System and method to measure capacitance of capacitive sensor array

Description

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

This application is related to commonly assigned, co-pending patent application Ser. No. 12/167,552, filed on Jul. 3, 2008, entitled “Method For Normalizing Signal From A High-Impedance Array of Capacitive Sensors,” and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This application is related to commonly assigned, co-pending patent application Ser. No. 12/167,494, filed on Jul. 3, 2008, entitled “Method For Improving Scan Time And Sensitivity In Touch Sensitive User Interface Device,” and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to capacitive sensor arrays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As computing technology has developed, user interface devices have advanced correspondingly. User interfaces have become increasingly significant in the usability of a computing device.

One particular user interface becoming increasingly popular is the touch screen or track pad which uses an array of capacitive sensors using high impedance capacitance substrates. The current, based on the change of the capacitance at the intersection of a row and a column of the array, which varies depending on the presence or absence of a touch, e.g., a finger, etc., is measured.

Row and/or columns are scanned sequentially and independently, one by one across the array by a microprocessor. The microprocessor may start by measuring the capacitance at a first column and a first row, then measure the capacitance for the intersection of the first column and a second row, and then measure each subsequent intersection in the capacitive sensor array. Thus, if there are 10 rows and 10 columns, a total of 100 measurements of capacitance may be obtained and stored by microprocessor. Based on the measurements, a centroid corresponding to the finger location is then determined by the microprocessor.

The measuring of each intersection of each row and column may result in the measurements being subject to variations in the physical properties of the sensor array. For example, temperature changes can increase or decrease the capacitance.

Further, measuring capacitance means that the measured range includes the absolute value of the capacitance. For example, if the capacitance is 8 picofarads (pF) without a finger present and a capacitance of 8.1 pF indicates a touch, the measurement circuit may be calibrated to measure a range of 1 to 10 pF for instance while the dynamic range is only 0.1, this leads to low resolution. The centering of the measurement window by using current compensation may avoid this low resolution. The current compensation involves using a current source to balance out or subtract the base capacitance. The current source is used to provide a current based on the baseline capacitance and thereby subtract out the baseline capacitance from capacitance measurements. The microprocessor accesses and loads the baseline values into a programmable current source before each measurement of each row and column intersection. This current compensation uses extra hardware which increases costs and is slower as additional operations and settling times increase the time for each scan.

Thus, capacitive sensor systems may be susceptible to capacitive variations and utilize absolute value capacitive measurements resulting in less accurate position information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for determining position information e.g., with respect to a touch sensitive array. Position information is determined based on differential capacitance measurements in one embodiment. The differential capacitance measurements may be with respect to adjacent rows and/or columns of the array and are substantially immune to variations (e.g., temperature changes, dielectric changes, etc.) of a capacitive sensor array. The differential capacitive measurements further facilitate increased resolution and require fewer measurements thereby making scans employing a capacitive sensor array faster and more precise.

More specifically, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for determining position information. The method includes selecting a column, a first row, and a second row of a capacitive sensor array. The first row and second row intersect with the column of the capacitive sensor array. Further, the first and second row may be selected as an adjacent pair or a distant pair (e.g., separated by at least one other row). The method further includes measuring a differential capacitance between the first row and the second row and utilizing the differential capacitance in determining a location of an object proximate to the capacitive sensor array. The location of the object may be determined by computing capacitance values for each row and column intersection based on the differential capacitance measurements.

Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a circuit or electronic system for determining position information. The system includes a sensor array controller for selecting each of a plurality of rows and each of a plurality of columns for measuring a differential capacitance. The differential capacitance may include the difference in capacitance between two adjacent rows and thus variations (e.g., temperature effects, dielectric variations, etc.) in the capacitive sensor array may be substantially removed. The capacitive sensor array is operable to be controlled by the sensor array controller for detecting a presence of an object proximate to the sensor array. The system further includes a data storage module for storing a plurality of differential capacitive measurements and a data processing module for processing the plurality of differential capacitive measurements to determine the position of an object proximate to a capacitive sensor array.

In one embodiment, the circuit for measuring the capacitance across two rows or columns is differential in nature thereby leading to a direct differential measurement which is supplied to a processor for position determination. By eliminating the base capacitance of the array in this fashion, more resolution applied via the capacitive sensor to the expected dynamic range for a touch. In another embodiment, however, absolute capacitance measurements can be taken and supplied to the processor which computes the different values via software.

In this fashion, embodiments of the present invention facilitate more precise capacitance measurements and therefore more accurate object location detection. Embodiments of the present invention further facilitate simplified capacitive sensor array systems by removing the necessity for current compensation circuitry. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention allow more frequent scans by reducing the number of measurements performed for each column.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows block diagram of an exemplary system for determining position information, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows block diagram of an exemplary capacitive sensor array, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows block diagram of an exemplary implementation of a system for determining position information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary graph of capacitance measurements, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary system for determining position information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method for determining position information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the claimed subject matter, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter to these embodiments. On the contrary, the claimed subject matter is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter as defined by the claims. Furthermore, in the detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the claimed subject matter.

EXAMPLE SYSTEMS

FIGS. 1, 3, and 5 illustrate example components used by various embodiments of the present invention. Although specific components are disclosed in circuits or systems 100, 300, and 500 it should be appreciated that such components are examples. That is, embodiments of the present invention are well suited to having various other components or variations of the components recited in systems 100, 300, and 500. It is appreciated that the components in systems 100, 300, and 500 may operate with other components than those presented, and that not all of the components of systems 100, 300, and 500 may be used to achieve the goals of systems 100, 300, and 500.

Further, systems 100, 300, and 500 include components or modules that, in various embodiments, are carried out by software, e.g., a processor under the control of computer-readable and computer-executable instructions. The computer-readable and computer-executable instructions reside, for example, in data storage features such as computer usable memory, removable storage, and/or non-removable storage. The computer-readable and computer-executable instructions are used to control or operate in conjunction with, for example, a processing unit. It should be appreciated that the aforementioned components of systems 100, 300, and 500 can be implemented in hardware or software or in a combination of both.

FIG. 1 shows block diagram of an exemplary system for determining position information, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. System 100 includes clock source 102, buffer 142, inverter 140, row multiplexers 104 and 130, column multiplexers 106 and 132, row capacitors 108 and 128, column capacitors 110 and 126, measurement capacitors 112 and 124, current sampler 116, current to voltage converter 118, analog to digital converter (ADC) 120, and microprocessor 122. Circuit 100 measures the differential current based on the difference in capacitance of measurement capacitors 112 and 124.

Clock source 102 is coupled to buffer 142, inverter 140, and current sampler 116. Buffer 142 is coupled to row multiplexer 104. Inverter 140 is coupled to row multiplexer 130. Row multiplexers 104 and 130 thus receive clock signals. The selection of rows and columns via row multiplexers 130 and 104 and column multiplexers 106 and 132 allows current sampler 116 to measure a differential current between two rows of a capacitive sensor array. It is appreciated that clock source 102, buffer 142, and inverter 140 may be interchanged with a component having an inverting and non-inverting stage. It is further appreciated that the coupling of current sampler 116 and clock source 102 may be optional or current sampler 116 may be coupled to a microprocessor (e.g., microprocessor 122) or some external control.

In one embodiment, current sampler 116 provides synchronous rectification which is represented by a switch which becomes closed only on the positive transition of a clock signal from clock source 102. Current sampler 116 may be a switching circuit. Current to voltage converter 118 converts the measured current to a voltage for input to ADC 120. ADC 120 converts the analog voltage to a digital signal for input to microprocessor 122.

Microprocessor 122 controls row multiplexers 104 and 130 and column multiplexers 106 and 132, sets conversion times and collects the data from the capacitive sensor array. Microprocessor 122 may utilize column multiplexers 106 and 132 to select a single column of capacitive sensor array (e.g., an indium tin oxide (ITO) sensor array) and utilizes row multiplexers 104 and 130 to select a pair of rows. Of course the role of columns and rows can be switched in accordance with embodiments of the present invention and any discursion herein regarding a particular scan order is merely a convenience for illustration. The selection of two different rows in combination with the clock signal and inverted clock signal (e.g., via inverter 140) allows current to flow in opposite directions though measurement capacitors 112 and 124. The opposite current flow results in a current difference flowing into current sampler 116. That is, current sampler 116 receives the summation of the currents (e.g., in opposite directions) or a differential current. This differential current reflects the difference in the capacitance of measurement capacitors 112 and 124. For example, if the capacitance of capacitor 112 is greater than the capacitance of capacitor 124, there may be a net positive current remaining and measured by the current sampler 116.

The differential current measured is independent of physical variations on the capacitive sensor array that are common to both measured capacitors. For example, a temperature variation which uniformly impacts the capacitive sensor arrays may be substantially cancelled because both measurements capacitors 112 and 124 may be affected by the temperature change which thereby may be subtracted out. Similarly, other physical variations (e.g., dielectric changes, changes in pressure, etc.) that impact the array in general are substantially removed from the differential current measurements.

The measuring of differential currents thereby reduces the corresponding dynamic range of the measurement chain. Due to the differential nature of the current measurements only the differences are measured which means the total dynamic range of the measurement circuit may be much smaller and more finely tuned to the range of expected capacitance variations of a touch. That is, embodiments of the present invention provide for zero current centered measurements. For example, where the difference in capacitance (as measured based on the current) is 0.1 pF to register a touch instead of an absolute measurement of 8.1 pF, the dynamic range can be tuned to measure small variations (e.g., a range of 0-0.5 pF instead of 0-10 pF). It is appreciated that the differential measurements of embodiments of the present invention thereby remove the necessity of a current source and additional circuitry for providing current compensation. Embodiments of the present invention may thus be simpler and more reliable with increase resolution.

Further, the more finely tuned dynamic range facilitates much higher resolution. For example, if ADC 120 has 10 output bits for communicating a value to microprocessor, with embodiments of the present invention the 10 bits may be used to communicate values with a range of 1 pF instead of a range of 5 or 10 pF. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention facilitate increased accuracy and resolution of measurements.

In one embodiment, the pairs of rows may be adjacent as microprocessor 122 goes through each column of a capacitive sensor array. That is, microprocessor 122 may select pairs of adjacent rows for making differential measurements. For example, microprocessor 122 may select column C0, then obtain differential measurements between rows R0 and R1, then R1 and R2, the R2 and R3, all the way up to R(N−1) and R(N).

However, row measurements may not necessarily be across adjacent rows. In another embodiment, the pairs of rows may be distant (e.g., separated by at least one other row) as microprocessor 122 goes through each column of a capacitive sensor array. That is, microprocessor 122 may select a first row and measure a differential capacitance between the first row and each of the other rows of the capacitive sensor array for each column. For example, microprocessor may select column C0, then get differential measurements between row R0 and R1, then rows R0 and R2, then rows R0 and R3, all the way up to rows R0 and RN. Embodiments of the present invention may further include an extra row and column to be used as a control (e.g., baseline) for differential measurements, e.g., a dummy row.

The scanning of the rows in pairs results in N−1 measurements per each column in a capacitive sensory array having N rows. That is, the scanning of the rows in pairs means that one less measurement is made per column, which decreases the time to scan the capacitive sensor array. For example, where a capacitive sensor array has 10 rows and 10 columns, 9 differential measurements for each of the 10 columns will be made. This results in a total of 90 (e.g., 9 differential measurements×10 columns) differential measurements being made. It is appreciated that a measurement for each row and column intersection would result in 100 measurements (e.g., 10 rows×10 columns). More generally, a capacitive sensor array with N row and M columns will have N−1 measurements per column and N−1×M measurements in total in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Microprocessor 122 further analyzes the data from the capacitive sensor array. Based on the differential current measurements and corresponding differential capacitance values, microprocessor 122 can determine the centroid of an object relative to the capacitive sensor array. In one embodiment, microprocessor 122 integrates the differential capacitive values going down each column to create a curve of the total capacitance at each row and column intersection (e.g., See FIG. 4). The integration may be then used for position determination. The curve may be further adjusted by adding the absolute value of the lowest negative number to each capacitance value thereby shifting the curve up to assist in locating a centroid. In another embodiment, microprocessor 122 may execute a method of searching the differential values for locations where the differential values change from positive to negative (e.g., cross zero).

FIG. 2 shows block diagram of an exemplary capacitive sensor array, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Capacitive sensor array 275 includes rows R0-RN and columns C0-CN. Multiplexers 104, 106, 130, and 132 may be used to select respective pairs of rows and columns as microprocessor 122 scans each pair of rows and the corresponding column intersection.

As described herein, scanning of capacitive sensor array 275 may be based on differential measurements of adjacent pairs. For example, column C0 282 may be selected and differential measurements may be made with row R0 280 and row R1 278, then row R1 278 and row R2 284, then row R2 284 and row R3 286, all the way up to row R(N−1) 288 and row RN 290. As discussed herein, the role of the columns and rows can be reversed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

As described herein, scanning of capacitive sensor array 275 may also be based on differential measurements of distant pairs (e.g., separated by at least one other row). For example, column C0 282 may be selected and differential measurements may be made with row R0 280 and row R1 278, then row R0 280 and row R2 284, then row R0 280 and row R3 286, all the way up to row R0 280 and row RN 290.

FIG. 3 shows block diagram of an exemplary implementation of a system for determining position information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. System 300 includes clock1 370, clock2 372, voltage rail 334 (e.g., Vcc), row multiplexers 304 and 330, column multiplexers 306 and 332, row capacitors 308 and 328, column capacitors 310 and 326, measurement capacitors 312 and 324, switches 340-350, amplifiers 310 and 356, resistor 354, capacitor 352, reference voltage (Vref) 358, and analog to digital converter (ADC) 360. Circuit 300 measures the differential current based on the difference in capacitance of measurement capacitors 312 and 324. Arrows 374 reflect an exemplary current flow.

System 300 operates in a substantially similar manner to system 100. Switches 342, 344, and 350 are coupled to clock1 370. Switches 340, 346, and 348 are coupled to clock2 372. It is appreciated that clock1 370 and clock2 372 may be inverses of each other. Row multiplexers 330 and 304 and column multiplexers 306 and 332 may be controlled by a microprocessor (e.g., microprocessor 122).

Amplifier 310 in combination with switches 348 and 350 acts a current sampler (e.g., current sampler 116) to sample differential current from measurement capacitors 312 and 324. The differential current measurement signal then passes to capacitor 352, resistor 354, and amplifier 358. Amplifier 358 has reference voltage (Vref) 358 as an input. The combination of capacitor 352, resistor 354, and amplifier 358 acts to convert the current to a voltage for input to ADC 360. ADC 360 may then convert the voltage to a digital signal for input to a microprocessor (e.g., microprocessor 122).

FIG. 4 shows exemplary graphs of capacitance measurements, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Each graph includes a vertical axis corresponding to the capacitance and horizontal axis corresponding to position (p) (e.g., row). Curve 414 corresponds to the measured differential capacitance for each position (e.g., row). A touch position is detected at position 416 where curve 414 crosses the axis. Line 412 represents exemplary integrated capacitance values measured over a plurality of row and column intersections (e.g., for a give column). Line 412 may be expressed by the equation:

f ⁡ ( p ) = ∑ ⁢ ⁢ ⅆ i ⅆ p
Where

ⅆ i ⅆ p
is the differential capacitance measured at each row and column intersection for the given column and reported to the processor. The function ƒ(p) is the summation of each

ⅆ i ⅆ p
which results in the capacitance values as depicted by line 412. The function ƒ(p) may correspond to the capacitance values for a single column. The summation or integration may be performed by a processor (e.g., processor 122). Further, the processor detects a touch position by analyzing the curve of the function ƒ(p).

Regions 402 and 410 corresponds to areas where the differential capacitive measurements have minimal to zero difference and may correspond to row and column intersections where an object (e.g., finger) is not present.

Region 406 corresponds to an area where the capacitance on each measurement capacitor (e.g., measurement capacitors 112 and 124) is substantially similar where there is no object nearby and thus the differential capacitance is minimal or zero. Region 406 may correspond to the centroid where an object is present over or on top of a capacitive sensor array (e.g., capacitive sensor array 275). Region 404 corresponds to locations where the differential capacitance is increasing (e.g., the row and column intersections on the edge of an object).

Region 408 corresponds to locations where the differential capacitance is decreasing (e.g., the row and column intersections on the edge of an object). It is appreciated that the increasing or decreasing nature of the differential capacitive values may be based on the selection of current flow (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 3).

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary system for determining position information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. System 500 includes sensor array controller 502, data processing module 508, data storage 510, sensor array 512, and communications bus 514. The blocks of system 500 may be carried out or performed by system for determining position information (e.g., system 100 or 300). Capacitive sensor array 512 is operable to be controlled by the sensor array controller for detecting the presence of an object proximate to the sensor array.

Sensor array controller 502 selects each of a plurality of rows and each of a plurality of columns for measuring a differential capacitance. Sensor array controller 502 includes row selector 504 and column selector 506. Sensor array controller 502 may use the column selector 506 to select each column of capacitive sensor array and use row selector 504 to select pairs of row for measuring differential capacitances. It is appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may also select a row and pairs of columns.

As described herein, the differential capacitance may be measured by a pair of adjacent rows or a pair of distant rows (e.g., rows separated by at least one other row). For example, differential capacitances may be measured for row 0 and row 1, row 1 and row 2, and so on in adjacent pairs until row N−1 and row N for a capacitive sensor array having N rows. As another example, differential capacitances may be measured for row 0 and row 1, row 0 and row 2, and so on with row 0 being paired with successive rows until row 0 is paired with row N for a capacitive sensory array having N rows. As described herein, the measuring of differential capacitances for pairs of rows allows sensor array controller to make N−1 measurements per column for a capacitive sensor array having N rows.

Further, as described herein, the differential measurements performed by embodiments resulting the capacitance measurements being substantially immune to common mode variations in the capacitive sensor array. The differential measurements facilitate increased resolution as the range of measurement can be calibrated accordingly to the capacitance change instead of the absolute capacitance value.

Data storage module 510 stores a plurality of differential capacitive measurements. As described herein, a plurality of differential capacitive measurements may be made for each pair of rows in a capacitive sensor array.

Data processing module 508 processes a plurality of differential capacitive measurements to determine the position of an object proximate to a capacitive sensor array. As described herein, data processing module 508 may be operable to compute capacitance values for each row and column intersection of the capacitive sensor array based on the differential capacitance measurements.

EXAMPLE OPERATIONS

With reference to FIG. 6, exemplary flowchart 600 illustrates example blocks used by various embodiments of the present invention. Although specific blocks are disclosed in flowchart 600, such blocks are examples. That is, embodiments are well suited to performing various other blocks or variations of the blocks recited in flowchart 600. It is appreciated that the blocks in flowchart 600 may be performed in an order different than presented, and that not all of the blocks in flowchart 600 may be performed. Flowchart 600 includes processes that, in various embodiments, are carried out by a processor under the control of computer-readable and computer-executable instructions. Embodiments of the present invention may thus be stored as computer readable media or computer-executable instructions including, but not limited to, a firmware update, software update package, or hardware (e.g., ROM).

In particular, FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an exemplary process for determining position information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Blocks of flow chart 600 may be carried out by modules of system (e.g., system 500) for determining position information.

At block 602, a column of a capacitive sensor array is selected. At block 604, a first row of the capacitive sensor array is selected. At block 606, a second row of the capacitive sensor array is selected. The first row and the second row intersect with the selected column of the capacitive sensor array. In one embodiment, the first row and the second row are adjacent. In another embodiment, the first and second row may be distant from one another (e.g., separated by at least one other row).

At block 608, a differential capacitance between the first row and the second row is measured. As described herein, the differential capacitance is independent of variations in the capacitive sensor array. Further, the differential capacitance facilitates increased resolution as the measurements are zero centered. The measuring of the differential capacitances facilitates quicker scans because the differential measurements are performed N−1 times per column for a capacitive sensor array comprising N rows.

At block 610, a check is performed to determine if the differential measurements have been performed for all rows. If there are rows remaining in a column to be measured block 604 is performed. If there are no more rows remaining, block 612 may be performed.

At block 612, a check is performed to determine if the differential measurements have been performed for all columns. If there are columns remaining to be measured block 602 is performed. If there are no more columns remaining to be measured, block 614 may be performed.

At block 614, the differential capacitance is utilized in determining a location of an object proximate to the capacitive sensor array. As described herein, the differential capacitances are operable to be used to compute capacitance values for each row and column intersection of the capacitive sensor array (e.g., FIG. 4).

Thus, embodiments of the present invention facilitate more accurate capacitance measurements which are immune to capacitive sensor variations (e.g., temperature changes, dielectric property changes, etc.). Embodiments of the present invention further provide increased resolution and zero centered measurements thereby making current compensation circuitry unnecessary for tuning the dynamic range of the measurements. The measuring of differential capacitances by embodiments of the present invention allows for faster scanning of a capacitive sensor array by performing one less measurement per column.

Embodiments of the present invention are thus described. While the present disclosure has been described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure should not be construed as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to the below claims.