Appliance Touch Panel User Estimation via Capacitance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional personal authentication systems using cameras and biometric sensors face challenges such as privacy concerns, high costs, and user discomfort, as they require intentional user interaction and are not commonly integrated into appliances and housing equipment.
Innovation Solution
An appliance with an electrostatic capacitance touch sensor input unit that estimates users based on control command types and operation features, allowing for unconscious personal estimation without the need for camera-based authentication, utilizing machine-learning and AI for accurate classification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If camera-based authentication is used, then personal authentication can be performed, but privacy concerns and user discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication function from camera-based systems and implements it using only existing touch panel sensors. By taking out the camera component and using solely the touch panel's capacitance sensing capability, the system achieves authentication without the privacy concerns associated with camera-based biometric capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of biometric information through operational patterns rather than direct physical biometric capture. Instead of copying actual biometric data like facial features or fingerprints, the system copies authentication capability through analysis of touch operation patterns, timing, and sequences.
2Measurement precision
If fingerprint authentication is used, then accurate personal identification can be achieved, but cost of incorporation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the touch panel serve multiple functions: it acts as both the user interface for normal appliance operation and as the sensor for authentication. By giving the touch panel universal functionality, the system eliminates the need for separate fingerprint sensors or cameras, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system uses the touch panel's own operational data to perform authentication. The touch panel naturally captures operational patterns during normal use, and these patterns are analyzed for authentication purposes. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional dedicated authentication hardware.
3Loss of information
If camera authentication is used, then personal estimation can be performed, but user awareness and psychological burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously collects operational data from the touch panel during normal appliance usage. Rather than requiring discrete authentication actions, the system continuously accumulates operational patterns that can be analyzed for personal estimation, making the process seamless and user-comfortable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of operational patterns during normal usage to build a baseline for personal estimation. By preparing authentication and estimation data during routine operations rather than requiring dedicated authentication sessions, the system reduces user burden and increases comfort.
4Reliability
If first-time personal authentication is required, then security can be ensured, but user convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication analysis during the first few normal usage sessions rather than requiring a dedicated authentication step. By collecting and analyzing operational patterns as the user naturally interacts with the appliance, the system ensures security while minimizing the time and effort required for initial setup.
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
Enables cost-effective, privacy-friendly, and user-awareness-free personal estimation, reducing the need for high-cost fingerprint authentication and camera usage, while promoting the standard installation of electrostatic capacitance touch panels in appliances.
Implementation Method 1
an operation panel CP using a touch panel of an electrostatic capacitance type or a touch button of an electrostatic capacitance type
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of performing user estimation without making the user aware of it. The appliance has a first sensor input unit that inputs a plurality of control commands for controlling an operation, and estimates the user based on the control command input to the first sensor input unit and an operation feature amount at the time of inputting the control command. The first sensor input unit includes a touch panel. The operation feature amount includes an operation position of the touch panel, an electrostatic capacitance value corresponding to a pressing of the touch panel, and a time-dependent change pattern thereof.