Fast scanning for mutual capacitance screens
Granted: October 31, 2017
Patent Number:
9804722
In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting a touch. The apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a first plurality of electrode lines and a second plurality of electrode lines. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor controller coupled to the touch sensor. The touch sensor controller is operable to apply a respective voltage pulse simultaneously to each of the first plurality of electrode lines, measure a respective signal at each of the second plurality of electrode lines,…
Low-power and low-frequency data transmission for stylus and associated signal processing
Granted: October 24, 2017
Patent Number:
9798396
In one embodiment, a controller includes one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to: initiate an acquisition of a first signal from an electrode of a touch sensor according to an acquisition frequency of the touch sensor, store a first modulated signal which includes a modulated form of the first signal, initiate an acquisition of a second signal from the electrode of the touch sensor according to the acquisition frequency…
Oncell single-layer touch sensor
Granted: October 17, 2017
Patent Number:
9791992
In one embodiment, a device includes a display stack including a number of layers. The layers include a cover layer and one or more other layers. The device also includes a touch sensor disposed on a surface of a particular layer of the plurality of layers of the display stack. The touch sensor includes a number of first electrodes oriented along a first direction. Each of the first electrodes includes a plurality of first conductive regions. The touch sensor also includes a number of…
Touch sensor with edge-balanced macro-feature design
Granted: October 17, 2017
Patent Number:
9791980
In one embodiment, a touch position-sensing panel comprising a sensing area comprising a substrate, a plurality of first electrodes in a first layer, the plurality of first electrodes comprising conductive mesh and arranged in a first direction, the first layer having a first plurality of gaps formed therein, a plurality of second electrodes in a second layer, the plurality of second electrodes comprising conductive mesh and arranged in a second direction generally perpendicular to the…
Variable-pitch tracking for touch sensors
Granted: October 10, 2017
Patent Number:
9785292
In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes a first set of tracks configured to electrically couple a first set of connection pads of the touch sensor to a first set of electrodes of the touch sensor. At least a portion of the first set of tracks extends in a direction, and at least one of the tracks in the first set of tracks has two or more different pitches at two or more different points along the extent of the first set of tracks. The touch sensor also includes a second set of tracks…
Frequency control data synchronization
Granted: October 3, 2017
Patent Number:
9780944
In an embodiment, a circuit includes a synchronizer configured to generate a trigger signal synchronized to a reference clock. A synthesizer is configured to synthesize a signal according to frequency control data in response to the trigger signal. A radio receiver is configured to process a carrier signal according to the synthesized signal. A phase measurement unit is configured to measure a first channel frequency response based on the processed carrier signal.
Multi-protocol serial communication interface
Granted: September 26, 2017
Patent Number:
9772970
Systems and methods for multi-protocol serial communication interfaces are described. One example system includes an interface module including a buffer for storing a protocol selection. The system includes a protocol module coupled to the interface module and configured for providing one or more serial communication protocols. Based on the protocol selection, one of the serial communication protocols is selected. The system also includes a serial engine module coupled to the interface…
Single-layer touch sensor
Granted: September 12, 2017
Patent Number:
9760207
In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode. At least a portion of the second electrode is interdigitated with the first electrode. The first electrode includes a base portion, a digit and an extent. The digit includes a first end and a second end, connects to the base portion at the first end, and extends from the base portion in a first direction along a first axis. The extent connects to the digit at the second end and extends from the digit…
Touch sensor
Granted: August 22, 2017
Patent Number:
9740330
In one aspect, a touch sensor includes a dielectric surface layer; drive electrodes disposed on the dielectric surface layer and arranged radially about a center, the drive electrodes defining a perimeter about the center, and a sense electrode disposed on the dielectric surface layer and arranged between two of the drive electrodes. Each drive electrode can include: an outer radial section extending radially along the perimeter; a central section extending from the outer radial section…
Data transfer
Granted: August 15, 2017
Patent Number:
9734102
A controller coupled to a peripheral identifies an access type used by the controller for data transfer. The controller performs operations including: sending information to a peripheral coupled to a controller, the information indicating an access type for which the controller is configured for data transfer; monitoring a communication link with the peripheral for a signal indicating that the peripheral is ready to perform a data transfer according to the access type; and performing, in…
Timing synchronization of active stylus and touch sensor
Granted: August 15, 2017
Patent Number:
9733731
In one embodiment, a stylus includes a controller, a delay line, a coefficient line and a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium. The controller is operable to receive a synchronization signal that is transmitted from a computing device and received by the stylus. The delay line is operable to store a first consecutive edges of the synchronization signal. The coefficient line includes a pre-determined coefficient vector. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium…
Automatic gain control for received signal strength indication
Granted: August 8, 2017
Patent Number:
9729119
In some implementations, an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit comprises: a pre-divider circuit operable to pre-divide an input signal according to a pre-divider circuit setting and output a pre-divided signal; a pre-amplifier operable to pre-amplify the pre-divided signal and output a pre-amplified signal; a post-divider circuit operable to post-divide the pre-amplified signal according to a post-divider circuit setting; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) operable to generate a…
Simultaneous touch sensor scanning and display refreshing for display-embedded touch sensors
Granted: August 8, 2017
Patent Number:
9727168
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to refresh a display for a refresh period, wherein the display is coupled to a touch sensor operable to detect touch input at the display. During a first phase of the refresh period, a first portion of the display is refreshed while the touch sensor a second portion and a third portion of the display is activated. The second portion and the third portion are a half screen distance apart. During a second phase of the refresh period,…
Controlling power states of a device
Granted: August 8, 2017
Patent Number:
9727119
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for controlling power states of a device. In one aspect, a circuit is configured to perform operations comprising: receiving, on a data pin of an SPI control interface, a command to enter a reduced power mode; determining that a select signal on a select pin of the SPI control interface has been released; in response to receiving the command to enter the reduced power mode and determining that…
Secure access in a microcontroller system
Granted: July 25, 2017
Patent Number:
9715601
Systems, methods and computer-readable mediums are disclosed for providing secure access in a microcontroller system. In some implementations, a microcontroller system comprises a system bus and a secure central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the system bus. The secure CPU is configured to provide secure access to the system bus. A non-secure CPU is also coupled to the system bus and is configured to provide non-secure access to the system bus. A non-secure memory is coupled to the…
Microcontroller with integrated monitoring capabilities for network applications
Granted: July 18, 2017
Patent Number:
9710352
A microcontroller has integrated monitoring capabilities for network applications. The disclosed techniques can take advantage, for example, of an unused, duplicate network controller that is present in some microcontrollers by providing selection circuitry and configuration capabilities that allow the unused, duplicate network controller to be used for the purpose of monitoring frames that are transferred between network media and another network controller residing on the…
Managing wait states for memory access
Granted: July 18, 2017
Patent Number:
9710169
A latch signal is received from a non-volatile memory device that is indicative of a current access time for the non-volatile memory device. The access time represents an amount of time required for the non-volatile memory device to make data available responsive to a request for data. A bus system clock signal is received. The latch signal is evaluated and a wait state for the non-volatile memory device is adjusted based on the evaluation. The wait state represents a number of cycles of…
Driving circuits for light emitting elements
Granted: July 11, 2017
Patent Number:
9706610
A circuit for driving light emitting elements, such as LEDs, includes a first transistor having a source coupled to ground through a first resistive element, and a second transistor having a gate electrically coupled to a gate of the first transistor, a source electrically coupled to ground, and a drain for electrical connection to a first group of light emitting elements. The circuit also includes circuitry to provide a predetermined voltage at the source of the first transistor,…
Double-sided electronic package
Granted: July 11, 2017
Patent Number:
9704812
Embodiments of a double-sided electronic package and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, an electronic package comprises: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a leadframe having package pad features attached to the first surface of the substrate; a first integrated circuit die attached to the leadframe and electrically coupled to at least one of the package pad features; and molding disposed on the first surface of the substrate between…
Stylus with low-power detector
Granted: July 4, 2017
Patent Number:
9696826
In one embodiment, a stylus includes a receiver for receiving signals wirelessly transmitted by a device. The stylus can alternate, during a first period of time, power supplied to the receiver between a first power for a first duration and a second power for a second duration. The first power is greater than the second power. The stylus can determine how many events exceeding an event criteria occurred the each first duration, and if the events exceed a threshold, the stylus can…
