Abstract: A method and related processing system and input device are disclosed for power consumption optimization using interference measurements. The method comprises applying, within a predefined first low-power operational mode, a first set of values for at least one predefined sensing parameter and corresponding to a first power consumption level; acquiring, within the first low-power operational mode, a first interference measurement using the plurality of sensor electrodes; transitioning, upon determining the first interference measurement exceeds a first interference threshold value, into a predefined high-power operational mode; and applying, within the high-power operational mode, a second set of values for the at least one predefined sensing parameter and corresponding to a second power consumption level greater than the first power consumption level.

Abstract: A processing system for reducing background capacitance associated with a touch surface. The processing system includes: transmitter circuitry that drives a transmitter electrode of the touch surface with a waveform; receiver circuitry that detects input in a sensing region of the touch surface based on a resulting signal from a receiver electrode of the touch surface; and offset reduction circuitry connected to the receiver circuitry that: subtracts, prior to completion of an integration period of the waveform, a first plurality of charge associated with background capacitance from the resulting signal using a capacitor; executes a first reload of the capacitor prior to completion of the integration period of the waveform; and subtracts, prior to completion of the integration period of the waveform, a second plurality of charge associated with background capacitance from the resulting signal using the capacitor after the first reload.

Abstract: A circular, single-layer sensor electrode pattern for input devices, such as wearable devices, is described. The sensor electrode pattern features transmitter electrodes and receiver electrodes tiled in alternating fashion, such that each receiver electrode is surrounded by transmitter electrodes. The individual sensor electrodes of the described pattern are designed to provide a substantially uniform electrode area size across the sensor. Additionally, the sensor electrode pattern is arranged to be symmetric across both horizontal and vertical axes. The provided characteristics of the sensor electrode pattern leads to a sensor structure having uniform absolute capacitive sensing measurements for all sensor electrodes as well as uniform transcapacitive sensing measurements for all “pixels.

Abstract: Hybrid force sensing includes acquiring absolute capacitance measurements of the absolute capacitance of at least one frame side electrode, acquiring mutual capacitance measurements of the mutual capacitance between the at least one frame side electrode and at least one display side electrode. Hybrid force sensing further includes determining an absolute capacitance derived force from the absolute capacitance measurements, determining a mutual capacitance derived force from the mutual capacitance measurements, and combining the absolute capacitance derived force and the mutual capacitance derived force to obtain a combined force. Hybrid force sensing further includes performing an action based on the combined force.

Abstract: A processing system, including: a sensor module that: receives, in a first sensing modality, first resulting signals from electrodes in a sensing region; and receives, in a second sensing modality, second resulting signals from a subset of receiver electrodes; and receiver hardware channels that process the second resulting signals, where the number of receiver electrodes exceeds the number of hardware channels; and a determination module that: measures a first plurality of capacitive changes based on the first resulting signals; determines, based on the first plurality of capacitive changes, the section of the sensing region in which an input object is located; selects the subset of the receiver electrodes corresponding to the section; measures a second plurality of capacitive changes based on the second resulting signals; and determines a position of the input object within the section based on the second plurality of capacitive changes.

Abstract: A method of capacitive sensing may include driving a first modulated signal onto a first sensor electrode in an input device and a second modulated signal onto a second sensor electrode in the input device. The method may further include receiving, simultaneously, a first resulting signal from the first sensor electrode and a second resulting signal from the second sensor electrode. The method may further include generating, based at least in part on the first resulting signal and the second resulting signal, a combination signal. The method may further include determining, using the combination signal, when the input device is not disposed in a predetermined low ground mass state, and when a ratio of capacitive coupling exceeds a predetermined threshold, first positional information regarding a location of the input object in the sensing region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device that includes a plurality of sensing elements that are interconnected in desired way to acquire positional information of an input object, so that the acquired positional information can be used by other system components to control a display or other useful system components. One or more of the embodiments described herein, utilizes one or more of the techniques and sensor electrode array configuration disclosed herein to reduce or minimize the number of traces and/or electrodes required to sense the position of an input object within a sensing region of the input device.

Abstract: A method for face detection management includes determining, for a first time, a presence of an input object in a sensing region of a capacitance input device. The presence is determined for the first time using a first baseline, and the input object satisfies a size threshold. The method further includes suppressing a reporting of capacitance input device during a predefined time period based on the presence of the input object, determining a disabled state of a display of a host, wherein the disabled state is in response to determining the presence of the input object for the first time, and determining, in response to an elapse of the predefined time period and for a second time, an absence of the input object in the sensing region. The absence of the input object is determined for the second time using a second baseline to account for the disabled state of the display. The method further includes performing an action based on determining the absence of the input object.

Abstract: An approach is provided for estimating and correcting parasitic responses of a touch sensor device. The input device measures a first capacitance signal generated by a first pixel that is covered at least partially by an input object. The input device measures a second capacitance signal generated by a second pixel that is covered at least partially by the input object. The input device measures a third capacitance signal generated by a third pixel. Based on at least the first capacitance signal and the second capacitance signal, the input device identifies a position of the input object within the sensing region. Based on the position of the input object, the input device identifies a trace covered by the input object and associated with the third pixel. The input device calculates an updated third capacitance signal by subtracting a correction amount from the third capacitance signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device having a reduced system complexity and low production cost. As the size of input devices, such as touch pads and other similar devices increase, the need for an input device that is able to maintain or even improve the touch sensing accuracy without greatly increasing the manufacturing cost becomes increasingly important. Embodiments of the invention may provide an input device that includes an array of capacitive sensing pixels that each include a unique pair of sensor electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes in a first pixel is also in communication with another sensor electrode in at least one other pixel, which is not in the same row or column with the first pixel.

Abstract: A method for face detection management includes determining, for a first time, a presence of an input object in a sensing region of a capacitance input device. The presence is determined for the first time using a first baseline, and the input object satisfies a size threshold. The method further includes suppressing a reporting of capacitance input device during a predefined time period based on the presence of the input object, determining a disabled state of a display of a host, wherein the disabled state is in response to determining the presence of the input object for the first time, and determining, in response to an elapse of the predefined time period and for a second time, an absence of the input object in the sensing region. The absence of the input object is determined for the second time using a second baseline to account for the disabled state of the display. The method further includes performing an action based on determining the absence of the input object.

Abstract: A circular, single-layer sensor electrode pattern for input devices, such as wearable devices, is described. The sensor electrode pattern features transmitter electrodes and receiver electrodes tiled in alternating fashion, such that each receiver electrode is surrounded by transmitter electrodes. The individual sensor electrodes of the described pattern are designed to provide a substantially uniform electrode area size across the sensor. Additionally, the sensor electrode pattern is arranged to be symmetric across both horizontal and vertical axes. The provided characteristics of the sensor electrode pattern leads to a sensor structure having uniform absolute capacitive sensing measurements for all sensor electrodes as well as uniform transcapacitive sensing measurements for all “pixels.

Abstract: In an example, a capacitive image sensor comprises a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode, and a third sensor electrode. The first sensor electrode is disposed on a first surface of a substrate configured to transmit a transmitter signal. The second sensor electrode is disposed on the first surface of the substrate configured to receive a resulting signal. The third sensor electrode is disposed on the first surface of the substrate such that the second sensor electrode is at least partially between the first sensor electrode and the third sensor electrode.

Abstract: A single-layer capacitive sensor comprises a user input region and a border region proximate to and outside of the user input region. The user input region includes a plurality of transmitter electrodes that are disposed within the user input region. The user input region also comprises a plurality of receiver electrodes disposed in a common stackup layer with the plurality of transmitter electrodes within the user input region such that the transmitter electrodes and the receiver electrodes make no crossings of one another in the common stackup layer or in any other layer within the user input region. The border region comprises a plurality of routing traces extending from the border region into the user input region to couple with the transmitter electrodes and the receiver electrodes. The border region also comprises a plurality of transmission traces disposed entirely within the border region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device that includes a plurality of sensing elements that are interconnected in desired way to acquire positional information of an input object, so that the acquired positional information can be used by other system components to control a display or other useful system components. One or more of the embodiments described herein, utilizes one or more of the techniques and sensor electrode array configuration disclosed herein to reduce or minimize the number of traces and/or electrodes required to sense the position of an input object within a sensing region of the input device.

Abstract: A processing system configured to detect large objects includes a sensor module with sensor circuitry coupled to transmitter electrodes and receiver electrodes, and configured to transmit transmitter signals with the transmitter electrode and receive resulting signals with the receiver electrodes, the resulting signals including effects corresponding to transmitter signals. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to determine a transition condition is present using a capacitive image, based on the resulting signals, having capacitive pixel values, and operate in large object mode based on the transition condition being present.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device that includes a plurality of sensing elements that are interconnected in desired way to acquire positional information of an input object, so that the acquired positional information can be used by other system components to control a display or other useful system components. One or more of the embodiments described herein, utilizes one or more of the techniques and sensor electrode array configuration disclosed herein to reduce or minimize the number of traces and/or electrodes required to sense the position of an input object within a sensing region of the input device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an input device having a reduced system complexity and low production cost. As the size of input devices, such as touch pads and other similar devices increase, the need for an input device that is able to maintain or even improve the touch sensing accuracy without greatly increasing the manufacturing cost becomes increasingly important. Embodiments of the invention may provide an input device that includes an array of capacitive sensing pixels that each include a unique pair of sensor electrodes, wherein at least one of the electrodes in a first pixel is also in communication with another sensor electrode in at least one other pixel, which is not in the same row or column with the first pixel.

Abstract: A capacitive image sensor for detecting an input object includes a first substrate and a second substrate. A compressible region is defined between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate is deflectable towards the second substrate. A transmitter electrode, receiver electrode, and bending effect electrode are disposed on the first substrate. The bending effect electrode is disposed between the transmitter electrode and receiver electrode and is configured to reduce a change in resulting signals detected from the receiver electrode caused by deflection of the first substrate towards the second substrate.

Abstract: A capacitive image sensor for detecting an input object includes a first substrate and a second substrate. A compressible region is defined between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate is deflectable towards the second substrate. A transmitter electrode, receiver electrode, and bending effect electrode are disposed on the first substrate. The bending effect electrode is disposed between the transmitter electrode and receiver electrode and is configured to reduce a change in resulting signals detected from the receiver electrode caused by deflection of the first substrate towards the second substrate.