
Production Data
WM9712L
w
PD Rev 4.0 December 2003
39
The principle of operation is illustrated below (Note: the illustrations assume that the top plate is used
for X and the bottom plate for Y measurements, although the reverse is also possible).
Y+ (15)
X+
(14)
Y- (17)
X- (16)
R
X+
R
Y-
pen / finger
R
Y+
R
X-
V
M
= (V
- V
) R
/ (R
+ R
X+
)
= proportional to X position
ADC
V
REF+
V
REF-
TPVDD
TPGND
WM9712
VM
Figure 6 X Co-ordinate Measurement on 4-wire Touchpanel
For an X co-ordinate measurement, the X+ pin is internally switched to VDD and X- to GND. The X
plate becomes a potential divider, and the voltage at the point of contact is proportional to its X co-
ordinate. This voltage is measured on the Y+ and Y- pins, which carry no current (hence there is no
voltage drop in R
Y+
or R
Y-
).
Due to the ratiometric measurement method, the supply voltage does not affect measurement
accuracy. The voltage references VREF+ and VREF- are taken from after the matrix switches, so
that any voltage drop in these switches has no effect on the ADC measurement.
Y+ (15)
X+
(14)
Y- (17)
X- (16)
R
X+
R
Y-
pen / finger
R
Y+
R
X-
V
M
= (V
- V
) R
/ (R
+ R
Y+
)
= proportional to Y position
ADC
V
REF+
V
REF-
TPVDD
TPGND
WM9712
VM
Figure 7 Y Co-ordinate Measurement on 4-wire Touchpanel
Y co-ordinate measurements are similar to X co-ordinate measurements, with the X and Y plates
interchanged.
zero power
comparator
Y+ (15)
X+
(14)
Y- (17)
X- (16)
R
X+
R
Y-
pen / finger
R
Y+
R
X-
TPGND
WM9712
PEN
DOWN
TPVDD
R
PU
Figure 8 Pen Down Detection on 4-wire Touchpanel
Pen down detection uses a zero power comparator (effectively a CMOS logic gate) with an internal,
programmable pull-up resistor R
PU
that controls pen-down sensitivity. Increasing R
PU
makes the
touchpanel less sensitive to touch, while lowering R
PU
makes it more sensitive.