US 12,242,304 B2
Device having a flexible/foldable touch screen display with multiple touch areas
Richard Stuart Seger, Jr., Belton, TX (US); Michael Shawn Gray, Elgin, TX (US); Daniel Keith Van Ostrand, Leander, TX (US); and Patrick Troy Gray, Cedar Park, TX (US)
Assigned to SigmaSense, LLC., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by SigmaSense, LLC., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Feb. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/436,663.
Application 18/436,663 is a continuation of application No. 18/102,413, filed on Jan. 27, 2023, granted, now 11,899,499.
Application 18/102,413 is a continuation of application No. 17/444,417, filed on Aug. 4, 2021, granted, now 11,592,874, issued on Feb. 28, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0241544 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. G06F 1/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G06F 3/044 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/1652 (2013.01) [G06F 1/1616 (2013.01); G06F 1/1643 (2013.01); G06F 1/1647 (2013.01); G06F 1/1692 (2013.01); G06F 3/04166 (2019.05); G06F 3/0444 (2019.05); G06F 3/0446 (2019.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device comprising:
a flexible display configured to display images in at least a first touch area and a second touch area, wherein at least a portion of the second touch area is located on a side surface of the device;
a first plurality of column electrodes integrated into the first touch area of the flexible display;
a second plurality of column electrodes integrated into the second touch area of the flexible display;
a plurality of row electrodes integrated into and extending across the first touch area and the second touch area;
a plurality of drive-sense circuits operable, when enabled, to drive sensor signals on the first plurality of column electrodes, the second plurality of column electrodes, and the plurality of row electrodes; and
a processing module coupled to the plurality of drive-sense circuits, the processing module configured to:
sense, based on the sensor signals, an electrical characteristic of at least one row electrode and at least one column electrode of the first plurality of column electrodes or the second plurality of column electrodes; and
determine, based on the electrical characteristic, a proximal touch to at least one of the first touch area or the second touch area.