Synchronization of sensor modules on a computing device

摘要

A computing device may include a sensor controller configured to control operations of a human-touch capacitive sensor module, a near-field communication (NFC) controller configured to control operations of an NFC module, and/or a plurality of communication lines including a first communication line and a second communication line. Each of the first and second communication lines may be connected to the sensor controller and the NFC controller such that control signals are transferred between the sensor controller and the NFC controller to synchronize the operations of the human-touch capacitive sensor module and the operations of the NFC module.

主权项

1. A method for synchronizing operations of sensors on a computing device according to a synchronization protocol, the method comprising:
determining, by a first controller configured to control a human-touch capacitive sensor, whether a non-allowability control signal is detected via a first communication line connected between the first controller and a second controller configured to control a short-range wireless communication sensor; delaying, by the first controller, a start of a scan operation of the human-touch capacitive sensor when the non-allowability control signal is detected on the first communication line; asserting, by the first controller, an active control signal via a second communication line connected between the first controller and the second controller when the non-allowability control signal is not detected on the first communication line; performing, by the human-touch capacitive sensor, the scan operation such that the active control signal is asserted by the first controller until operations of the human-touch capacitive sensor are completed; and detecting, by the first controller, the non-allowability control signal on the first communication line but disregarding the non-allowability control signal when the human-touch capacitive sensor is currently active such that the active control signal is continuously driven until the operations of the human-touch capacitive sensor are completed.