Abstract: Techniques for adjusting a sensing frequency of a sensing signal are provided. The techniques include performing sensing and display updates with frequencies that have an integer ratio. The techniques include detecting a noise signal with a frequency similar to the sensing frequency. The techniques also include varying the integer ratio to achieve a desired sensing signal frequency.

Abstract: An input device having an anti-static layer coupled to a grounding element such as a cellphone bottom chassis via a current hindering circuit having a resistive circuit element. Without the current hindering circuit having a resistive circuit element, a large amount of the current from an input object would flow through the connection to the grounding element and would not flow to a receiver channel for processing. This decreases the signal strength within the receiver channel, making sensing more difficult to perform. However, with the current hindering circuit having a resistive circuit element, current is hindered from flowing to ground and thus flows to the receiver channel, thereby increasing the signal strength. The current hindering circuit having a resistive circuit element may be a resistor or a Zener diode that is directed to prevent current flow from the anti-static layer to the grounding element until a significant voltage has built up across the Zener diode.

Abstract: Techniques for removing display-based corrupting components from a capacitive sensing signal are provided. A routing carrying display related signals (e.g., a source signal for sub-pixel updating) may induce corrupting current into a routing for carrying capacitive sensing signals. This corrupting current may reduce the ability to determine presence of an input object via the sensing signal. Therefore, the corrupting signal is effectively removed by driving the display elements with a dot inversion technique and by performing capacitive sensing for a sensor electrode during a time in which an even number of display rows are driven for display updates. Dot inversion causes the corrupting current to alternate polarity. Thus, driving sensor electrodes in a period of time in which an even number of rows is driven means that an equal number of positive and negative polarity corrupting currents are induced into the sensing signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein provide a device and method of using the device that is able to improve the detection of user input provided to an input device while one or more sources of noise are present during the detection process. One or more of the embodiments disclosed herein may include a scanning process and a signal processing technique that is able to more reliably detect the presence and position of an input object by reducing the effect of noise on a resulting signal that is generated during a capacitive sensing process. In some configurations, the scanning and signal processing techniques disclosed herein can be improved by increasing a capacitive sensing device's ability to detect the presence of an input object by improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the data collected during a capacitive sensing process.

Abstract: Techniques for removing display-based corrupting components from a capacitive sensing signal when display and capacitive sensing is performed at or nearly at the same time. A routing carrying display related signals (e.g., a source signal for sub-pixel updating) may induce a corrupting current into a routing for carrying capacitive sensing signals. This corrupting current would reduce the ability to determine presence of an input object via the sensing signal. Therefore, the corrupting signal is effectively removed by averaging sensing signals from two consecutive frames together. Because displays perform frame inversion, in which the voltage polarity provided to a sub-pixel for updates is reversed each frame, the corrupting current reverses in polarity each frame. Therefore, adding two subsequent frames together cancels out the corrupting signal.

Abstract: Techniques for removing display-based corrupting components from a capacitive sensing signal when display and capacitive sensing is performed at or nearly at the same time. A routing carrying display related signals (e.g., a source signal for sub-pixel updating) may induce a corrupting current into a routing for carrying capacitive sensing signals. This corrupting current would reduce the ability to determine presence of an input object via the sensing signal. Therefore, the corrupting signal is effectively removed by averaging sensing signals from two consecutive frames together. Because displays perform frame inversion, in which the voltage polarity provided to a sub-pixel for updates is reversed each frame, the corrupting current reverses in polarity each frame. Therefore, adding two subsequent frames together cancels out the corrupting signal.

Abstract: Techniques for removing display-based corrupting components from a capacitive sensing signal when display and capacitive sensing is performed at or nearly at the same time. A routing carrying display related signals (e.g., a source signal for sub-pixel updating) may induce a corrupting current into a routing for carrying capacitive sensing signals. This corrupting current would reduce the ability to determine presence of an input object via the sensing signal. Therefore, the corrupting signal is effectively removed from a signal received from a sensor electrode when driven for sensing. The corrupting component may be removed either in analog or digitally. In analog, the corrupting component is removed via a tunable capacitance. Digitally, a corrupting component is calculated as an impulse response convolved with the source driver voltage. This corrupting component is then subtracted from a digital value output by the sensing circuitry to obtain a “clean” value.

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: An input device having an anti-static layer coupled to a grounding element such as a cellphone bottom chassis via a current hindering circuit having a resistive circuit element. Without the current hindering circuit having a resistive circuit element, a large amount of the current from an input object would flow through the connection to the grounding element and would not flow to a receiver channel for processing. This decreases the signal strength within the receiver channel, making sensing more difficult to perform. However, with the current hindering circuit having a resistive circuit element, current is hindered from flowing to ground and thus flows to the receiver channel, thereby increasing the signal strength. The current hindering circuit having a resistive circuit element may be a resistor or a Zener diode that is directed to prevent current flow from the anti-static layer to the grounding element until a significant voltage has built up across the Zener diode.

Abstract: This disclosure generally provides an input device modulates a reference voltage used to provide power to a plurality of power supplies and acquires, while modulating the reference voltage, first resulting signals from a plurality of sensor electrodes simultaneously at a central receiver. In input device also acquires second resulting signals from the sensor electrodes at a plurality of local receivers and mitigates an effect a grounding condition has on the second resulting signal using the first resulting signals.

Abstract: This disclosure generally provides an input device that includes a reference voltage modulator that modulates reference voltage rails when performing capacitive sensing. In one embodiment, reference voltage rails are coupled to a DC power source which provides power to operate a panel that includes a display screen integrated with a touch sensing region. Before performing capacitive sensing, the input device may isolate the DC power source from the reference voltage rails and use the reference voltage rails to modulate the rails—e.g., VDD and VGND. The input device may include a receiver that simultaneously acquires resulting signals from a plurality of display and/or sensor electrodes when modulating the reference voltage rails. The resulting signals can then be processed to determine if an input object is interacting with the input device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for display device including a dielectric stack positioned between a first electrically conductive layer and a second movable electrically conductive layer. In one aspect, the dielectric stack includes alternating dielectric layers of high and low indices of refraction. By controlling the refractive indices and thicknesses of layers within the dielectric stack, the display device's states of light reflection may be reversed, such that light is reflected when the movable layer is positioned in proximity to the first electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: In various embodiments described herein, a display device comprising a light collection film and a photovoltaic device disposed on an edge of the collection film. The collection film has a plurality of light-turning features for redirecting light between the front and back surface of the collection film and the photovoltaic device. In some embodiments, a light source is also disposed on an edge of the collection film and emits light which is turned by the light-turning features toward the display.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for embodiments of a device including a dynamic optical resonant cavity and an active layer disposed on a side of the optical resonant cavity. In various embodiments, a thickness of the optical resonant cavity can be dynamically changed to alter the absorption characteristics of the active layer. In various embodiments, a reflector can be disposed on a side of the optical resonant cavity opposite the side on which the active layer is disposed. In various embodiments, the reflector can be movable.

Abstract: A display with a photovoltaic (PV) cells integrated as the front side and/or back side of the display is disclosed. Ambient light may reach a PV cell situated behind a display through fully or partially transmissive features within the display. Display-generated light may also reach a PV cell behind a display. A transmissive PV material situated in front of a display may collect both ambient light as well as display-generated light.

Abstract: A transmissive micromechanical device includes a substrate, an optical stack over the substrate and a moveable membrane over the optical stack. The moveable membrane may include a partially reflective mirror and be configured to move from a first position to a second position. When the movable membrane is in the first position the transmissive micromechanical device is configured to pass light of a predetermined color and when the movable membrane is in the second position, the micromechanical device is configured to block substantially all of light incident on the substrate.

Abstract: Various methods are described to characterize interferometric modulators or similar devices. Measured voltages across interferometric modulators may be used to characterize transition voltages of the interferometric modulators. Measured currents may be analyzed by integration of measured current to provide an indication of a dynamic response of the interferometric modulator. Frequency analysis may be used to provide an indication of a hysteresis window of the interferometric modulator or mechanical properties of the interferometric modulator. Capacitance may be determined through signal correlation, and spread-spectrum analysis may be used to minimize the effect of noise or interference on measurements of various interferometric modulator parameters.

Abstract: A light guide device includes a light guide body and two or more pluralities of spaced-apart slits. The slits are formed by undercuts in the light guide body. Sidewalls of the slits form facets that redirect light impinging on the facets. In some embodiments, the light guide body is attached to a light source. The light source emits light that is injected into the light guide body and the slits redirect the light out of the light guide body and towards a desired target. In some embodiments, the target is a display and a first plurality of slits directs light from the light source across the light guide body and over the face of the display. A second plurality of slits then directs light out of the light guide body and towards the display.

Abstract: A transmissive micromechanical device includes a substrate, an optical stack over the substrate and a moveable membrane over the optical stack. The moveable membrane may include a partially reflective mirror and be configured to move from a first position to a second position. When the movable membrane is in the first position the transmissive micromechanical device is configured to pass light of a predetermined color and when the movable membrane is in the second position, the micromechanical device is configured to block substantially all of light incident on the substrate.

Abstract: An interferometric mask covering a reflective conductive ribbon that electrically interconnects a plurality of photovoltaic cells is disclosed. Such an interferometric mask may reduce reflections of incident light from the conductors. In various embodiments, the mask reduces reflections, so that a front and back electrode pattern appears black or similar in color to surrounding features of the device. In other embodiments, the mask may modulate reflections of light such that the electrode pattern matches a color in the visible spectrum.