# US 2020/0401249 A1 · Active input sensing using regional scanning > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0401249 A1 - Document ID: US20200401249A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/448,436 - Filed: 2019-06-21 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-21 - Assignees: Synaptics Incorporated - Applicants: Synaptics Incorporated - Inventors: Guozhong SHEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200401249A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 3/04166: {Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving (Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184)} - G06F 3/041661: {using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window} - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - H03K 2017/9615: {using three electrodes per touch switch} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract Aspects described herein include a method and associated input device and processing system. The method comprises dividing a sensing region into a plurality of regions. The sensing region is defined by a plurality of sensor electrodes. Each region of the plurality of regions is partially overlapped by one or more other regions. The method further comprises detecting, during at least a first active input sensing sub-period, a presence of an active input device by a first sensor electrode. The method further comprises selecting, based on a location of the first sensor electrode, a first region of the plurality of regions that includes the first sensor electrode. The method further comprises determining, during at least a second active input sensing sub-period, a location of the active input device using sensor electrodes that are included in the first region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of sensing during one or more sensing periods, each sensing period comprising a touch sensing sub-period and at least one active input sensing sub-period, the method comprising: dividing a sensing region into a plurality of regions, wherein the sensing region is defined by a plurality of sensor electrodes, and wherein each region of the plurality of regions is partially overlapped by one or more other regions of the plurality of regions; detecting, during at least a first active input sensing sub-period of a first sensing period, a presence of an active input device by a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes; selecting, based on a location of the first sensor electrode, a first region of the plurality of regions that includes the first sensor electrode; and determining, during at least a second active input sensing sub-period, a location of the active input device using sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes that are included in the first region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor electrode is within a first overlap region in which the first region overlaps a second region of the plurality of regions, and wherein selecting the first region is based on a position of the first sensor electrode within the first overlap region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the first region comprises: defining a boundary within the first overlap region along one dimension; and determining which side of the boundary the first sensor electrode is located. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the boundary is defined halfway along the dimension in the first overlap region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the boundary is defined such that the first sensor electrode is located on both sides of the boundary, and wherein selecting the first region further comprises: determining a next-closest sensor electrode to the first sensor electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the active input device comprises: during the second active input sensing sub-period, determining the location of the active input device along a first dimension and along a second dimension of the sensing region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein determining the location of the active input device during the second active input sensing sub-period comprises sensing a first frequency transmitted by the active input device, the method further comprising: during a third active input sensing sub-period, sensing a second frequency transmitted by the active input device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more sensing periods comprises a respective touch frame corresponding to an entirety of the sensing region, and wherein each touch frame comprises a respective plurality of distributed touch sensing sub-periods. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each touch frame further comprises a respective plurality of active input sensing sub-periods. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of an active input device comprises sensing with a reduced resolution using a first set of sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein detecting the presence of an active input device comprises sensing along only a first dimension of the sensing region using the first set of sensor electrodes, and wherein determining the location of the active input device comprises sensing along the first dimension and a second dimension of the sensing region using a second set of sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first set of sensor electrodes comprises alternating electrodes along the first dimension. ### Claim 13 An input device comprising: a plurality of sensor electrodes defining a sensing region; and a processing system configured to: divide the sensing region into a plurality of regions, wherein each region of the plurality of regions is partially overlapped by one or more other regions of the plurality of regions; detect, during at least a first active input sensing sub-period of a first sensing period comprising a touch sensing sub-period and at least one active input sensing sub-period, a presence of an active input device by a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes; select, based on a location of the first sensor electrode, a first region of the plurality of regions that includes the first sensor electrode; and determine, during at least a second active input sensing sub-period, a location of the active input device using sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes that are included in the first region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The input device of claim 13, wherein the first sensor electrode is within a first overlap region in which the first region overlaps a second region of the plurality of regions, and wherein selecting the first region is based on a position of the first sensor electrode within the first overlap region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The input device of claim 14, wherein selecting the first region comprises: defining a boundary within the first overlap region along one dimension; and determining which side of the boundary the first sensor electrode is located. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The input device of claim 13, wherein determining the location of the active input device comprises: during the second active input sensing sub-period, determining the location of the active input device along a first dimension and along a second dimension of the sensing region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The input device of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more sensing periods comprises a respective touch frames corresponding to an entirety of the sensing region, and wherein each touch frame comprises a respective plurality of distributed touch sensing sub-periods. ### Claim 18 A processing system for operating a plurality of sensor electrodes defining a sensing region, the processing system comprising: sensor circuitry configured to: divide the sensing region into a plurality of regions, wherein each region of the plurality of regions is partially overlapped by one or more other regions of the plurality of regions; detect, during at least a first active input sensing sub-period of a first sensing period comprising a touch sensing sub-period and at least one active input sensing sub-period, a presence of an active input device by a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes; select, based on a location of the first sensor electrode, a first region of the plurality of regions that includes the first sensor electrode; and determine, during at least a second active input sensing sub-period, a location of the active input device using sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes that are included in the first region. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The processing system of claim 18, wherein the first sensor electrode is within a first overlap region in which the first region overlaps a second region of the plurality of regions, and wherein selecting the first region is based on a position of the first sensor electrode within the first overlap region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The processing system of claim 19, wherein selecting the first region comprises: defining a boundary within the first overlap region along one dimension; and determining which side of the boundary the first sensor electrode is located. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The processing system of claim 18, wherein determining the location of the active input device comprises: during the second active input sensing sub-period, determining the location of the active input device along a first dimension and along a second dimension of the sensing region. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The processing system of claim 18, wherein each of the one or more sensing periods comprises a respective touch frames corresponding to an entirety of the sensing region, and wherein each touch frame comprises a respective plurality of distributed touch sensing sub-periods.