Abstract: A computing subsystem includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits operable for coupling to a plurality of loads. A drive-sense circuit of the plurality of drive-sense circuits is operably coupled to a load of the plurality of loads. The drive-sense circuit functions to generate a digital signal indicative of a characteristic of the load. The computing subsystem further includes a processing module operably coupled to the plurality of drive-sense circuits. The processing module is operable to receive a set of digital signals from at least some of the plurality of drive-sense circuits, wherein the set of digital signals includes the digital signal and process the set of digital signals to produce a plurality of frames of load data regarding the plurality of loads. A frame of the load data of the plurality of frames of load data is a representation of the characteristics of the at least some of plurality of loads at a sampling interval of a plurality of sampling intervals.

Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.

Abstract: An automated system includes transducers, at least one computing device, and at least one automated apparatus. The transducer(s) is/are driven and sensed using drive-sense circuit(s). A drives and senses drive and sense a transducer via a single line, generates a digital signal representative of a sensed analog feature to which the transducer is exposed, and transmits the digital signal to the computing device. The computing device receives digital signals from at least some of drive-sense circuits and process them in accordance with the automation process to produce an automated process command. The automated apparatus executes a portion of an automated process based on the automated process command.

Abstract: A method for execution by an input/output (IO) control module of an integrated circuit (IC) includes determining whether a programmable IO interface module is for dynamic or static use. The programmable IO interface module includes a configurable front-end module and a configurable back-end module. When the programmable IO interface module is for the dynamic use, determining to configure the programmable IO interface module as the dynamic use of a configuration of a plurality of configurations. The plurality of configurations includes a bidirectional interface, an input, an output, a concurrent drive and sense interface, and a concurrent transmit-receive interface. The method further includes configuring the front-end module in accordance with the configuration, configuring the back-end module in accordance with the configuration, and determining whether to change the configuration to another configuration of the plurality of configurations.

Abstract: A touchscreen display includes one or more display drivers coupled to an active matrix display and one or more touch controllers coupled to one or more touch sensor conductors. The one or more display drivers are coupled to the active matrix display via active matrix conductive components. When enabled, the one or more display drivers is configured to transmit a first signal to the active matrix display in accordance with display operation. A touch sensor conductor includes one or more segments of the active matrix conductive components. When enabled, a touch controller of the one or more touch controllers is configured to transmit a second signal via the touch sensor conductor in accordance with touchscreen operation that is performed concurrently with the display operation.

Abstract: A method includes providing, by a signal source circuit of a sensing circuit, a signal to a sensor via a conductor. When the sensor is exposed to a condition and is receiving the signal, an electrical characteristic of the sensor affects the signal. The signal includes at least one of: a direct current (DC) component and an oscillating component. When the sensing circuit is in a noisy environment, transient noise couples with the signal to produce a noisy signal. The method further includes comparing, by a transient circuit of the sensing circuit, the noisy signal with a representation of the noisy signal. When the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal, supplying, by the transient circuit, a compensation signal to the conductor. A level of the compensation signal corresponds to a level at which the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining, by a first processing entity, first data communication capabilities of a first host device. The first host device and the first processing entity are associated with a first low voltage drive circuit. The method further includes obtaining, by a second processing entity, second data communication capabilities of a second host device. The second host device and the second processing entity are associated with a second low voltage drive circuit. The method further includes reconciling, by one or more of the first and second processing entities, the first and second data communication capabilities to produce reconciled data communication capabilities and determining a data conveyance scheme and a data communication scheme for a one-to-one communication between the first and second low voltage drive circuits based on the reconciled data communication capabilities.

Abstract: A method includes providing, by a processing module of a differential touch screen display, a plurality of row and column analog reference signals to a plurality of column and row differential drive-sense circuits of the differential touch screen display. The plurality of column and row differential drive-sense circuits is coupled to a plurality of column differential electrode pairs and a plurality of row differential electrode pairs. The plurality of column analog reference signals includes a first oscillating component at a first frequency and the plurality of row analog reference signals includes the first oscillating component and a second oscillating component at a second frequency. The method further includes obtaining a set of column and row sensed signals from a set of column and row differential drive-sense circuits and interpreting the set of column and row sensed signals as one or more of a self-capacitance and a cross mutual capacitance.

Abstract: A method for a low voltage drive circuit (LVDC) begins by receiving data from one or more other low voltage drive circuits (LVDCs) using a bus with varying loading at one or more frequencies and continues by sampling one or more data values of the data to produce a sampled digital data value, converting the sampled digital data value to a binary string and writing the binary string to a buffer. The method continues by writing one or more additional binary strings to the buffer to form a digital word, outputting the digital word to a digital converter circuit and formatting the digital word to create a formatted digital word. The method continues by writing the formatted digital word to a second buffer, writing additional formatted digital words to the second buffer to form a data packet and finally, outputting the data packet to a host device.

Abstract: A fingerprint scanning device having a sensing area that includes a plurality of row electrodes and a plurality of column electrodes. The row electrodes and column electrodes are separated by a dielectric material and arranged in a crossing pattern in the sensing area. A plurality of drive-sense circuits drive sensor signals on the electrodes. In an embodiment, each of the drive-sense circuits is configured, when enabled, to drive a sensor signal on at least one electrode of the plurality of column electrodes or the plurality of row electrodes, the sensor signal including a drive signal component and a receive signal component. Each of the drive-sense circuits is further configured to generate, based on the receive signal component, a sensed signal representative of an impedance of the at least one electrode.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting, by a plurality of drive sense circuits of an interactive display device, a plurality of signals on a plurality of electrodes of the interactive display device. A writing passive device is identified based on a first plurality of changes detected in the electrical characteristics of the set of electrodes. Written user notion data is determined based on detecting movement of the writing passive device in relation to the interactive display device, and the written user notation data is displayed. An erasing passive device is identified based on a second plurality of changes detected in the electrical characteristics of the set of electrodes. Erased portions of the written user notation data is determined based on detecting movement of the erasing passive device in relation to the interactive display device, and the updated written user notation data is displayed based on no longer displaying the erased portions.

Abstract: A computing device configured for screen-to-screen (STS) communication, the computing device comprising an interface, memory and a processing module coupled to the memory and the interface. The processing module is configured to determine, for an interaction between a user computing device and an interactive computing device, an interaction type associated with the interaction and determine one or more data types for supporting the interaction. The processing module is further configured to determine available communication types for supporting the interaction and determine data type communication restrictions for the one or more data types, where a first data type is restricted to an STS communication via a transmission medium that includes one of a body as a network, a close proximity and a physical surface. The processing module is further configured to determine whether the available communication types allow for the interaction and when allowed, set up communications for executing the interaction.

Abstract: A drive-sense circuit coupled to a variable impedance load. The drive-sense circuit includes a voltage reference circuit operable to generate a voltage reference signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a regulated current source circuit operable to generate a regulated current signal based on an analog regulation signal, where the regulated current signal is provided on a line to the variable impedance load to keep a load voltage on the line substantially matching the voltage reference signal, and where an impedance of the variable impedance load affects the regulated current signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a current loop correction circuit operable to generate a comparison signal based on the voltage reference signal and the load voltage, where the comparison signal represents the impedance, and where the analog regulation signal is representative of the comparison signal.

Abstract: An automated system includes transducers, at least one computing device, and at least one automated apparatus. The transducer(s) is/are driven and sensed using drive-sense circuit(s). A drives and senses drive and sense a transducer via a single line, generates a digital signal representative of a sensed analog feature to which the transducer is exposed, and transmits the digital signal to the computing device. The computing device receives digital signals from at least some of drive-sense circuits and process them in accordance with the automation process to produce an automated process command. The automated apparatus executes a portion of an automated process based on the automated process command.

Abstract: A drive-sense circuit coupled to a variable impedance load. The drive-sense circuit includes a voltage reference circuit operable to generate a voltage reference signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a regulated current source circuit operable to generate a regulated current signal based on an analog regulation signal, where the regulated current signal is provided on a line to the variable impedance load to keep a load voltage on the line substantially matching the voltage reference signal, and where an impedance of the variable impedance load affects the regulated current signal. The drive-sense circuit further includes a current loop correction circuit operable to generate a comparison signal based on the voltage reference signal and the load voltage, where the comparison signal represents the impedance, and where the analog regulation signal is representative of the comparison signal.

Abstract: A device having a flexible touch screen display configured to display images in at least a first touch area and a second touch area. The first touch area is configured to rotate with respect to the second touch area along a folding axis. A first plurality of touch sensitive column electrodes are integrated into the first touch area, a second plurality of column electrodes are integrated into the second touch area of the flexible display, and a plurality of row electrodes are integrated into and extend across the first touch area and the second touch area. Also included are a plurality of drive-sense circuits that drive sensor signals on the electrodes.

Abstract: A touchscreen display includes one or more display drivers coupled to an active matrix display and one or more touch controllers coupled to one or more touch sensor conductors. The one or more display drivers are coupled to the active matrix display via active matrix conductive components. When enabled, the one or more display drivers is configured to transmit a first signal to the active matrix display in accordance with display operation. A touch sensor conductor includes one or more segments of the active matrix conductive components. When enabled, a touch controller of the one or more touch controllers is configured to transmit a second signal via the touch sensor conductor in accordance with touchscreen operation that is performed concurrently with the display operation.

Abstract: An e-pen includes e-pen sensor electrodes (including a first and a second e-pen sensor electrode) and drive-sense circuits (DSCs) (including a first DSC and a second DSC. The first DSC drives a first e-pen signal having a first frequency via a first single line coupling to the first e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the first single line, the first e-pen signal. Based on e-pen/touch sensor device interaction, the first e-pen signal is coupled into at least one touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor device. The first DSC process the first e-pen signal to generate a first digital signal representative of a first electrical characteristic of the first e-pen sensor electrode. Similarly, the second DSC drives a second e-pen signal having a second frequency via a second single line coupling to the second e-pen sensor electrode and simultaneously senses, via the second single line, the second e-pen signal.

Abstract: A touch sensor system includes touch sensors, drive-sense circuits (DSCs), memory, and a processing module. A DSC drives a first signal via a single line coupling to a touch sensor and simultaneously senses, when present, a second signal that is uniquely associated with a user. The DSC processes the first signal and/or the second signal to generate a digital signal that is representative of an electrical characteristic of the touch sensor. The processing module executes operational instructions (stored in the memory) to process the digital signal to detect interaction of the user with the touch sensor and to determine whether the interaction of the user with the touch sensor compares favorably with authorization. When not authorized, the processing module aborts execution of operation(s) associated with the interaction of the user with the touch sensor. Alternatively, when authorized, the processing module facilitates execution of the operation(s).

Abstract: A touch sensor device (TSD) includes TSD electrodes associated with a surface of the TSD. Also, an overlay that includes marker electrode(s) is also associated with at least a portion of the surface of the TSD. The TSD also includes drive-sense circuits (DSCs) operably coupled to the plurality of TSD electrodes. A DSC is configured to provide a TSD electrode signal to a TSD electrode and simultaneously to sense a change of the TSD electrode signal based on a change of impedance of the TSD electrode caused by capacitive coupling between the TSD electrode and the marker electrode(s) of the overlay. Processing module(s) is configured to process a digital signal generated by the DSC to determine characteristic(s) of the overlay that is associated with the at least a portion of the surface of the TSD.