Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for detecting a touch on a device

US9639225B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
8References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 18, 2015
Grant dateMay 2, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 29, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2203/04108
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and circuitry for detecting a touch on a device is provided herein. Touch-sensing circuitry comprises two antennas coupled to two voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs). A phase locked loop (PLL) is provided coupled to the VCOs. The PLL compares a VCO output with a frequency source (temperature controlled crystal oscillator (TCXO)), and outputs a tuning voltage (steering voltage) for the VCO that is based on the difference between the VCO frequency and the TCXO frequency. The steering voltages for each VCO are compared, and a decision is made as to whether or not a touch has been made to the antennas. If the antennas have been touched, a location of the touch is determined based on a difference in the steering voltages of the two VCOs.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.