Capacitive touch sensor and method

Abstract

A capacitive touch sensor is disclosed for use with input signal. The capacitive touch sensor includes a number n of input/output lines. Each of the number n of input/output lines is electrically disconnected from every other of the number n of input/output lines. Each of the number n of input/output lines is arranged to cross every other of the number n of input/output lines. Each of a number β of positions, includes one of the number n of input/output lines crossing another of the number n of input/output lines.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A capacitive touch sensor for use with input signal, said capacitive touch sensor comprising:
 a number n of input/output lines;   wherein each of said number n of input/output lines is electrically disconnected from every other of said number n of input/output lines,   wherein each of said number n of input/output lines is arranged to cross every other of said number n of input/output lines, and   wherein each of a number β of positions, includes one of said number n of input/output lines crossing another of said number n of input/output lines.   
     
     
         2 . The capacitive touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein said number of positions β comprises 
       
         
           
             
               
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         3 . The capacitive touch sensor of  claim 2 , wherein when one of said number n of input/output lines having the input signal therein crosses another of said number n of input/output lines, a respective electric field is created between said one of said number n of input/output lines and said another of said number n of input/output lines. 
     
     
         4 . The capacitive touch sensor of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a number β of conductive formations, each disposed at one of the number β of positions, respectively,   wherein one of said number of β conductive formations comprises a first conductive component and a second conductive component, the first conductive component being electrically connected to one of said number n of input/output lines, and the second conductive component being electrically connected to another of said number n of input/output lines.   
     
     
         5 . The capacitive touch sensor of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a number β of conductive formations, each disposed at one of the number β of positions, respectively,   wherein one of said number of β conductive formations comprises a first conductive component and a second conductive component, the first conductive component being electrically connected to one of said number n of input/output lines, and the second conductive component being electrically connected to another of said number n of input/output lines.   
     
     
         6 . The capacitive touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein when one of said number n of input/output lines having the input current therein crosses another of said number n of input/output lines, a respective electric field is created between said one of said number n of input/output lines and said another of said number n of input/output lines. 
     
     
         7 . The capacitive touch sensor of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a number β of conductive formations, each disposed at one of the number β of positions, respectively,   wherein one of said number of β conductive formations comprises a first conductive component and a second conductive component, the first conductive component being electrically connected to one of said number n of input/output lines, and the second conductive component being electrically connected to another of said number n of input/output lines.   
     
     
         8 . The capacitive touch sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a number β of conductive formations, each disposed at one of the number β of positions, respectively,   wherein one of said number of β conductive formations comprises a first conductive component and a second conductive component, the first conductive component being electrically connected to one of said number n of input/output lines, and the second conductive component being electrically connected to another of said number n of input/output lines.   
     
     
         9 . The capacitive touch sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising a scanning component operable to detect a capacitance for a plurality of said number n of input/output lines, respectively, and to detect a touching of one of said number β of conductive formations based on the detected capacitances. 
     
     
         10 . The capacitive touch sensor of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a database having fault data stored therein; and   a fault determining component,   wherein said scanning component is further operable to detect a parameter value for a plurality of said number n of input/output lines, respectively, and to generate comparison values based on a comparison between the detected parameter values and the fault data, and   wherein said fault determining component is operable to output a fault signal based on the comparison values.   
     
     
         11 . A method of using a capacitive touch sensor, said method comprising:
 providing a signal to one of a number n of input/output lines, each of the number n of input/output lines is electrically disconnected from every other of the number n of input/output lines, each of the number n of input/output lines is arranged to cross every other of the number n of input/output lines;   detecting a parameter of another of the number n of input/output lines.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said detecting a parameter comprises detecting one of the group consisting of voltage, current, capacitance, inductance, resistance, impedance, change in voltage, change in current, change in capacitance, change in inductance, change in resistance, change in impedance and combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said detecting a parameter comprises detecting one of the group consisting of capacitance, change in capacitance and combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 scanning each touch point of a capacitive touch sensor to obtain a parameter value for each touch point, respectively;   comparing each of the obtained parameter values with a fault table; and   providing a fault value when one of the obtained parameter values coincides with the fault table.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said scanning comprises providing a signal to one of a number n of input/output lines, each of the number n of input/output lines is electrically disconnected from every other of the number n of input/output lines, each of the number n of input/output lines is arranged to cross every other of the number n of input/output lines. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said scanning comprises scanning each touch point of a capacitive touch sensor to obtain one of the group consisting of voltage, current, capacitance, inductance, resistance, impedance, change in voltage, change in current, change in capacitance, change in inductance, change in resistance, change in impedance and combination thereof, for each touch point, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said scanning comprises scanning each touch point of a capacitive touch sensor to obtain one of the group consisting of capacitance, change in capacitance and combination thereof, for each touch point, respectively.