Abstract: This disclosure generally describes an input device, a display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device, and an assembly for an input device. The input device comprises a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a first layer, and a processing system configured to detect presence of input objects in a sensing region defined proximate to the plurality of sensor electrodes. The input device further comprises a plurality of routing traces disposed in a second layer and coupled with the processing system, and a plurality of vias arranged in a regular pattern within an areal extent of the sensing region, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of vias couple the plurality of sensor electrodes with the plurality of routing traces.

Abstract: The disclosure generally describes input devices with associated processing system configured to perform display updating and capacitive sensing. The processing system includes first and second pluralities of display driver pads coupled with a plurality of source lines, and a plurality of sensor pads disposed between the first and second pluralities of display driver pads and coupled with a plurality of sensor electrodes through a plurality of conductive routing traces. The plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least one common electrode of a display device, the common electrode configured to be driven for display updating and capacitive sensing. The processing system is configured to drive the plurality of source lines for display updating, and to drive the plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for operating an input device for an electronic system which includes a housing. The input device includes an input surface and a first substrate having a first plurality of sensor electrodes configured to sense input objects proximate the input surface, and a pair of force sensing electrodes on the bottom of the first substrate. The input device includes a second substrate having a planar spring plate including a perimeter region surrounding an interior region, the perimeter region including a leaf spring coupled to the housing, and a spacing layer configured to physically couple the interior region of the second substrate to the first substrate. A force applied to the input surface deflects the first substrate and the interior region relative to the perimeter region, changing a variable capacitance formed between the force sensing electrodes.

Abstract: A processing system that includes a sigma-delta converter and a filter unit that applies a matched filter to the output of the sigma-delta converter. The processing system drives sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing and receives resulting signals with the sensor electrodes in response. The processing system applies these resulting signals to sigma-delta converters. The matched filter boosts the signal-to-noise ratio of the signal received from the sigma-delta converter, thereby improving the ability to sense presence of an input object. The filter unit may apply different, customized matched filters for different capacitive pixels to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of each capacitive pixel in a customized manner.

Abstract: In a method of managing baselines of a capacitive sensing input device, a transcapacitive baseline, a first absolute capacitive baseline, and a second absolute capacitive baseline are acquired with a plurality of sensor electrodes of the capacitive sensing input device. A transcapacitive image, a first absolute capacitive profile, and a second absolute capacitive profile are acquired with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The transcapacitive baseline, the first absolute capacitive baseline, and the second absolute capacitive baseline are managed based on a value of at least one of the first absolute capacitive profile and the second absolute capacitive profile.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus that is configured to reduce the effects of interference that is undesirably provided to a transmitter signal that is delivered from a transmitter signal generating device to a sensor processor to determine if an input object is disposed within a touch sensing region of a touch sensing device. In one embodiment, the sensor processor includes a receiver channel that has circuitry that is configured to separately receive a transmitter signal delivered from a display processor and a sensor processor reference signal that is based on a display processor reference signal to reliably sense the presence of an object. Embodiments of the invention described herein thus provide an improved apparatus and method for reliably sensing the presence of an object by a touch sensing device.

Abstract: Capacitive sensing is performed in an input device having an input sensor and associated display device using gate lines of the display device. A transmitter signal having a negative pulse is used to safely transmit a transcapacitive transmitter signal while not opening any of the access transistors in the display device.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a position-based attribute of a finger, stylus or other object with a touchpad or other sensor having a touch-sensitive region that includes a plurality of electrodes. Modulation signals for one or more electrodes are produced as a function of any number of distinct digital codes. The modulation signals are applied to an associated at least one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the object. The resultant signal is demodulated using the plurality of distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the object. The position-based attribute of the object is then determined with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for operating an input device for an electronic system which includes a housing. The input device includes an input surface and a first substrate having a first plurality of sensor electrodes configured to sense input objects proximate the input surface, and a pair of force sensing electrodes on the bottom of the first substrate. The input device includes a second substrate having a planar spring plate including a perimeter region surrounding an interior region, the perimeter region including a leaf spring coupled to the housing, and a spacing layer configured to physically couple the interior region of the second substrate to the first substrate. A force applied to the input surface deflects the first substrate and the interior region relative to the perimeter region, changing a variable capacitance formed between the force sensing electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein include an input device, processing system and methods for touch sensing. In one embodiment, an input device is provided that includes a plurality of sensing elements arranged in a sensor pattern and a plurality of conductive routing traces. Each conductive routing trace is conductively paired with a respective one of the plurality of sensing elements. The sensor routing traces are configured to reduce an RC load of the corresponding paired sensing elements compared to a base RC load of a plurality of base electrodes arranged in a base pattern that is identical to the sensor pattern. Each base sensor electrode is conductively paired with a base routing trace. The base sensor electrode and paired base routing trace have a size that is identical to a size of the paired sensing elements and conductive routing trace. The base routing trace terminates at the base sensor electrode to which the base routing trace is paired.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an input device including a display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device. The input device includes a plurality of select line blocks, a plurality of gate low voltage lines, a gate high voltage line coupled to at least one select line included in at least one of the select line blocks, a plurality of transmitter electrodes, and a processing system coupled to the plurality gate low voltage lines and the plurality of transmitter electrodes. Each select line block includes a plurality of select lines. Each gate low voltage line is coupled to a different select line block. The processing system is configured to drive the plurality of transmitter electrodes for capacitive sensing, receive resulting signals from the plurality of gate low voltage lines, and determine positional information based on the resulting signals.

Abstract: Embodiments generally provide a method, input device, and processing system for frequency shifting for synchronized display updating and capacitive sensing. The method includes driving a display signal onto at least one display electrode for updating a display. The method further includes driving a first capacitive sensing signal having a first frequency onto at least one sensor electrode, wherein the first frequency is synchronized to the display signal. The method further includes driving a second capacitive sensing signal having a second frequency onto the at least one sensor electrode, wherein the first and second frequencies differ and a timing of the display signal is adjusted to maintain synchronization with the second frequency, and wherein each capacitive sensing signal and the display signal are driven in parallel for at least some period of time.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing device detects the presence of an actively modulated input object, such as an active pen, using a matrix of sensor electrodes. The capacitive sensing device include receiver channels configured to perform capacitive sensing of the active pen based on one frequency, and other receiver channels configured to perform capacitive sensing of other input objects based on another frequency. The receiver channels for sensing the active pen may be multiplexed across the matrix of sensor electrodes to track the location of the active pen in a tracking window manner. The receiver channels for sensing the active pen may also be multiplexed across the matrix of sensor electrodes to broadly search for the location of the active pen.

Abstract: A processing system for an input device, the processing system including: a sensor module coupled to sensor circuitry and configured to: initiate a current beacon period including a plurality of timeslots by broadcasting a current beacon signal to a plurality of active pens; receive, during a first timeslot, a first downstream packet from a first active pen transceiver; and receive, during a second timeslot, a second downstream packet from a second active pen transceiver; and a determination module configured to: determine an attribute of a first active pen including the first active pen transceiver from at least the first downstream packet.

Abstract: A method for communicating with a capacitive sensing device using an untethered active pen. The method includes capacitively receiving a capacitive sensing signal at a capacitive receiving unit of the untethered active pen. The capacitive sensing signal is output from the capacitive sensing device. In addition, the method includes determining a first frequency and a first phase associated with the capacitive sensing signal. Moreover, the method includes transmitting at a second frequency and a second phase an amplified active pen signal at the capacitive sensing device from the untethered active pen. The amplified active pen signal has a second frequency and a second phase that correspond to the first frequency and the first phase.

Abstract: A method of capacitive sensing using an integrated capacitive sensor device and display device comprising a plurality of combination electrodes comprises driving a first of the plurality of combination electrodes for capacitive sensing during a first non-display update time period of a first frame; driving a second of the plurality of combination electrodes for capacitive sensing during a second non-display update time period of the first frame; and driving a third of the plurality of combination electrodes for capacitive sensing during a third non-display update time period of the first frame, the plurality of combination electrodes configured for both capacitive sensing and display updating. Driving the first second, and third combination electrodes for capacitive sensing comprises driving the first, second, and third combination electrodes with a signal that transitions at least twice during each respective non-display update time period of the display device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, the display device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a matrix. The processing system performs absolute capacitive sensing with the matrix of sensor electrodes. When an area of interest is detected using the absolute capacitive sensing techniques, the processing system performs targeted transcapacitance sensing using a selected subset of the sensor electrodes in the area of interest.

Abstract: Devices and methods for capacitively sensing key cap position during the initial and latter stages of a keystroke. A key assembly includes a stationary key guide magnet, a movable key cap magnet, and a transmitter/receiver electrode pair. One or both of the electrodes underlies the key cap. The capacitance change between the electrodes during a keystroke includes the capacitance change between the key cap and the electrode pair, and the change in capacitance between the key cap and the key guide. Key cap position may thus be accurately detected throughout the entire keystroke.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide shield electrodes for shielding one or more conductive routing traces from one or more receiver electrodes in an input device comprising a display device integrated with a sensing device to reduce the capacitive coupling between the conductive routing traces and the receiver electrodes. The shield electrode may be configured to reduce the effect of an input object on the capacitive coupling between the conductive routing traces and the receiver electrodes. In other embodiments, end portions of common electrodes shield the receiver electrodes from the conductive routing traces, thereby reducing the capacitive coupling between the receiver electrodes and the conductive routing traces.

Abstract: A processing system for an input device includes a sensor module coupled to sensor circuitry and configured to receive signals from an active pen. The processing system for an input device further includes a determination module configured to: determine, based on a signal exceeding a power threshold, that the signal is boosted, transition, in response to the signal being boosted, from a first state to a contact state, receive a contact packet from the active pen, and determine an attribute of the active pen using the contact packet.