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US-20260126872-A1 - MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR WITH EVENT INITIATION BASED ON COMMON TOUCH ENTITY DETECTION

US20260126872A1US 20260126872 A1US20260126872 A1US 20260126872A1US-20260126872-A1

Abstract

Techniques for providing multi-user multi-touch projected capacitive touch sensors are disclosed herein. Some embodiments may include a method that includes receiving a first sense signal from a first sensing array, the first sensing array configured to provide the first sense signal indicating a first touch on a first touch surface of a touch substrate as well as receiving a second sense signal from a second sensing array, the second sensing array configured to provide the second sense signal indicating a second touch on a second touch surface of a second touch substrate occurring concurrently to the first touch. The method may further include determining whether the first touch and the second touch share at least one anti-ghost. The method may also include associating the first touch and the second touch with a common touch entity in response to determining that the first touch and the second touch share the at least one anti-ghost.

Inventors

  • Damien Berget
  • Jung Verheiden
  • Forrest Kim Wunderlich
  • Kenneth Andrew Feehan
  • Paul Leonard Futter
  • David Samuel Hecht
  • Joel Christopher Kent
  • Robert William Kitchin
  • Kenneth John North
  • James Roney
  • Kyu-Tak Son

Assignees

  • ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251229

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A device for determining a one axis anti-ghost comprising: a touch sensor comprising a sensing array, wherein the sensing array comprises an X-axis electrode and a Y-axis electrode; a controller configured to operate the sensing array in a drive mode or a sense mode, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive, while the sensing array is operating in a sense mode, sense signals from the touch sensor, wherein the sense signals indicate a first touch and a second touch occurring concurrently; determine whether the first touch and the second touch occur along a sensing axis of the sensing array; and operate a one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle a sensing axis electrode of the sensing axis in response to determining that the first touch and the second touch occur long the sensing axis, wherein the sensing electrode comprises one of the X-axis electrode and the Y-axis electrode.
  2. 2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing axis electrode comprises a first axis electrode and a second axis electrode, and wherein to operate the one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle, the processor is further configured to: switching the first axis electrode to the drive mode; switching the second axis electrode to the sense mode; and detecting whether the first touch and the second touch share a common touch entity responsive to the first axis electrode operating in the drive mode and the second axis electrode operating in the sense mode.
  3. 3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein detecting that the first touch and the second touch share the common touch entity comprises identifying the common touch entity between the first touch and the second touch based on the controller detecting electrical energy between a connection from the first axis electrode operating in the drive mode to the second axis electrode operating in the sense mode.
  4. 4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein detecting that the first touch and the second touch fail to share the common touch entity based on the controller failing to detect electrical energy between a connection from the first axis electrode operating in the drive mode to the second axis electrode operating in the sense mode.
  5. 5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor comprises an XY touch sensor and the sensing array comprises an X sensing axis defined by the X-axis electrode and a Y sensing axis defined by the Y-axis electrode.
  6. 6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle for the Y-axis electrode responsive to the sensing axis being the Y sensing axis.
  7. 7 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle for the X-axis electrode responsive to the sensing axis being the X-sensing axis.
  8. 8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor comprises an XYU touch sensor, the sensing array comprises a U-axis electrode, and wherein the sensing array further comprises an X sensing axis defined by the X-axis electrode, a Y sensing axis defined by the Y-axis electrode, and a U sensing axis defined by the U-axis electrode.
  9. 9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor of a device to perform operations comprising: operating a sensing array in a drive mode or a sense mode; receiving, while the sensing array is operating in a sense mode, sense signals from the sensing array, wherein the sense signals indicate a first touch and a second touch occurring concurrently; determining whether the first touch and the second touch occur along a sensing axis of the sensing array; and operating a one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle a sensing axis electrode of the sensing axis in response to determining that the first touch and the second touch occur long the sensing axis, wherein the sensing electrode comprises one of the X-axis electrode and the Y-axis electrode.
  10. 10 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the sensing axis electrode comprises a first axis electrode and a second axis electrode, and wherein to operate the one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle, the operations further comprising: switching the first axis electrode to the drive mode; switching the second axis electrode to the sense mode; and detecting whether the first touch and the second touch share a common touch entity responsive to the first axis electrode operating in the drive mode and the second axis electrode operating in the sense mode.
  11. 11 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein detecting that the first touch and the second touch share the common touch entity comprises identifying the common touch entity between the first touch and the second touch based on the controller detecting electrical energy between a connection from the first axis electrode operating in the drive mode to the second axis electrode operating in the sense mode.
  12. 12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein detecting that the first touch and the second touch fail to share the common touch entity based on the controller failing to detect electrical energy between a connection from the first axis electrode operating in the drive mode to the second axis electrode operating in the sense mode.
  13. 13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the device comprises a touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor comprises an XY touch sensor and the sensing array comprises an X sensing axis defined by the X-axis electrode and a Y sensing axis defined by the Y-axis electrode.
  14. 14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the device comprises a controller, and wherein operations further comprising operating, by the controller, the one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle for the Y-axis electrode responsive to the sensing axis being the Y sensing axis.
  15. 15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the device comprises a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle for the X-axis electrode responsive to the sensing axis being the X-sensing axis.
  16. 16 . A method for determining, by a device, a one axis anti-ghost, the method comprises: operating a sensing array in a drive mode or a sense mode; receiving, while the sensing array is operating in a sense mode, sense signals from the sensing array, wherein the sense signals indicate a first touch and a second touch occurring concurrently; determining whether the first touch and the second touch occur along a sensing axis of the sensing array; and operating a one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle a sensing axis electrode of the sensing axis in response to determining that the first touch and the second touch occur long the sensing axis, wherein the sensing electrode comprises one of the X-axis electrode and the Y-axis electrode.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the sensing axis electrode comprises a first axis electrode and a second axis electrode, and wherein to operate the one axis anti-ghost sensing cycle, the method further comprising: switching the first axis electrode to the drive mode; switching the second axis electrode to the sense mode; and detecting whether the first touch and the second touch share a common touch entity responsive to the first axis electrode operating in the drive mode and the second axis electrode operating in the sense mode.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein detecting that the first touch and the second touch share the common touch entity comprises identifying the common touch entity between the first touch and the second touch based on the controller detecting electrical energy between a connection from the first axis electrode operating in the drive mode to the second axis electrode operating in the sense mode.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein detecting that the first touch and the second touch fail to share the common touch entity based on the controller failing to detect electrical energy between a connection from the first axis electrode operating in the drive mode to the second axis electrode operating in the sense mode.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the device comprises a touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor comprises an XY touch sensor and the sensing array comprises an X sensing axis defined by the X-axis electrode and a Y sensing axis defined by the Y-axis electrode.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Ser. No. 18/918,371 (Attorney docket No. 3450.0060009), titled “MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR WITH EVENT INITIATION BASED ON COMMON TOUCH ENTITY DETECTION,” filed Oct. 17, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Ser. No. 18/378,327 (Attorney docket No. 3450.0060008), titled “MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR WITH EVENT INITIATION BASED ON COMMON TOUCH ENTITY DETECTION,” filed Oct. 10, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Ser. No. 18/097,813 (Attorney docket No. 3450.0060007), titled “MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR WITH EVENT INITIATION BASED ON COMMON TOUCH ENTITY DETECTION,” filed Jan. 17, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Ser. No. 17/504,827 (Attorney docket No. 3450.0060006), titled “MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR WITH EVENT INITIATION BASED ON COMMON TOUCH ENTITY DETECTION,” filed Oct. 19, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Ser. No. 16/868,932 (Attorney docket No. 3450.0060005), titled “MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR WITH EVENT INITIATION BASED ON COMMON TOUCH ENTITY DETECTION,” filed May 7, 2020, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 16/195,212 (Attorney Docket No. 3450.0060004), titled “MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR,” filed Nov. 19, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Ser. No. 15/470,040 (Attorney Docket No. 3450.0060003), titled “MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR,” filed Mar. 27, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Ser. No. 15/076,100 (Attorney Docket No. 3450.0060002), filed Mar. 21, 2016, titled “MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR,” which is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Ser. No. 14/322,605 (Atty. Docket No. 3450.0060001), filed Jul. 2, 2014, titled “MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61/843,850 (Atty. Docket No. 3450.0060000), filed Jul. 8, 2013, titled “APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MULTI-USER MULTI-TOUCH PROJECTED CAPACITANCE TOUCH SENSOR,” all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the invention relate, generally, to touch sensors including multi-user multi-touch functionality. Background Art Projected capacitive touch (PCAP) technology uses electric fields from embedded electrodes projected through glass layers that are influenced by finger touches with the result of changes in measured capacitances. For example, at each “point” or intersection of embedded electrodes, a distinct mutual capacitance change due to touch activity can be measured or “addressed.” PCAP touch sensors are currently found in portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. and are configured to receive multiple concurrent touches from a single person to enable multi-touch functionality. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Embodiments to improve touch sensors are described herein. Some embodiments may provide for a method. The method may include receiving a first sense signal from a first sensing array, the first sensing array configured to provide the first sense signal indicating a first touch on a first touch surface of a touch substrate. The method may also include receiving a second sense signal from a second sensing array, the second sensing array configured to provide the second sense signal indicating a second touch on a second touch surface of a second touch substrate occurring concurrently to the first touch. Based on the first sense signal and second sense signal, the method may further include determining whether the first touch and the second touch share at least one anti-ghost. Furthermore, the method may include associating the first touch and the second touch with a common touch entity in response to determining that the first touch and the second touch share the at least one anti-ghost. Some embodiments may include a system including a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The processor may be configured to receive a first sense signal from a first sensing array, the first sensing array configured to provide the first sense signal indicating a first touch on a first touch surface of a touch substrate. The processor may further be configured to receive a second sense signal from a second sensing array, the second sensing array configured to provide the second sense signal indicating a second touch on a second touch surface of a second touch substrate occurring concurrently to the first touch. Based on the first sense signal and second sense signal, the processor may be further configured to determine whether the first touch and the second touch share at least one anti-ghost. The processor may further be