Abstract: This disclosure generally provides an input device with a matrix sensor that includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged on a common surface or plane. Moreover, the input device includes routing traces that electrically couple the sensor electrodes to analog front ends (AFEs). Because of the spatial relationships between these electrical components, the sensor electrodes can be categorized into groups where each of the sensors in the group is affected by a common noise source. The capacitive measurements for the sensor electrodes in each of the groups are compared to a touch threshold to determine if an input object (e.g., finger or stylus) is proximate to the sensor electrodes. If the capacitive measurements are below the touch threshold, the input device calculates an offset value that compensates for the noise. After the offset is applied, the compensated capacitive measurements are used to generate a capacitive image.

Abstract: A display device can use clock dithering to spread the frequency spectrum of the clock signal (and the signals derived therefrom) to mitigate interference with other components or systems in a host device. However, dithering the clock signal can introduce display artifacts into the display device. For example, lines or rows in the display may flicker, the brightness of display lines may be non-uniform, or color shifts in displayed pixels. To reduce display artifacts, the embodiments herein synchronize clock dithering to a display update event. That is, the display device varies a parameter of clock dithering so that the dithering is synchronized to the display update event. In another embodiment, the clock dithering is set according to the rate at which display lines or sub-pixels are updated. In another embodiment, clock dithering is synchronized to a display frame update period.

Abstract: A processing system (and associated input device and method) is disclosed that includes a display module configured to drive a display signal onto a plurality of sensor electrodes for updating a display, and a sensor module configured to communicate with the plurality of sensor electrodes. The sensor module is configured to, in a first mode of operation, operate the plurality of sensor electrodes to receive an active input from an active input device, and in a second mode of operation, operate the plurality of sensor electrodes to receive capacitive sensing data from a passive input device. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to determine a position of the active input device based on a harmonic of the active input signal.

Abstract: An example integrated display device and capacitive sensing device having an input surface includes a plurality of sensor electrodes. Each of the plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least one common electrode configured for display updating and capacitive sensing. The device further includes at least one conductive electrode, wherein the plurality of sensor electrodes are disposed between the input surface and the at least one conductive electrode and wherein the plurality of sensor electrodes are configured to deflect toward the conductive electrode. The device further includes a processing system, coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes, configured to detect changes in absolute capacitance of at least a portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes, and determine force information for an input object based on the changes in absolute capacitance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a display line selection system. The display line selection system includes a first register element configured to select a first gate electrode to update a first display line during a first display update period and transfer charge to a second register element during the first display update period. The second register element is configured to select a second gate electrode to update a second display line during a second display update period. The display line selection system further includes a third register element configured to receive charge during a non-display update period and transfer charge to a fourth register element during the non-display update period. The fourth register element is configured to select a third gate electrode to update a third display line during a third display update period.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a method and apparatus for capacitive sensing in input devices integrated with a display device. In one embodiment, a processing system for a display device comprising an integrated capacitive sensing device is provided that includes a display driver module, a transmitter module, and a receiver module. The display driver and transmitter modules are configured to operate in a display update mode and a sleep mode. The receiver module is configured to, while operating in a doze mode, communicate with and trigger the transmitter module to enter the active sensing mode while the display driver module remains in the sleep mode when presence of an object is detected based on the resulting signals.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a method, processing system, and input device having a display device with an integrated sensing device. The method comprises selecting, using first gate driver circuitry, a first subset of a first plurality of gate electrodes of the display device for performing display updating during a first period. The method further comprises selecting, using second gate driver circuitry, a first subset of a second plurality of gate electrodes of the display device for display updating during a second period. The method further comprises operating, during a third period between the first and second periods, at least a first sensor electrode of a plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing.

Abstract: An example display device includes an active portion having a plurality of display electrodes, an inactive portion, a plurality of source lines disposed at least partially in the active portion, and a plurality of routing traces. The routing traces include a first routing trace, at least a first portion thereof being disposed in a first metal layer, parallel to a first source line of the plurality of source lines and in the active portion. The routing traces further include a second routing trace, a first portion thereof disposed parallel to the first routing trace in the first metal layer and in the active portion, a second portion of the second routing trace disposed in a second metal layer in the inactive portion and crossing the first routing trace, the second routing trace coupled to a first display electrode of the plurality of display electrodes through a first via.

Abstract: A processing system, input device, and method are disclosed to detect an active input device. The method includes operating a first portion of a plurality of sensor electrodes to receive an active input signal from an active input device, and operating a second portion of the plurality of sensor electrodes to receive capacitive sensing data corresponding to a passive input device. The first and second portions include at least one sensor electrode in common. The method also includes driving a plurality of display electrodes to update a display image, wherein the plurality of sensor electrodes includes at least one of the plurality of display electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein include an input device, processing system and methods for touch sensing. Implementations advantageously are resistive to diminished performance when a film stack of an input device is bent in response to an input (touch) event. In one implementation, an input device is provided that includes a housing, a plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a pattern on a substrate, a plurality of routing traces coupled to the sensor electrodes, an electrically conductive shield and a compressible layer. The electrically conductive shield has an areal extent approximately equal or greater than an areal extent of the pattern of sensor electrodes. The electrically conductive shield and the substrate are part of a display film stack disposed in the housing. The compressible layer is disposed between the display film stack and housing. The compressible layer is configured to allow the display film stack to deflect towards a bottom of the housing.

Abstract: An input device and related method and processing system are disclosed. The input device comprises a sensing assembly attached with a conductive reference element, the sensing assembly comprising a plurality of sensor electrodes capacitively coupled with the conductive reference element and defining a surface. The input device further comprises a switching element configured to couple the conductive reference element with a selected one of a plurality of reference voltages. A first capacitive measurement is acquired while the conductive reference element is coupled with a first reference voltage, and a second capacitive measurement is acquired while the conductive reference element is coupled with a second reference voltage.

Abstract: A display device having an integrated capacitive sensing device includes receiver electrodes disposed on a back side of a color filter glass. Transmitter electrodes of the capacitive sensing device are configured with a size and geometry that reduces the capacitive coupling between the transmitter and receiver electrodes. The transmitter electrodes may be made of one or more prongs or segments from a segmented common electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device with display screens that periodically update (refresh) the screen by selectively driving common electrodes corresponding to pixels in a display line. In general, the input devices drive each electrode until each display line (and each pixel) of a display frame is updated. In addition to updating the display, the input device may perform capacitive sensing using the display screen as a proximity sensing area. To do this, the input device may interleave periods of capacitive sensing between periods of updating the display based on a display frame. For example, the input device may update the first half of display lines of the display screen, pause display updating, perform capacitive sensing, and finish updating the rest of the display lines. Further still, the input device may use common electrodes for both updating the display and performing capacitive sensing.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device, processing system, and method of performing capacitive sensing using an input device comprising a first plurality of sensor electrodes, a second plurality of sensor electrodes, and a plurality of display electrodes. The method comprises, during a first period, driving the first plurality of sensor electrodes with a first absolute capacitive sensing signal to receive first resulting signals, and driving the second plurality of sensor electrodes and the plurality of display electrodes with a first guarding signal. Each of the first plurality of sensor electrodes comprises at least one common electrode of a display, and wherein each common electrode is configured to be driven for display updating and for capacitive sensing.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an input device with a plurality of sensor electrodes, where each sensor electrode includes at least one display electrode of a plurality of display electrodes, and where each display electrode is configured to be driven for display updating and capacitive sensing. The input device also includes a processing system configured to acquire sensor data using one or more sensor electrodes during one or more display blanking periods, where a first half sensing period occurs during a first display blanking period and a second half sensing period occurs during a second display blanking period. The processing system acquires sensor data using a first resulting signal from the first half sensing period and a second resulting signal from the second half sensing period.

Abstract: This disclosure generally provides an input device that includes a matrix sensor that includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in rows on a common surface or plane. The input device may include a plurality of sensor modules coupled to the sensor electrodes that measure capacitive sensing signals corresponding to the electrodes. Instead of measuring sensor electrodes that are in the same column, the embodiments herein simultaneously measure capacitive sensing signals on at least two sensor electrodes that are in the same row. In one example, the sensor electrodes in the row being measured are spaced the same distance from a side of a substrate coupling the electrodes to the sensor modules and may have approximately the same electrical time constant.

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: An input device comprises a first and second pluralities of capacitive sensor electrodes. The first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes is oriented along a first axis, disposed in a first layer, and configured to update a display screen of the input device. The second plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes is oriented along a second axis that differs from the first axis. A display region of the display screen has a first dimension along the first axis and a second dimension the second axis. At least one sensor electrode of the first plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes extends fully across the first dimension of the display region. Individual sensor electrodes of the second plurality of capacitive sensor electrodes do not extend fully across the second dimension of the display region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an input device having a touch sensor and associated display device is discussed. While performing touch sensing, inactive transmitter electrodes of the touch sensor are electrically floated, and one or more source lines from the display device are operated to achieve shielding against interference, such as that coming from a backlight underneath the touch sensor.

Abstract: Techniques for determining force applied by an input object in a sensing region of an input device are provided. The techniques generally include driving a plurality of sensor electrodes within a sensing region to acquire sensor data, generating a first histogram based on the sensor data, the first histogram including a plurality of bins each having an associated value, and based on the values associated with at least a subset of the plurality of bins of the first histogram, determining force information for an input object.