Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an IC that includes a core used for ordinary operation and a thin power circuit. The thin power circuit can be configured to use very little power. The IC can also include a digital interface and a connection thereto. The IC can initiate transition to low power mode during which the core and various I/O pads can be shut down. However, the thin power circuit can be kept powered up. The thin power circuit can monitor the digital interface for a predefined wake up signal. When the wake up signal is detected, the thin power circuit can power up the core and any powered down I/O pads. The thin power circuit can also include a dedicated power on reset (POR) cell. This POR cell can be distinct than other POR cells used for the IC and can be specifically designed to for efficient operation.

Abstract: Styluses capable of generating stylus stimulation signals and touch sensitive devices capable of receiving stylus stimulation signals are disclosed. In one example, a stylus can receive a stimulation signal from a touch sensor of a touch sensitive device and generate a stylus stimulation signal by changing an amplitude or frequency of the received stimulation signal. The stylus can transmit the stylus stimulation signal back into the touch sensor of the touch sensitive device. The touch sensor can generate a touch signal based on the device's own stimulation signals and the stylus stimulation signal. The touch sensitive device can process the touch signal to determine a location of the stylus on the touch sensor. The stylus can include a force sensor to detect an amount of force applied to a tip of the stylus. The stylus stimulation signal can be modulated based on the force detected by the force sensor.

Abstract: The use of multiple stimulation signals having one or more frequencies and one or more phases to generate an image of touch on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a column in a touch sensor panel and can have one or more mixers. Each mixer in the sense channel can utilize a circuit capable generating a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency. At each of multiple steps, various phases of one or more selected frequencies can be used to simultaneously stimulate the rows of the touch sensor panel, and the one or more mixers in each sense channel can be configured to demodulate the signal received from the column connected to each sense channel using the one or more selected frequencies. After all steps have been completed, the demodulated signals from the one or more mixers can be used in calculations to determine an image of touch for the touch sensor panel at each of the one or more frequencies.

Abstract: A controller with mismatch compensation for a touch panel is disclosed. A multi-stimulus controller for a touch panel can be formed on a single integrated circuit (single-chip) that can include a transmit section that can generate a plurality of drive signals, a plurality of transmit channels that can transmit the drive signals simultaneously to drive the touch panel, a receive channel that can receive a sense signal resulting from the driving of the touch panel, and a demodulation section that can demodulate the received sense signal to obtain sensing results, the demodulation section including a demodulator and a vector operator. The transmit section can include a pair of adjustable gain buffers that can adjust the gain of stimulation signals to account for the signal path length mismatch of various transmit signal paths.

Abstract: The use of multiple stimulation frequencies and phases to generate an image of touch on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a column in a touch sensor panel and can have multiple mixers. Each mixer in the sense channel can utilize a circuit capable generating a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency. At each of multiple steps, various phases of selected frequencies can be used to simultaneously stimulate the rows of the touch sensor panel, and the multiple mixers in each sense channel can be configured to demodulate the signal received from the column connected to each sense channel using the selected frequencies. After all steps have been completed, the demodulated signals from the multiple mixers can be used in calculations to determine an image of touch for the touch sensor panel at each frequency.

Abstract: A multi-stimulus controller for a multi-touch sensor is formed on a single integrated circuit (single-chip). The multi-stimulus controller includes a transmit oscillator, a transmit signal section that generates a plurality of drive signals based on a frequency of the transmit oscillator, a plurality of transmit channels that transmit the drive signals simultaneously to drive the multi-touch sensor, a receive channel that receives a sense signal resulting from the driving of the multi-touch sensor, a receive oscillator, and a demodulation section that demodulates the received sense signal based on a frequency of the receive oscillator to obtain sensing results, the demodulation section including a demodulator and a vector operator.

Abstract: Automatic low noise frequency selection for a touch sensitive device is disclosed. A low noise stimulation frequency can be automatically selected by device logic without intervention of the device processor to stimulate the device to sense a touch event at the device. The device logic can automatically select a set of low noise frequencies from among various frequencies based on the amount of noise introduced by the device at the various frequencies, where the frequencies with the lower noise amounts can be selected. The device logic can also automatically select a low noise frequency from among the selected set as the low noise stimulation frequency. The device logic can be implemented partially or entirely in hardware.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an image of touch on or about a touch-sensitive surface comprising a touch panel is disclosed. The touch panel can include a plurality of touch sensors configured for detecting one or more touch events occurring at distinct locations at about the same time. Each touch event can comprise a touching of an object against the touch-sensitive surface. A plurality of receive channels can be coupled to the touch panel for generating values representative of detected touch events. The receive channels can include a charge redistribution successive approximation register digital-to-analog converter (SAR ADC) configured to convert an analog waveform into a digital representation via a binary search and outputting the digital representation to an output register. The SAR ADC architecture can be such that it the dynamic input range can be scaled and offset adjusted.

Abstract: A sensor panel device that can generate and use a stimulus signal having multiple different waveforms for detecting events on or near the sensor panel is disclosed. Among other things, such a stimulus signal can be used to reject environmental noise present in the device. In some embodiments, the stimulus signal has multiple waveforms having different frequencies. Logic circuitry can generate representative values from output of the different waveforms applied to one or more sensing nodes in the sensor panel device. From the representative values, a final value can be generated that represents whether an event occurred at or near the one or more sensing nodes.

Abstract: A force sensor interface in a touch controller of a touch sensitive device is disclosed. The force sensor interface can couple to touch circuitry to integrate one or more force sensors with touch sensors of the device. The force sensor interface can include one portion to transmit stimulation signals generated by the touch circuitry to the force sensors to drive the sensors. The interface can also include another portion to receive force signals, indicative of a force applied to the device, from the force sensors for processing by the touch circuitry. The device can use the touch circuitry to concurrently and seamlessly operate both the force sensors and the touch sensors.

Abstract: The use of one or more proximity sensors in combination with one or more touch sensors in a multi-touch panel to detect the presence of a finger, body part or other object and control or trigger one or more functions in accordance with an “image” of touch provided by the sensor outputs is disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more infrared (IR) proximity sensors can be driven with a specific stimulation frequency and emit IR light from one or more areas, which can in some embodiments correspond to one or more multi-touch sensor “pixel” locations. The reflected IR signal, if any, can be demodulated using synchronous demodulation. In some embodiments, both physical interfaces (touch and proximity sensors) can be connected to analog channels in the same electrical core.

Abstract: A power management system for a touch controller can include a transmit section for transmitting stimulation signals to an associated touch sensor panel to drive the panel, where the touch controller can selectively adjust the transmit section to reduce power during the transmission. The touch controller can also include a receive section for receiving touch signals resulting from the driving of the panel, where the touch controller can selectively adjust the receive section to reduce power during the receipt of the touch signals. The touch controller can also include a demodulation section for demodulating the received touch signals to obtain touch event results, where the touch controller can selectively adjust the demodulation section to reduce power during the demodulation of the touch signals. The touch controller can also selectively reduce power below present low levels during idle periods. The touch controller can be incorporated into a touch sensitive device.

Abstract: A sensor panel device that can generate and use a stimulus signal having multiple different waveforms for detecting events on or near the sensor panel is disclosed. Among other things, such a stimulus signal can be used to reject environmental noise present in the device. In some embodiments, the stimulus signal has multiple waveforms having different frequencies. Logic circuitry can generate representative values from output of the different waveforms applied to one or more sensing nodes in the sensor panel device. From the representative values, a final value can be generated that represents whether an event occurred at or near the one or more sensing nodes.

Abstract: A touch sensitive device having circuitry to compensate for crosstalk from the device display to the device touch sensor panel is disclosed. The crosstalk compensation circuitry can include a downsampler and a crosstalk compensator. The downsampler can downsample a display image to a manageable size for transmission and processing and can then send the downsampled image to the crosstalk compensator so as to provide information about the display operation that can be used to estimate the expected amount of crosstalk caused by the display. The crosstalk compensator can estimate the amount of crosstalk based on the downsampled image and can then compensate a touch image captured by the touch sensor panel for the estimated amount, the touch image being indicative of a touch or hover event at the panel.

Abstract: A display apparatus configured to produce an interactive three-dimensional holographic image is disclosed. The display apparatus can include one or more coherent light sources configured to produce one or more beams, based on obtained image data of an object to display, and a lens assembly configured to direct the one or more beams to form a holographic image of the object. The lens assembly can include a collimating lens and a lens capable of beam steering one or more beams, including a micro-lens assembly with at least one micro-lens configured to generate a plurality of beams associated with a plurality of desired viewing angles. One or more optical sensors can be configured to obtain information regarding whether an interactive device interrupts the one or more beams, and a processor unit can determine a location of the interactive device with respect to the holographic image.

Abstract: A touch input device configured to mitigate the effects of dynamic cross talk noise is provided. The touch input device can dither an effective resistance of a plurality of gate lines proximal to the touch sensor panel in order to determine if a phase of a touch signal demodulator needs to be adjusted.

Abstract: A touch input device configured to mitigate the effects of dynamic cross talk noise is provided. The touch input device can dither an effective resistance of a plurality of gate lines proximal to the touch sensor panel in order to determine if a phase of a touch signal demodulator needs to be adjusted.

Abstract: A device that can autonomously scan a sensor panel is disclosed. Autonomous scanning can be performed by implementing channel scan logic. In one embodiment, channel scan logic carries out many of the functions that a processor would normally undertake, including generating timing sequences and obtaining result data; comparing scan result data against a threshold value (e.g., in an auto-scan mode); generating row count; selecting one or more scanning frequency bands; power management control; and performing an auto-scan routine in a low power mode.

Abstract: A system and method for autonomously scanning a sensor panel device is disclosed. A sensor panel processor can be disabled after a first predetermined amount of time has elapsed without the sensor panel device sensing any events. One or more system clocks can also be disabled to conserve power. While the processor and one or more system clocks are disabled, the sensor panel device can periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel for touch activity. If one or more results from the autonomous scans exceed a threshold, the sensor panel device re-enables the processor and one or more clocks to actively scan the sensor panel. If the threshold is not exceeded, the sensor panel device continues to periodically autonomously scan the sensor panel without intervention from the processor. The sensor panel device can periodically perform calibration functions to account for any drift that may be present in the system.

Abstract: The use of multiple stimulation frequencies and phases to generate an image of touch on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a column in a touch sensor panel and can have multiple mixers. Each mixer in the sense channel can utilize a circuit capable generating a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency. At each of multiple steps, various phases of selected frequencies can be used to simultaneously stimulate the rows of the touch sensor panel, and the multiple mixers in each sense channel can be configured to demodulate the signal received from the column connected to each sense channel using the selected frequencies. After all steps have been completed, the demodulated signals from the multiple mixers can be used in calculations to determine an image of touch for the touch sensor panel at each frequency.