Air Touch Key Structure Using Charge Variation for Accurate Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional capacitive touch screens are prone to false recognition due to environmental influences and touch manner, leading to inaccurate touch recognition, especially when devices that emit electric radiation are nearby or when touch is not firm enough.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an air touch key structure with an insulating touch panel and electrodes that generate polarizing electric fields, allowing touch recognition based on charge variation and its ratio to a charge balance, eliminating the need for direct contact with charged electrodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If charge amount detection method is used for touch recognition, then touch recognition can be implemented, but false recognition occurs due to environmental influences and touch manner variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch recognition accuracyVSAvoidfalse recognition rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the detection parameter from charge amount to charge variation and charge balance ratio. This parameter transformation allows the system to eliminate false recognitions caused by environmental factors while maintaining touch detection capability. The charge variation and charge balance ratio are calculated based on charged electrodes and insulating touch panel interaction, providing a more reliable touch recognition mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If direct contact with charged electrodes is required for touch input, then touch recognition can be achieved, but operator safety is compromised and false recognition may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch input capabilityVSAvoidoperator contact risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an insulating touch panel as an intermediary between the operator and the charged electrodes. The touch panel allows the operator to interact with the system without direct contact with charged components, eliminating safety risks and false recognitions associated with direct electrode contact. The insulating panel mediates the interaction by allowing charge variation detection while preventing harmful contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If conventional charge amount detection is used, then touch recognition system can function, but accuracy deteriorates when electric radiation emitting devices are nearby

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch recognition functionalityVSAvoidtouch recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by continuously monitoring charge variation and charge balance ratio on charged electrodes. This feedback allows the system to distinguish between actual touch inputs and environmental interference from electric radiation emitting devices. The dual-parameter approach (charge variation and charge balance ratio) provides robust feedback that maintains recognition accuracy even in challenging electromagnetic environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 method provides more accurate touch recognition by using charge variation and balance ratios, reducing false recognition and enabling air touch functionality, thus avoiding misoperations.

Implementation Method 1

Electric fields generated after electrode charging may penetrate an insulating touch panel to generate polarizing electric fields

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectric Field: Electric Field

Implementation Method 2

Electric fields generated after electrode charging may penetrate an insulating touch panel to generate polarizing electric fields

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarisation: Polarisation

Implementation Method 3

When a body or a special touch device, e.g., a stylus, approaches a capacitor induction electrode, capacitance detected by a sensing control circuit may be changed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic Induction: Electrostatic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2624108B1Touch recognition method, touch key structure and touch device
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 JIANGSU HUITONG GRP
  • EP2624108B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2624108B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2624108B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A touch recognition method, a touch key structure and a touch device are provided. The touch recognition method includes when the touch key structure is faced to touching or near touching, supplementing charges to a charge accumulation area corresponding to each key in the touch key structure until the charge amount in the charge accumulation area corresponding to each key reaches a balance (s1); calculating the charge variation amount in each charge accumulation area when the touch key structure is faced to touching according to the charge supplement amount in the charge accumulation area corresponding to each key (s2), and calculating the ratio of the charge variation amount to the charge balance amount in each charge accumulation area (s3); recognizing the key corresponding to the charge accumulation area which has the largest charge variation amount and the largest ratio of the charge variation amount to the charge balance amount as the touched key (s4).