Acoustic Touch Force Detection via Bezel Transducers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch detection technologies, such as capacitive and resistive, surface acoustic wave, and APR, face challenges in accurately and efficiently detecting touch inputs, especially pressure or force, and are costly and prone to inaccuracies due to external interference, and struggle with multi-touch inputs and maintaining optical transparency.
Innovation Solution
A system using acoustic transducers to transmit and detect scattered waves from touch inputs, allowing for the determination of touch location and force by processing signals from multiple sensors, enabling accurate detection of touch inputs and pressure without coating the entire screen, thus reducing costs and maintaining transparency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If capacitive or resistive touch detection technology is used, then touch input detection is enabled, but the glass screen clarity is reduced and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the touch detection function from the glass screen surface by using acoustic transducers mounted on the bezel or frame surrounding the display. The acoustic waves propagate through the glass edge or frame structure to detect touches, eliminating the need for conductive coatings on the visible glass surface, thereby maintaining optical clarity while enabling reliable touch detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary medium to detect touch inputs. The acoustic transducers generate and detect acoustic waves that travel through the glass or frame structure, serving as a mediator between the user's touch and the detection system, avoiding direct contact with the glass surface and preserving its transparency.
2Reliability
If capacitive or resistive touch detection technology is used, then touch input detection is enabled, but manufacturing and component costs become prohibitively expensive for larger screens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the touch detection function from the main display assembly by placing acoustic transducers on the bezel or frame rather than integrating coatings across the entire glass surface. This segmentation allows the detection system to be implemented independently of the display size, reducing material costs and simplifying manufacturing for larger screens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive conductive glass coatings with more cost-effective acoustic transducers that can be mounted on the frame or bezel. These transducers use acoustic wave propagation through existing structural elements, eliminating the need for expensive specialized glass materials and reducing overall component costs.
3Reliability
If surface acoustic wave technology with reflectors is used, then touch detection is enabled, but costs increase and multi-touch detection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the acoustic transducers multi-functional by using them for both generating acoustic waves and detecting touch inputs. The same transducer array that emits acoustic waves for navigation also detects touches, eliminating the need for separate reflector systems and reducing overall device complexity while enabling multi-touch detection.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using passive reflectors to guide acoustic waves as in traditional SAW technology, the patent inverts the approach by using active transducers on the bezel to generate and detect acoustic waves. This inversion simplifies the system architecture and enables more flexible multi-touch detection capabilities.
4Adaptability or versatility
If pressure detection is attempted by measuring touch input area size, then pressure detection is enabled, but accuracy is reduced when different sized fingers or hard stylus are used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of measuring contact area size with an acoustic wave-based detection system. The acoustic transducers detect changes in acoustic wave propagation caused by pressure applied to the glass or frame, providing pressure measurement that is independent of the contact area size or the type of object used to apply pressure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides reliable and efficient detection of touch inputs and pressure across larger surfaces with improved accuracy and reduced costs, enabling enhanced user interface interactions and multi-touch capabilities without compromising optical clarity.
Implementation Method 1
An acoustic transducer transmits an acoustic wave through a medium of a touch input surface. The acoustic wave is scattered by producing a scattered acoustic wave.
Implementation Method 2
an acoustic transducer transmits an acoustic wave through a medium of a touch input surface
Data Source
AI summary
Detecting a touch input force is disclosed. A signal to be used to propagate a propagating signal through a propagating medium with a surface is sent. The propagating signal that has been disturbed by a touch input with an amount of force on the surface is received. The received signal is processed to determine an identifier associated with the amount of force.