Anechoic Dampening Material for Ultrasonic Touch Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic touch location detection systems face inefficiencies due to signal reflections from edges and boundaries, which consume excessive computational resources and can interfere with the detection of touch inputs, particularly on surfaces like glass where unwanted noise and higher order propagation modes are excited.
Innovation Solution
The use of an acoustic transmitter and receiver system with an acoustic dampening material, specifically a shaped dampening material with a gradual attenuation property and anechoic shape, to minimize signal reflections and selectively excite the AO propagation mode, reducing noise and improving detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If signal filters and other signal processing are utilized to reduce the effects of reflections, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the computation resources consumed increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies anechoic material to the edges and boundaries of the touch-sensitive surface to absorb ultrasonic reflections that would otherwise interfere with touch detection. By converting the harmful reflected signals into absorbed energy, the system eliminates the need for complex computational filtering while maintaining high detection accuracy. The anechoic material physically removes the reflection problem at its source rather than attempting to process it computationally.
2Ease of operation
If ultrasonic signals are transmitted through the touch detection surface, then touch location detection is enabled, but signal reflections from edges and boundaries interfere with detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful reflection problem by applying anechoic material specifically to edges and boundaries where reflections originate. This targeted approach removes the interfering reflections from the system while preserving the useful ultrasonic signal transmission through the main body of the touch surface, allowing clean touch detection without edge interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The anechoic material serves as an intermediary element between the ultrasonic signals and the edge boundaries. Instead of allowing direct interaction between signals and hard edges that cause reflections, the anechoic material mediates by absorbing the ultrasonic energy, preventing harmful reflections while maintaining the overall functionality of the touch detection system.
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 approach enhances the efficiency of touch input detection by reducing unwanted reflections and noise, allowing for more accurate and resource-efficient detection of touch inputs on surfaces like glass without compromising user experience.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic dampening material, specifically a shaped dampening material with a gradual attenuation property and anechoic shape, to minimize signal reflections
Implementation Method 2
acoustic dampening material... to dampen reflections of the transmitted acoustic wave
Implementation Method 3
ultrasonic waves may be used for touch location detection... ultrasonic signals are transmitted through a medium of the touch detection surface
Implementation Method 4
acoustic transmitter... emits a signal to be propagated through the propagating medium
Implementation Method 5
a receiver coupled to the propagating medium receives the signal... to determine a location on the surface associated with the touch input
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A touch input detector is disclosed. The touch input detector includes an acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic wave across a touch input medium. The touch input detector also includes an acoustic receiver for receiving the transmitted acoustic wave, wherein the timing of the incidence of the acoustic wave on the acoustic receiver indicates at least a portion of a touch input location on a surface of the touch input medium. The touch input detector further includes an acoustic dampening material coupled to the touch input medium to dampen reflections of the transmitted acoustic wave.