Padless Touch Sensor

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/014,638, filed Apr. 15, 1996.

Conventional capacitive touch sensing systems employ a passive form of detection. In such sensor, there is an existing capacitive circuit driven by a source signal. A key touch, representing a change to the circuit capacitance, results in attenuating the potential and resulting voltage level change indicates a key touch. This capacitive circuit is usually implemented by the deposition of opposing conductive key pads to opposite sides of a dielectric element.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional capacitive coupled touch sensor according to the prior art. FIG. 2 shows the equivalent circuit of the sensor shown in FIG. 1.

One problem with conventional sensors is that accumulation of foreign deposits on the key pads has the drawback of negating the effect of a touch by the user. Chemicals and abrasion of the exposed key pads can also degrade performance. Yet, different dielectric characteristics, such as thickness and dielectric constant, result in having to change or redesign the size of the key pads to achieve the same capacitance for a different dielectric element in identical applications.

Another type of conventional sensing system is a plastic membrane switch. Plastic membrane switches are not suitable for applications where they are located close to high temperature sources, such as on a cooktop surface. When a plastic membrane is located in the vicinity of a heat source, it would have a tendency to warp or separate. They are also susceptible to easy damage by heat and abrasion in a situation where it is normal that objects are used nearby or can be placed on the membrane. Actuation of this type of switch is mechanical in nature and reliability is inherently reduced with use.

Infra-red detection methods are sensitive to extraneous or even ambient light sources. Accumulation of foreign matter or objects placed over the sensing locations can affect sensitivity or produce erroneous detections. Moreover, the front plate or panel in front of the infra-red transmitters and detectors must be transparent for the technology to function.

The object of the present invention is to provide a padless touch sensor employing direct capacitive coupling under a dielectric element, such as a glass window, a ceramic plate, etc. This sensor and the corresponding method have several important advantages over the traditional touch sensing systems and methods previously described.

According to the present invention, test pulses are sent to earth and when a user, standing by a sensor, touches the dielectric element at one sensing location, pulses are supplied to a conductive plate located under the dielectric element and in registry with the sensing location. These pulses are due to the capacitive reaction of the body of the user to the test pulses sent into earth. A coupling path is thus formed through the body capacitance with reference to earth.

One of the important advantages of the present invention is that it is only the touch of the user that is actively coupling the circuit and activating the sensor, unlike the traditional sensing systems that depend on disturbing an existing capacitive circuit.

The proposed touch sensor and method have several major impacts on overall system design. No conductive pads need to be deposited over the sensing location of the dielectric element for the system or method to function. The conductive plate of each sensor is instead provided in close contact with the opposite side of the dielectric element. This results in greater simplicity and flexibility with regards to the production and installation of a keyboard combining one or a plurality of sensors. Greater key density and a considerably smaller sensing location are possible compared to traditional capacitive sensing systems.

In particular, the present invention features a padless touch sensor for detecting a touch at a sensing location onto a dielectric element by a user coupled to earth. The sensor comprises a conductive plate attached under the dielectric element and in registry with the sensing location. A means is provided for applying a predetermined potential on the conductive plate. Test pulses are injected into earth using a pulse test generating means and a means responsive to a potential variation in the conductive plate produces an output signal indicative of that variation. In use, when the user touches the dielectric element at the sensing location, a potential variation occurs in the conductive plate during a test pulse due to a capacitive circuit formed between earth, the user and the means responsive to the potential variation.

The present invention also provides a padless touch sensor for detecting a touch at sensing locations onto a dielectric element by a user coupled to earth. The sensor comprises a plurality of conductive plates, one for each sensing location. Each conductive plate is attached under the dielectric element and in registry with a respective sensing location. A predetermined potential is successively applied on one of the conductive plates at once. A test pulse is produced into earth while one of the conductive plates receives the predetermined potential. A means responsive to a potential variation in the conductive plate with the predetermined potential is then provided for producing an output signal indicative of the potential variation in that conductive plate.

The present invention also provides a padless touch sensor for detecting a touch at sensing locations onto a dielectric element by a user coupled to earth. The sensor comprises a plurality of conductive plates, one for each sensing location. Each conductive plate is attached under the dielectric element and in registry with a respective sensing location. A means for applying a predetermined potential on the conductive plates is provided and test pulses are injected into earth. A means responsive to a potential variation in the conductive plates with the predetermined potential is then provided for producing output signals indicative of the potential variation in each of the conductive plates.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for detecting a touch at a sensing location onto a dielectric element by a user coupled to earth. The method comprises the steps of applying a predetermined potential on a conductive plate attached under the dielectric element and in registry with the sensing location. Test pulses are produced into earth and a potential variation on the conductive plate is sensed. An output signal indicative of the potential variation is then produced.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for detecting a touch at sensing locations onto a dielectric element by a user coupled to earth. Each sensing location is provided with a corresponding conductive plate attached under the dielectric element and in registry with the respective sensing location. The method comprises the steps of successively applying a predetermined potential on one of the conductive plates at once. A test pulse is produced into earth each time the predetermined potential is applied on one conductive plate. A potential variation in each of the conductive plates is sensed while the predetermined potential is applied thereon. An output signal is then produced. The output signal is indicative of the potential variation in each of the conductive plates while the predetermined potential is individually applied thereon.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for detecting a touch at sensing locations onto a dielectric element by a user coupled to earth, each sensing location being provided with a corresponding conductive plate attached under the dielectric element and in registry with the respective sensing location, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a predetermined potential on the conductive plates;

producing test pulses into earth;

sensing a potential variation in each of the conductive plates; and

producing output signals indicative of the potential variation in each of the conductive plates while they are being sensed.

A non restrictive description of preferred embodiments will now be given with reference to the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a capacitive coupled touch sensor according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of the equivalent circuit of the sensor shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a basic padless touch sensor according to a possible embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of the equivalent circuit of the basic sensor shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a graph showing an example of the pulse signal V.sub.p in function of time in the sensor of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5B is a graph showing an example of the pulse test signal V.sub.t in function of time in the sensor of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5C is a schematic representation of an example of a key touch scenario in function of time.

FIG. 5D is a graph showing an example of the input signal V.sub.i representing the potential of the conductive plate in function of time in the sensor of FIG. 3 and during the key touch scenario of FIG. 5C.

FIG. 5E is a graph showing an example of the output signal V.sub.o representing the potential at the output of the transistor Q2 in function of time in the sensor of FIG. 3 and in response to the input signal V.sub.i shown in FIG. 5D.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a padless touch sensor with multiple keys, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown without the test pulse signal generator.

FIG. 7A is a schematic representation in function of time of the selection of the first key of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B is a schematic representation in function of time of the selection of the second key of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7C is a schematic representation in function of time of the selection of the third key of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7D is a graph showing an example of the input signal V.sub.i representing the potential of the conductive plate of the first key of FIG. 6 in function of time and following the key selection shown in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7E is a graph showing an example of the input signal V.sub.i representing the potential of the conductive plate of the second key of FIG. 6 in function of time and following the key selection shown in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 7F is a graph showing an example of the input signal V.sub.i representing the potential of the conductive plate of the third key of FIG. 6 in function of time and following the key selection shown in FIG. 7C.

FIG. 7G is a graph showing an example of the resulting output signal V.sub.o representing the potential at the output of the transistor Q2 in function of time in the sensor of FIG. 6 and in response to the input signals V.sub.i shown in FIGS. 7D, 7E and 7F.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an example of a touch at a sensing location which overlaps different traces.

FIG. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of the equivalent circuit of the sensor shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an example of a sensor with a grounding plate.

FIG. 11 is a schematic circuit diagram of the equivalent circuit of the sensor shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a sensor with multiple keys, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a basic sensor (10) according to a possible embodiment of the present invention. The basic sensor (10) is mounted under a dielectric element (20) and is illustrated in a "touch" condition since the sensing location (22) on the dielectric element (20) is touched by a finger (24) of a user.

The basic sensor (10) can be divided in two main parts, namely a test pulse generator section and a receiver section. Those parts are described in detail hereinbelow.

The test pulse generator section produces test pulses into earth. Preferably, the test pulse generating means comprises a resistor having an input terminal connected to a DC source and an output terminal connected to earth. The output terminal of the resistor is also connected to the collector of a transistor. The emitter of the transistor is then connected to the circuit ground. A pulsed signal is generated at the base of the transistor. FIGS. 3, 4 and 12 show such construction. In this embodiment, a +24 volts DC potential is applied through a resistor R1 that is connected to earth. A typical value for the resistor R1 would be 10 Kohms. A transistor Q1 alternatively connects and disconnects the circuit ground to and from earth. A pulse signal V.sub.p of +5 volts for instance, arrives at the base of the transistor Q1. The circuit ground and earth are disconnected whenever V.sub.p drops to 0 volt. This applies a +24 volts, with reference to the circuit ground, at the opposite side of the resistor R1. As soon as the pulse signal V.sub.p is back to the +5 volt level, the transistor Q1 is switched on again and the circuit ground and earth are connected together, dropping V.sub.t to 0 volt. FIGS. 5A and 5B respectively show the pulse signal V.sub.p and the resulting test pulse signal V.sub.t that is injected into earth.

Earth in the context of the present invention means the real earth or any other mass acting as a virtual ground. For instance, in case of an appliance, the sensor can be connected to the real earth by means of a wire electrically connected to the grounding prong of the appliance, itself connected to the earth wire of the building. As for the virtual ground, an example could be the metallic body of a vehicle.

The receiver section of the basic sensor (10) comprises a conductive plate (30) located under the dielectric element (20). The plate (30) is in registry with the sensing location (22) onto the dielectric element (20). The sensing location (22) and the corresponding conductive plate (30) are also referred to as a "key". If appropriate, markings may be provided to indicate to the user the exact location where the finger (24) has to touch to achieve a touch condition at the key. Of course, a person skilled in the art would realize that the term "finger" may be substituted for any body part that can be used for touching a key. For instance, a handicapped person may have to use his or her toes instead of one finger. The present invention may also work in applications where animals are involved.

The receiver section further comprises a means for applying a predetermined potential on the plate (30). This sets a reference voltage, referred to as a "no touch" reference level. Then, a means responsive to a potential variation in the plate (30) is used to produce a signal indicative of the potential variation. It is this signal that will be used to determine if there is a touch condition or not.

As aforesaid, the plate (30) is attached under the dielectric element (20). There are many ways of achieving the connection. One is to provide the plate (30) on a circuit board (32) and to connect the circuit board (32) with, for instance, an adhesive strip (34) or with screws (not shown). Of course, other kinds of attachments may be used, according to the particular needs and environment.

FIG. 3 shows a possible embodiment of the present invention, where the means for applying a predetermined potential and the means responsive to a potential variation in the plate (30) are combined together using a transistor Q2. FIG. 4 shows the equivalent circuit when there is a touch condition, also referred to as a "key touch".

The transistor Q2 is connected in a high input impedance emitter follower configuration. The voltage gain of the circuit is slightly less than 1. A resistor R.sub.b is connected between the base of the transistor Q2 and a second supply voltage source. The resistor R.sub.b serves as a termination and bias for the input and sets the "no touch" reference level at an output resistor R.sub.o. The other end of the resistor R.sub.0 is connected to the circuit ground.

A typical second supply voltage would be +5 volts DC. The input resistance R.sub.in at the base of the transistor Q2 is approximately given by the formula h.sub.FE .times.R. The input resistance R.sub.in is then approximately between 0.5 Mohm and 2 Mohms for a typical transistor when the resistor R.sub.o is 4.7 Kohms and h.sub.FE between 100 and 400. Decreasing the value of the resistor R.sub.b raises the potential at the base of the transistor Q2 and also the "no touch" reference level. For instance, this level can be adjusted from +0.6 volt to +3.4 volts by adjusting the resistor R.sub.b from 5.6 Mohms to 200 Kohms. The detection level at the output resistor R.sub.o can also be adjusted by changing the value of the resistor R.sub.b to compensate for different coupling levels for various sizes of the conductive plates (30). Any convenient reference level can be chosen depending on the application and power supply voltage available.

In use, the V.sub.p test pulse signal drives the transistor Q1 which alternatively connects and disconnects the circuit ground to and from earth. In the illustrated embodiment, the first supply voltage is +24 volts DC and when the transistor Q1 is switched off, the +24 volts DC is applied through the resistor R1 to earth for producing the test pulse signal V.sub.t. FIGS. 5A and 5B show the typical waveforms. Preferably, the test pulse signal V.sub.t is applied once every 1 ms.

The test pulse signal V.sub.t is coupled from earth to the capacitance C.sub.B of the body of the user. When there is no key touch, the potential at the conductive plate (30) will not change. Nevertheless, the est pulse V.sub.t is always being injected into ground and coupled to the user's body. Experiments have shown that the distance between the user and the test pulse generator section may be as far as 50 meters. A shielded cable was used to connect the plate (30) to the remote circuit board (32).

When there is a key touch, like in FIGS. 3 and 4, the touch detection is achieved by coupling the +24 volts DC test pulse signal through the user's effective body capacitance, to the plate (30), by way of earth. The test pulse signal V.sub.t is applied to earth and to one side of body capacitance C.sub.B. The value of the capacitance C.sub.B is typically between 200 and 500 pF. During a key touch, the capacitance C.sub.B is connected in series to the capacitance C.sub.F, which represents the capacitance formed by the user's contact area at the sensing location (22), the dielectric element (20) and the conductive plate (30). A typical value of the capacitance C.sub.F is 20 pF for a 1/8 inch thick glass-ceramic with a dielectric constant of 22 and a plate area of about 0.5 square inch. A material with a higher relative dielectric constant increases the capacitance C.sub.F and produces improved signal coupling to the sensor or alternatively, allows the use of a thicker dielectric element (20). Increasing the thickness of the dielectric element (20), with the area of the plate (30) remaining constant, decreases the value of C.sub.F and the resulting coupling to the sensor.

The capacitance for parallel plates is given by the following general formula:

wherein,

A is the area of plates,

d is the distance between the plates,

e is a constant, and

k is the relative dielectric constant.

One can see that for a dielectric element of a specific thickness, the area of the conductive plate (30) and the contact area of the finger (24) determines the value of the capacitance C.sub.F. Increasing the contact area will increase the capacitance and improve coupling of the test pulse signal V.sub.t to the sensor. The maximum area is however limited by the contact area for a typical human finger, beyond which increasing the area of the plate (30) has no effect. A circular plate of 1/2 inch diameter is a reasonable maximum useable limit to set for finger actuation. However, a 1/4 inch diameter plate works very reliably.

When the test pulse signal V.sub.t goes from 0 volt to +24 volts, the capacitance C.sub.B and C.sub.F acts instantly as a "short" and +24 volts would normally be applied to the base of the transistor Q2. The effective capacitance of C.sub.B and C.sub.F in the example is approximately 18 pF. Since the input base capacitance C.sub.in of the transistor Q2, which is in the range of 5 pF to 10 pF for a typical transistor, is comparable to the coupling capacitance of C.sub.B and C.sub.F combined, the signal level that the transistor Q2 receives is actually lower than +24 volts. The input resistance of the transistor Q2 also acts to reduce the level depending on the coupled resistance. The rise time of the test pulse signal V.sub.t also acts to further reduce this level. If this time is comparable or greater than the time constant of the input resistance of the transistor Q2 and the coupling capacitance (C.sub.B and C.sub.F), the coupled signal level is further reduced. The transmitted test pulse signal V.sub.t from earth generally does not have a very sharp rise time. The effective signal coupled to the transistor Q2 is thus much lower than +24 volts, and typically is +0.3 volt.

FIG. 5C shows an example of a key touch period with reference to the test pulse signal V.sub.t shown in FIG. 5B. FIG. 5D then shows the resulting variation of the potential in the plate (30). FIG. 5E shows how the potential variation is felt at the emitter of the transistor Q2. The output signal V.sub.o is sent to an appropriate device to determine whether or not the potential variation is sufficient to initiate a positive key touch status and, for instance, actuate a corresponding switch (not shown).

FIG. 6 shows a multiple key configuration. The keys are each individually scanned to determine whether there is a key touch or not. The input to the base of the selected key transistor is left active (enabled) while the inputs to the other keys are disabled by grounding their input bases through a multiplexer. The individual key transistor Q2 and resistance R.sub.b are called a "selector".

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C illustrate schematically the selection of the individual keys. When a key is selected, the test pulse signal is coupled to that key only if there is a touch at the corresponding sensing location. It should be noted that the test pulse generator section was omitted from FIG. 6 for simplification. FIG. 12 shows the complete system with "N" keys.

FIG. 7D shows an example of the input voltage V.sub.i for the first key. In the given example, the first key is touched in the first two readings of that key, while there is no key touch for the other two readings. FIG. 7E shows the input voltage V.sub.i for the second key, showing the signal if only the second key is touched during the second reading. FIG. 7F shows the output voltage V.sub.i for the third key, showing the signal if only the third key is touched during the last two readings.

FIG. 7G shows the resulting output signal V.sub.o in function of time. It should be noted that any stray or inadvertent coupling to any of the other disabled keys has no effect on the output voltage V.sub.o at the resistor R.sub.o for the time period that the first key is selected, for instance. Only the first key contributes to the voltage V.sub.o for that time period. Every other key is then subsequently scanned in a similar manner with the voltage level present at a common output resistor R.sub.o, indicative of the presence of a key touch for that particular key. When there is no key touch, the output signal V.sub.o remains at its reference no touch level for the scanned key. It should be noted at this point that it is possible to provide an output resistor R.sub.o for each key.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that no deposition of conductive films on the dielectric element (20) or other special processes are required. The dielectric element (20) not only protects the sensor from the external operating environment, it acts in completing the capacitance construction of C.sub.F. The only conductive plates contributing to the coupling capacitance are behind the dielectric element (20) and are then protected from the action of chemicals and abrasion.

Heat sensitivity is not an issue. For instance, the circuit board (32) does not have the same tendency to warp or distort like the conventional plastic membrane switch type construction. Moreover, foreign matter or objects placed directly on top of the dielectric element (20) will not erroneously actuate any of the keys. Infra-red based systems do not preclude this possibility.

As with traditional capacitive touch sensing systems, special considerations must be taken into account in designing the circuit board (32). As shown in FIG. 8, when a conductive trace (36) connected to a conductive plate (30) runs close to another plate (30), a key touch at a certain sensing location (22) may overlap a different sensor trace (36). The dielectric capacitance C.sub.F from the user to the overlapped adjacent trace could couple some of the signal V.sub.i to the corresponding key (C.sub.FC), as shown in FIG. 9. Efforts to reduce this effect as much as possible result in improved determination of a key touch. This effect is minimized by making the traces (36) as thin as possible, thus reducing undesired capacitive coupling. Surrounding the sensing locations (22) on the outward facing or user side of the circuit board (32) by a circuit ground plane (40), as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, has the effect of shielding all conductive traces behind it. A key touch at a sensing location (22) which also overlaps another trace now has its capacitance C.sub.FC to the overlapped trace (36) coupled to circuit ground. Furthermore, a minimum number of conductive traces (36) should run on the outward facing side of the keyboard to be able to make effective use of the shielding.

FIG. 12 illustrates conductive plates (30) and circuit ground plane (40) that are etched on the outward facing side of a circuit board (32). A dielectric element (20) covers and is in close contact with the keys. The outputs of all the corresponding selectors are connected to a common output resistor R.sub.o. As aforesaid, it is possible to provide a separate output resistor R.sub.o for each key. This would however require more than one output channel. A microcontroller provides the necessary signals for scanning the selector of each key of the array. Measurement and analysis of the potential variations at the output resistor R.sub.o is performed by the microcontroller. A determination of whether a valid key touch has been received and the appropriate reaction is then performed.

In use, the keys in FIG. 12 are scanned in succession, in an order prescribed by the microcontroller program. At the beginning of the process, the microcontroller sends a pulse to the transistor Q1. The transistor Q1 raises earth potential to +24 volts above circuit ground when the input pulse V.sub.p is zero Volt. When a particular key is scanned, the microcontroller disables all the other keys. This may be done by grounding every transistor base of the selectors except the one that it is scanning if one output resistor R.sub.o is used.

The output voltage V.sub.o is connected to the A/D input channel of the microcontroller which is read and recorded in memory. The microcontroller then enables the next key and disables all the others and proceeds in the same manner as previously described until all the keys have been scanned. The microcontroller then suspends the scanning in order to evaluate the potential levels for V.sub.o detected during each key scan period. The microcontroller initially records the "no key touch" reference level V.sub.o for each key. The current recorded V.sub.o level for a particular key is then compared with the reference "no key touch" value. If the potential V.sub.o is greater than the reference by a predetermined reference value, then a "possible key touch" is recognized as to have occurred. This "difference level" represents the detection level range for the key. The potential variations for a possible "key touch" for each of the other keys during their scan period are similarly generated. The key which has the largest potential variation is then recognized as being "most probably" touched. This sequence of events is performed several times. When a particular key consistently produces the largest potential variation, the corresponding key is accepted as being "touched". Typically a difference level of +0.2 volt produces acceptable results.

When the microcontroller encounters a multiple "key touch" situation, the recorded "no key touch" reference level in memory for the respective keys will be adjusted to a new value such that the potential variation calculated by the microcontroller will always be less than the "possible key touch" detection range. Those keys will thus be forced to be seen as "not touched" and be effectively locked out. The scanning of the keys then proceeds normally. When the multiple touch condition disappears, the "no touch" reference levels for those keys are returned to their normal values in memory.

The microcontroller is provided with a proper program to perform the steps of the method according to the present invention. An example of such a program is as follows. This program was written for a sensor used in conjunction with an electric range having a ceramic cooktop surface. ##SPC1##

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.