Abstract: Devices and method are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the systems and methods are configured to identify a portion of an image of sensor values as corresponding to at least one sensed object in the sensing region, determine a polygon corresponding to the identified portion of the image, and determine a contact characterization of the at least one sensed object based on the polygon. The determination of a polygon corresponding to a sensed object facilitates improved contact characterization of the sensed object. For example, the determined polygon may be used to determine if the sensed object is actually more than one object. As a second example, the determined polygon may be used to determine the orientation of the sensed object. In addition, determined polygons may be used to more accurately track changes in the position of the sensed object.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein provide input devices configured to selectively operate in two different sensing regimes. The first sensing regime is configured to determine positional information for ungloved fingers in the sensing region. The second sensing regime is configured to determine positional information for gloved fingers in the sensing region. The input devices are further configured to switch from operating in the first sensing regime to the second sensing regime responsive to detecting an input gesture that meets each of a set of criteria, where the set of criteria includes a measure of sensor value stability corresponding to the input gesture being beyond a sensor value stability threshold level. So implemented, the input device allows a user to easily switch between two different sensing regimes, and thus can facilitate the use of the device with both gloved and ungloved fingers providing input.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein thus provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input devices. Specifically, the devices, systems and methods provide the ability to accurately determine user input using multiple different sensing regimes. The different sensing regimes can be used to facilitate accurate position determination of objects both at the surface and away from the surface. For example, the different sensing regimes can be used to determine position information for both ungloved and gloved fingers. In one embodiment the first sensing regime uses a first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a first duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing. The second sensing regime uses a second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a second duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing, where the second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing is greater than the first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for coordinating the interaction between a touch screen controller and a display controller in an electronic device of the type including a host processor, a touch screen controller configured to acquire capacitive measurements from a touch screen, and a display controller configured to update a display at a refresh frequency and phase. The method includes: sharing a synchronization signal between the display controller and the host processor, the synchronization signal indicative of the refresh frequency and phase; polling the touch screen controller, by the host processor, based on the synchronization signal; and in response to the polling, acquiring the capacitive measurements by the touch screen controller at a sampling rate and phase determined by the refresh frequency and phase.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein provide input devices configured to selectively operate in two different sensing regimes. The first sensing regime is configured to determine positional information for ungloved fingers in the sensing region. The second sensing regime is configured to determine positional information for gloved fingers in the sensing region. The input devices are further configured to switch from operating in the first sensing regime to the second sensing regime responsive to detecting an input gesture that meets each of a set of criteria, where the set of criteria includes a measure of sensor value stability corresponding to the input gesture being beyond a sensor value stability threshold level. So implemented, the input device allows a user to easily switch between two different sensing regimes, and thus can facilitate the use of the device with both gloved and ungloved fingers providing input.

Abstract: In a method of interference avoidance for a capacitive sensor device, a transmitter signal is transmitted with a transmitter electrode of the capacitive sensor device. A resulting signal is received with a receiver electrode of the capacitive sensor device. The resulting signal corresponds to the transmitter signal. A first demodulated output is acquired by demodulating the resulting signal in a first way. A second demodulated output is acquired by demodulating the resulting signal in a second way, where the second way and the first way differ. A shift is made from using the first demodulated output for determining positional information to using the second demodulated output for determining positional information. The shift is based at least in part upon an amount of interference.

Abstract: In a method of capacitive sensing using an integrated capacitive sensor device and display device, a transmitter signal is transmitted with a combination electrode of the integrated capacitive sensor device and display device. The combination electrode is configured for both capacitive sensing and display updating. The transmitter signal transitions at least twice during a non-display update time period associated with row update of the display device. A display of the display device is updated during an update time period. A resulting signal is received with a receiver electrode of the integrated capacitive sensor device and display device during the non-display update time period. The resulting signal corresponds to the transmitter signal.

Abstract: In a method of operating a touch screen, an object interaction is detected with the touch screen while in a first doze mode. It is determined if a detected object interaction with the touch screen is a valid input object interaction with the touch screen. In response to determining the object interaction is a valid input object interaction, the touch screen is transitioned from the first doze mode to a gesture recognition mode. The touch screen is transitioned from the gesture recognition mode to an active mode in response to a determination of a valid gesture interaction with the touch screen by the input object.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein provide input devices configured to selectively operate in two different sensing regimes. The first sensing regime is configured to determine positional information for ungloved fingers in the sensing region. The second sensing regime is configured to determine positional information for gloved fingers in the sensing region. The input devices are further configured to switch from operating in the first sensing regime to the second sensing regime responsive to detecting an input gesture that meets each of a set of criteria, where the set of criteria includes a measure of sensor value stability corresponding to the input gesture being beyond a sensor value stability threshold level. So implemented, the input device allows a user to easily switch between two different sensing regimes, and thus can facilitate the use of the device with both gloved and ungloved fingers providing input.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for coordinating the interaction between a touch screen controller and a display controller in an electronic device of the type including a host processor, a touch screen controller configured to acquire capacitive measurements from a touch screen, and a display controller configured to update a display at a refresh frequency and phase. The method includes: sharing a synchronization signal between the display controller and the host processor, the synchronization signal indicative of the refresh frequency and phase; polling the touch screen controller, by the host processor, based on the synchronization signal; and in response to the polling, acquiring the capacitive measurements by the touch screen controller at a sampling rate and phase determined by the refresh frequency and phase.

Abstract: An input device, including: a plurality of sensor electrodes configured to receive a first plurality of capacitive signals and a second plurality of capacitive signals; and a processing system operatively connected to the plurality of sensor electrodes and configured to: operate in a superdoze mode by receiving the first plurality of capacitive signals from a single receive channel connected to the plurality of sensor electrodes; execute an analysis of the first plurality of capacitive signals; and operate, based on the analysis, in an active mode by: driving a plurality of transmitter electrodes with a first drive pattern of a sensing signal; and receiving the second plurality of capacitive signals associated with the first drive pattern from a plurality of receive channels connected to the plurality of sensor electrodes. The superdoze mode requires less power than the active mode.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for coordinating the interaction between a touch screen controller and a display controller in an electronic device of the type including a host processor, a touch screen controller configured to acquire capacitive measurements from a touch screen, and a display controller configured to update a display at a refresh frequency and phase. The method includes: sharing a synchronization signal between the display controller and the host processor, the synchronization signal indicative of the refresh frequency and phase; polling the touch screen controller, by the host processor, based on the synchronization signal; and in response to the polling, acquiring the capacitive measurements by the touch screen controller at a sampling rate and phase determined by the refresh frequency and phase.

Abstract: A processing system for a capacitive sensing device has a sensor module with sensor circuitry coupled to sensor electrodes, the sensor module drives the sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing, and a determination module to detect input objects in a sensing region of the capacitive sensing device, enter a pen mode based on detecting a condition, determine, responsive to entering the pen mode, exclusion data based on at least the one input object. An exclusion region is displayed by a host device, the exclusion region is based on the exclusion data and includes a portion of the sensing region with diminished detectability of an input object.

Abstract: An input device, including: a plurality of sensor electrodes configured to receive a first plurality of capacitive signals and a second plurality of capacitive signals; and a processing system operatively connected to the plurality of sensor electrodes and configured to: operate in a superdoze mode by receiving the first plurality of capacitive signals from a single receive channel connected to the plurality of sensor electrodes; execute an analysis of the first plurality of capacitive signals; and operate, based on the analysis, in an active mode by: driving a plurality of transmitter electrodes with a first drive pattern of a sensing signal; and receiving the second plurality of capacitive signals associated with the first drive pattern from a plurality of receive channels connected to the plurality of sensor electrodes. The superdoze mode requires less power than the active mode.

Abstract: Devices and method are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the systems and methods are configured to identify a portion of an image of sensor values as corresponding to at least one sensed object in the sensing region, determine a polygon corresponding to the identified portion of the image, and determine a contact characterization of the at least one sensed object based on the polygon. The determination of a polygon corresponding to a sensed object facilitates improved contact characterization of the sensed object. For example, the determined polygon may be used to determine if the sensed object is actually more than one object. As a second example, the determined polygon may be used to determine the orientation of the sensed object. In addition, determined polygons may be used to more accurately track changes in the position of the sensed object.

Abstract: A processing system for a capacitive sensing device has a sensor module with sensor circuitry coupled to sensor electrodes, the sensor module drives the sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing, and a determination module to detect input objects in a sensing region of the capacitive sensing device, enter a pen mode based on detecting a condition, determine, responsive to entering the pen mode, exclusion data based on at least the one input object. An exclusion region is displayed by a host device, the exclusion region is based on the exclusion data and includes a portion of the sensing region with diminished detectability of an input object.

Abstract: Devices and method are provided that facilitate improved input device performance. Specifically, the systems and methods are configured to identify a portion of an image of sensor values as corresponding to at least one sensed object in the sensing region, determine a polygon corresponding to the identified portion of the image, and determine a contact characterization of the at least one sensed object based on the polygon. The determination of a polygon corresponding to a sensed object facilitates improved contact characterization of the sensed object. For example, the determined polygon may be used to determine if the sensed object is actually more than one object. As a second example, the determined polygon may be used to determine the orientation of the sensed object. In addition, determined polygons may be used to more accurately track changes in the position of the sensed object.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein thus provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input devices. Specifically, the devices, systems and methods provide the ability to accurately determine user input using multiple different sensing regimes. The different sensing regimes can be used to facilitate accurate position determination of objects both at the surface and away from the surface. For example, the different sensing regimes can be used to determine position information for both ungloved and gloved fingers. In one embodiment the first sensing regime uses a first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a first duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing. The second sensing regime uses a second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a second duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing, where the second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing is greater than the first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing.

Abstract: An input device comprises a display, a plurality of sensor electrodes, and a processing system. The plurality of sensor electrodes is configured to detect an input object in a sensing region of the input device. The sensing region overlaps the display. The processing system is coupled with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The processing system is configured for: acquiring a capacitive image from the plurality of sensor electrodes; and correlating a part of the capacitive image with at least one input object template image to determine a type of an input object interacting with the input device.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein thus provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input devices. Specifically, the devices, systems and methods provide the ability to accurately determine user input using multiple different sensing regimes. The different sensing regimes can be used to facilitate accurate position determination of objects both at the surface and away from the surface. For example, the different sensing regimes can be used to determine position information for both ungloved and gloved fingers. In one embodiment the first sensing regime uses a first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a first duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing. The second sensing regime uses a second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing and a second duty cycle of transcapacitive sensing, where the second duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing is greater than the first duty cycle of absolute capacitive sensing.