Auxiliary Conductor Slit Design for Position Detecting Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional position detecting apparatuses in portable electronic devices, such as notebook-sized personal computers, face challenges due to the induction of eddy currents by the conductor plate, which limits the placement of other electronic components and reduces space utilization, as these eddy currents interfere with the operation of nearby components.
Innovation Solution
A position detecting unit is designed with a first sense unit to detect contact on the operation surface and a second sense unit to detect the position of an external pointing device using electromagnetic interaction, featuring an auxiliary conductor with a flat surface and slit portion to stabilize electric potential and minimize eddy current interference, allowing for accurate and reliable detection and enabling the arrangement of multiple components in a compact space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conductor plate is provided to ground the position detecting apparatus, then detection stability is improved, but eddy current interference occurs affecting nearby electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor plate is divided into multiple separate conductor regions instead of forming a continuous plate. These discrete conductor regions are arranged in a specific pattern that maintains the grounding function while interrupting the paths that would allow large eddy currents to form, thereby reducing electromagnetic interference with nearby components
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the position detecting apparatus are provided with different conductor configurations. The conductor plate has specific patterns (such as grid patterns or isolated regions) that provide grounding where needed while minimizing eddy current generation in areas where electromagnetic interference would be problematic
2Reliability
If a conductor plate is provided for grounding, then electric potential stability is improved, but space utilization is reduced due to limited placement area for other components
Solution Approach 1:
The conductor plate is segmented into multiple smaller conductor regions distributed across the available space. This segmentation allows other electronic components to be positioned in the gaps between conductor regions, improving space utilization while maintaining the overall grounding function through the distributed conductor network
Solution Approach 2:
The conductor regions are arranged in a two-dimensional pattern on the conductor plate, utilizing spatial distribution to provide grounding coverage across the entire operational area. This dimensional arrangement maximizes the grounding effectiveness while leaving available space in between regions for other components
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 enables stable and reliable detection of both finger contact and external pointing device positions, minimizing eddy current influence and allowing for effective use of space beneath the position detecting unit, facilitating the integration of multiple components in portable devices.
Implementation Method 1
detect the user's finger by determining changes in electrostatic capacity between the electrodes that occur when the user's finger touches the operation surface
Implementation Method 2
detect a position of an external position pointing device with respect to the operation surface based on an electromagnetic interaction generated between the second sense unit and the external position pointing device
Implementation Method 3
an eddy current is induced in the conductor plate by an alternating field of the electrodes of the conventional position detecting apparatus
Implementation Method 4
The auxiliary conductor includes a flat surface portion and a slit portion extending from one end of the flat surface portion to an inside of the flat surface portion
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes a casing, an operation surface disposed at a predetermined location of the casing and being operable from outside the casing, a first sense unit disposed under the operation surface to electrically detect contact on the operation surface, and a second sense unit disposed under the operation surface and the first sense unit to detect a position of an external position pointing device with respect to the operation surface based on electromagnetic interaction generated between said second sense unit and said external position pointing device, and an auxiliary conductor disposed between the first sense unit and the second sense unit, the auxiliary conductor including a flat surface portion and a slit portion extending from one end of said flat surface portion to an inside of the flat surface portion.