
`FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating a
`driving/detecting unit and a sensing device according to the
`present invention;
`FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating functions of a
`detecting unit according to the present invention;
`FIGS. 3B to 3D are circuit diagrams illustrating detectors
`according to the present invention;
`FIGS.3E to 3.J are diagrams showing connections between
`a detecting circuit and an ADC circuit according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating position detection using
`binary differences according to the present invention;
`FIGS. 4B to 4D are diagrams illustrating examples for
`detecting centroid positions according to the present inven
`tion;
`FIGS.5A and 5B are schematic diagrams depicting basins
`and hills according to the present invention;
`FIGS. 6A and 6B are flowcharts illustrating a method for
`capacitive position detection according to a first embodiment
`of the present invention; and
`FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts illustrating a method for
`analyzing 2-D differential sensing information according to a
`second embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
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`5
`embodiments, and the scope of the present invention is not
`limited by such, rather by the scope of the claims. Moreover,
`for better understanding and clarity of the description, some
`components in the drawings may not necessary be drawn to
`scale, in which some may be exaggerated relative to others,
`and irrelevant parts are omitted.
`Sensing Information
`In the present invention, sensing information can be pro
`vided by a touch sensitive device for representing 1-D, 2-D or
`multi-dimensional statuses on the touch sensitive device. The
`sensing information can be obtained by one or more sensors
`and converted into a plurality of continuous signal values by
`one or more Analog-to-Digital converters to represent among
`or change in amount of detected charges, current, Voltage,
`capacitance, impedance or other electrical characteristics.
`Sensing information can be obtained or transmitted alter
`nately, sequentially or in parallel, and can be compounded
`into one or more signals. These are obvious to those having
`ordinary skill in the art.
`One having ordinary skill in the art may also recognize that
`sensing information described in the present invention
`includes, but not limited to, a signal of a sensor, a result of the
`signal of the sensors subtracted by a baseline (e.g. a signal
`when untouched or initial signals), a digitally converted value
`of said signal or said result of signal Subtracted by baseline or
`said value converted in any other ways. In other words, sens
`ing information can be in the form of a signal status, a status
`that is converted from any electrical signal or can be con
`Verted into electrical signal recorded in a storage medium
`(e.g. a register, a memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk),
`including but not limited to analog or digital information.
`Sensing information can be provided by two 1-D sensing
`information on different axes. The two 1-D sensing informa
`tion can be used to represent the sensing information on a first
`axis (e.g. Vertical axis) and a second axis (e.g. horizontal axis)
`on the touch sensitive device. They are used for position
`detection on the first and second axes, respectively, i.e. pro
`viding 1-D positions on the first and second axes or further
`constructing a 2-D position. In addition, the two 1-D sensing
`information can also be used for triangulation based on the
`distances between sensors to detect a 2-D position on the
`touch sensitive device.
`Sensing information can be 2-D sensing information that
`consists of a plurality of 1-D sensing information on the same
`axis. The 2-D sensing information can represent signal dis
`tribution on a 2-D plane. For example, a plurality of 1-D
`sensing information on the vertical axis and a plurality of 1-D
`sensing information on the horizontal axis can represent a
`signal matrix. Such that position detection can be achieved by
`watershed algorithm or other image processing methods.
`In an example of the present invention, the sensing area on
`the touch sensitive device includes an overlapping range of a
`first 2-D detecting range detected by at least one first sensor
`and a second 2-D detecting range detected by at least one
`second sensor. One with ordinary skill in the art may also
`recognize that the sensing area can be an overlapping range of
`three or more 2-D detecting ranges.
`For example, the detecting range of a single sensor can be
`a 2-D detecting range. A sensor (e.g. CCD or CMOS sensor)
`with camera-based optical detection or a piezoelectric sensor
`with Surface acoustic wave detection obtains 1-D sensing
`information in the 2-D detecting range. The 1-D sensing
`information can be comprised of information sensed at a
`plurality of continuous time points, which correspond to dif
`ferentangles, positions or ranges. In addition, the 1-D sensing
`information can be generated according to images obtained
`(e.g. by CCD-CMOS sensor) within a time interval.
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`Furthermore, for example, the 2-D sensing range can con
`sist of detecting ranges of a plurality of sensors. For example,
`the detecting range of each infrared photoreceptor, capacitive
`or resistive conductive bar or strip, or inductive U-shape coil
`is a fan or stripe shaped detecting range towards one axis. The
`detecting ranges of a plurality of sensors arranged on the same
`axis on a line segment (straight or curved) can form a 2-D
`detecting range of that axis, which can be a square or fan
`shaped planar or are detecting range, for example.
`In a preferred example of the present invention, the sensing
`area on the touch sensitive device includes a 2-D range
`detected by a plurality of sensors on the first and second axes.
`For example, through self-capacitive detection, a driving sig
`nal is provided to a plurality of first sensors, and capacitive
`coupling signals or changes in said signal in a 2-D detecting
`range of these first sensors are sensed to obtain first 1-D
`sensing information. Furthermore, a driving signal is pro
`vided to a plurality of second sensors, and capacitive-cou
`pling signals or changes in said signal in a 2-D detecting range
`of these second sensors are sensed to obtain second 1-D
`sensing information.
`In another example of the present invention, the sensing
`area on the touch sensitive device involves a plurality of
`sensors detecting a plurality of 1-D sensing information in a
`2-D sensing range to construct 2-D sensing information. For
`example, when a signal source sequentially applies a driving
`signal to sensors on a first axis, signal(s) of at least one of
`sensors in a second axis is sequentially detected or on a
`plurality of sensors (partially or all) are simultaneously
`detected to obtain 2-D sensing information on the axis,
`wherein the sensors are adjacent or not adjacent but neigh
`boring sensors on the second axis. For example, in mutual
`capacitive detection or analog matrix resistive detection, a
`plurality of sensors constitute a plurality of sensing areas for
`detecting sensing information at each respective area. For
`example, a plurality of first sensors (e.g. a plurality of first
`conductive lines) and a plurality of second sensors (e.g. a
`plurality of second conductive lines) intersect with each other
`to from a plurality of overlapping regions. When a driving
`signal is sequentially provided to each of the first sensors,
`corresponding to the first sensor being driven by the driving
`signal, signal(s) or changes in signal(s) on at least one of the
`second sensors on the second axis is sequentially detected or
`on a plurality of the second sensors (partially or all) on the
`second axis are simultaneously detected to obtain 1-D sens
`ing information corresponding to that first sensor. By collect
`ing 1-D sensing information corresponding to each of the first
`sensors together, 2-D sensing information can be constructed.
`In an example of the present invention, 2-D sensing informa
`tion can be regarded as an image.
`One with ordinary skill in the art can appreciate that the
`present invention can be applied to touch sensitive display, for
`example, a display attached with aforementioned resistive,
`capacitive, Surface acoustic wave, or other touch detection
`device (or referred to as touch sensitive device). Thus, sensing
`information obtained by the touch sensitive display or device
`can be regarded as touch sensitive information.
`In an example of the present invention, a touch sensitive
`device may use continuous signals from different time points,
`that is, composite signal continuously detected by one sensor
`or simultaneously by a plurality of sensors. For example, the
`touch sensitive device may be inductive and continuously
`scan coils thereon to emit electromagnetic waves. Mean
`while, sensing information is detected by one or more sensors
`on an electromagnetic pen and continuously compounded to
`form a signal. This signal is then converted into a plurality of
`continuous signal values by an ADC. Alternatively, electro
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`magnetic waves are emitted by an electromagnetic pen or
`electromagnetic waves from an inductive touch sensitive
`device are reflected, and sensing information is obtained by a
`plurality of sensors (coils) on the touch sensitive device.
`Touch Related Sensing Information
`When an external object (e.g. a finger) touches or
`approaches a touch sensitive device, electrical characteristic
`orchanges will be generated by sensing informationatan area
`corresponding to the touch or proximity of the object. The
`larger the electrical characteristic or changes, the closer it is to
`the center (e.g. centroi