CN113589962A

CN113589962A - Touch control equipment and touch control driving device and operation method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN113589962A
Application number: CN202010361338.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张耀光; 寸恩泽
Original assignee: Himax Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Himax Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 2020-04-30
Filing date: 2020-04-30
Publication date: 2021-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-30
Also published as: CN113589962B

Abstract

A touch device, a touch driving device and an operation method are provided. The touch driving device comprises a first routing circuit, a second routing circuit and a processing circuit. The first routing circuit connects a first current electrode of the plurality of first sense electrodes to a first common terminal of the first routing circuit. The second routing circuit connects a second current electrode of the plurality of second sense electrodes to a second common of the second routing circuit. The same input terminal of the processing circuit is coupled to the first common terminal and the second common terminal. When the touch sensing result corresponding to the input terminal indicates that a touch event occurs, the processing circuit checks whether a touch event also occurs on an adjacent sensing electrode adjacent to the first current electrode to determine whether the touch event occurs on the first current electrode.

Description

Touch control equipment and touch control driving device and operation method thereof

[ technical field ] A method for producing a semiconductor device

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, to a touch device, a touch driving apparatus thereof, and an operating method thereof.

[ background of the invention ]

Generally, a touch panel has a plurality of sensing electrodes. The sensing electrodes are used for sensing touch events. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the processing circuit is used to convert the sensing signals of the sensing electrodes into digital data. In order to reduce the circuit cost, the processing circuit generally uses a smaller number of analog-to-digital converters to process a larger number of sensing electrodes in a time-division multitasking manner. For example, if the touch panel has 192 sensing electrodes and the processing circuit has 8 analog-to-digital converters, the 8 analog-to-digital converters need to perform 24 read operations (conversion operations) to convert the sensing signals of the 192 sensing electrodes into digital data. That is, it takes 24 units of time for the 8 analog-to-digital converters to convert the sensing signals of the 192 sensing electrodes into digital data. Assuming that the touch panel has 192 sensing electrodes and the processing circuit has only 1 adc, the adc takes 192 unit times to convert the sensing signals of the 192 sensing electrodes into digital data. Reducing the number of analog-to-digital converters means that the processing time of the processing circuit may be increased.

It should be noted that the contents of the background section are provided to aid in understanding the present invention. Some (or all) of the disclosure in the "background" section may not be known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosure in the "background" section is not intended to represent a representation that would have been known to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the filing of the present application.

[ summary of the invention ]

The invention provides a touch device, a touch driving apparatus and an operating method thereof, which can reduce the number of times of reading a touch panel (or reduce the number of analog-to-digital converters) under the condition that the number of analog-to-digital converters (ADC) is limited.

In an embodiment of the invention, the touch driving device is used for driving a touch panel. The touch driving device comprises a first routing circuit, a second routing circuit and a processing circuit. The plurality of first selection terminals of the first routing circuit are used for being coupled to the plurality of first sensing electrodes of the first sub-area of the touch panel. The first routing circuit is configured to select one of the first sense electrodes as a first current electrode in a first order and to selectively connect the first current electrode to a first common terminal of the first routing circuit. The plurality of second selection terminals of the second routing circuit are used for being coupled to the plurality of second sensing electrodes of the second sub-area of the touch panel. The second routing circuit is configured to select one of the second sense electrodes as a second current electrode in a second order (different from the first order) and selectively connect the second current electrode to a second common of the second routing circuit. Wherein the second common terminal is coupled to the first common terminal. The first input terminal of the processing circuit is coupled to the first common terminal and the second common terminal. The first analog-to-digital converter of the processing circuit converts a first touch sensing result corresponding to the first input terminal into first touch sensing data. When the first touch sensing data indicates that a touch event occurs, the processing circuit checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one first adjacent sensing electrode of the first sensing electrodes adjacent to the first current electrode in the space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the first current electrode.

In an embodiment of the invention, the operation method includes: selecting, by a first routing circuit, one of a plurality of first sensing electrodes of a first sub-area of the touch panel as a first current electrode in a first order, and selectively connecting the first current electrode to a first common terminal of the first routing circuit; selecting, by the second routing circuit, one of the plurality of second sensing electrodes of the second sub-area of the touch panel as a second current electrode in a second order (different from the first order), and selectively connecting the second current electrode to a second common terminal of the second routing circuit, wherein the second common terminal and the first common terminal are coupled to the first input terminal of the processing circuit in common; converting, by a first analog-to-digital converter of the processing circuit, a first touch sensing result corresponding to the first input terminal into first touch sensing data; and when the first touch sensing data indicates that a touch event occurs, the processing circuit checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one first adjacent sensing electrode of the first sensing electrodes adjacent to the first current electrode in the space to judge whether the touch event occurs on the first current electrode.

In an embodiment of the invention, the touch device includes a touch panel, a first routing circuit, a second routing circuit, and a processing circuit. The plurality of first selection ends of the first routing circuit are coupled to the plurality of first sensing electrodes of the first sub-area of the touch panel. The first routing circuit is configured to select one of the first sense electrodes as a first current electrode in a first order and to selectively connect the first current electrode to a first common terminal of the first routing circuit. The second selection terminals of the second routing circuit are coupled to the second sensing electrodes of the second sub-area of the touch panel. The second routing circuit is configured to select one of the second sense electrodes as a second current electrode in a second order (different from the first order) and selectively connect the second current electrode to a second common of the second routing circuit. Wherein the second common terminal is coupled to the first common terminal. A first input of the processing circuit is coupled to the first common and the second common. The first analog-to-digital converter of the processing circuit converts a first touch sensing result corresponding to the first input terminal into first touch sensing data. When the first touch sensing data indicates that a touch event occurs, the processing circuit checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one first adjacent sensing electrode of the first sensing electrodes adjacent to the first current electrode in the space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the first current electrode.

In view of the above, the touch device, the touch driving apparatus and the operation method thereof according to the embodiments of the invention can divide the touch panel into a plurality of sub-areas, such as a first sub-area and a second sub-area. In one reading of the touch panel by the processing circuit, the first routing circuit selects one sensing electrode (first current electrode) from the first sub-area in a first order, and the second routing circuit selects one sensing electrode (second current electrode) from the second sub-area in a second order (different from the first order). The first and second routing circuits short (electrically connect) the first and second current electrodes to each other. At the same time (in one reading of the touch panel by the processing circuit), one and the same analog-to-digital converter in the processing circuit can obtain (read out) the first touch sensing results corresponding to the first current electrode and the second current electrode through the first routing circuit and the second routing circuit. Therefore, the touch driving device can reduce the number of times of reading the touch panel (or reduce the number of the analog-to-digital converters when the number of times of reading the touch panel is limited) when the number of the analog-to-digital converters is limited.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

[ description of the drawings ]

Fig. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram of a touch device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of a touch driving apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic layout diagram illustrating a sensing electrode array of the touch panel shown in fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[ notation ] to show

【1】

100 touch control device

110 touch panel

111. 112 sub-area

120 touch control driving device

121. 122 routing circuit

123 processing circuit

ADCa, ADCb analog-to-digital converter

E1-E192 sense electrode

INa, INb input terminal

S210, S220, S230, S240

TC1a, TC1b, TC2a and TC2b, common end

TP article

[ detailed description ] embodiments

The term "coupled" as used throughout this specification, including the claims, may refer to any direct or indirect connection. For example, if a first device couples (or connects) to a second device, it should be construed that the first device may be directly connected to the second device or the first device may be indirectly connected to the second device through some other device or some connection means. The terms "first," "second," and the like, as used throughout this specification, including the claims, are used to designate elements (elements) or to distinguish between different embodiments or ranges, and are not intended to limit the number of elements, either to the upper or lower limit or to limit the order of the elements. Further, wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. Elements/components/steps in different embodiments using the same reference numerals or using the same terms may be referred to one another in relation to the description.

Fig. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram of a touch device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The touch device 100 shown in fig. 1 includes a touch panel 110 and a touch driving device 120. The touch panel 110 has a plurality of sensing electrodes (i.e., a sensing electrode array), and the sensing electrodes can be divided into a plurality of sub-regions, such as the sub-region 111 and the sub-region 112 shown in fig. 1, according to design requirements. It should be noted that the number of the sub-regions can be determined according to design requirements, and the number of the sensing electrodes in any one of the sub-regions can also be determined according to design requirements. In addition, the geometric shapes of the plurality of sub-regions can also be determined according to design requirements.

The embodiment does not limit the implementation and details of the touch panel 110. For example, in some embodiments, the touch panel 110 may be an in-cell touch display panel (in-cell touch display panel) or other touch panels. In some embodiments, a common voltage electrode (common voltage electrode) of the in-cell touch display panel may be divided into a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may be used as the sensing electrodes of the

sub-regions

111 and 112.

The touch driving device 120 is used for driving the touch panel 110. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the touch driving device 120 includes a plurality of routing circuits, such as the routing circuit 121 and the routing circuit 122 shown in fig. 1. The routing circuit 121 has a plurality of selection terminals for coupling to a plurality of sensing electrodes of the sub-area 111 of the touch panel 110. The routing circuit 121 has at least one common terminal, such as common terminal TC1a and common terminal TC1b shown in FIG. 1. The number of the at least one common terminal of the routing circuit 121 may be determined according to design requirements. The routing circuit 122 has a plurality of selection terminals for coupling to a plurality of sensing electrodes of the sub-area 112 of the touch panel 110. The routing circuit 122 has at least one common terminal, such as common terminal TC2a and common terminal TC2b shown in FIG. 1. The number of the at least one common terminal of the routing circuit 122 may be determined according to design requirements. The at least one common terminal of the routing circuit 122 is coupled to the at least one common terminal of the routing circuit 121 in a one-to-one manner. For example, the common terminal TC2a is coupled to the common terminal TC1a, and the common terminal TC2b is coupled to the common terminal TC1 b.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the touch driving device 120 further includes a processing circuit 123. The processing circuit 123 has at least one input terminal, such as the input terminal INa and the input terminal INb shown in fig. 1. The number of the at least one input of the processing circuit 123 may be determined according to design requirements. The at least one input terminal of the processing circuit 123 is coupled to the at least one common terminal of the routing circuit 121 (or the routing circuit 122) in a one-to-one manner. For example, the input terminal INa of the processing circuit 123 is coupled to the common terminal TC1a of the routing circuit 121 and the common terminal TC2a of the routing circuit 122, and the input terminal INb of the processing circuit 123 is coupled to the common terminal TC1b of the routing circuit 121 and the common terminal TC2b of the routing circuit 122.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method of the touch driving apparatus 120 according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to fig. 1 and fig. 2. The routing circuit 121 is configured to select one of the sensing electrodes of the sub-region 111 as a first current electrode in a first order and selectively connect the first current electrode to the common terminal TC1a of the routing circuit 121 (step S210). The first order may be determined according to design requirements. The routing circuit 122 is configured to select one of the sense electrodes of the sub-region 112 as a second current electrode in a second order (different from the first order) and to selectively connect the second current electrode to the common terminal TC2a of the routing circuit 122 (step S220). The second order may be determined according to design requirements.

Step S210 and step S220 may be performed in the same time interval. For example, steps S210 and S220 may be performed in a cycle of performing a read operation (conversion operation) by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the processing circuit 123. In some embodiments, step S210 and step S220 may be performed simultaneously.

In the case where the routing circuit 121 has a plurality of common terminals, the routing circuit 121 selects another one (or ones) from the sensing electrodes of the sub-region 111 in the first order, and then selectively connects the another one (or ones) to the other common terminals of the routing circuit 121 in a one-to-one manner. For example, routing circuit 121 selects another one of the sense electrodes of sub-region 111 as the third current electrode in the first order, and selectively connects the third current electrode to common terminal TC1b of routing circuit 121.

In the case where the routing circuit 122 has multiple common terminals, the routing circuit 122 selects another one (or ones) of the sense electrodes of the sub-region 112 in the second order and then selectively connects the another one (or ones) of the sense electrodes to the other common terminals of the routing circuit 122 in a one-to-one manner. For example, routing circuit 122 selects another one of the sense electrodes of sub-region 112 as the fourth current electrode in the second order, and selectively connects the fourth current electrode to common terminal TC2b of routing circuit 122.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the processing circuit 123 includes at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC), such as the ADC and the ADC of fig. 1. It should be noted that the number of the at least one analog-to-digital converter can be determined according to design requirements. In general, the number of the at least one analog-to-digital converter may be less than the number of the sensing electrodes of the touch panel 110.

The Analog Front End (AFE) circuit (not shown in fig. 1) of the processing circuit 123 may provide the touch sensing result corresponding to the input terminal INa to the analog-to-digital converter ADCa of the processing circuit 123. The adc ADCa may convert the touch sensing result corresponding to the input terminal INa into first touch sensing data (step S230). In the case where the processing circuit 123 has a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, the analog front end circuit may provide touch sensing results corresponding to other input terminals of the processing circuit 123 to other analog-to-digital converters of the processing circuit 123. For example, the analog front end circuit may further provide the touch sensing result corresponding to the input terminal INb to the analog-to-digital converter ADCb of the processing circuit 123, and then the analog-to-digital converter ADCb may convert the touch sensing result corresponding to the input terminal INb into the second touch sensing data. For the input end INb, the adc ADCb and the second touch sensing data, reference may be made to the description of the input end INa, the adc ADCa and the first touch sensing data, and thus, the description thereof is omitted.

The processing circuit 123 may check the first touch sensing data of the adc ADCa to determine whether a touch event occurs on the first current electrode selected by the routing circuit 121 or the second current electrode selected by the routing circuit 122. In the case that the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, the processing circuit 123 may check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one of the first adjacent sensing electrodes in the sub-region 111 adjacent to the first current electrode in space, so as to determine whether the touch event occurs on the first current electrode (step S240). Alternatively, in other embodiments, the processing circuit 123 may check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one of the second adjacent sensing electrodes of the sub-region 112 adjacent to the second current electrode in space, to determine whether the touch event occurs on the second current electrode (step S240).

For example, in a case where the first touch sensing data of the adc ADCa indicates that the touch event occurs, and in a case where the touch event also occurs on the at least one first neighboring sensing electrode, the processing circuit 123 may determine that the touch event occurs on the first current electrode selected by the routing circuit 121. Conversely, in the case that the first touch sensing data of the adc ADCa indicates that the touch event occurs, and in the case that the touch event does not occur on the at least one first adjacent sensing electrode, the processing circuit 123 may determine that the touch event does not occur on the first current electrode selected by the routing circuit 121. Further, in a case where the first touch sensing data of the adc ADCa indicates that the touch event occurs, and in a case where the first current electrode selected by the routing circuit 121 is determined not to have occurred, the processing circuit 123 may determine that the touch event occurs on the second current electrode selected by the routing circuit 122.

In other embodiments, in case that the first touch sensing data of the adc ADCa indicates that the touch event occurs, the processing circuit 123 may check, in addition to checking the first current electrode selected by the routing circuit 121 and the adjacent sensing electrode thereof, whether the touch event also occurs on at least one second adjacent sensing electrode in the sub-area 112 adjacent to the second current electrode selected by the routing circuit 122 in space, so as to determine whether the touch event occurs on the second current electrode by the processing circuit 123. For example, in a case where the first touch sensing data of the adc ADCa indicates that the touch event occurs, and in a case where the touch event also occurs on the at least one second neighboring sensing electrode, the processing circuit 123 may determine that the touch event occurs on the second current electrode selected by the routing circuit 122. Conversely, in the case that the first touch sensing data of the adc ADCa indicates that the touch event occurs, and in the case that the touch event does not occur on the at least one second adjacent sensing electrode, the processing circuit 123 may determine that the touch event does not occur on the second current electrode selected by the routing circuit 122.

The description of the first touch sensing data related to the adc ADCa may also be analogized to the second touch sensing data of the adc ADCb. In the case that the second touch sensing data of the adc ADCb indicates that the touch event occurs, the processing circuit 123 may check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one of the first adjacent sensing electrodes of the sub-area 111 adjacent to the third current electrode selected by the routing circuit 121 in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the third current electrode; and (or) the processing circuit 123 may check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one of the second neighboring sensing electrodes of the sub-area 112 neighboring the fourth current electrode selected by the routing circuit 122 in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the fourth current electrode.

Fig. 3 is a schematic layout diagram illustrating a sensing electrode array of the touch panel 110 shown in fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. Assume that the touch panel 110 shown in fig. 3 has 192 sense electrodes E1-E192. In the case where the touch panel 110 is an in-cell touch display panel, the sub-electrodes E1-E192 can be used as common electrodes of the in-cell touch display panel. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the touch panel 110 is divided into a sub-area 111 and a sub-area 112. The sub-region 111 includes sensing electrodes E1 to E8, sensing electrodes E17 to E24, sensing electrodes E33 to E40, sensing electrodes E49 to E56, sensing electrodes E65 to E72, sensing electrodes E81 to E88, sensing electrodes E97 to E104, sensing electrodes E113 to E120, sensing electrodes E129 to E136, sensing electrodes E145 to E152, sensing electrodes E161 to E168, and sensing electrodes E177 to E184. The sub-region 112 includes sensing electrodes E9 to E16, sensing electrodes E25 to E32, sensing electrodes E41 to E48, sensing electrodes E57 to E64, sensing electrodes E73 to E80, sensing electrodes E89 to E96, sensing electrodes E105 to E112, sensing electrodes E121 to E128, sensing electrodes E137 to E144, sensing electrodes E153 to E160, sensing electrodes E169 to E176, and sensing electrodes E185 to E192.

Please refer to fig. 1 to 3. The routing circuit 121 is configured to select one of the sensing electrodes E1 through E8, E17 through E24, E33 through E40, E49 through E56, E65 through E72, E81 through E88, E97 through E104, E113 through E120, E129 through E136, E145 through E152, E161 through E168, and E177 through E184 of the sub-region 111 as a first current electrode in a first order, and to selectively connect the first current electrode to the common terminal TC1a of the routing circuit 121 (step S210). In the sub-region 111 shown in fig. 3, numerals in parentheses represent an example of the first order. The routing circuit 122 is configured to select one of the sensing electrodes E9-E16, E25-E32, E41-E48, E57-E64, E73-E80, E89-E96, E105-E112, E121-E128, E137-E144, E153-E160, E169-E176, and E185-E192 of the sub-region 112 as a second current electrode in a second order (different from the first order), and to selectively connect the second current electrode to the common terminal TC2a of the routing circuit 122 (step S220). In the sub-region 112 shown in fig. 3, numerals in parentheses represent an example of the second order.

Assuming that the processing circuit 123 has only 1 adc ADCa, the adc ADCa performs 96 read operations (conversion operations). For example, in the first period, the adc ADCa may perform a read operation on the sensing electrode E1 and the sensing electrode E9. In the second period, the adc ADCa may perform a read operation on the sensing electrode E2 and the sensing electrode E11. In the third period, the adc ADCa can perform a read operation on the sensing electrode E3 and the sensing electrode E13. By analogy, the adc ADCa can perform a read operation on the sensing electrode E97 and the sensing electrode E25 once in the 49 th period, and perform a read operation on the sensing electrode E184 and the sensing electrode E192 once in the 96 th period.

Assuming that the processing circuit 123 has 8 analog-to-digital converters, the 8 analog-to-digital converters are subjected to 12 read operations (conversion operations). For example, in the first period, the 8 adcs can respectively perform a read operation on the sensing electrodes [ E1 and E9], [ E2 and E11], [ E3 and E13], [ E4 and E15], [ E5 and E10], [ E6 and E12], [ E7 and E14], and [ E8 and E16 ]. In the second period, the 8 adcs can respectively perform a read operation on the sensing electrodes [ E17 and E41], [ E18 and E43], [ E19 and E45], [ E20 and E47], [ E21 and E42], [ E22 and E44], [ E23 and E46] and [ E24 and E48 ]. Similarly, the adc ADCa can perform a read operation on the sensing electrodes [ E177 and E185], [ E178 and E187], [ E179 and E189], [ E180 and E191], [ E181 and E186], [ E182 and E188], [ E183 and E190] and [ E184 and E192] during the 12 th period, respectively.

Assume that an object TP (e.g., a finger) touches the touch panel 110, and the touch position and the touch range of the object TP are as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the touch range of the object TP overlaps the sensing electrodes E1, E2, E17 and E18. Therefore, in a touch frame, the processing circuit 123 can determine that a touch event occurs on at least one of the sensing electrodes E1 and E9 according to the touch sensing data corresponding to the sensing electrodes E1 and E9; the processing circuit 123 can determine that a touch event occurs on at least one of the sensing electrodes E2 and E11 according to the touch sensing data corresponding to the sensing electrodes E2 and E11; the processing circuit 123 can determine that a touch event occurs on at least one of the sensing electrodes E17 and E41 according to the touch sensing data corresponding to the sensing electrodes E17 and E41; the processing circuit 123 can determine that a touch event occurs on at least one of the sensing electrodes E18 and E43 according to the touch sensing data corresponding to the sensing electrodes E18 and E43; the processing circuit 123 can know that no touch event occurs on the remaining sensing electrodes according to the touch sensing data corresponding to the remaining sensing electrodes.

Assume sense electrode E1 is the first current electrode selected by routing circuit 121 and sense electrode E9 is the second current electrode selected by routing circuit 122. In the case that the sensing electrodes E1 and E9 are preliminarily determined as "touch event occurred", the processing circuit 123 may check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one first neighboring sensing electrode (e.g., the sensing electrodes E2, E17 and/or E18) neighboring the sensing electrode E1, and (or) check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one second neighboring sensing electrode (e.g., the sensing electrodes E10, E25 and/or E26) neighboring the sensing electrode E9. Since the touch event also occurs on the sensing electrode E2, E17 and/or E18 adjacent to the sensing electrode E1, the processing circuit 123 can further confirm that the touch event occurs on the first current electrode (the sensing electrode E1). Since the touch event does not occur on the sensing electrodes E10, E25 and E26 adjacent to the sensing electrode E9, the processing circuit 123 can further confirm that the touch event does not occur on the second current electrode (the sensing electrode E9).

Assume sense electrode E2 is the first current electrode selected by routing circuit 121 and sense electrode E11 is the second current electrode selected by routing circuit 122. In the case that the sensing electrodes E2 and E11 are preliminarily determined as "touch event occurred", the processing circuit 123 may check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one first neighboring sensing electrode (e.g., the sensing electrodes E1, E3, E17, E18, and/or E19) neighboring the sensing electrode E2, and (or) check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one second neighboring sensing electrode (e.g., the sensing electrodes E10, E12, E26, E27, and/or E28) neighboring the sensing electrode E11. Since the touch event also occurs on the sensing electrode E1, E17 and/or E18 adjacent to the sensing electrode E2, the processing circuit 123 can further confirm that the touch event occurs on the first current electrode (the sensing electrode E2). Since the touch event does not occur on any of the sensing electrodes E10, E12, E26, E27 and E28 adjacent to the sensing electrode E11, the processing circuit 123 may further confirm that the touch event does not occur on the second current electrode (the sensing electrode E11).

Assume sense electrode E17 is the first current electrode selected by routing circuit 121 and sense electrode E41 is the second current electrode selected by routing circuit 122. In the case that the sensing electrodes E17 and E41 are preliminarily determined as "touch events occur", the processing circuit 123 may check whether the touch events also occur on at least one first neighboring sensing electrode (e.g., the sensing electrodes E1, E2, E18, E33 and/or E34) neighboring the sensing electrode E17, and (or) check whether the touch events also occur on at least one second neighboring sensing electrode (e.g., the sensing electrodes E24, E25, E26, E40, E42, E56, E57 and/or E58) neighboring the sensing electrode E41. Since the touch event also occurs on the sensing electrode E1, E2 and/or E18 adjacent to the sensing electrode E17, the processing circuit 123 can further confirm that the touch event occurs on the first current electrode (the sensing electrode E17). Since none of the sensing electrodes E24, E25, E26, E40, E42, E56, E57, and E58 adjacent to the sensing electrode E41 have the touch event, the processing circuit 123 may further confirm that the second current electrode (the sensing electrode E41) has no touch event.

Assume sense electrode E18 is the first current electrode selected by routing circuit 121 and sense electrode E43 is the second current electrode selected by routing circuit 122. In case that the sensing electrodes E18 and E43 are preliminarily determined as "touch event occurred", the processing circuit 123 may check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one first neighboring sensing electrode (e.g., the sensing electrodes E1, E2, E3, E17, E19, E33, E34, and/or E35) neighboring the sensing electrode E18, and (or) check whether the touch event also occurs on at least one second neighboring sensing electrode (e.g., the sensing electrodes E26, E27, E28, E42, E44, E58, E59, and/or E60) neighboring the sensing electrode E43. Since the touch event also occurs on the sensing electrode E1, E2 and/or E17 adjacent to the sensing electrode E18, the processing circuit 123 can further confirm that the touch event occurs on the first current electrode (the sensing electrode E18). Since none of the sensing electrodes E26, E27, E28, E42, E44, E58, E59, and E60 adjacent to the sensing electrode E43 have the touch event, the processing circuit 123 may further confirm that the second current electrode (the sensing electrode E43) has no touch event.

The blocks of the routing circuit 121, the routing circuit 122 and/or the processing circuit 123 may be implemented in hardware (hardware), firmware (firmware), software (software, i.e., program) or a combination of multiple of the foregoing according to different design requirements.

In terms of hardware, the routing circuit 121, the routing circuit 122 and/or the processing circuit 123 may be implemented as logic circuits on an integrated circuit (integrated circuit). The related functions of the routing circuit 121, the routing circuit 122 and/or the processing circuit 123 may be implemented as hardware by using a hardware description language (e.g., Verilog HDL or VHDL) or other suitable programming languages. For example, the related functions of the routing circuit 121, the routing circuit 122 and/or the processing circuit 123 may be implemented in various logic blocks, modules and circuits of one or more controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, Application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and/or other processing units.

In software and/or firmware, the related functions of the routing circuit 121, the routing circuit 122 and/or the processing circuit 123 may be implemented as programming codes (programming codes). For example, the routing circuit 121, the routing circuit 122 and/or the processing circuit 123 are implemented by a general programming language (e.g., C, C + + or assembly language) or other suitable programming languages. The programming code may be recorded/stored in a recording medium including, for example, a Read Only Memory (ROM), a storage device, and/or a Random Access Memory (RAM). A computer, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a controller, a microcontroller, or a microprocessor can read and execute the programming codes from the recording medium to achieve the related functions. As the recording medium, a "non-transitory computer readable medium" may be used, and for example, a tape (tape), a disk (disk), a card (card), a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like may be used. The program may be supplied to the computer (or CPU) via any transmission medium (communication network, broadcast wave, or the like). Such as the Internet, wired communication, wireless communication, or other communication media.

In summary, the above embodiments disclose the touch device 100, the touch driving apparatus 120 thereof, and the operation method thereof, which can divide the touch panel 110 into two or more sub-areas (e.g., the sub-area 111 and the sub-area 112). In one reading operation of the touch panel 110 by the processing circuit 123, the routing circuit 121 may select one sensing electrode (first current electrode) from the sub-area 111 in a "first order", and the routing circuit 122 may select one sensing electrode (second current electrode) from the sub-area 112 in a "second order" (different from the first order). The

routing circuits

121 and 122 short (electrically connect) the first current electrode and the second current electrode to each other. At the same time (in one reading operation of the touch panel 110 by the processing circuit 123), one and the same analog-to-digital converter (e.g., ADCa) of the processing circuit 123 can obtain (read out) the touch sensing results corresponding to the first current electrode and the second current electrode through the routing circuit 121 and the routing circuit 122, and then convert the touch sensing results into touch sensing data. Therefore, the touch driving device 120 can reduce the number of times of reading the touch panel 110 (or reduce the number of the analog-to-digital converters when the number of times of reading the touch panel 110 is limited) when the number of the analog-to-digital converters is limited.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it should be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A touch driving apparatus for driving a touch panel, the touch driving apparatus comprising:

a first routing circuit having a plurality of first selection terminals for coupling to a plurality of first sense electrodes of a first sub-area of the touch panel, configured to select one of the plurality of first sense electrodes as a first current electrode in a first order, and selectively connect the first current electrode to a first common terminal of the first routing circuit;

a second routing circuit having a plurality of second selection terminals for coupling to a plurality of second sensing electrodes of a second sub-area of the touch panel, configured to select one of the plurality of second sensing electrodes as a second current electrode in a second order different from the first order, and to selectively connect the second current electrode to a second common terminal of the second routing circuit, wherein the second common terminal is coupled to the first common terminal; and

a processing circuit having a first input coupled to the first common and the second common, wherein,

a first analog-to-digital converter of the processing circuit converts a first touch sensing result corresponding to the first input end into first touch sensing data; and

in the case that the first touch sensing data indicates occurrence of a touch event, the processing circuit checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one first neighboring sensing electrode among the plurality of first sensing electrodes neighboring the first current electrode in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the first current electrode.

2. The touch drive apparatus according to claim 1,

the processing circuit determines that the touch event occurs on the first current electrode when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs and when the touch event also occurs on the at least one first adjacent sensing electrode; and

the processing circuit determines that the touch event does not occur on the first current electrode when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs and when the touch event does not occur on the at least one first neighboring sensing electrode.

3. The touch drive apparatus according to claim 2,

the processing circuit determines that the touch event occurs on the second current electrode when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs and when the first current electrode is determined not to have the touch event.

4. The touch-driven device according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, the processing circuit further checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one second adjacent sensing electrode of the plurality of second sensing electrodes adjacent to the second current electrode in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the second current electrode.

5. The touch drive apparatus according to claim 4,

the processing circuit determines that the touch event occurs on the second current electrode when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs and when the touch event also occurs on the at least one second adjacent sensing electrode; and

the processing circuit determines that the touch event does not occur on the second current electrode when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs and when the touch event does not occur on the at least one second adjacent sensing electrode.

6. The touch drive apparatus according to claim 1,

the first routing circuit selecting another one of the plurality of first sense electrodes as a third current electrode in the first order and selectively connecting the third current electrode to a third common of the first routing circuit;

the second routing circuit selecting another one of the plurality of second sense electrodes as a fourth current electrode in the second order and selectively connecting the fourth current electrode to a fourth common of the second routing circuit, wherein the fourth common is coupled to the third common;

a second input terminal of the processing circuit is coupled to the third common terminal and the fourth common terminal;

a second analog-to-digital converter of the processing circuit converts a second touch sensing result corresponding to the second input end into second touch sensing data; and

when the second touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, the processing circuit checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one of the first sensing electrodes adjacent to the third current electrode in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the third current electrode, or checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one of the second sensing electrodes adjacent to the fourth current electrode in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the fourth current electrode.

7. The touch driving device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is an in-cell touch display panel, and the first and second sensing electrodes are used as common voltage electrodes of the in-cell touch display panel.

8. An operation method of a touch driving apparatus for driving a touch panel, the operation method comprising:

selecting, by a first routing circuit, one from a plurality of first sense electrodes of a first sub-area of the touch panel in a first order as a first current electrode, and selectively connecting the first current electrode to a first common terminal of the first routing circuit;

selecting, by a second routing circuit, one of a plurality of second sense electrodes of a second sub-area of the touch panel in a second order different from the first order as a second current electrode, and selectively connecting the second current electrode to a second common of the second routing circuit, wherein the second common and the first common are coupled in common to a first input of a processing circuit;

converting, by a first analog-to-digital converter of the processing circuit, a first touch sensing result corresponding to the first input terminal into first touch sensing data; and

when the first touch sensing data indicates occurrence of a touch event, the processing circuit checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one first adjacent sensing electrode of the plurality of first sensing electrodes adjacent to the first current electrode in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the first current electrode.

9. The method of operation of claim 8, further comprising:

when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, and when the touch event also occurs on the at least one first adjacent sensing electrode, determining that the touch event occurs on the first current electrode; and

and when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, and when the touch event does not occur on the at least one first adjacent sensing electrode, determining that the touch event does not occur on the first current electrode.

10. The method of operation of claim 9, further comprising:

and if the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, and if the first current electrode is determined not to have the touch event, determining that the touch event occurs on the second current electrode.

11. The method of operation of claim 8, further comprising:

when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, the processing circuit checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one second adjacent sensing electrode of the plurality of second sensing electrodes adjacent to the second current electrode in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the second current electrode.

12. The method of operation of claim 11, further comprising:

when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, and when the touch event also occurs on the at least one second adjacent sensing electrode, determining that the touch event occurs on the second current electrode; and

and when the first touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, and when the touch event does not occur on the at least one second adjacent sensing electrode, determining that the touch event does not occur on the second current electrode.

13. The method of operation of claim 8, further comprising:

selecting, by the first routing circuit, another one of the plurality of first sense electrodes as a third current electrode in the first order, and selectively connecting the third current electrode to a third common of the first routing circuit;

selecting, by the second routing circuit, another one of the plurality of second sense electrodes as a fourth current electrode in the second order and selectively connecting the fourth current electrode to a fourth common of the second routing circuit, wherein the fourth common and the third common are coupled in common to a second input of the processing circuit;

converting, by a second analog-to-digital converter of the processing circuit, a second touch sensing result corresponding to the second input terminal into second touch sensing data; and

when the second touch sensing data indicates that the touch event occurs, the processing circuit checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one of the first sensing electrodes adjacent to the third current electrode in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the third current electrode, or the processing circuit checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one of the second sensing electrodes adjacent to the fourth current electrode in space to determine whether the touch event occurs on the fourth current electrode.

14. The operating method according to claim 8, wherein the touch panel is an in-cell touch display panel, and the first and second sensing electrodes are used as common voltage electrodes of the in-cell touch display panel.

15. A touch device, comprising:

a touch panel;

a first routing circuit having a plurality of first selection terminals coupled to the plurality of first sensing electrodes of the first sub-area of the touch panel, configured to select one of the plurality of first sensing electrodes as a first current electrode in a first order, and selectively connect the first current electrode to a first common terminal of the first routing circuit;

a second routing circuit having a plurality of second selection terminals coupled to a plurality of second sensing electrodes of a second sub-area of the touch panel, configured to select one of the plurality of second sensing electrodes as a second current electrode in a second order different from the first order, and selectively connect the second current electrode to a second common terminal of the second routing circuit, wherein the second common terminal is coupled to the first common terminal; and

16. The touch device of claim 15, wherein,

17. The touch device of claim 16, wherein,

18. The touch device of claim 15, wherein in the event that the first touch sensing data indicates the occurrence of the touch event, the processing circuit further checks whether the touch event also occurs on at least one second neighboring sensing electrode of the plurality of second sensing electrodes that is spatially neighboring the second current electrode to determine whether the touch event occurs on the second current electrode.

19. The touch device of claim 18,

20. The touch device of claim 15, wherein,

21. The touch device of claim 15, wherein the touch panel is an in-cell touch display panel, and the first and second sensing electrodes are used as common voltage electrodes of the in-cell touch display panel.