Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing, by a stylus, data indicating a customization of a device for the particular user. The stylus is associated with a particular user and is configured to transmit signals wirelessly to the device through a touch sensor of the device. The data indicating the customization is stored in a memory of the stylus. The method also includes wirelessly transmitting the data by the stylus to the device through the touch sensor of the device to affect the customization of the device for the particular user.

Abstract: A method for measuring capacitance in a sensor device using an internal reference circuit element(s), and without implementing additional circuitry and devices external to the sensor device, is described. In some embodiments a method uses an output pin of the sensor device and an internal reference capacitor of the sensor device to identify a touch applied to a touch point or electrode coupled to the touch sensor. The method applies reference voltages to charge the reference capacitor and measure a signal received from an electrode, wherein the touch sensor controls switching within the touch sensor to apply the reference voltages to the reference capacitor.

Abstract: A method may include controlling a first switch to charge a reference capacitor to a first voltage level by applying a first voltage. The method may also include receiving a first analog signal from a touch sensor electrode at an input of an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) and converting the first analog signal to a first digital value provided at an output of the ADC. In certain embodiments, the method may additionally include controlling a second switch to charge the reference capacitor to a second voltage level by applying a second voltage, receiving a second analog signal from the touch sensor electrode at the input to the ADC, and converting the second analog signal to a second digital value at the output of the ADC. The method may further include detecting a touch to the touch sensor device based on the first digital value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a touch sensor of a device, one or more signals corresponding to touch or proximity inputs within a touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor. The touch sensor comprising one or more nodes. The method also includes applying an offset to one or more of the signals. The offset corresponding to a variation in a distance between a touch panel and a ground plane or display of the device. The method also includes determining whether a touch input to the touch sensor has occurred based at least in part on the signals and the offset as applied.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus and methods of operating the electronic apparatus include less than a frequency associated with a generated waveform. In various embodiments, an apparatus using a differential analog-to-digital converter can perform low frequency noise rejection that can be implemented in a variety of applications. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a controller coupled to a touch sensor, a plurality of signals from a plurality of sense electrodes, the plurality of signals indicative of an amount of capacitance between the touch sensor and an external object. The method further includes accessing a stored threshold value, determining a strength of a charge return path between the touch sensor and a ground, and adjusting the stored threshold value based on the determined strength of the charge return path. The threshold value indicates a threshold magnitude of the signals from the plurality of sense electrodes to process as a touch by the external object.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending a first set of signals to a first set of lines of a touch sensor. The method also includes receiving a second set of signals on a second set of lines of the touch sensor in response to sending the first set of signals. The second set of lines are capacitively coupled to the first set of lines. The method includes sending a third set of signals and receiving a fourth set of signals. The fourth set of signals is capacitively generated based on the third set of signals. The method also includes determining a fifth set of signals by compensating the second set of signals based on the fourth set of signals and determining whether a touch occurred based on the fifth set of signals.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from one or more touch sensors of a computing device, signals corresponding to one or more touch or proximity inputs occurring substantially simultaneously within a touch-sensitive area of each of the touch sensors. At least a portion of the touch-sensitive areas of at least one of the touch sensors is disposed substantially along an edge of the computing device. The method also includes determining, based on the signals, an orientation of an object causing the touch or proximity inputs; and initiating a pre-determined function of the computing device based at least in part on the orientation of the object.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a touch-sensitive area and a touch-sensor controller. The touch-sensor controller is operable to: scan two or more electrodes within the touch-sensitive area to determine a first location associated with an object within the touch-sensitive area, predict, based on the first location and one or more metrics, two or more next locations associated with the object, select, based on a first next location of the two or more next locations, a first region within the touch-sensitive area, select, based on a second next location of the two or more next locations, a second region within the touch-sensitive area, and scan two or more electrodes within the first region and two or more electrodes within the second region to determine a second location associated with the object. The second region is at least partially different from the first region.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors in or on a stylus, the stylus including one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for wirelessly transmitting signals to a device through a touch sensor of the device. The method includes generating a carrier signal and modulating the carrier signal to communicate the sensor data and wirelessly transmitting from the stylus to the device the carrier signal as modulated through the touch sensor of the device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from one or more touch sensors of a computing device, signals corresponding to one or more touch or proximity inputs occurring substantially simultaneously within a touch-sensitive area of each of the touch sensors. At least a portion of the touch-sensitive areas of at least one of the touch sensors is disposed substantially along an edge of the computing device. The method also includes determining, based on the signals, an orientation of an object causing the touch or proximity inputs; and initiating a pre-determined function of the computing device based at least in part on the orientation of the object.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors in or on a stylus, the stylus including one or more electrodes and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic for wirelessly transmitting signals to a device through a touch sensor of the device. The method includes generating a carrier signal and modulating the carrier signal to communicate the sensor data and wirelessly transmitting from the stylus to the device the carrier signal as modulated through the touch sensor of the device.

Abstract: A capacitive touch panel is provided capable of detecting multiple simultaneous touches. The touch panel delivers sets of capacitance signal values to a processor which computes the coordinates of single or multiple touch locations on the touch panel. The processing of each set is performed by (i) identifying the sensing element having the largest capacitance signal value; (ii) defining a region around that sensing element; and (iii) repeating the process iteratively, wherein each subsequent identifying step excludes signals that lie in previously defined regions. A multi-touch sensor is thus provided in which the signal processing is based on successive definition of regions or sub-blocks in the touch: panel. The touch location in each region can be determined more accurately by then applying interpolation between the adjacent signal values. This allows for position resolution at a finer scale than that defined by the touch panel's electrode patterning.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a touch-sensitive area and a touch-sensor controller. The touch-sensor controller is operable to: select a first region around a determined first location associated with an object within the touch-sensitive area, select a second region around the determined first location associated with the object within the touch-sensitive area, and scan two or more electrodes within the first region and two or more electrodes within the second region to determine a second location associated with the object within the touch-sensitive area.

Abstract: The exemplary devices and processing techniques allow multiple measurement devices or chips to work together to sample a screen that is larger than one measurement device might sample, by allowing sharing X or drive lines amongst the measurements devices. Particular implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented so as to realize one or more of the following optional advantages. The sharing of the drive lines may allow for a screen sized or otherwise configured to have more measurement nodes than would be produced by the sum of the nodes that could be measured by the individual devices. For a screen that requires multiple measurement devices, the drive line sharing thus may allow use of a smaller number of measuring devices.

Abstract: A capacitive touch panel is provided capable of detecting multiple simultaneous touches. The touch panel delivers sets of capacitance signal values to a processor which computes the coordinates of single or multiple touch locations on the touch panel. The processing of each set is performed by (i) identifying the sensing element having the largest capacitance signal value; (ii) defining a region around that sensing element; and (iii) repeating the process iteratively, wherein each subsequent identifying step excludes signals that lie in previously defined regions. A multi-touch sensor is thus provided in which the signal processing is based on successive definition of regions or sub-blocks in the touch: panel. The touch location in each region can be determined more accurately by then applying interpolation between the adjacent signal values. This allows for position resolution at a finer scale than that defined by the touch panel's electrode patterning.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a touch sensor of a device, one or more signals corresponding to touch or proximity inputs within a touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor. The touch sensor comprising one or more nodes. The method also includes applying an offset to one or more of the signals. The offset corresponding to a variation in a distance between a touch panel and a ground plane or display of the device. The method also includes determining whether a touch input to the touch sensor has occurred based at least in part on the signals and the offset as applied.

Abstract: This document discloses examples of systems, methods, and articles of manufacture that may provide one or more advantages relating to determining which touch on a touch screen is intended and which touch or touches are inadvertent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a touch sensor comprising a touch-sensitive area, and a touch-sensor controller coupled to the touch sensor. The touch-sensor controller is operable when executed to: select one or more regions associated with a stylus within the touch-sensitive area, and scan one or more electrodes within each region.

Abstract: In a touch sensor, as well as providing touch position data, additional data is provided on the shape of the touch. This is achieved by having sampling nodes on a finer mesh than the size of the actuating object, typically a finger, so each finger touch activates a group of adjacent nodes on the sensor. In this way, each touch has a shape formed by the activated nodes. The shape allows the touch sensor to report an angle with each touch and data indicating how elongate the touch is, preferably both together as a vector in which the direction of the vector gives the angle and the magnitude of the vector gives the ellipticity. For each frame of data collected from the sensor array, the sensor outputs an (x, y) coordinate of touch position and a further (x, y) coordinate of a shape vector.