TWI701587B - Touch sensing device and touch sensing method - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch sensing method includes providing a plurality of first signals to a plurality of touch electrodes to perform a self-capacitance type touch sensing, and providing one or more second signals to a portion of the touch electrodes corresponding to the result of the self-capacitance type touch sensing to perform a mutual-capacitance type touch sensing.

Description

Touch sensing device and touch sensing method

This case relates to an electronic circuit; specifically, this case relates to a touch sensing circuit.

With the rapid development of electronic technology, touch sensing devices have been widely used in people's lives, such as mobile phones or televisions.

Generally speaking, the touch sensing device can determine the touch point through mutual capacitance touch sensing operation. However, the mutual capacitance touch sensing operation takes a long time, which will affect the sensing sensitivity. Therefore, a solution should be proposed.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a touch sensing method. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch sensing method includes: providing a plurality of first signals to a plurality of touch electrodes to perform a self-capacitive touch sensing operation; and corresponding to the self-capacitive touch sensing operation As a result, one or more second signals are selectively provided to a part of the touch electrodes to perform a mutual capacitance touch sensing operation. In the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, in the case that one or more sensing values corresponding to the part of the touch electrodes are greater than or equal to a threshold value, the touch electrodes of the touch electrodes Part of the mutual capacitance touch sensing operation is performed.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a touch sensing circuit. According to an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of signal pins and a controller. The controller is electrically connected to the signal pins. The controller is used to: provide a plurality of first signals to the plurality of touch electrodes through the signal pins to perform a self-capacitive touch sensing operation; corresponding to the result of the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, through The signal pins selectively provide one or more second signals to a part of the touch electrodes to perform a mutual capacitance touch sensing operation. In the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, in the case that one or more sensing values corresponding to the part of the touch electrodes are greater than or equal to a threshold value, the touch electrodes of the touch electrodes Part of the mutual capacitance touch sensing operation is performed.

By applying an embodiment of this case, since it is not necessary to perform mutual capacitance touch sensing operations on all touch electrodes, the sensing time and power consumption can be saved.

10‧‧‧Touch sensor system

104‧‧‧Sensing area

TSR‧‧‧Touch sensor

CTL‧‧‧controller

PN‧‧‧Signal pin

TX1, TX2,..., TXN‧‧‧channel

RX1, RX2,..., RXM‧‧‧channel

PP1-PP3‧‧‧Corresponding to the sensing operation of interactive components

HPS1, HPS2, HPS3‧‧‧Self-capacitive touch sensing operation

HPM2, HPM1a, HPM1b‧‧‧Mutual capacitance touch sensing operation

200‧‧‧Method

S1-S2‧‧‧Operation

In order to make the above and other objectives, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, the description of the accompanying drawings is as follows: Fig. 1 is a touch sensing system according to an embodiment of the present invention Schematic diagram; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a touch sensing method according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a touch sensing method according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a touch sensing method according to another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a touch sensing method according to another embodiment of the present invention; A schematic diagram of a touch sensing method shown in another embodiment; and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method shown in an embodiment of the present invention.

The following will clearly illustrate the spirit of the present disclosure with diagrams and detailed descriptions. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field who understands the embodiments of the present disclosure can change and modify the techniques taught in the present disclosure. It does not depart from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Regarding the "first", "second", ... etc. used in this article, they do not specifically refer to the order or sequence, nor are they used to limit the present invention. They are only used to distinguish elements or elements described in the same technical terms. operating.

Regarding the "electrical connection" used in this article, it can mean that two or more components make physical or electrical contact with each other directly, or make physical or electrical contact with each other indirectly, and "electrical connection" can also refer to two or more components. Multiple elements interoperate or act.

Regarding the "include", "include", "have", "contain", etc. used in this article, they are all open terms, which means including but not limited to.

Regarding the "and/or" used in this article, it includes any or all combinations of the aforementioned things.

Regarding the terms "approximately" and "about" used in this article, they are used to modify any amount or error that can be slightly changed, but such slight changes or errors will not change its essence.

Regarding the terms used in this article, unless otherwise specified, each term usually has the usual meaning used in this field, in the content disclosed here, and in the special content. Some terms used to describe the present disclosure will be discussed below or elsewhere in this specification to provide those skilled in the art with additional guidance on the description of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch sensing system 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the touch sensing system 10 includes a touch sensing device TSR and a sensing area 104. In one embodiment, the touch sensing device TSR includes a controller CTL and a signal pin PN. In one embodiment, the controller CTL and the signal pin PN are electrically connected to each other. In an embodiment, the sensing area 104 includes a plurality of first touch electrodes TPDT and a plurality of second touch electrodes TPDR. In one embodiment, the first touch electrodes TPDT are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and the second touch electrodes TPDR are arranged substantially parallel to each other. In one embodiment, the first touch electrode TPDT and the second touch electrode TPDR extend in different directions. In one embodiment, the extending directions of the first touch electrode TPDT and the second touch electrode TPDR are substantially perpendicular to each other. It should be noted that the first touch electrode TPDT and the second touch electrode TPDR in Figure 1 are only simplified illustrations. In different embodiments, the first touch electrode TPDT and the second touch electrode TPDR may have different For example, each of the first and second touch electrodes TPDT and TPDR can be roughly a diamond pattern connected in series, but it is not limited to this.

In one embodiment, the controller CTL can be implemented with a circuit, a microprocessor, a programmable logic device (PLD), and/or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), but not Limit this.

In one embodiment, the touch sensing device TSR can be connected to the first touch electrode TPDT through channels TX1, TX2,..., TXN, and the touch sensing device TSR can be connected through channels RX1, RX2. .., RXM is connected to the second touch electrode TPDR, where N and M are positive integers. In an embodiment, each channel TX1, TX2, ..., TXN is connected to a first touch electrode TPDT. In an embodiment, each channel RX1, RX2, ..., RXM is connected to a second touch electrode TPDR. In one embodiment, the touch sensing device TSR can perform self-capacitive touch sensing operations and mutual capacitive touch through channels TX1, TX2,..., TXN and channels RX1, RX2,..., RXM Sensing operation.

For example, in one embodiment, the controller CTL can use signal pins PN and The channels TX1, TX2,..., TXN provide the first signal to the first touch electrode TPDT to sense whether there is a change in capacitance on the first touch electrode TPDT to determine whether there is a touch on the first touch electrode TPDT Occurs (such as a hand touch) to perform a self-capacitive touch sensing operation.

For another example, in one embodiment, the controller CTL can provide the second signal to the first touch electrode TPDT through the signal pin PN and the channels TX1, TX2,..., TXN, and through the channels RX1, RX2,... ., RXM receives the corresponding sensing signal to determine whether there is a touch on the corresponding first touch electrode TPDT and second touch electrode TPDR (such as hand touch) to perform mutual capacitance touch sensing operating.

In an embodiment of this case, the touch sensing device TSR can combine the aforementioned self-capacitive touch sensing operation and mutual-capacitive touch sensing operation to quickly perform touch sensing.

The following is an operation example to illustrate the specific details, but this case is not limited to this.

In an operation example, the controller CTL can provide the first signal to the first touch electrode TPDT through the signal pin PN and the channels TX1, TX2, ..., TXN to perform a self-capacitive touch sensing operation. In an embodiment, the first signal may be provided to the touch electrodes TPDT at the same time or substantially at the same time.

Refer to Table 1 below, which shows the results of the self-capacitive touch sensing operation.

Then, corresponding to the result of the above self-capacitive touch sensing operation, the controller CTL can provide a second signal to one of the first touch electrodes TPDT through the signal pin PN and the channels TX1, TX2,..., TXN Part of it for mutual capacitance touch sensing operation. In one embodiment, the second signals are provided to the touch electrodes TPDT one by one.

For example, in the result of the above-mentioned self-capacitive touch sensing operation, only The sensing value on channels TX5-TX14 is not 0 (that is, greater than or equal to a threshold value), so the controller CTL can provide a second signal to the corresponding channel TX5-TX14 through the signal pin PN and channels TX5-TX14 The first touch electrode TPDT is used for mutual capacitance touch sensing operation.

Refer to Table 2 below, which shows the results of the mutual capacitance touch sensing operation.

Based on the result of the aforementioned mutual capacitance touch sensing operation, the controller CTL can know the position of the touch on the sensing area 104.

In addition, through the above operations, since it is not necessary to perform mutual capacitance touch sensing operations on the first touch electrodes TPDT corresponding to channels TX1-TX4 and TX15-TX20, the time and time required for touch sensing can be reduced. Power consumption.

It should be noted that in one embodiment, the aforementioned sensing values corresponding to the channels TX1-TX20 may be the capacitance changes corresponding to different first touch electrodes TPDT, but it is not limited thereto. In different embodiments, the aforementioned sensing values corresponding to the channels TX1-TX20 may also be corresponding to the difference in capacitance values of two adjacent first touch electrodes TPDT.

In addition, in one embodiment, the controller CTL provides the aforementioned second signal to the first touch electrode TPDT whose corresponding sensing value is greater than or equal to a threshold value in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, so as to The first touch electrodes TPDT perform mutual capacitance touch sensing operations.

For example, in the above operation example, if the threshold value is 20, the controller CTL can provide the aforementioned second signal to the first touch electrode TPDT corresponding to the channel TX5-TX14. For another example, in the above operation example, if the threshold value is 100, the controller CTL can provide the aforementioned first Two signals to the first touch electrode TPDT corresponding to the channels TX5-TX6, TX9-TX10, TX12-TX13.

However, in different embodiments, the controller CTL provides the aforementioned second signal to all the first touch electrodes TPDT whose corresponding sensing values are greater than or equal to a threshold value in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation. The first touch electrode TPDT. For example, in the above operation example, if the threshold value is 100, the controller CTL can provide the aforementioned second signal to all the first touch electrodes TPDT corresponding to the channels TX5 and TX13.

In addition, in one embodiment, in the aforementioned self-capacitive touch sensing operation, when the sensing values corresponding to the channels TX1-TX20 are all smaller than the aforementioned threshold, the controller CTL does not provide the second signal To the first touch electrode TPDT, that is, no mutual capacitance touch sensing operation is performed. In some embodiments, in this case, the controller CTL may repeat the aforementioned self-capacitive touch sensing operation until the sensing value corresponding to the channel TX1-TX20 is greater than or equal to the aforementioned threshold value, and then proceed to further Mutual capacitance touch sensing operation.

In this way, unnecessary mutual capacitance touch sensing operations can be avoided.

It should be noted that the number of channels mentioned above is only an example, and other numbers are also within the scope of this case.

In an embodiment of this case, the controller CTL can perform a sensing operation corresponding to an interactive element. In one embodiment, the interactive element may be a stylus, but the present case is not limited to this. In one embodiment, the controller CTL can receive the active signal from the interactive element through the first touch electrode TPDT and the second touch electrode TPDR to perform a sensing operation corresponding to the interactive element, thereby obtaining that the interactive element is sensing The corresponding position on the measurement area 104.

Figure 2 is a diagram of a touch sensing method according to an embodiment of the present invention intention. In this embodiment, the controller CTL alternately performs the sensing operation corresponding to the interactive element and the aforementioned self-capacitive touch sensing operation. For example, the controller CTL performs the sensing operation PP1 corresponding to the interactive element, and then performs the self-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS1, and then performs the sensing operation PP2 corresponding to the interactive element, and then performs the self-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS2, and then perform the sensing operation PP3 corresponding to the interactive element, and then perform the self-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS3.

In one embodiment, the sensing operations PP1-PP3 corresponding to the interactive element are, for example, corresponding to the beacon search operation of the interactive element. Since the self-capacitive touch sensing operation is time-consuming and short, by alternately performing the beacon search operation corresponding to the interactive element and the aforementioned self-capacitive touch sensing operation, the touch sensing system 10 can have a pair of interactive elements and High sensitivity of touch sensing (such as hand touch sensing).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a touch sensing method according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the sensing operation PP1 corresponding to the interactive element is, for example, a beacon search operation corresponding to the interactive element. The controller CTL receives a beacon corresponding to an interactive element when performing the sensing operation PP1 corresponding to the interactive element, and then in the operating neutral position between the sensing operations PP2 and PP3 corresponding to the interactive element, the controller The CTL can perform the aforementioned self-capacitive touch sensing operations HPS1, HPS2 for multiple times, so that the touch sensing system 10 has high sensitivity of touch sensing (such as hand touch sensing).

In addition, if in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS2, the controller CTL senses that a touch occurs (for example, one or more of the aforementioned sensing values corresponding to channels TX1-TX20 are greater than or equal to the aforementioned threshold ), the controller CTL can also continue to perform the mutual capacitive touch sensing operation HPM2 (for example, perform the mutual capacitive touch sensing operation HPM2 in the operating neutral position between the sensing operations PP2 and PP3 corresponding to the interactive element).

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a touch sensing method according to another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is roughly similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 3, except that the self-capacitive touch sensing operations HPS1, HPS2 and the mutual-capacitive touch sensing operation HPM2 are in different sensing operations corresponding to interactive elements Performed in neutral. That is, the self-capacitive touch sensing operations HPS1 and HPS2 are performed in the operating neutral position between the sensing operations PP2 and PP3 corresponding to the interactive element, and the mutual-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS2 is performed in the operating neutral position corresponding to the interactive element. The sensing operation PP3 of the element and the next sensing operation (not shown) corresponding to the interactive element are performed in the operating neutral position.

Similarly, in different embodiments, the self-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS1 is performed in the operating neutral position between the sensing operations PP2 and PP3 corresponding to the interactive element, and the self-capacitive touch sensing The operation HPS2 and the mutual-capacitive touch sensing operation HPM2 are performed in the operating neutral position between the sensing operation PP3 corresponding to the interactive element and the next sensing operation (not shown) corresponding to the interactive element.

In addition, in different embodiments, the self-capacitive touch sensing operations HPS1, HPS2, and the mutual-capacitive touch sensing operation HPM2 can be performed in different sensing operation neutral positions corresponding to the interactive elements.

When it is understood that the timing of performing the self-capacitive touch sensing operations HPS1, HPS2 and the mutual-capacitive touch sensing operation HPM2 can be designed according to actual requirements, and this case is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

In addition, it should be noted that in some cases, the sensing operation time corresponding to the interactive element needs to comply with established specifications (such as MPP1.51, MPP2.0, etc.), so the length of the aforementioned operating neutral time is fixed. Therefore, by dispersing the self-capacitive touch sensing operations HPS1, HPS2, and the mutual-capacitive touch sensing operation HPM2 in different sensing operation neutral positions corresponding to the interactive elements During the process, the touch sensing operation of the touch sensing system 10 can be made more flexible, and it is easier to comply with the established standard of the sensing operation of the interactive element.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a touch sensing method according to another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, if in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS1, the controller CTL senses that a touch has occurred (for example, one or more of the aforementioned sensing values corresponding to channels TX1-TX20 are greater than or Equal to the aforementioned threshold), the controller CTL can be in the operating neutral position between the sensing operations PP2 and PP3 corresponding to the interactive element, and between the sensing operation PP3 corresponding to the interactive element and the next one corresponding to the sensing operation of the interactive element. In the operating neutral position between the measurement operations (not shown), the aforementioned second signal is provided to the different ones of the first touch electrodes TPDT respectively, and the mutual capacitance touch sensing operations HPM1a and HPM1b are performed separately.

For example, in the case that the sensing value corresponding to the channels TX5-TX14 in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS1 is greater than or equal to the aforementioned threshold value, the controller CTL can perform the sensing operation between PP2 and PP3 corresponding to the interactive element. The aforementioned second signal is provided to the first touch electrode TPDT corresponding to the channel TX5-TX9 in the operating neutral position to perform a partial mutual capacitive touch sensing operation HPM1a, and in the sensing operation PP3 corresponding to the interactive element In the operation gap between the next sensing operation (not shown) corresponding to the interactive element, the aforementioned second signal is provided to the first touch electrode TPDT corresponding to the channel TX10-TX14 to perform another part of the interaction. Capacitive touch sensing operates HPM1b.

Thereby, the touch sensing operation of the touch sensing system 10 can be made more flexible, and it is easier to comply with the established standard of the sensing operation of the interactive element.

In some further embodiments, the controller CTL may determine the number of sensing values corresponding to channels greater than or equal to the threshold value in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS1. Determine whether to provide the aforementioned second signal to a different one of the first touch electrode TPDT in different operation slots of the interactive element, or determine how many operation slots of the interactive element to provide the aforementioned second signal to the first Touch a different one of the electrodes TPDT.

For example, if the number of the aforementioned sensing values greater than or equal to the threshold value in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation is within the first range (such as 0-5), the controller CTL may determine whether the number of interactive elements is Provide the aforementioned second signal to the corresponding first touch electrode TPDT in the same operating period; if the number of the aforementioned sensing values greater than or equal to the threshold value in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation is within the first range (e.g. 6-10), the controller CTL can decide to provide the aforementioned second signal to the corresponding first touch electrode TPDT in the two operating neutral positions of the interactive element, respectively, which is different; and if in the self-capacitive touch If the number of the aforementioned sensing values that are greater than or equal to the threshold value in the sensing operation is within the third range (such as 11-15), the controller CTL can determine to provide the aforementioned second signal in the three operating neutral positions of the interactive element. To the different one of the corresponding first touch electrodes TPDT, and so on.

It should be noted that the above figures are only examples, and this case is not limited to them.

In this way, the controller CTL can flexibly determine the subdivision mode of the capacitive touch sensing operation.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a touch sensing method according to another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is roughly similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 5, except that the self-capacitive touch sensing operation HPS1 and part of the mutual-capacitive touch sensing operation HPM1a are in the same sensing operation space corresponding to the interactive element. In the file.

In addition, it should be understood that, in different embodiments, part of the mutual capacitive touch sensing operation HPM1b can also be performed in the same sensing operation neutral position corresponding to the interactive element with another self-capacitive touch sensing operation. .

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method 200 according to an embodiment of the invention.

Among them, the touch sensing method 200 can be applied to a touch sensing device TSR having the same or similar structure as that shown in FIG. 1. To make the description simple, the following will describe the touch sensing method 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention, taking the touch sensing device TSR in Figure 1 as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this application.

In addition, it should be understood that the operations of the touch sensing method 200 mentioned in this embodiment can be adjusted according to actual needs, and can even be executed simultaneously or partly, except for those whose order is specifically stated. .

Furthermore, in different embodiments, these operations can also be added, replaced, and/or omitted adaptively.

In this embodiment, the touch sensing method 200 includes the following operations.

In operation S1, the touch sensing device TSR provides a plurality of first signals to the plurality of first touch electrodes TPDT to perform a self-capacitive touch sensing operation.

In operation S2, corresponding to the result of the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, the touch sensing device TSR selectively provides one or more second signals to a part of the first touch electrode TPDT to perform a mutual interaction. Capacitive touch sensing operation.

The specific details of the above operations can be referred to the foregoing paragraphs, so they are not repeated here.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone who is familiar with this technique can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection of the present invention The scope shall be subject to those defined in the attached patent scope.

200‧‧‧Method

S1-S2‧‧‧Operation

Claims (8)

A touch sensing method includes: providing a plurality of first signals to a plurality of touch electrodes to perform a self-capacitive touch sensing operation; and correspondingly to the result of the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, selectively providing One or more second signals are sent to a part of the touch electrodes to perform a mutual capacitive touch sensing operation; wherein, in the self-capacitance touch sensing operation, in the corresponding touch When one or more sensing values of the part of the touch electrode are greater than or equal to a threshold value, perform the mutual capacitance touch sensing operation on the part of the touch electrodes; When the second signal is a plurality of second signals, the second signals are provided to different ones of the touch electrodes in different operation intervals corresponding to an interactive element. The touch sensing method according to claim 1, wherein the first signals are provided to the touch electrodes a plurality of times in the same operating period corresponding to an interactive element to perform the automatic Capacitive touch sensing operation. The touch sensing method according to claim 1, wherein the self-capacitive touch sensing operation and the beacon search operation corresponding to an interactive element are alternately performed. The touch sensing method according to claim 1, wherein in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, when all the sensing values corresponding to the touch electrodes are less than the threshold value, no Provide the one or more second signals to the part of the touch electrodes. A touch sensing circuit, including: Plural signal pins; and a controller electrically connected to the signal pins. The controller is used to: provide a plurality of first signals to the plural touch electrodes through the signal pins to perform a self-capacitive touch Sensing operation; and corresponding to the result of the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, through the signal pins, one or more second signals are selectively provided to a part of the touch electrodes to perform a Mutual capacitive touch sensing operation; wherein in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, when one or more sensing values corresponding to the portion of the touch electrodes are greater than or equal to a threshold value Next, perform the mutual capacitance touch sensing operation on the part of the touch electrodes; wherein when the one or more second signals are plural second signals, the second signals are corresponding to Different ones of the touch electrodes are provided in different operation intervals of an interactive element. The touch sensing circuit according to claim 5, wherein the first signals are provided to the touch electrodes a plurality of times in the same operating neutral position corresponding to an interactive element to perform the self-control a plurality of times Capacitive touch sensing operation. The touch sensing circuit according to claim 5, wherein the self-capacitive touch sensing operation and the beacon search operation corresponding to an interactive element are alternately performed. The touch sensing circuit of claim 5, wherein in the self-capacitive touch sensing operation, when all the sensing values corresponding to the touch electrodes are less than the threshold value, the The controller does not provide the one or more second signals to the part of the touch electrodes.

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