Switched capacitance techniques for input sensing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016170519-A1
Application number	US-201414571073-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2014
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Examples of the present disclosure generally relate to a switched capacitance technique for input sensing with an input device. A processing system includes an operational amplifier having a non-inverting input, an inverting input, and an output. The processing system further includes a first capacitor coupled between the output and the inverting input to form a feedback path, and a second capacitor. The processing system further includes a first switch coupled to the second capacitor. The first switch has a first state and a second state, where the first state couples the second capacitor to the first capacitor, and the second state couples the second capacitor to a measurement circuit. The processing system further includes a determination module coupled to the measurement circuit and configured to determine a capacitance measurement at the inverting input based on an amount of charge received by the second capacitor.

First claim

1 . A processing system, comprising:
an operational amplifier having a non-inverting input, an inverting input, and an output; a first capacitor coupled between the output and the inverting input to form a feedback path; a second capacitor; a first switch coupled to the second capacitor, the first switch having a first state and a second state, wherein the first state couples the second capacitor to the first capacitor, and the second state couples the second capacitor to a measurement circuit; and a determination module coupled to the measurement circuit and configured to determine a capacitance measurement at the inverting input based on an amount of charge received by the second capacitor.

2 . The processing system of claim 1 , wherein, when the first switch is in the first state, the first capacitor is connected in parallel with the second capacitor relative to the output and the inverting input.

3 . The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the first switch comprises a double pole, double throw (DPDT) switch, wherein a first pole of the DPDT switch is coupled to a first side of the second capacitor, and a second pole of the DPDT switch is coupled to a second side of the second capacitor.

4 . The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement circuit comprises at least one integrator and at least one comparator.

5 . The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement circuit comprises a sigma-delta modulation circuit.

6 . The processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage source operable to drive a voltage onto the non-inverting input to cause the operational amplifier to drive an input sensing signal onto a sensor electrode.

7 . The processing system of claim 6 , wherein the capacitance measurement comprises a capacitance between the sensor electrode and an input object.

8 . The processing system of claim 6 , wherein the capacitance measurement comprises a capacitance between the sensor electrode and a receiver electrode.

9 . The processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a voltage source operable to drive a substantially constant input voltage onto the non-inverting input during a mutual capacitance sensing time period.

10 . The processing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third capacitor; a second switch coupled to the third capacitor, the second switch having a third state and a fourth state, wherein the third state couples the third capacitor to the first capacitor, and the second state decouples the third capacitor from the first capacitor.

11 . The processing system of claim 10 , wherein the second switch is configured to switch between the third state and the fourth state based on an amount of charge received by the first capacitor.

12 . An input device for capacitive sensing, comprising:
a plurality of sensor electrodes; and a processing system coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes, the processing system comprising:
an operational amplifier having a non-inverting input, an inverting input, and an output, wherein a sensor electrode included in the plurality of sensor electrodes is coupled to the inverting input;
a voltage source coupled to the non-inverting input;
a first capacitor coupled between the output and the inverting input to form a feedback path;
a second capacitor;
a first switch coupled to the second capacitor, the first switch having a first state and a second state, wherein the first state couples the second capacitor to the first capacitor, and the second state couples the second capacitor to a measurement circuit; and
a determination module coupled to the measurement circuit and configured to determine a capacitance measurement of the sensor electrode based on an amount of charge received by the second capacitor.

13 . The input device of claim 12 , wherein, when the first switch is in the first state, the first capacitor is connected in parallel with the second capacitor relative to the output and the inverting input.

14 . The input device of claim 12 , wherein the first switch comprises a double pole, double throw (DPDT) switch, wherein a first pole of the DPDT switch is coupled to a first side of the second capacitor, and a second pole of the DPDT switch is coupled to a second side of the second capacitor.

15 . The input device of claim 12 , wherein the measurement circuit comprises at least one integrator and at least one comparator.

16 . The input device of claim 12 , wherein the measurement circuit comprises a sigma-delta modulation circuit.

17 . The input device of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third capacitor; a second switch coupled to the third capacitor, the second switch having a third state and a fourth state, wherein the third state couples the third capacitor to the first capacitor, and the second state decouples the third capacitor from the first capacitor.

18 . The input device of claim 17 , wherein the second switch is configured to switch between the third state and the fourth state based on an amount of charge received by the first capacitor.

19 . A method of input sensing with a sensor electrode, the method comprising:
driving an input voltage onto a non-inverting input of an operational amplifier, wherein a first capacitor is coupled between an output of the operational amplifier and an inverting input of the operational amplifier to form a feedback path; switching a second capacitor between a first state and a second state, wherein the first state couples the second capacitor to the first capacitor, and the second state couples the second capacitor to a measurement circuit; and determining a capacitance measurement associated with a sensor electrode coupled to the inverting input based on an amount of charge received by the second capacitor.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising driving a voltage onto the non-inverting input to cause the operational amplifier to drive an input sensing signal onto the sensor electrode.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the capacitance measurement comprises a capacitance between the sensor electrode and an input object.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the capacitance measurement comprises a capacitance between the sensor electrode and a receiver electrode.

23 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising driving a substantially constant input voltage onto the non-inverting input during a mutual capacitance sensing time period.

24 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising switching a third capacitor between a third state and a fourth state based on an amount of charge received by the first capacitor, wherein the third state couples the third capacitor to the first capacitor, and the second state decouples the third capacitor from the first capacitor.

Assignees

• Synaptics Inc

Inventors

• Dattalo Tracy Scott

Classifications

• G01D5/24

  by varying capacitance · CPC title

• G06F3/044 Primary

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G06F3/0443

  using a single layer of sensing electrodes · CPC title

• G06F3/0446 Primary

  using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes · CPC title

• G06F3/0445

  using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer · CPC title