Capacitance sensing electrode with integrated i/o mechanism

Abstract

A touch sensing device is disclosed. The touch sensing device includes one or more multifunctional nodes each of which represents a single touch pixel. Each multifunctional node includes a touch sensor with one or more integrated I/O mechanisms. The touch sensor and integrated I/O mechanisms share the same communication lines and I/O pins of a controller during operation of the touch sensing device.

1 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A device, comprising:
 a controller,   an I/O mechanism,   a touch sensor,   a first communication line connecting the touch sensor to the controller, and   a second communication line connecting the I/O mechanism to the controller,   wherein the controller is configured to switch between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, wherein
 in the first mode of operation, the controller is configured to operate the touch sensor using the first and second communication lines, and 
 in the second mode of operation, the controller is configured to operate the I/O mechanism using the first and second communication lines. 
   
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensing electrode. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the capacitive sensing electrode is based on self capacitance. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the I/O mechanism is positioned entirely within all outer edges of the capacitive sensing electrode. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the I/O mechanism is positioned entirely outside all outer edges of the capacitive sensing electrode. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 36  wherein the I/O mechanism is positioned partially within and partially outside an outer edge of the capacitive sensing electrode. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 36  wherein a portion of the I/O mechanism and a portion of the second communication line are positioned in an open area within the capacitive sensing electrode. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the I/O mechanism comprises an input mechanism. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42  wherein the input mechanism comprises a switch. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 43  wherein the switch comprises a momentary switch. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the I/O mechanism comprises an output mechanism. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 45  wherein the output mechanism comprises a light source. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 46  wherein the light source comprises an LED. 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 45  wherein the output mechanism comprises a visual source. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 45  wherein the output mechanism comprises a haptics mechanism. 
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the controller is configured to cycle between operating in the first mode and operating in the second mode. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the controller is configured to cycle between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation via time multiplexing. 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the first communication line connects the touch sensor to a first adjustable I/O pin of the controller, the second communication line connects the I/O mechanism to a second adjustable I/O pin of the controller, and the controller adjusts the functionality of the first I/O pin and the second I/O pin when switching between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation. 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 52  wherein the I/O mechanism comprises a switch, and wherein
 in the first mode of operation, the controller is configured to set the first adjustable I/O pin to a sense circuit block and the second adjustable I/O pin to a high impedance to operate the touch sensor, and 
 in the second mode of operation, the controller is configured to set one of the first or second adjustable I/O pins to a voltage source and the other of the first or second adjustable I/O pins temporarily to ground and thereafter to a digital input to operate the switch. 
 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 52  wherein the I/O mechanism comprises a light source, and wherein
 in the first mode of operation, the controller is configured to set the first adjustable I/O pin to a sense circuit block and the second adjustable I/O pin to a high impedance to operate the touch sensor, and 
 in the second mode of operation, the controller is configured to set one of the first or second adjustable I/O pins to a voltage source and the other of the first or second adjustable I/O pins to ground to operate the light source. 
 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 35  further comprising a capacitor coupling the first and second communication lines. 
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the touch sensor and the I/O mechanism contact each other at a common connection point. 
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 56  wherein the touch sensor and the I/O mechanism are soldered together at the common connection point. 
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the touch sensor and the I/O mechanism are connected to one another via a line. 
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the device is a touch pad. 
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the device is a touch screen. 
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the device is a touch sensitive housing. 
     
     
         62 . A device, comprising:
 a controller,   a first I/O mechanism,   a second I/O mechanism,   a touch sensor,   a first communication line connecting the touch sensor to the controller, and   a second communication line connecting the first I/O mechanism and the second I/O mechanism to the controller,   wherein the controller is configured to switch between a first mode of operation, a second mode of operation and a third mode of operation, wherein
 in the first mode of operation, the controller is configured to operate the touch sensor using the first and second communication lines, 
 in the second mode of operation, the controller is configured to operate the first I/O mechanism using the first and second communication lines, and 
 in the third mode of operation, the controller is configured to operate the second I/O mechanism using the first and second communication lines. 
   
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensing electrode. 
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 63  wherein the first I/O mechanism and the second I/O mechanism are positioned entirely within all outer edges of the capacitive sensing electrode. 
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 62  wherein the first I/O mechanism comprises a switch and the second I/O mechanism comprises a switch. 
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 62  wherein the first I/O mechanism comprises a light source and the second I/O mechanism comprises a light source. 
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 62  wherein the first I/O mechanism comprises a switch and the second I/O mechanism comprises a light source. 
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 62  wherein the first I/O mechanism comprises a visual source. 
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 62  wherein the first I/O mechanism comprises a haptics mechanism. 
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 62  wherein the controller is configured to cycle between operating in the first mode, operating in the second mode and operating in the third mode via time multiplexing.