Abstract: Touch sensor panels (104) have 2-D periodic arrangements of electrodes (304) connected together forming a plurality of horizontal and vertical logical lines (506, 514) for measuring X-Y coordinates of a user's touch. Electrodes forming the horizontal logical lines are interleaved with electrodes forming the vertical logical lines. Each of the vertical and horizontal logical lines includes multiple tracks (502, 504, 510, 512). The tracks of each logical line are cross connected by in-plane cross connects (314, 318) formed in the same layer by the same process that is used to form the electrodes. Diamond and square electrode embodiments are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a function of the electronic device is disclosed herewith. The method includes detecting a first input by a motion sensor. Further, the method activates a touch sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input. The method then detects a second input by the motion sensor within a predetermined time period from the first input. Next, the method determines, in response to detecting the second input, whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor and activates a function of the electronic device in response to determining that contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

Abstract: Touch sensor panels (104) have 2-D periodic arrangements of electrodes (304) connected together forming a plurality of horizontal and vertical logical lines (506, 514) for measuring X-Y coordinates of a user's touch. Electrodes forming the horizontal logical lines are interleaved with electrodes forming the vertical logical lines. Each of the vertical and horizontal logical lines includes multiple tracks (502, 504, 510, 512). The tracks of each logical line are cross connected by in-plane cross connects (314, 318) formed in the same layer by the same process that is used to form the electrodes. Diamond and square electrode embodiments are described.

Abstract: A rechargeable touch sensor equipped device (102) is adapted to identify (1008) each of multiple external charging devices (118, 120, 122, 602) by an ID or other information received through an interface (230, 630) or to infer the identity (1020) based on location information derived from received wireless signals, the time and/or day. The rechargeable touch sensor equipped device (102) determines (1026) and records (1028) a touch screen operating frequency to be used when coupled to each external charging device (118, 120, 122, 602) at each battery charge state (or other indication of power draw) and in this way mitigates the adverse effect of variable charger generated noise on the operation of the touch screen.

Abstract: Touch sensor panels (104) have 2-D periodic arrangements of electrodes (304) connected together forming a plurality of horizontal and vertical logical lines (506, 514) for measuring X-Y coordinates of a user's touch. Electrodes forming the horizontal logical lines are interleaved with electrodes forming the vertical logical lines. Each of the vertical and horizontal logical lines includes multiple tracks (502, 504, 510, 512). The tracks of each logical line are cross connected by in-plane cross connects (314, 318) formed in the same layer by the same process that is used to form the electrodes. Diamond and square electrode embodiments are described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a function of the electronic device is disclosed herewith. The method includes detecting a first input by a motion sensor. Further, the method activates a touch sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input. The method then detects a second input by the motion sensor within a predetermined time period from the first input. Next, the method determines, in response to detecting the second input, whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor and activates a function of the electronic device in response to determining that contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a function of the electronic device is disclosed herewith. The method includes detecting a first input by a motion sensor. Further, the method activates a touch sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input. The method then detects a second input by the motion sensor within a predetermined time period from the first input. Next, the method determines, in response to detecting the second input, whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor and activates a function of the electronic device in response to determining that contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

Abstract: A rechargeable touch sensor equipped device (102) is adapted to identify (1008) each of multiple external charging devices (118, 120, 122, 602) by an ID or other information received through an interface (230, 630) or to infer the identity (1020) based on location information derived from received wireless signals, the time and/or day. The rechargeable touch sensor equipped device (102) determines (1026) and records (1028) a touch screen operating frequency to be used when coupled to each external charging device (118, 120, 122, 602) at each battery charge state (or other indication of power draw) and in this way mitigates the adverse effect of variable charger generated noise on the operation of the touch screen.

Abstract: A method (330) for detecting damage (501) on a display (108) or other touch-sensitive surface is disclosed. A damage detection module (304), operable with a control circuit (301) of an electronic device (100), detects a damaged portion (702) of the display. A presentation adaptation module (305) presents user actuation targets (404) in portions (701) of the display that are complementary to the damaged portion. The presentation adaptation module can optionally present non-interactive presentation data in the damaged portion. The presentation adaptation module may also optionally reconfigure the user actuation targets prior to presenting them on the display.

Abstract: A touch sensor integrated with a keyboard spacebar. A touchpad zone can be defined on a portion of a planar surface of a spacebar. The touchpad zone can be configured to detect movement of a human appendage across the touchpad zone, or above the touchpad zone, and generate a corresponding signal from the keyboard that causes corresponding movement of a cursor presented on a display. In another embodiment, a touchpad can be positioned over the spacebar. The touchpad can be slidably engaged to the keyboard to facilitate user positioning of the touchpad over a desired portion of the spacebar.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for responding to a touch input at a user computing device such as a mobile phone, smart phone, tablet, PC or other device. In one aspect, such systems and methods are performed on an electronic device including a touch-input system, a first processor, and a second processor distinct from the first processor. Disclosed systems and methods include, while the first processor is in a sleep mode, receiving, by the second processor from the touch-input system, information associated with a touch, the information including a location of the touch on a screen of the touch-input system and, based, at least in part, on the location of the touch, either ignoring the touch or waking the first processor.

Abstract: Touch-screen controllers, particularly those in mobile telephones, are prone to erratic behavior when the mobile telephone is plugged into devices, such as AC power adapters, that create electrical noise. To more intelligently mitigate noise in these and other electronic devices that include capacitive touch-screen displays, the present inventors devised, among other things, a touch-screen controller that measures noise level in the touch-screen display and increases its drive voltage only when necessary to exceed the measured noise level, thereby reducing the chance of noise signals being misinterpreted as touch events while also reducing power consumption over prior techniques. Moreover, for electronic devices that include radio receivers, intelligently increasing the touch-screen voltages based on measured noise, avoids the sensitivity-reduction (desense) issues that providing constant higher operating voltage creates.

Abstract: Touch sensor panels (104) have 2-D periodic arrangements of electrodes (304) connected together forming a plurality of horizontal and vertical logical lines (506, 514) for measuring X-Y coordinates of a user's touch. Electrodes forming the horizontal logical lines are interleaved with electrodes forming the vertical logical lines. Each of the vertical and horizontal logical lines includes multiple tracks (502, 504, 510, 512). The tracks of each logical line are cross connected by in-plane cross connects (314, 318) formed in the same layer by the same process that is used to form the electrodes. Diamond and square electrode embodiments are described.

Abstract: A touch sensor integrated with a keyboard spacebar. A touchpad zone can be defined on a portion of a planar surface of a spacebar. The touchpad zone can be configured to detect movement of a human appendage across the touchpad zone, or above the touchpad zone, and generate a corresponding signal from the keyboard that causes corresponding movement of a cursor presented on a display. In another embodiment, a touchpad can be positioned over the spacebar. The touchpad can be slidably engaged to the keyboard to facilitate user positioning of the touchpad over a desired portion of the spacebar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for activating a function of the electronic device is disclosed herewith. The method includes detecting a first input by a motion sensor. Further, the method activates a touch sensor of the electronic device in response to detecting the first input. The method then detects a second input by the motion sensor within a predetermined time period from the first input. Next, the method determines, in response to detecting the second input, whether contact has occurred at the touch sensor and activates a function of the electronic device in response to determining that contact has occurred at the touch sensor when the second input is detected.

Abstract: A circuit (800) for controlling at least one piezoelectric actuator (142) includes a piezoelectric drive circuit (802) that generates unidirectional voltage drive signal, also referred to as Vout, at node (804). The piezoelectric actuator drive circuit (802) includes a boost switcher circuit or charging circuit (806), a buck switcher circuit or pulsed current sink discharge circuit (808) and a control signal generating circuit (810) that receives an input control signal (812) from, for example, a keyboard processor or other suitable processor (604) indicating that the device has requested generation of haptic feedback utilizing the piezoelectric actuator (142). The control signal generating circuit (810) provides at least two pulse-with-modulated control signals, one to control the charging circuit and one to control the discharging circuit to produce the unidirectional voltage drive signal, that in one example is a raised cosine drive signal (904).

Abstract: A circuit (800) for controlling at least one piezoelectric actuator (142) includes a piezoelectric drive circuit (802) that generates unidirectional voltage drive signal, also referred to as Vout, at node (804). The piezoelectric actuator drive circuit (802) includes a boost switcher circuit or charging circuit (806), a buck switcher circuit or pulsed current sink discharge circuit (808) and a control signal generating circuit (810) that receives an input control signal (812) from, for example, a keyboard processor or other suitable processor (604) indicating that the device has requested generation of haptic feedback utilizing the piezoelectric actuator (142). The control signal generating circuit (810) provides at least two pulse-with-modulated control signals, one to control the charging circuit and one to control the discharging circuit to produce the unidirectional voltage drive signal, that in one example is a raised cosine drive signal (904).