TW201520870A - Capacitive processor and detection method using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a capacitive processor and detection method using the same. The capacitive processor of the present invention identities the detecting plates touched or approached by external objects according to the difference of signals between each detecting plate and another detecting plate, wherein each detecting plate is provided the same driving signal.

Description

Capacitive processor and capacitive sensing method

The invention relates to a capacitive processor and a capacitive sensing method, in particular to a capacitive processor and a capacitive sensing method capable of detecting multiple simultaneous touches.

In portable electronic devices, many physical human-machine interfaces are required to provide user input data or commands. The most commonly used interface is mechanical buttons, however mechanical buttons are susceptible to damage due to overuse, especially those that are most often used. In addition, the portable electronic device may press the button during storage, which may cause the button to be elastically tired or poorly contacted.

On smart phones or tablets, capacitive sensors are often used as buttons. Capacitive sensors are not damaged by excessive use of components relative to physical buttons. However, because the screen will emit a lot of noise, and the noise will change constantly, the capacitive sensor is easily misjudged by noise interference.

It can be seen that the above prior art obviously has inconveniences and defects, and needs to be further improved. In order to solve the above problems, the relevant manufacturers do not bother to find a solution, but the design that has not been applied for a long time has been developed, and the general products and methods have no suitable structure and methods to solve the above problems. Obviously it is an issue that the relevant industry is anxious to solve. Therefore, how to create a new technology is one of the current important research and development topics. It has also become a goal that the industry needs to improve.

The invention provides a capacitive sensor and a detection method thereof. The capacitive sensor of the present invention comprises a plurality of detection slices arranged in sequence, each of which is provided with the same driving signal, and is judged by the difference between the signals of each detection slice and another detection slice. A detection piece that is approached or touched by an external conductive object. The invention can detect a plurality of detected slices that are approached or touched individually or simultaneously.

The capacitive sensor of the present invention can be covered with an insulating protective layer, which can be detected without being directly contacted, and there is no problem that the mechanical button has elastic fatigue or poor contact after repeated use. In addition, the capacitor of the present invention is detected by comparing the signal difference between the detecting piece and the detecting piece, and has good anti-missing capability, and is suitable for the device to be used at the front end of the display, and has the capability of simultaneously detecting multiple touches. .

The object of the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art and provide a new capacitive sensor and a detection method thereof. The technical problem to be solved is to compare the signal of each detection slice with the signal of a reference slice. Or by detecting the signal comparison between the slices, it is very suitable for practical use to determine the detection piece that is approached or touched by the external object.

The object of the present invention and solving the technical problems thereof are achieved by the following technical solutions. According to the present invention, a capacitive processor performs the following steps: simultaneously providing an electrical signal to a plurality of detection slices; forming a plurality of consecutive signal differences, wherein each of the signal differences is a detection slice and Detecting the difference of another detection slice before the slice; obtaining a plurality of consecutive restored signal values, wherein each of the restored signal values is an accumulation of a signal difference and all signal differences before the signal difference, or a signal difference Accumulation of all signal differences after the difference from the signal; and The continuous restored signal value determines at least one detection slice that is approached or touched by at least one external conductive object.

The object of the present invention and solving the technical problems thereof are also achieved by the following technical solutions. According to the present invention, a capacitive sensing method includes: simultaneously providing an electrical signal to a plurality of detection slices; forming a plurality of consecutive signal differences, wherein each of the signal differences is a detection slice and the detection The difference between the other detected slices before the measurement; obtaining a plurality of consecutive restored signal values, wherein each of the restored signal values is an accumulation of a signal difference and all signal differences before the signal difference, or a signal difference Accumulating all signal differences after the signal difference; and determining at least one detection slice that is approached or touched by at least one external conductive object based on the continuous restored signal value.

The present invention has significant advantages and advantageous effects over the prior art. With the above technical solution, the method and apparatus for position detection of the present invention have at least the following advantages and beneficial effects:

1. Detecting one or simultaneous detection of proximity or touch of multiple external objects.

Second, it can detect changes in the state of one or multiple signals simultaneously.

Third, the anti-missing ability is strong, and can be configured in the front end of the display that constantly emits mixed signals of different degrees.

The invention has significant progress in technology and has obvious positive effects, and is a novel, progressive and practical new design. The above description is only an overview of the technical solutions of the present invention, and the above-described and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention can be more clearly understood. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9‧‧‧ capacitive sensors

10, 20, 70‧‧‧Detector

11, 21, 31, 41, 71‧‧‧Detection

12, 22, 32, 42, 72‧‧‧ reference pieces

13‧‧‧First wire

14‧‧‧second wire

15‧‧‧Shielding line

16‧‧‧ Controller

17‧‧‧Touch sensor

18‧‧‧ Third wire

19‧‧‧Fourth wire

77, 78‧‧‧ Touch range

1 to 4 are schematic views of a capacitive sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a method of detecting a capacitive sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flow chart showing a method of detecting a capacitive sensor using a signal difference value according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of a capacitive sensor in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a capacitive sensor in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of a capacitive sensor in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a method of detecting a capacitive sensor according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

The invention will be described in detail below with some embodiments. However, the invention may be applied to other embodiments in addition to the disclosed embodiments. The scope of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments, which are subject to the scope of the claims. To provide a clearer description and to enable those skilled in the art to understand the invention, the various parts of the drawings are not drawn according to their relative dimensions, and the ratio of certain dimensions to other related dimensions will be highlighted. The exaggerated and irrelevant details are not completely drawn to illustrate the simplicity of the illustration.

According to a first practical example of the present invention, a capacitive sensor includes a first lead, at least one second lead, at least one reference plate, at least one detecting plate, and a control And a shielding line. The at least one detection slice defines (or separates) at least one space, and all reference slices are electrically coupled to the first wire. In addition, each of the detecting pieces is electrically coupled to a second wire. In addition, the controller provides an electrical signal to the first wire and each of the second wires, and detects each detector that is contacted or approached by the external object according to the signal difference between each of the second wires and the first wire.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , the capacitive sensor 1 includes a first lead 13 , at least one second lead 14 , at least one detector 10 and a controller 16 , wherein each detector 10 includes a detecting piece 11 and a reference piece 12. The reference sheet 12 is U-shaped, defining a space in which the detecting sheet 12 is located and electrically coupled to a second wire 14. Although FIG. 1 is an example of three detectors 10, one of ordinary skill in the art can deduce that the number of detectors includes, but is not limited to, three.

In an example of the present invention, the capacitive sensor includes at least one detector, each detector includes a detection slice and at least one reference slice, the at least one reference slice defines a space, and the detection slice Located in this space.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the capacitive sensor 2 includes a first lead 13 , at least one second lead 14 , at least one detector 20 and a controller 16 , wherein each detector 20 includes a detection. Sheet 21 and two reference sheets 22. The two reference pads 22 define a space with the first wire 14 , and the detecting piece 22 is located in the space and electrically coupled to a second wire 14 , wherein the space can also be regarded as being composed of the two reference pieces 22 and the first wire 13 definition. Although FIG. 2 is an example of three detectors 20, one of ordinary skill in the art can deduce that the number of detectors 20 includes, but is not limited to, three.

In another example of the present invention, the capacitive sensor defines a plurality of spaces by at least one reference slice, and all of the reference slices are electrically coupled to the first wires, each of the detection slices being respectively located in a space, and They are electrically coupled to a second wire. For example, adjacent detection slices are separated by one or more reference slices.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the capacitive sensor 3 is defined by a reference piece 32 (such as formed by connecting four reference pieces or having a reference piece integrally formed) or four reference pieces 32 defining four spaces, each of which is separately defined. A detection slice 31 is configured.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the capacitive sensor 4 is defined by a reference piece 42 (such as a plurality of reference pieces or a reference piece integrally formed) or a plurality of reference pieces 42 defining a plurality of spaces, each of which is separately defined. A detection slice 41 is configured.

In addition, in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the shielding line 15 substantially surrounds the first wire 13, the at least one second wire 14, the at least one reference piece (12, 22, 32, 42) and the at least one detecting piece (11, 21, 31, 41), and electrically coupled to the controller 16. In an example of the present invention, the first wire 13 and all the second wires 14 may be arranged in parallel to the controller 16, and the shielding wire 15 may be composed of one or more strips, disposed on the first wire 13 and all the second wires On both sides of the 14th. In another example of the present invention, the shielding wires 15 may be two, respectively located on opposite sides of the first wire 13 and all the second wires 14 arranged in parallel.

In an example of the present invention, the first wire 13 and the at least one second wire 14 are connected to the controller 16 in a parallel arrangement, for example, the first wire 13 and a portion of the at least one second wire 14 are arranged in parallel. On a flat printed circuit board or flexible cable. In addition, the shielding wires 15 are arranged on one or both sides of the first wire 13 and the at least one second wire 14. In an example of the present invention, the shield line 15 is simultaneously provided with the same electrical signal as the first lead 13 and the at least one second lead 14. Accordingly, a symmetrical electric field is present on both sides of each of the first wire 13 and the at least one second wire 14 when no external object approaches and touches. Therefore, the first wire 13 and each of the second wires 14 are arranged in parallel to each other on both sides of the controller 16 to have a symmetrical electric field when they are not approached or touched by the external object. In another example of the invention, the shield line 15 may also be provided with a DC potential, such as ground. In still another example of the present invention, the shield line 15 may be the same electrical signal that is provided as the first lead 13.

One of ordinary skill in the art can infer that the detection slice of the present invention includes However, it is not limited to squares, rectangles, sectors, triangles, circles, ellipses, polygons, or other patterns.

In an example of the present invention, the electrical signal provided by the controller to the first wire and the second wire may be a pulse width modulation signal (PWM), or other type of alternating current signal, such as a sin wave. The invention is not limited. The electrical signal may be provided continuously. In an example of the present invention, the electrical signal may be continuously provided intermittently, and in another example of the present invention, the electrical signal may be continuously continuously provide.

In addition, the controller can detect the capacitive coupling of the conductors connected to the first wire and the second wire through the integrator to detect the magnitude of the signal or the amount of signal change. In addition, the signal difference between each of the second wires and the first wires may be generated by one or more differential amplifiers, and those skilled in the art may infer that the signal difference is also generated by other forms of subtractors. The present invention is not limited, either in analogy or in digital form.

In the foregoing description, the first wire is electrically coupled to the reference piece, and the invention does not limit the first wire to be electrically coupled to the reference piece, or may be electrically coupled to one of the plurality of detection pieces. In other words, the reference chip may be provided with the aforementioned electrical signals by other lines, and the first wire and each of the second wires are electrically coupled to one of the plurality of detecting pieces respectively.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of detecting a capacitive sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention. First, as shown in step 510, a first wire 13 and a plurality of second wires 14 are provided. Next, as shown in step 520, an electrical signal is continuously supplied to the first wire 13 and each of the second wires 14. In addition, as shown in step 530, each time an electrical signal is supplied, a signal of each of the second wires 14 is discriminated according to a signal difference between each of the second wires 14 and the first wires 13 respectively. A first class or a second class.

In an example of the present invention, steps 520 and 530 may be performed by the controller 16 described above. The first wire 13 and the second wire 14 provided in the step 510 are electrically coupled to the at least one electrical conductor, respectively, and the total dimension of the at least one electrical conductor electrically coupled to the first wire 13 and each of the second wires The overall size of the electrically coupled at least one electrical conductor is comparable. For example, in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the first wire 13 is electrically coupled to the plurality of reference sheets 12, 22, 32, and 42, and each of the second wires 14 is electrically coupled to a detecting piece 11, 21, 31, 41. A person skilled in the art may infer that the detecting piece 11 may be composed of a plurality of sub-detecting pieces, that is, each of the second wires 14 may be electrically coupled to the plurality of sub-detecting pieces. In an example of the present invention, the at least one electrical conductor electrically coupled to the first wire 13 defines a plurality of spaces, and at least one electrical conductor electrically coupled to each of the second wires 14 is located in one of the spaces.

Since the overall size of the at least one electrical conductor electrically coupled to the first wire 13 is equivalent to the overall size of the at least one electrical conductor electrically coupled to each of the second wires 14, all of the electrical conductors are not approached or touched by the external object. The first wire 13 is equivalent to the signal of each of the second wires 14. In an example of the invention, an insulating layer may be overlying all of the electrical conductors, and the insulating layer may be transparent or opaque, such as a transparent glass or film. When the external object approaches or touches, it may be close to or touch the insulating layer.

The external object may be a physical ground or a virtual ground, such as a body part, such as a finger, standing on the ground. When an external object approaches or touches the electrical conductor, the amount of change in the signal of the electrical conductor changes with the distance and area approaching the external object. Therefore, when the external object approaches or touches a detecting piece and a part of the reference piece at the same time, the area of the detecting piece corresponding to the external object approaching and touching is relatively larger than the area of the reference piece of the external object approaching and touching. In other words, the amount of change in the signal of the second wire 14 electrically coupled to the detecting piece that is approached or touched by the external object will A variation of the signal greater than the first wire 13 (electrically coupled to all of the reference slices). On the contrary, the amount of change of the signal of the second wire 14 electrically coupled to the detecting piece that is not approached or touched by the external object may be smaller than the amount of change of the signal of the first wire 13. Therefore, the signal of the second wire 14 of the detecting piece that is electrically connected or touched by the external object and the signal of the first wire 13 can determine the detecting piece that is approached or touched by the external object (for example, belonging to the first One of the class and the second class) or a detection slice that is not approached or touched by an external object (such as one of the first class and the second class).

For example, the proximity or touch of the external object may cause a decrease in the signal, and thus may be a detection piece that directly determines the electrical coupling of each of the second wires 14 by directly using the signal difference between each of the second wires 14 and the first wires 13. Whether it is approached or touched, for example, when the signal difference is greater than or less than a threshold value, it means that it is approached or touched by an external object. It is also possible to use the signal difference when the signal is not approached or touched as a comparison reference, for example, the signal difference detected by an initial period is regarded as a signal difference that is not approached or touched by an external object, and is continuously compared after the comparison. The signal difference detected during the detection period, when the difference between the signal difference between the initial period and the detection period is greater than or less than a threshold value, it represents the proximity or touch of the external object. In an example of the present invention, when the signal difference exceeds a preset range or the difference between the signal difference between the initial period and the detection period exceeds a predetermined range, it indicates that the external object is approaching or touching, and conversely, indicating that the external object is not Close or touch. The preset range may be less than a threshold or greater than a threshold.

In an example of the present invention, whether the signal difference or the difference between the signal difference between the initial period and the detection period is a positive value or a negative value may be determined to belong to the first category or the second category. For example, each of the signals of the second wire 14 having a positive signal difference from the first wire 13 belongs to one of the first class and the second class, and the signal of the second wire each having a negative signal value belongs to The first category and the second category.

Therefore, when a part of the detecting piece is approached or touched and part of the detecting piece is not approached or touched, the conductive piece electrically coupled to the at least one second wire 14 is recognized as belonging to the first type. And the at least one second conductive layer 14 electrically conductive sheet will be identified as belonging to the second type, wherein the electrical conductor electrically coupled to the first conductive line 13 is approached or touched by the external object.

By comparing the signals of each of the second wires 14 and the first wires 13 of the capacitive sensor of the present invention, one or more detecting sheets that are touched by the external object can be determined. The comparison of the signals of the two can be compared by comparing the signals of the comparators or by the difference between the signals generated by the differential amplifiers, converting the signals of the two into digital difference values, or converting the signals of the two into digital digits. After the value is compared. The present invention includes, but is not limited to, the foregoing signal comparison manners, and those skilled in the art can infer the comparison manner of other signals, and details are not described herein again.

The capacitive sensor of the present invention can be used as a button application, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for example, each detecting piece can be used as a corresponding button, and the capacitive sensor of the present invention can detect Measure the touch pressure of multiple buttons at the same time. The button can also be designed as a direction key, such as shown in FIG. 3, which can include direction keys in four directions: up, right, down, left, and the like. One of ordinary skill in the art can deduce direction keys in other directions, such as directional keys in eight directions. For example, it may be a multi-directional direction key. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, it may be a multi-directional inductor that constitutes a ring shape, and can be used as an application such as a jog dial.

In an example of the present invention, a plurality of capacitive sensors may be combined, for example, including a plurality of sets of capacitive sensors, each of the capacitive inductors including the first wire, the at least one second wire, and at least one A reference plate, at least one detecting plate, a controller and a shielding line. The at least one detection slice defines (or separates) at least one space, and all reference slices are electrically coupled to the first wire. In addition, every detection The sheets are electrically coupled to a second wire, respectively. In addition, the controller provides an electrical signal to the first wire and each of the second wires, and detects each detector that is contacted or approached by the external object according to the signal difference between each of the second wires and the first wire. Accordingly, all of the detecting sheets can constitute a detecting plate matrix.

The capacitive sensors may each have a separate first lead 13 and a plurality of second leads 14, directly connected to the controller 16, or may be controlled by a switching circuit to share the wires connected to the controller 16, at the same time. Only the first conductor 13 of the capacitive sensor and the plurality of second conductors 14 are electrically coupled to the controller 16.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a method for detecting a capacitive sensor using a signal difference value according to a third embodiment of the present invention. First, as described in step 610, a reference value and a plurality of detection values are continuously provided in a plurality of time periods, and as described in step 620, one of the time periods is used as an initial time period, and the other time periods are used as the detection time period. . For example, the first time period is used as the initial time period, or any time period is used as the initial time period. Steps 610 and 620 may be performed repeatedly.

Next, as described in step 630, in the initial period, the difference between each detected value and the reference value is recorded as an initial difference value of each detected value. Moreover, as described in step 640, each detection value and the reference value are respectively generated as a detection difference value of each detection value in each detection period. In addition, as described in step 650, in each detection period, each detection value whose detection difference is greater than or less than a threshold value of the initial difference is identified as one of the first category and the second category. And detecting each detected value that is not greater than or less than a threshold value of the initial difference as one of the first category and the second category. The steps 630, 640, 650 may be performed repeatedly with steps 610, 620. In addition, the above steps 610 to 650 may be preceded by The controller 160 performs related operations.

The above method may be applied to a capacitive sensor using signal difference detection, comprising: a first wire; at least one second wire; at least one reference slice, defining at least one space, and all reference plates are electrically coupled The first wire; the at least one detecting piece, each detecting piece being respectively located in one of the at least one space and electrically coupled to one of the at least one second wire; and a controller performing at least the following operations: continuously in the plurality of Providing an electrical signal to the first wire and each of the second wires to obtain a reference value and a plurality of detection values respectively; using one of the time periods as an initial time period, and using other time periods as the detection time period; In the initial period, the difference between each detected value and the reference value is recorded as an initial difference value of each detected value; in each detecting period, each detected value and the reference value are respectively generated as each a detection difference value of a detection value; and in each detection period, each detection value whose detection difference is greater than or less than a threshold value of the initial difference is identified as a first type and a first One class, and each detector is greater than or less than the initial difference is not a difference between the detection limit threshold value are recognized as a further first and a second type of class.

In an example of the present invention, the reference value is generated according to the signal of the at least one reference slice, the at least one reference slice defines a plurality of spaces, and each detection value is respectively determined according to one of the plurality of detection slices. Signals are generated, and each detection slice is located in one of these spaces.

In another example of the present invention, when the detected difference value of each detected value of the first type is greater than the initial difference, the detection difference of each detected value of the second type is recognized. The value is less than the initial difference. On the other hand, when the detection difference of each detection value recognized as the first type is smaller than the initial difference, the detection difference of each detection value recognized as the second type is greater than the initial difference. For example, in some detection periods, the reference value and the at least one detection value are changed, and at the same time If the detection value of the at least one detection value is larger or smaller, the detection value of the at least one detection value is significantly larger or smaller. In contrast, the detected differences of other detected values show opposite changes.

One of ordinary skill in the art can deduce that the reference value of the present invention is not necessarily equivalent to each detected value in the initial period, and may be equivalent or not. Similarly, one of ordinary skill in the art can deduce that the size of the electrical conductor electrically coupled to each of the second wires of the present invention can also be comparable or not. The present invention includes but is not limited to the first wire and each The electrical conductors electrically coupled to one second conductor are equal in size.

In addition, the first class and the second class described above may be used to indicate a two-state, one of which may indicate a state change and the other may indicate a state unchanged. For example, the first type may represent an electrical conductor that is approached or touched by an external object or a signal that changes accordingly, while the second type may represent an electrical conductor that is not approached or touched by an external object or a signal that is thus unchanged. For example, it can be applied to the use of a switch. When the reference value exceeds a threshold value, and the change amount of at least one detected value is significantly larger than the reference value, the detected difference of the unaltered detected value will be greater than a threshold value. Can be used to detect unaltered detection values as one state of on or off, while other detection values are used as another state.

Referring to FIG. 7 , a capacitive sensor 7 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of reference slices 72 and a plurality of detection slices 71 . In addition, the embodiment further includes a touch sensor 17 adjacent to the capacitive sensor 7. Although FIG. 7 is exemplified by five detectors 70, one of ordinary skill in the art can deduce that the number of detectors includes, but is not limited to, five. When the external object approaches or touches the touch sensor 17, the touch touch sensor 17 can provide a sensing credit indicating the position of the external object for interpreting the position of the external object. For example, the sensing credit may be received by the controller 16 to determine the location of the external object. One of ordinary skill in the art It can be inferred that the touch sensor 17 can be a capacitive type, a resistive type, a surface acoustic wave type, an infrared type, an optical type, etc., wherein the detection method of the corresponding sensing credit is a conventional technique, and details are not described herein again.

In an example of the present invention, the area of the detecting piece 71 facing the touch sensor 17 is smaller than the area of the other side. The area of the side facing the touch sensor 17 and the area of the other side may be an area between the two sides of the same width. For example, the detecting piece 71 is a triangle with one corner facing the touch sensor 17, as shown in FIG. For another example, the side facing the touch sensor 17 is curved, such as a semicircular or semi-elliptical shape.

The area of the side of the detecting piece 71 facing the touch sensor 17 is determined according to the distance between the detecting piece 71 and the touch sensor 17.

For example, when the external object simultaneously approaches or touches the touch sensor 17 and the detecting piece 71, the area of the detecting piece 71 that is approached or touched by the external object is relatively small, for example, as shown by the touch range 77 in FIG. The difference between the signal difference or the signal difference between the initial period and the detection period does not exceed the preset range, and is not detected as a valid touch. Conversely, for example, as shown by the touch range 78 in FIG. 7, when the approximate area of the external object approaching or touching falls on the detecting slice 71, the difference between the signal difference or the signal difference between the initial period and the detecting period is Enough to exceed the preset range. In this way, the false touch problem that may be caused when the capacitive sensor 7 is close to the touch sensor 17 can be reduced.

In the foregoing description, the size of the two means that the sizes of the two are the same or substantially the same, for example, the difference between the two is within 10%, and if one is more than 10% of the other. The overall size of the at least one electrical conductor electrically coupled to the first wire 13 is equivalent to the overall size of the at least one electrical conductor electrically coupled to each of the second wires 14 to mean the entirety of at least one electrical conductor electrically coupled to the first wire 13 The overall size difference of the at least one electrical conductor that is electrically coupled to each of the second wires 14 is within 10%.

In the foregoing description, self-capacitance detection is used to judge based on the signal difference between the first wire or the second wire to which the electrical signal is supplied. According to the present invention, a capacitive sensor can be determined based on a signal difference between the detected slices.

Please refer to FIG. 8, which is a capacitive sensor 8 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The first wire 13 is electrically coupled to a detecting piece 21, and the aforementioned reference piece 22 is provided with an electrical signal by the third wire 18. In addition, the determination according to the signal difference between the first wire 13 and the second wire 14 to which the electrical signal is supplied may be referred to the foregoing FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 and related description, and details are not described herein again.

This embodiment can also be applied to the foregoing figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, except that the first wire is no longer used for signal difference comparison with the second wire, and only the electrical signal is simply provided, and the signal difference is The comparison is made by changing the signal difference between each detection slice and another detection slice, that is, by the signal difference between each second wire and the other second wire. In an example of the present invention, each second wire is judged by a signal difference from a referenced second wire, as shown in FIG. For example, the first second wire or the last second wire is used as the referenced second wire to generate a signal difference with each of the other second wires to determine each of the other second Whether the detecting piece electrically connected to the wire is approached or touched by the external conductive object. It is assumed that each detection slice is affected by noise interference from the display, and the signal difference generated by a pair of signals can effectively suppress the noise from the display.

Assuming that there are detection slices a, b, and c, the signal differences generated by the above contents are Sa-b and Sa-c, respectively, and it can be determined according to the following table which one or which detection pieces the external conductive object approaches or touches. .

'+', '-' and '0' of Table 1 indicate that the signal difference is a positive value, a negative value, and a zero value, respectively. In fact, the signal of the detection slice is constantly changing due to the influence of the environment, so there will be some errors, so '+', '-' and '0' can be regarded as positive values greater than a zero value range, less than a zero value. The negative value of the range and the value falling within the range of zero value, or can be regarded as '+', '-' and '0' can be regarded as a positive value greater than a positive threshold, a negative less than a negative threshold Values and values that fall within a range of zero values. In the example of Table 1, a look-up table of three detection slices is taken as an example, and a person having ordinary knowledge in the art can infer a look-up table of four, five or more detection slices.

In addition to directly judging by the signal difference, it can also be judged by the amount of change of the signal difference. For example, each signal difference is not used as a reference value before the external conductive object approaches or touches, for each detection. Compare the amount of change in each signal difference separately. So the above example Sa-b and Sa-c in the middle can also be used to replace the signal difference variations ΔSa-b and ΔPSa-c.

The foregoing signal difference may be a signal difference between each detection slice and a specific detection slice, or may be a signal difference between each detection slice and a previous detection slice, or each detection The signal difference between the test piece and the subsequent detection slice.

When there are N detection slices, each of the detection slices has a signal difference of N-1 with the preceding (or later) detection slice. Therefore, the aforementioned amount of change in the signal difference is the amount of change in N-1 consecutive signal differences. In the following description, the amount of change in the signal difference is taken as an example, but the case where the amount of change in the signal difference is replaced by the signal difference is also applied.

The amount of change in the aforementioned continuous signal difference can be used to restore the amount of change in the signal of the detection slice. For example, by adding or subtracting the difference between each signal difference and the previous (or subsequent) signal difference, a plurality of consecutive signal variations can be generated accordingly. For example, the amount of change in the signal difference of the signal difference is N-1, and the amount of change in each signal difference is added to all previous signal differences to generate a change amount of N-1 signals. Since the amount of change in the first signal difference does not change the amount of the previous signal difference, it is assumed that the amount of change of the previous signal of the amount of change of the first signal is zero, as the zeroth signal change amount. Accordingly, the amount of change in N signals can be generated, corresponding to the aforementioned N detection slices.

The amount of change of the first to N-1th signals is a variation amount with respect to the amount of change of the zeroth signal. Assume that the aforementioned N detection slices are the zeroth, the first, ..., the N-1 detection slices, respectively, corresponding to the zeroth, the first, ..., the N-1th The amount of change in the signal, and the amount of change in the zeroth signal is zero.

A small range centered on the zero value is assumed to be a zero value range, and the amount of change in the signal falling within the zero value range is considered to be within the error range of zero value. When the zeroth detection slice is not available When being touched or touched by (external conductive object), the amount of change of other signals that are not approached or touched falls within the range of zero value, and the amount of change of the signal that is approached or touched is a positive value greater than the range of zero value. Or a negative value. For the subsequent description of the square, in this example, the amount of change in the signal that is approached or touched is a positive value. In contrast, when the zeroth detection slice is approached or touched, the amount of change of other signals that are approached or touched falls within a range of zero or near zero, and signals that are not approached or touched The amount of change is negative.

Assuming that there are detection slices a, b, and c, the signal differences generated by the above contents are ΔSa-b and ΔSb-c, respectively, which can be used to determine which one or which detection pieces the external conductive object approaches or touches. .

Obviously, the amount of change in the signal indicating proximity or touch will be greater than the minimum signal change and greater than a threshold value. In an example of the present invention, the controller compares the amount of change of the signal with a threshold value greater than a minimum amount of change of the signal to determine a detection slice that is approached by the external conductive object. For example, if the detecting pieces b and c are approached or touched by the external conductive object, the amount of change ΔSa-b and ΔSb-c of the signal difference are '+' and '0', respectively, and the amount of change according to the signal difference ΔSa The amounts of change ΔSa, ΔSb, and ΔSc of the signals after the reduction of -b and ΔSb-c are '0', '+', and '+', respectively. According to ΔSb and ΔSc being '+', it can be judged that the detecting sheets b and c are approached or touched by the external conductive member.

In another example of the present invention, the detection slice that is approached by the external conductive object is determined by the amount of change of the signal that is greater than a threshold value of the minimum amount of change of the signal. Alternatively, when the amount of change of the at least one signal is less than a negative threshold, the amount of change in the signal is determined according to the amount of change of the signal greater than the negative threshold to determine the proximity of the external conductive object. Test piece. Otherwise, it is judged to be externally guided by the amount of change of the signal greater than a positive threshold value. A detection piece that is close to the electrical object. For example, if the detecting pieces a and b are approached or touched by the external conductive object, the amount of change ΔSa-b and ΔSb-c of the signal difference are '0' and '-', respectively, and the amount of change according to the signal difference ΔSa The amounts of change ΔSa, ΔSb, and ΔSc of the signals after the reduction of -b and ΔSb-c are '0', '0', and '-', respectively. Since the minimum signal is '-', assuming that '0' is greater than the threshold of '-', it can be judged that the detection pieces a and b are close to the external conductive object by the '0' of the change amount of the signal ΔSa, ΔSb. Or touch.

In still another example of the present invention, the average of all the signals is used as a criterion for judging, and the controller is a change in the signal according to the amount of change of the signal larger than the judgment reference or the change amount of the signal larger than the judgment reference. The amount is used to determine the detection piece that is approached by the external conductive object. In other words, the amount of change in the signal greater than the positive threshold value (or the negative threshold value) indicates a detection piece that is approached or touched by the external conductive object. Thus, the detection slice that is approached or touched by the external conductive object can be detected regardless of whether the signal has the smallest amount of change of '0' or '-'.

Please refer to FIG. 9, which is a capacitive sensor 9 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The aforementioned reference sheet is provided with an electrical signal by the third wire 18, and each of the aforementioned 21 chips is electrically coupled to a fourth wire 19, respectively. The fourth wires 19 coupled to the detecting piece 21 are sequentially arranged according to the order of the detecting pieces 21, and each fourth wire 19 is judged by a signal difference from an adjacent one of the fourth wires, for example, A fourth conductor 19 is judged by the signal difference of the fourth conductor 19 adjacent thereto, or each fourth conductor 19 is judged by a signal difference from the fourth conductor 19 adjacent thereto. In other words, Figure 9 is a mutual capacitive coupling to generate a signal on the fourth conductor 19.

Accordingly, in an example of the present invention, the capacitive sensor includes a plurality of detection slices, at least one reference slice, and a controller arranged in sequence. The at least one reference piece is disposed between the detecting pieces, and may be configured according to the foregoing figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9. In addition, the controller simultaneously provides an electrical signal to the at least one reference slice and each of the detection slices, and determines that the at least one external conductive object is close according to the signal difference between each of the detection slices and the other detection slice. Or at least one detection piece that is touched. In addition, the controller determines that the at least one external conductive object is close to or touched according to the amount of change in the signal difference when the at least one external conductive object approaches or touches the proximity or touch of the at least one external conductive object. At least one detection slice.

Accordingly, a seventh embodiment of the present invention is a capacitive sensor comprising a plurality of detection slices arranged in sequence; at least one reference slice disposed between the detection slices; storing a lookup table The memory, wherein the look-up table defines a correspondence between a plurality of signal differences or a difference in signal difference and a detected slice that is approached or touched; and a controller. The controller simultaneously provides an electrical signal to each of the detection slices and provides the electrical signal or a direct current potential to the at least one reference slice, or the controller simultaneously provides an electrical signal to each of the reference slices, respectively. The signal difference or the difference in signal difference is generated according to the subtraction of the signal between each of the detection slices and the other detection slice. Further, the controller uses the look-up table to determine at least one detection slice that is approached or touched by the at least one external conductive object according to the signal difference.

In an example of the present invention, the controller specifies that one of the detection slices is a specific detection slice, and the amount of change of each signal difference or signal difference is respectively determined according to the detection slice of the non-specific detection slice. A subtraction of the signal from the particular detection slice is generated. In another example of the present invention, the amount of change in each of the signal differences or signal differences is generated by subtracting one of the detection slices from the signal of the preceding detection slice.

An eighth embodiment of the present invention is a capacitive sensor, comprising: a plurality of detection slices arranged in sequence; at least one reference slice disposed between the detection slices to block each detection slice ; and a controller. The controller simultaneously provides an electrical signal to each of the detection slices. And providing an electrical signal or a direct current potential to the reference slice to respectively generate a signal difference according to the subtraction of the signal of one of the detection slice and the previous detection slice, and sequentially set the signal difference into a plurality of consecutive The signal difference. In addition, the controller adds each signal difference of the continuous signal difference to all previous signal differences or adds each signal difference of the consecutive signal differences to all subsequent signal differences to generate multiple Continuously reducing the signal value, and determining at least one detecting piece that is approached or touched by the at least one external conductive object according to the continuous restored signal value.

The continuous reduction signal value further includes an additional zero value, and the consecutive reduction signal values respectively correspond to one of the detection slices. The reduction signal value may be the aforementioned reduced signal or reduced signal variation. In an example of the present invention, the detecting slice corresponding to the restored signal value exceeding the minimum threshold value of the consecutive restored signal values is approached or touched by the external conductive object. In another example of the present invention, the controller further includes generating an average of the continuous restored signal values, wherein the detected slice corresponding to the restored signal value exceeding the average value is approached or touched by the external conductive object. In still another example of the present invention, the memory further includes a memory for storing a look-up table, wherein the look-up table defines a correspondence between the continuous restored signal value and the detected slice that is approached or touched, and the controller uses the check The table determines at least one detection slice that is approached or touched by the at least one external conductive object according to the continuous reduction signal value.

Part of the aforementioned operation of the controller can be achieved by the processor in cooperation with the software. Therefore, in an example of the present invention, the capacitive sensor includes: a plurality of detection slices arranged in sequence; at least one reference slice is disposed between the detection slices to block each detection a device that simultaneously provides an electrical signal to each of the detection slices and provides an electrical signal or a direct current potential to the reference slice; respectively, according to the signal of one of the detection slices and the previous detection slice Subtracting a signal difference and sequentially assembling the signal difference into a plurality of consecutive signal differences; Each of the successive signal differences is added to all previous signal differences or each of the successive signal differences is added to all subsequent signal differences to produce a plurality of successively restored signal values And means for determining at least one detection slice that is approached or touched by the at least one external conductive object based on the continuous reduction signal value.

Referring to FIG. 10, a ninth embodiment of the present invention is a method for detecting a capacitive sensor according to the present invention. First, as shown in step 1010, a plurality of detection slices and at least one reference slice are sequentially arranged, and the at least one reference slice is disposed between the detection slices to block each detection slice. Next, as shown in step 1020, an electrical signal is simultaneously provided to each of the detection slices and an electrical signal or a direct current potential is supplied to the reference slice, or an electrical signal is simultaneously provided to each of the reference slices. In addition, as shown in step 1030, a signal difference is generated according to the subtraction of one of the detection slices from the previous detection slice, and the signal difference is sequentially set to become a plurality of consecutive signal differences. Next, as shown in step 1040, each signal difference of the consecutive signal differences is added to all previous signal differences or each of the consecutive signal differences is compared with all subsequent signals. The difference phase adds a plurality of successively restored signal values. And, as shown in step 1050, determining, according to the continuous reduction signal value, a device for at least one detection slice that is approached or touched by at least one external conductive object. Other details of this embodiment have been disclosed in the foregoing description, and are not described herein again.

In the foregoing description, there are two cases of self-capacitance detection and mutual capacitance detection. In self-capacitance detection, an electrical signal is simultaneously provided to each of the detection chips and an electrical signal or a direct current potential is supplied to the reference slice. In mutual capacitance detection, an electrical signal is separately provided to each reference slice at the same time. The reference slice acts as a barrier between the detection slices. For example, there may be other circuits under the capacitive sensor. If there is no reference chip, it may be due to a part. The capacitive coupling between the detector and the underlying circuit causes a signal change such that the signal difference is not zero when the external conductive object is not approached or touched. Conversely, if you can ensure that no such situation occurs, you do not necessarily need a reference piece.

In other words, in the absence of a reference slice, self-capacitance detection is used to provide an electrical signal to each of the detection slices.

The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention; any equivalent changes or modifications which are made in the spirit of the present invention should be included in the following. The scope of the patent application.

8‧‧‧Capacitive sensor

20‧‧‧Detector

21‧‧‧Detection

22‧‧‧Reference film

13‧‧‧First wire

14‧‧‧second wire

15‧‧‧Shielding line

16‧‧‧ Controller

18‧‧‧ Third wire

Claims (12)

A capacitive processor performs the following steps: simultaneously providing an electrical signal to a plurality of detection slices; forming a plurality of consecutive signal differences, wherein each of the signal differences is a detection slice and before the detection slice Another difference between the detected slices; obtaining a plurality of consecutive restored signal values, wherein each of the restored signal values is an accumulation of a signal difference and all signal differences before the signal difference, or a signal difference is different from the signal difference Accumulating all signal differences; and determining at least one detection slice that is approached or touched by at least one external conductive object based on the continuous restored signal value. The capacitive processor of claim 1, further comprising: providing the electrical signal or the direct current potential to the reference slice, or simultaneously providing an electrical signal to each of the reference slices. The capacitive processor of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by using a look-up table, at least one detecting piece that is approached or touched by the at least one external conductive object according to the continuous restored signal value, wherein The look-up table defines the correspondence between the continuous restored signal value and the detected slice that is approached or touched. The capacitive processor of claim 1, wherein the continuous reduction signal value further comprises an additional zero value, and the consecutive restored signal values respectively correspond to the detection slice one. The capacitive processor of claim 4, wherein the detecting slice corresponding to the restored signal value exceeding a minimum one of the consecutive restored signal values is approached or touched by the external conductive object. The capacitive processor of claim 4, further comprising: generating an average value of the continuous restored signal value, wherein the detecting piece corresponding to the restored signal value exceeding the average value is approached by the external conductive object Or touch. A capacitive sensing method includes: simultaneously providing an electrical signal to a plurality of detection slices; forming a plurality of consecutive signal differences, wherein each of the signal differences is a detection slice and another before the detection slice Detecting the difference of the slices; obtaining a plurality of consecutive restored signal values, wherein each of the restored signal values is an accumulation of a signal difference and all signal differences before the signal difference, or a signal difference after the signal difference Accumulating all signal differences; and determining at least one detection slice that is approached or touched by at least one external conductive object based on the continuous restored signal value. The capacitive sensing method of claim 7, further comprising: providing the electrical signal or the direct current potential to the reference slice, or simultaneously providing an electrical signal for each a reference piece The capacitive sensing method of claim 7, further comprising: storing a memory of the look-up table, wherein the look-up table defines a correspondence between the continuous restored signal value and the detected slice that is approached or touched. And the controller determines, by using the look-up table, at least one detection slice that is approached or touched by the at least one external conductive object according to the continuous reduction signal value. The capacitive sensing method of claim 7, wherein the continuous reduction signal value further comprises an additional zero value, and the continuous reduction signal values respectively correspond to one of the detection slices. The capacitive sensing method according to claim 10, wherein the detecting piece corresponding to the restored signal value exceeding a minimum one of the consecutive restored signal values is approached or touched by the external conductive object. . The capacitive sensing method of claim 10, further comprising generating an average value of the continuous restored signal value, wherein the detecting piece corresponding to the restored signal value exceeding the average value is approached by the external conductive object Or touch.