TW201906320A - Proximity sensor and detection method thereof - Google Patents

Proximity sensor and detection method thereof Download PDF

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TW201906320A
TW201906320A TW106122037A TW106122037A TW201906320A TW 201906320 A TW201906320 A TW 201906320A TW 106122037 A TW106122037 A TW 106122037A TW 106122037 A TW106122037 A TW 106122037A TW 201906320 A TW201906320 A TW 201906320A
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capacitance
proximity sensor
detection
values
circuit
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TW106122037A
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TWI631822B (en
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羅智烜
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聯陽半導體股份有限公司 30076 新竹科學工業園區創新一路13號3樓
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G06F3/0416—Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means

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  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)

Abstract

A proximity sensor and a detection method thereof are provided. The proximity sensor includes a sensing electrode, a detection circuit, a plurality of traces and an arithmetic logic circuit. The detection circuit is used to detect the capacitance of the sensing electrode. The traces are coupled between the sensing electrode and the sensing circuit. The arithmetic logic circuit couples to the detection circuit for calculating a variation of capacitance of the sensing electrode during a detection period to sequentially generate a plurality of varying capacitances and for providing a trigger report signal based on the varying capacitances in which the respective varying capacitances correspond to one of the traces.

Description

鄰近感測器及其偵測方法Proximity sensor and detection method

本發明是有關於一種偵測方法，且特別是有關於一種鄰近感測器及其偵測方法。The invention relates to a detection method, and in particular to a proximity sensor and a detection method thereof.

近年來，採用電容式感測介面作為人機輸入介面的產品急速增加，而應用範圍也逐漸變得廣泛，例如從行動電話到電腦、從服務點終端機到家電用品、從醫療裝置到工業控制等。隨著使用者的操控需求的提升，電容式感測裝置提供的觸控感測形式從應用至觸控螢幕及觸控板逐漸演進至應用至鄰近感測(Proximity Sensing)等裝置，其中大多數觸控物都是人體的一部分，例如手指。In recent years, products using a capacitive sensing interface as a human-machine input interface have increased rapidly, and the application range has gradually become wider, such as from mobile phones to computers, from point of service terminals to home appliances, from medical devices to industrial control Wait. As the user ’s control needs increase, the touch sensing form provided by capacitive sensing devices has gradually evolved from applications to touch screens and touchpads to applications such as proximity sensing (Proximity Sensing), most of which Touch objects are part of the human body, such as fingers.

然而，鄰近感測需要高解析度的類比至數位轉換器（Analog-to-Digital Converter，ADC）或者更大面積的感測電極，連帶地需要更新整體的電路設計，以致於整體的硬體成本會急劇上升。因此，在硬體成本不斷降低的現在，需要一種新的電路設計來實現電容式鄰近感測器。However, proximity sensing requires a high-resolution analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or a larger area of the sensing electrode, and the overall circuit design needs to be updated together, so that the overall hardware cost Will rise sharply. Therefore, now that hardware costs are decreasing, a new circuit design is needed to implement capacitive proximity sensors.

本發明提供一種鄰近感測器及其偵測方法，可在現有的電路條件下實現鄰近感測，以降低鄰近感測器的整體硬體成本。The invention provides a proximity sensor and a detection method thereof, which can realize proximity sensing under the existing circuit conditions, so as to reduce the overall hardware cost of the proximity sensor.

本發明的鄰近感測器，包括一感測電極、一偵測電路、多個走線及一運算邏輯電路。偵測電路用以偵測感測電極的電容值。多個走線耦接於感測電極與感測電路之間。運算邏輯電路耦接偵測電路，於一偵測期間計算感測電極的電容值變化，以依序產生多個電容變化值，並且依據這些電容變化值提供一觸發報告信號，其中各個電容變化值對應這些走線的其中之一。The proximity sensor of the present invention includes a sensing electrode, a detection circuit, a plurality of traces, and an arithmetic logic circuit. The detection circuit is used to detect the capacitance of the sensing electrode. A plurality of traces are coupled between the sensing electrode and the sensing circuit. The operation logic circuit is coupled to the detection circuit, and calculates a capacitance change of the sensing electrode during a detection period to sequentially generate a plurality of capacitance change values, and provides a trigger report signal according to the capacitance change values, wherein each capacitance change value Corresponds to one of these traces.

本發明的鄰近感測器的偵測方法，包括下列步驟。透過多個走線耦接一感測電極與一感測電路。透過感測電路偵測感測電極的電容值。於一偵測期間，透過一運算邏輯電路計算感測電極的電容值變化，以依序提供多個電容變化值，其中各個電容變化值對應這些走線的其中之一。透過運算邏輯電路且依據這些電容變化值提供一觸發報告信號。The method for detecting a proximity sensor of the present invention includes the following steps. A sensing electrode and a sensing circuit are coupled through a plurality of traces. The capacitance of the sensing electrode is detected by the sensing circuit. During a detection period, a capacitance change of the sensing electrodes is calculated by an arithmetic logic circuit to sequentially provide a plurality of capacitance change values, where each capacitance change value corresponds to one of these traces. A trigger report signal is provided through the arithmetic logic circuit and according to the capacitance change values.

基於上述，本發明實施例的鄰近感測器及其偵測方法，偵測電路依序透過不同的走線耦接至感測電極，而偵測電路可採用與目前的電容式偵測器類似的電路佈局，因此可透過修改偵測電路內的軟體（亦即韌體），來實現鄰近感測器的偵測功能。藉此，可利用現有的電容式偵測器的來實現鄰近感測，以降低鄰近感測器的整體硬體成本。Based on the above, the proximity sensor and the detection method of the embodiment of the present invention, the detection circuit is sequentially coupled to the sensing electrode through different wires, and the detection circuit can be similar to the current capacitive detector Circuit layout, so you can modify the software (ie, firmware) inside the detection circuit to achieve the detection function of the proximity sensor. In this way, the existing capacitive detector can be used to implement proximity sensing, so as to reduce the overall hardware cost of the proximity sensor.

為讓本發明的上述特徵和優點能更明顯易懂，下文特舉實施例，並配合所附圖式作詳細說明如下。In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, embodiments are hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

圖1為依據本發明一實施例的鄰近感測器的系統示意圖。請參照圖1，在本實施例中，鄰近感測器100包括感測電極110、多個走線（在此以三個走線TR1~TR3為例）、積體電路120，積體電路120包括多個偵測焊墊（如P1~P3）、偵測電路121及運算邏輯電路123。其中，走線TR1~TR3可以是印刷電路板上的走線，並且走線TR1~TR3可彼此不交錯。其中，走線TR1~TR3可以設計成具有相同的線路阻抗，但是即走線TR1~TR3仍具有彼此不同的電氣特性，例如等效電容不同或受到的雜訊干擾不同。FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system of a proximity sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the proximity sensor 100 includes a sensing electrode 110, a plurality of traces (here, three traces TR1 to TR3 are taken as an example), an integrated circuit 120, and an integrated circuit 120 Including a plurality of detection pads (such as P1 ~ P3), a detection circuit 121 and an operation logic circuit 123. The traces TR1 to TR3 may be traces on a printed circuit board, and the traces TR1 to TR3 may not be staggered with each other. Among them, the traces TR1 to TR3 can be designed to have the same line impedance, but the traces TR1 to TR3 still have different electrical characteristics from each other, such as different equivalent capacitances or different noise interferences.

偵測焊墊P1~P3分別透過走線TR1~TR3耦接至感測電極110，並且偵測電路121耦接至偵測焊墊P1~P3及運算邏輯電路123。偵測電路121依序透過偵測焊墊P1~P3及透過走線TR1~TR3耦接至感測電極110，以依序偵測感測電極110的電容值。舉例來說，當偵測電路121透過偵測焊墊P1及透過走線TR1耦接至感測電極110時，可偵測到電容值C1；當偵測電路121透過偵測焊墊P2及透過走線TR2耦接至感測電極110時，可偵測到電容值C2；當偵測電路121透過偵測焊墊P3及透過走線TR3耦接至感測電極110時，可偵測到電容值C3。The detection pads P1 to P3 are respectively coupled to the sensing electrodes 110 through the traces TR1 to TR3, and the detection circuit 121 is coupled to the detection pads P1 to P3 and the operation logic circuit 123. The detection circuit 121 is sequentially coupled to the sensing electrodes 110 through the detection pads P1 to P3 and through the traces TR1 to TR3 to sequentially detect the capacitance values of the sensing electrodes 110. For example, when the detection circuit 121 is coupled to the sensing electrode 110 through the detection pad P1 and through the trace TR1, the capacitance value C1 can be detected; when the detection circuit 121 is detected through the detection pad P2 and through When the trace TR2 is coupled to the sensing electrode 110, the capacitance value C2 can be detected; when the detection circuit 121 is coupled to the sensing electrode 110 through the detection pad P3 and through the trace TR3, the capacitance can be detected Value C3.

當運算邏輯電路接收到電容值C1~C3時，會於一偵測期間計算感測電極110的電容值變化，以依序產生多個電容變化值，並且依據上述計算出的電容變化值提供觸發報告信號STRx，其中各個電容變化值對應走線TR1~TR3的其中之一，並且觸發報告信號STRx可以是類比值或數位值。When the arithmetic logic circuit receives the capacitance values C1 ~ C3, it calculates the capacitance value change of the sensing electrode 110 during a detection period to sequentially generate multiple capacitance change values, and provides a trigger based on the calculated capacitance change values. The report signal STRx, wherein each capacitance change value corresponds to one of the traces TR1 to TR3, and the trigger report signal STRx may be an analog value or a digital value.

當觸發報告信號STRx是類比值時，則觸發報告信號STRx可以提供給後端電路（例如控制電路），以供後端與電壓臨界值比對。並且，當觸發報告信號STRx的電壓準位大於電壓臨界值時，則可判斷使用者是要觸發對應的操控功能（例如設定顯示裝置、操控音訊播放裝置、或者操作電器產品）；反之，則不會觸發對應的操控功能。When the trigger report signal STRx is an analog value, the trigger report signal STRx may be provided to a back-end circuit (such as a control circuit) for comparison between the back-end and a voltage threshold. And, when the voltage level of the triggering report signal STRx is greater than the voltage threshold, it can be determined that the user is to trigger the corresponding control function (such as setting a display device, controlling an audio playback device, or operating an electrical product); Will trigger the corresponding control function.

當觸發報告信號STRx是數位值時，則觸發報告信號STRx可以為致能（亦即為邏輯準位“ture”）或禁能（亦即為邏輯準位“false”）。當觸發報告信號STRx為致能時，則可觸發對應的操控功能；反之，當觸發報告信號STRx為禁能時，則可不觸發對應的操控功能。When the trigger report signal STRx is a digital value, the trigger report signal STRx can be enabled (ie, the logic level “ture”) or disabled (ie, the logic level “false”). When the triggering report signal STRx is enabled, the corresponding control function may be triggered; conversely, when the triggering report signal STRx is disabled, the corresponding control function may not be triggered.

在本實施例中，偵測電路121包括多個電容偵測器（在此以三個電容偵測器122_1~122_3為例）。各個電容偵測器122_1~122_3透過走線TR1~TR3的其中之一及偵測焊墊P1~P3的其中之一耦接至感測電極110，並且電容偵測器122_1~122_3依序逐一啟動以偵測感測電極110的電容值，進而依序提供電容值C1~3。In this embodiment, the detection circuit 121 includes a plurality of capacitance detectors (here, three capacitance detectors 122_1 to 122_3 are taken as an example). Each of the capacitance detectors 122_1 to 122_3 is coupled to the sensing electrode 110 through one of the traces TR1 to TR3 and one of the detection pads P1 to P3, and the capacitance detectors 122_1 to 122_3 are sequentially activated one by one. The capacitance value of the sensing electrode 110 is detected, and the capacitance values C1 ~ 3 are sequentially provided.

進一步來說，當電容偵測器122_1啟動時，電容偵測器122_2及122_3則關閉，並且電容偵測器122_1會透過偵測焊墊P1及透過走線TR1耦接至感測電極110，以偵測電容值C1；當電容偵測器122_2啟動時，電容偵測器122_1及122_3則關閉，並且電容偵測器122_2透過偵測焊墊P2及透過走線TR2耦接至感測電極110，以偵測電容值C2；當電容偵測器122_3啟動時，電容偵測器122_1及122_2則關閉，並且電容偵測器122_3透過偵測焊墊P3及透過走線TR3耦接至感測電極110，以偵測電容值C3。Further, when the capacitance detector 122_1 is activated, the capacitance detectors 122_2 and 122_3 are turned off, and the capacitance detector 122_1 is coupled to the sensing electrode 110 through the detection pad P1 and through the trace TR1 to Detects the capacitance value C1; when the capacitance detector 122_2 is activated, the capacitance detectors 122_1 and 122_3 are closed, and the capacitance detector 122_2 is coupled to the sensing electrode 110 through the detection pad P2 and through the trace TR2, The capacitance value C2 is detected; when the capacitance detector 122_3 is activated, the capacitance detectors 122_1 and 122_2 are closed, and the capacitance detector 122_3 is coupled to the sensing electrode 110 through the detection pad P3 and through the trace TR3. To detect the capacitance value C3.

依據上述，積體電路120與目前的電容式偵測器的電路佈局類似，透過走線的增加及修改積體電路120內的軟體（亦即韌體），則積體電路120可實現鄰近感測器100的偵測功能。藉此，可利用現有的電容式偵測器的積體電路來實現鄰近感測，以降低鄰近感測器的整體硬體成本。According to the above, the integrated circuit 120 is similar to the current capacitive detector circuit layout. Through the addition of wiring and modification of the software (ie, firmware) in the integrated circuit 120, the integrated circuit 120 can achieve proximity. Detection function of the detector 100. In this way, the integrated circuit of the existing capacitive detector can be used to implement proximity sensing, so as to reduce the overall hardware cost of the proximity sensor.

在本實施例中，偵測焊墊P1~P3繪示為彼此緊鄰的偵測焊墊，但在其他實施例中，偵測焊墊P1~P3可以為不緊鄰的偵測焊墊。換言之，本領域通常知識者可依據電路設計的需求，而採用任意位置的偵測焊墊。In this embodiment, the detection pads P1 to P3 are shown as detection pads next to each other, but in other embodiments, the detection pads P1 to P3 may be detection pads that are not next to each other. In other words, a person skilled in the art can use a detection pad at any position according to the requirements of circuit design.

圖2至圖3為依據本發明一實施例的鄰近感測器的運作示意圖。請參照圖2，在本實施例中，在初始化期間Pint中，電容偵測器122_1~122_3會依序啟用，而運算邏輯電路123會將偵測電路121中的電容偵測器122_1~122_3所偵測到的電容值C1~C3作為電容基準值BL1~BL3，其中電容基準值BL1~BL3分別對應走線TR1~TR3。此外，電容偵測器122_1~122_3的啟用順序為用以說明，亦即電容偵測器122_1~122_3的啟用時間彼此不重覆即可。FIG. 2 to FIG. 3 are operation schematic diagrams of a proximity sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 2. In this embodiment, during the initialization period Pint, the capacitance detectors 122_1 ~ 122_3 will be sequentially activated, and the operation logic circuit 123 will detect the capacitance detectors 122_1 ~ 122_3 in the detection circuit 121. The detected capacitance values C1 to C3 are used as the capacitance reference values BL1 to BL3, where the capacitance reference values BL1 to BL3 correspond to the traces TR1 to TR3, respectively. In addition, the activation sequence of the capacitance detectors 122_1 to 122_3 is for illustration, that is, the activation times of the capacitance detectors 122_1 to 122_3 may not overlap with each other.

接著，在偵測期間（如PSN1、PSN2）中，會依據電容基準值BL1~BL3及電容值C1~C3計算出電容變化值∆C1、∆C2及∆C3。舉例來說，∆C1=C1-BL1，∆C2=C2-BL2，並且∆C3=C3-BL3，亦即電容值C1~C3與對應的電容基準值BL1~BL3之間的差值作為電容變化值∆C1、∆C2及∆C3，但本發明實施例不以此為限。例如，上述差值可以乘以一加權值，此可依據本領域通常知識者而變。Then, during the detection period (such as PSN1, PSN2), the capacitance change values ΔC1, ΔC2, and ΔC3 are calculated based on the capacitance reference values BL1 ~ BL3 and the capacitance values C1 ~ C3. For example, ΔC1 = C1-BL1, ΔC2 = C2-BL2, and ΔC3 = C3-BL3, that is, the difference between the capacitance values C1 ~ C3 and the corresponding capacitance reference values BL1 ~ BL3 is used as the capacitance change. The values ΔC1, ΔC2, and ΔC3, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the above-mentioned difference may be multiplied by a weighted value, which may be changed according to those skilled in the art.

並且，在單一偵測期間（如PSN1、PSN2）中，若電容變化值∆C1、∆C2及∆C3的至少一個是小於或等於電容臨界值Cth時，則運算邏輯電路123不會利用這些電容變化值∆C1、∆C2及∆C3進行運算，亦即電容總和在此可設定為空值，以”null”表示；反之，當電容變化值∆C1、∆C2及∆C3皆大於電容臨界值Cth時，運算邏輯電路123總和這些電容變化值∆C1、∆C2及∆C3以取得電容總和ΣCx，代表不是空值。Moreover, during a single detection period (such as PSN1, PSN2), if at least one of the capacitance change values ΔC1, ΔC2, and ΔC3 is less than or equal to the capacitance threshold Cth, the operation logic circuit 123 will not use these capacitances Variation values ΔC1, ΔC2, and ΔC3 are calculated, that is, the total capacitance can be set here as a null value, expressed as "null"; otherwise, when the capacitance variation values ΔC1, ΔC2, and ΔC3 are all larger than the threshold value At Cth, the operation logic circuit 123 sums up these capacitance change values ΔC1, ΔC2, and ΔC3 to obtain the total capacitance ΣCx, which is not a null value.

接著，無論運算邏輯電路123是否發得電容總和ΣCx，都會進行反抖動（De-Bounce）的動作，亦即判斷電容總和ΣCx是否符合去抖動條件。請參照圖3，在本實施例中，反抖動的動作包括：比較電容總和ΣCx與報告臨界值Rth；在電容總和ΣCx大於報告臨界值Rth時進行計數以提供計數值；並且，依據計數值設定觸發報告信號STRx。Next, no matter whether the operation logic circuit 123 sends the total capacitance ΣCx, it will perform a de-bounce operation, that is, determine whether the total capacitance ΣCx meets the debounce condition. Referring to FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the action of anti-jitter includes: comparing the total capacitance ΣCx with the reported critical value Rth; performing counting when the total capacitance ΣCx is greater than the reported critical value Rth to provide a count value; and setting according to the count value Report signal STRx is triggered.

進一步來說，在電容總和ΣCx小於等於報告臨界值Rth時（包括“null”的情況），重置計數值；當電容總和ΣCx大於報告臨界值Rth時，計數值加一。接著，當計數值大於去抖動次數Tdb時，致能觸發報告信號STRx（設定為邏輯準位“ture”或對應電容總和ΣCx的電壓準位）；當計數值小於等於去抖動次數Tdb時，禁能觸發報告信號STRx（設定為邏輯準位“false”或共同電壓）。例如，去抖動次數Tdb假設為2，則在計數值小於等於2時，禁能觸發報告信號STRx，在計數值大於3時，致能觸發報告信號STRx。Further, when the total capacitance ΣCx is less than or equal to the reported critical value Rth (including the case of “null”), the count value is reset; when the total capacitance ΣCx is greater than the reported critical value Rth, the count value is increased by one. Then, when the count value is greater than the number of debounce times Tdb, the report signal STRx (set to the logic level “ture” or the voltage level corresponding to the sum of the capacitors ΣCx) may be triggered; Can trigger report signal STRx (set to logic level "false" or common voltage). For example, if the debounce number Tdb is assumed to be 2, when the count value is less than or equal to 2, the triggering report signal STRx is disabled, and when the count value is greater than 3, the triggering report signal STRx is enabled.

圖4為依據本發明另一實施例的鄰近感測器的系統示意圖。請參照圖1及圖4，鄰近感測器200大致相同於鄰近感測器100，其不同之處在於積體電路220中的偵測電路221，其中相同或相似的元件使用相同或相似的標號。在本實施例中，偵測電路221包括多工器223及電容偵測器225，並且多工器223包括多個第一端（在此以三個第一端TA1~TA3為例）及一個第二端TB。FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system of a proximity sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The proximity sensor 200 is substantially the same as the proximity sensor 100. The difference lies in the detection circuit 221 in the integrated circuit 220. The same or similar components use the same or similar reference numerals. . In this embodiment, the detection circuit 221 includes a multiplexer 223 and a capacitance detector 225, and the multiplexer 223 includes a plurality of first terminals (here, three first terminals TA1 to TA3 are used as examples) and one Second end TB.

多工器223的第一端TA1~TA3分別耦接至偵測焊墊P1~P3，以透過偵測焊墊P1~P3分別耦接至走線TR1~TR3，並且多工器223的第二端TB耦接至電容偵測器225。在本實施例中，第二端TB會依序耦接該些第一端TA1~TA3，以使電容偵測器225依序透過走線TR1~TR3耦接至感測電極110，亦即多工器223逐一耦接第二端TB至第一端TA1~TA3的其中之一，並且電容偵測器225會依序輸出電容值C1~C3至運算邏輯電路123。The first ends TA1 to TA3 of the multiplexer 223 are respectively coupled to the detection pads P1 to P3, so as to be respectively coupled to the traces TR1 to TR3 through the detection pads P1 to P3, and the second end of the multiplexer 223 is The terminal TB is coupled to the capacitance detector 225. In this embodiment, the second terminal TB is sequentially coupled to the first terminals TA1 to TA3, so that the capacitance detector 225 is sequentially coupled to the sensing electrodes 110 through the traces TR1 to TR3, that is, multiple The worker 223 is coupled to one of the second terminal TB to one of the first terminals TA1 to TA3 one by one, and the capacitance detector 225 sequentially outputs the capacitance values C1 to C3 to the operation logic circuit 123.

圖5為依據本發明一實施例的鄰近感測器的偵測方法的流程圖。請參照圖5，在本實施例中，鄰近感測器的偵測方法包括下列步驟。在步驟S610中，會透過多個走線耦接感測電極與感測電路。接著，在步驟S620中，透過感測電路偵測感測電極的電容值。並且，在步驟S630中，於偵測期間，透過運算邏輯電路計算感測電極的電容值變化，以依序提供多個電容變化值，其中各個電容變化值對應這些走線的其中之一。最後，在步驟S640中， 透過運算邏輯電路且依據這些電容變化值提供觸發報告信號。FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for detecting a proximity sensor according to an embodiment of the invention. Please refer to FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the detection method of the proximity sensor includes the following steps. In step S610, the sensing electrodes and the sensing circuit are coupled through a plurality of traces. Next, in step S620, the capacitance value of the sensing electrode is detected through the sensing circuit. Moreover, in step S630, during the detection period, the capacitance value change of the sensing electrode is calculated through an arithmetic logic circuit to sequentially provide a plurality of capacitance change values, wherein each capacitance change value corresponds to one of the traces. Finally, in step S640, a trigger report signal is provided through the arithmetic logic circuit and according to the capacitance change values.

圖6為依據本發明另一實施例的鄰近感測器的偵測方法的流程圖。請參照圖6，在本實施例中，鄰近感測器的偵測方法包括下列步驟。在步驟S710中，會透過多個走線耦接感測電極與感測電路。接著，在步驟S720中，於初始化期間，透過運算邏輯電路將偵測電路所偵測到的多個電容值作為多個電容基準值，各個電容基準值對應這些走線的其中之一。並且，在步驟S730中，於偵測期間，透過運算邏輯電路於偵測期間將偵測電路所偵測到的多個電容值與對應的電容基準值之間的多個差值作為多個電容變化值。FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for detecting a proximity sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the detection method of the proximity sensor includes the following steps. In step S710, the sensing electrodes and the sensing circuit are coupled through a plurality of traces. Then, in step S720, during the initialization period, the plurality of capacitor values detected by the detection circuit are used as the plurality of capacitor reference values, and each capacitor reference value corresponds to one of the traces. Moreover, in step S730, during the detection period, the plurality of capacitors detected by the detection circuit and the corresponding capacitance reference values are used as the plurality of capacitors by the arithmetic logic circuit during the detection period. Change value.

然後，在步驟S740中，會透過運算邏輯電路比較這些電容變化值與對應的電容臨界值。當這些電容變化值不是皆大於對應的電容臨界值時，亦即步驟S740的判斷結果為“否”，則執行步驟S750；當這些電容變化值皆大於對應的電容臨界值時，亦即步驟S740的判斷結果為“是”，則執行步驟S760。在步驟S750中，會禁能觸發報告信號，並且接著回到步驟S730。在步驟S760中，會透過運算邏輯電路總和這些電容變化值以取得電容總和。Then, in step S740, these capacitance change values are compared with corresponding capacitance threshold values through an arithmetic logic circuit. When these capacitance change values are not all larger than the corresponding capacitance critical value, that is, if the determination result of step S740 is “No”, step S750 is performed; when these capacitance change values are greater than the corresponding capacitance critical value, that is, step S740 If the determination result is "YES", step S760 is executed. In step S750, the trigger report signal is disabled, and then the process returns to step S730. In step S760, the capacitance change values are summed up by the operation logic circuit to obtain the total capacitance.

接著，在步驟S770中，會判斷電容總和是否符合反抖動條件。當電容總和不符合反抖動條件時，亦即步驟S770的判斷結果為“否”，則執行步驟S750；當電容總和符合反抖動條件時，亦即步驟S770的判斷結果為“是”，則執行步驟S780。在步驟S780中，會透過運算邏輯電路致能觸發報告信號。Next, in step S770, it is determined whether the total capacitance meets the anti-jitter condition. When the total capacitance does not meet the anti-jitter condition, that is, the judgment result of step S770 is “No”, step S750 is performed; when the total capacitance is that that meets the anti-jitter condition, that is, the determination result of step S770 is “yes”, then execute Step S780. In step S780, a triggering report signal is enabled through an arithmetic logic circuit.

在圖5及圖6的流程圖中，步驟S610~S640、S710~S780的順序為用以說明，本發明實施例不以此為限。並且，步驟S610~S640、S710~S780的細節可參照圖1至圖4的實施例所述。在此則不再贅述。In the flowcharts of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the sequence of steps S610 to S640 and S710 to S780 is used for explanation, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, for details of steps S610 to S640 and S710 to S780, reference may be made to the embodiments in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. I will not repeat them here.

綜上所述，本發明實施例的鄰近感測器及其偵測方法，偵測電路依序透過不同的走線耦接至感測電極，而偵測電路可採用與目前的電容式偵測器類似的電路佈局，因此可透過修改偵測電路內的軟體（亦即韌體），來實現鄰近感測器的偵測功能。藉此，可利用現有的電容式偵測器的來實現鄰近感測，以降低鄰近感測器的整體硬體成本。In summary, in the proximity sensor and the detection method of the embodiment of the present invention, the detection circuit is sequentially coupled to the sensing electrode through different traces, and the detection circuit can use the current capacitive detection. The sensor has a similar circuit layout, so the software (ie, firmware) in the detection circuit can be modified to implement the detection function of the proximity sensor. In this way, the existing capacitive detector can be used to implement proximity sensing, so as to reduce the overall hardware cost of the proximity sensor.

雖然本發明已以實施例揭露如上，然其並非用以限定本發明，任何所屬技術領域中具有通常知識者，在不脫離本發明的精神和範圍內，當可作些許的更動與潤飾，故本發明的保護範圍當視後附的申請專利範圍所界定者為準。Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with the examples, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some modifications and retouching without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application.

∆C1、∆C2、∆C3‧‧‧電容變化值∆C1, ∆C2, ∆C3‧‧‧Capacitance change

100、200‧‧‧鄰近感測器100, 200‧‧‧ Proximity Sensor

110‧‧‧感測電極110‧‧‧sensing electrode

120、220‧‧‧積體電路120, 220‧‧‧Integrated Circuit

121、221‧‧‧偵測電路121, 221‧‧‧ detection circuit

122_1~122_3、225‧‧‧電容偵測器122_1 ~ 122_3, 225‧‧‧Capacitance detector

123‧‧‧運算邏輯電路123‧‧‧ Operational logic circuit

223‧‧‧多工器223‧‧‧Multiplexer

BL1~BL3‧‧‧電容基準值BL1 ~ BL3‧‧‧Capacitor reference value

C1~C3‧‧‧電容值C1 ~ C3‧‧‧Capacitance

P1~P3‧‧‧偵測焊墊P1 ~ P3‧‧‧ Detection pad

Pint‧‧‧初始化期間Pint‧‧‧ during initialization

PSN1、PSN2‧‧‧偵測期間PSN1, PSN2 ‧‧‧ Detection period

Rth‧‧‧報告臨界值Rth‧‧‧Reporting threshold

STRx‧‧‧觸發報告信號STRx‧‧‧Trigger report signal

TA1~TA3‧‧‧第一端TA1 ~ TA3‧‧‧First end

TB‧‧‧第二端TB‧‧‧Second End

Tdb‧‧‧去抖動次數Tdb‧‧‧Debounce times

TR1~TR3‧‧‧走線TR1 ~ TR3‧‧‧route

ture、false‧‧‧邏輯準位ture, false‧‧‧Logical level

ΣCx‧‧‧電容總和ΣCx‧‧‧Capacitor Sum

S610~S640、S710~S780‧‧‧步驟S610 ~ S640, S710 ~ S780‧‧‧step

圖1為依據本發明一實施例的鄰近感測器的系統示意圖。 圖2至圖3為依據本發明一實施例的鄰近感測器的運作示意圖。 圖4為依據本發明另一實施例的鄰近感測器的系統示意圖。 圖5為依據本發明一實施例的鄰近感測器的偵測方法的流程圖。 圖6為依據本發明另一實施例的鄰近感測器的偵測方法的流程圖。FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system of a proximity sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 to FIG. 3 are operation schematic diagrams of a proximity sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system of a proximity sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for detecting a proximity sensor according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a method for detecting a proximity sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (16)

一種鄰近感測器，包括： 一感測電極； 一偵測電路，用以偵測該感測電極的電容值； 多個走線，耦接於該感測電極與該感測電路之間；以及 一運算邏輯電路，耦接該偵測電路，於一偵測期間計算該感測電極的電容值變化，以依序產生多個電容變化值，並且依據該些電容變化值提供一觸發報告信號，其中各該些電容變化值對應該些走線的其中之一。A proximity sensor includes: a sensing electrode; a detection circuit for detecting a capacitance value of the sensing electrode; a plurality of traces coupled between the sensing electrode and the sensing circuit; And an arithmetic logic circuit coupled to the detection circuit, calculating a capacitance change of the sensing electrode during a detection period to sequentially generate a plurality of capacitance change values, and providing a trigger report signal according to the capacitance change values Each of these capacitance changes corresponds to one of the traces. 如申請專利範圍第1項所述的鄰近感測器，其中該偵測電路包括多個電容偵測器，各該些電容偵測器透過該些走線的其中之一耦接至該感測電極，並且該些電容偵測器依序偵測及提供該感測電極的電容值。The proximity sensor according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the detection circuit includes a plurality of capacitance detectors, and each of the capacitance detectors is coupled to the sensing device through one of the traces. Electrodes, and the capacitance detectors sequentially detect and provide capacitance values of the sensing electrodes. 如申請專利範圍第2項所述的鄰近感測器，其中該些電容偵測器逐一啟動。The proximity sensor according to item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein the capacitance detectors are activated one by one. 如申請專利範圍第1項所述的鄰近感測器，其中該偵測電路包括： 一多工器，具有耦接該些走線的多個第一端及一第二端，其中該第二端依序耦接該些第一端；以及 一電容偵測器，耦接該第二端，用以提供該感測電極的電容值。The proximity sensor according to item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the detection circuit includes: a multiplexer having a plurality of first ends and a second end coupled to the traces, wherein the second A terminal is coupled to the first terminals in sequence; and a capacitance detector is coupled to the second terminal to provide a capacitance value of the sensing electrode. 如申請專利範圍第4項所述的鄰近感測器，其中該多工器逐一耦接該第二端至該些第一端的其中之一。The proximity sensor according to item 4 of the patent application, wherein the multiplexer is coupled to the second end to one of the first ends one by one. 如申請專利範圍第1項所述的鄰近感測器，更包括具有該偵測電路及該運算邏輯電路的一積體電路中，並且該偵測電路透過該積體電路的多個偵測焊墊耦接至該些走線。The proximity sensor according to item 1 of the patent application scope further includes an integrated circuit having the detection circuit and the arithmetic logic circuit, and the detection circuit passes a plurality of detection bonds of the integrated circuit. A pad is coupled to the traces. 如申請專利範圍第6項所述的鄰近感測器，其中該些偵測焊墊為緊鄰的偵測焊墊。The proximity sensor according to item 6 of the patent application, wherein the detection pads are adjacent detection pads. 如申請專利範圍第1項所述的鄰近感測器，其中該運算邏輯電路於一初始化期間將該偵測電路所偵測到的多個電容值作為多個電容基準值，並且於該偵測期間將該偵測電路所偵測到的多個電容值與對應的電容基準值之間的多個差值作為該些電容變化值，其中各該些電容基準值對應該些走線的其中之一。The proximity sensor according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the arithmetic logic circuit uses a plurality of capacitance values detected by the detection circuit as a plurality of capacitance reference values during an initialization period, and the detection is performed during the detection. During the process, the plurality of differences between the plurality of capacitance values detected by the detection circuit and the corresponding capacitance reference values are used as the capacitance change values, wherein each of the capacitance reference values corresponds to one of the traces. One. 如申請專利範圍第8項所述的鄰近感測器，其中當該些電容變化值皆大於對應的電容臨界值時，該運算邏輯電路總和該些電容變化值以取得一電容總和，比較該電容總和與一報告臨界值，在該電容總和大於該報告臨界值時進行計數以提供一計數值，並且依據該計數值設定該觸發報告信號。The proximity sensor according to item 8 of the scope of patent application, wherein when the capacitance change values are greater than the corresponding capacitance thresholds, the operation logic circuit sums the capacitance change values to obtain a capacitance sum, and compares the capacitance The sum and a report threshold value are counted to provide a count value when the sum of the capacitors is greater than the report threshold value, and the trigger report signal is set according to the count value. 如申請專利範圍第9項所述的鄰近感測器，其中當該計數值大於一去抖動次數時，致能該觸發報告信號，當該計數值小於等於該去抖動次數時，禁能該觸發報告信號。The proximity sensor according to item 9 of the scope of patent application, wherein when the count value is greater than a debounce number, the trigger report signal is enabled, and when the count value is less than or equal to the debounce number, the trigger is disabled Report signals. 如申請專利範圍第9項所述的鄰近感測器，其中當該電容總和大於該報告臨界值時，該計數值加一，當該電容總和小於等於該報告臨界值時，重置該計數值。The proximity sensor according to item 9 of the scope of patent application, wherein when the total capacitance is greater than the reporting threshold, the count value is increased by one, and when the total capacitance is less than or equal to the reporting threshold, the count value is reset . 一種鄰近感測器的偵測方法，包括： 透過多個走線耦接於一感測電極與一感測電路； 透過該感測電路偵測該感測電極的電容值； 於一偵測期間，透過一運算邏輯電路計算該感測電極的電容值變化，以依序提供多個電容變化值，其中各該些電容變化值對應該些走線的其中之一；以及 透過該運算邏輯電路且依據該些電容變化值提供一觸發報告信號。A method for detecting a proximity sensor includes: coupling a sensing electrode and a sensing circuit through a plurality of wires; detecting a capacitance value of the sensing electrode through the sensing circuit; and during a detection period Calculating the change in capacitance of the sensing electrode through an operation logic circuit to sequentially provide a plurality of capacitance change values, wherein each of the capacitance change values corresponds to one of the traces; and through the operation logic circuit and A trigger report signal is provided according to the capacitance change values. 如申請專利範圍第12項所述的鄰近感測器的偵測方法，其中依序提供該些電容變化值的步驟包括： 透過該運算邏輯電路於一初始化期間將該偵測電路所偵測到的多個電容值作為多個電容基準值；以及 透過該運算邏輯電路於該偵測期間將該偵測電路所偵測到的多個電容值與對應的電容基準值之間的多個差值作為該些電容變化值，其中各該些電容基準值對應該些走線的其中之一。According to the detection method of the proximity sensor according to item 12 of the patent application, the steps of sequentially providing the capacitance change values include: detecting the detection circuit through an arithmetic logic circuit during an initialization period; The plurality of capacitance values as the plurality of capacitance reference values; and the plurality of difference values between the plurality of capacitance values detected by the detection circuit and the corresponding capacitance reference values through the arithmetic logic circuit during the detection period. As the capacitance change values, each of the capacitance reference values corresponds to one of the traces. 如申請專利範圍第13項所述的鄰近感測器的偵測方法，其中依據該些電容變化值提供該觸發報告信號的步驟包括： 透過該運算邏輯電路比較該些電容變化值與對應的電容臨界值； 當該些電容變化值皆大於對應的電容臨界值時，透過該運算邏輯電路總和該些電容變化值以取得一電容總和； 透過該運算邏輯電路比較該電容總和與一報告臨界值； 在該電容總和大於該報告臨界值時進行計數以提供一計數值；以及 透過該運算邏輯電路且依據該計數值設定該觸發報告信號。According to the detection method of the proximity sensor according to item 13 of the patent application scope, the step of providing the trigger report signal according to the capacitance change values includes: comparing the capacitance change values with corresponding capacitances through the operation logic circuit Critical value; when the capacitance change values are greater than the corresponding capacitance threshold value, the operation logic circuit sums up the capacitance change values to obtain a capacitance sum; the operation logic circuit compares the capacitance sum with a report threshold value; Counting to provide a count value when the total capacitance is greater than the report threshold; and setting the trigger report signal through the arithmetic logic circuit according to the count value. 如申請專利範圍第14項所述的鄰近感測器的偵測方法，其中依據該計數值設定該觸發報告信號的步驟包括： 當該計數值大於一去抖動次數時，致能該觸發報告信號；以及 當該計數值小於等於該去抖動次數時，禁能該觸發報告信號。The method for detecting a proximity sensor according to item 14 of the scope of patent application, wherein the step of setting the trigger report signal according to the count value includes: enabling the trigger report signal when the count value is greater than a debounce number. ; And when the count value is less than or equal to the number of debounces, the trigger report signal is disabled. 如申請專利範圍第14項所述的鄰近感測器的偵測方法，其中在該電容總和大於等於該報告臨界值時進行計數以提供該計數值的步驟包括： 當該電容總和大於該報告臨界值時，該計數值加一；以及 當該電容總和小於等於該報告臨界值時，重置該計數值。The method for detecting a proximity sensor according to item 14 of the scope of patent application, wherein the step of counting when the total capacitance is greater than or equal to the reported threshold includes providing the count value: when the total capacitance is greater than the reported threshold The count value is increased by one; and when the total capacitance is less than or equal to the reported threshold, the count value is reset.
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