Abstract: A multi-channel capacitive sensor for measuring the capacitances of a plurality of sense electrodes to a system reference potential. The sensor comprises a sample capacitor having a first terminal and a second terminal, a first diode having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the sample capacitor and a second terminal coupled to a first sense electrode, and a second diode having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the sample capacitor and a second terminal coupled to a second sense electrode. The sample capacitor and diodes are coupled to a control circuit, e.g. implemented in a microcontroller. The control circuit is operable to apply a drive signal, e.g. a series of voltage pulses, to the first terminal of the sample capacitor while simultaneously applying a bias signal to the second terminal of one or other of the diodes to prevent the diode from conducting the drive signal.

Abstract: Devices, methods and media relating to a touch sensor and touch-sensor controller. The touch sensor has a plurality of drive lines and sense lines for detecting touch of an object. The touch-sensor controller provides drive signals to particular drive lines within the plurality of drive lines of the touch sensor. In response to a detected touch, the touch-sensor controller sends a first set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within a touch window of the touch sensor and sends a second set of drive signals to one or more drive lines in at least one portion of the touch sensor outside the touch window. The first set of drive signals each have a first number of pulses. The second set of drive signals each have a second number of pulses. The first number of pulses is greater than the second number of pulses.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a controller includes a storage unit and a processor unit. The processor unit is coupled to the storage unit and configured to receive a signal associated with an operation of a device that includes a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first plurality of electrodes oriented in a first direction in a first portion of the touch sensor, a second plurality of electrodes oriented in the first direction in a second portion of the touch sensor, and a third plurality of electrodes intersecting the first and second plurality of electrodes. The processor unit is further configured to determine, in response to the signal, that a detection mode of the touch sensor is to be changed and in response to the determination, couple the second plurality of electrodes to a fixed voltage source to decrease a detection range in the second portion of the touch sensor.

Abstract: An electronic ink display incorporating a touch sensitive screen which does not significantly increase the thickness of the electronic ink display as compared to conventional touch screen displays. The touch screen has a first and second electrode layers each having electrodes arranged to form nodes where the electrodes overlap. The electronic ink display contains microcapsules having different positively and negatively charged inks of different colors which are attracted the oppositely charged electrode to form an image.

Abstract: A touch sensitive device includes a plurality of sense electrodes arranged in a pattern to receive charge from drive electrodes. The pattern of sense electrodes has extreme portions having worst case charge transfer times, wherein the worst case charge transfer time at multiple extreme portions is substantially equal.

Abstract: Devices, methods and media relating to a touch sensor and touch-sensor controller. The touch sensor has a plurality of drive lines and sense lines for detecting touch of an object. The touch-sensor controller provides drive signals to particular drive lines within the plurality of drive lines of the touch sensor. In response to a detected touch, the touch-sensor controller sends a first set of drive signals to one or more drive lines within a touch window of the touch sensor and sends a second set of drive signals to one or more drive lines in at least one portion of the touch sensor outside the touch window. The first set of drive signals each have a first number of pulses. The second set of drive signals each have a second number of pulses. The first number of pulses is greater than the second number of pulses.

Abstract: In an embodiment, apparatus having a touch-sensitive screen, a touch-sensor controller and a flexible printed circuit. Conductive electrodes are substantially aligned with one or more gaps between pixels of the two-dimensional array. First conductive electrodes form vertices within the one or more gaps between pixels of the two-dimensional array such that the vertices do not obscure in plan view. The touch-sensor controller is configured to detect and process the change in capacitance at one or more touch-sensor nodes to determine the presence and location of a touch-sensor input. One or more tracks of conductive material is electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit.

Abstract: This document discloses, systems, methods, and articles of manufacture, related to position sensors and uses of such sensors. Multiple panels can be arranged in close proximity to one another and one or more sense or drives lines associated with each respective panel can be associated with a control circuit of the other adjacent panel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more sense signals from a touch sensor of a device, comparing a value associated with the one or more sense signals to a first threshold, and determining, based on comparing the value to the first threshold, whether an object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a first pre-determined location at a surface of the device. The method further includes comparing the value associated with the one or more sense signals to a second threshold and determining, based on comparing the value to the second threshold, whether the object has come within a pre-determined proximity of a second pre-determined location at the surface of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a display stack, a touch sensor, and a touch sensor controller. The display stack includes one or more layers. The touch sensor is disposed, at least in part, on a layer from among the one or more layers. The touch sensor controller has first and second portions. The first portion is coupled to a driver and is disposed, at least in part, on a layer from among the one or more layers. The second portion is coupled to a current sensor. The current sensor and the driver are coupled to a capacitor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes a substrate and a mesh of conductive material formed on the substrate and configured to extend across a display. The mesh of conductive material comprises first lines of conductive material that are substantially parallel to each other. The first lines are configured to extend across at least a portion of the display at a first angle relative to a first axis. The first lines are separated from each other along the first axis by a sequence of separation distances. Magnitudes of more than one of the separation distances are based on a phasor comprising at least one side band, wherein the at least one side band comprises at least one positive side band component and at least one negative side band component. The magnitudes comprise a pattern of translational shifts.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a controller includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing logic. The logic is configured to perform, when executed by the processor, operations comprising detecting, in response to driving electrodes of a touch sensor with a first drive signal having a first polarity, a presence of an object. The presence of the object is detected based on a first sense signal, the first sense signal having a second polarity. The operations further comprise detecting, in response to driving the electrodes with a second drive signal having the first polarity, a second sense signal having a third polarity. The third polarity is an inverse of the second polarity. The operations further comprise driving, in response to detecting the second sense signal having the third polarity, the electrodes with a third drive signal having a fourth polarity. The fourth polarity is an inverse of the first polarity.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a sensing element having a capacitance to a first reference voltage. The capacitance is variable as a function of a proximity of an object to the sensing element. The apparatus further includes a sample capacitor connected to the sensing element and control circuitry connected to the sample capacitor. The control circuitry is configured to supply a charge to the sample capacitor and the sensing element and discharge the sensing element. The control circuitry is further configured to provide, in response to the discharge of the sensing element, a signal indicative of the capacitance to the first reference voltage of the sensing element. The control circuitry is further configured to process the signal to detect a change in the capacitance to the first reference voltage as indicative of the proximity of the object to the sensing element.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a force sensor circuit and a controller. The force sensor circuit includes first, second, third, and fourth electrodes disposed on a substrate. The first and second electrodes extend through first and second cells of a row of cells. The third and fourth electrodes extend through third and fourth cells of a column of cells. The first electrode occupies more area in the first cell than in the second cell. The second electrode occupies more area in the second cell than in the first cell. The third electrode occupies more area in the third cell than in the fourth cell. The fourth electrode occupies more area in the fourth cell than in the third cell. The controller detects a force and a position of the force based on signals communicated by the force sensor circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus having a touch-sensitive screen, a touch-sensor controller and a flexible printed circuit. A plurality of first conductive electrodes and a plurality of second conductive electrodes are substantially aligned with one or more gaps between two or more pixels of a two-dimensional array of pixels such that the electrodes do not cross over at least one of the pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels. The plurality of first conductive electrodes form vertices within the one or more gaps between two or more pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels such that the vertices do not obscure in plan view at least one of the pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels. The touch-sensor controller is configured to detect and process the change in capacitance at one or more touch-sensor nodes to determine the presence and location of a touch-sensor input.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a touch sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is interleaved with the first electrode. The touch sensor further includes a third electrode. The third electrode surrounds the first electrode and the second electrode. The first, second, and third electrodes of the touch sensor form a capacitive node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a touch of an object on a device. The method further includes predicting an area of the device to which the detected touch will move. Predicting the area of the device to which the detected touch will move is based at least in part on the following: a size of a footprint of the object, a speed of travel of the object, a latency associated with the object, a drive line pitch of a touch sensor of the device, and a frame rate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a controller includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing logic. The logic is configured to perform, when executed by the processor, operations including detecting, in response to driving a plurality of electrodes of a touch sensor with a first drive signal having a first polarity, a first sense signal. The first sense signal has a second polarity, the second polarity being an inverse of the first polarity. The logic is further configured to perform operations including driving, in response to detecting the first sense signal, the plurality of electrodes with a second drive signal having the second polarity.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a sensing element having a capacitance to a first reference voltage. The capacitance is variable as a function of a proximity of an object to the sensing element. The apparatus further includes a sample capacitor connected to the sensing element and control circuitry connected to the sample capacitor. The control circuitry is configured to supply a charge to the sample capacitor and the sensing element and discharge the sensing element. The control circuitry is further configured to provide, in response to the discharge of the sensing element, a signal indicative of the capacitance to the first reference voltage of the sensing element. The control circuitry is further configured to process the signal to detect a change in the capacitance to the first reference voltage as indicative of the proximity of the object to the sensing element.

Abstract: A device and a touch sensor having a substrate and a plurality of columns of electrodes disposed on a side of the substrate. Each column has a drive electrode and a plurality of sense electrodes. The columns include a first column, a second column, and one or more interior columns between the first and second columns. The drive electrode of a particular interior column has a main electrode line that extends a length of the particular interior column. A first sense electrode and a second sense electrode of the sense electrodes of the particular interior column are located on opposite sides of the drive electrode. The touch sensor may also include one or more ground lines. The substrate may have two opposite ends corresponding to opposite edges of the touch sensor, and the first column and the second column are disposed on the opposite ends of the substrate.