Capacitive Chessboard Detecting Piece Presence and User Touch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic chessboards require multiple sensing systems to detect user interaction and piece location, which adds bulk and complexity, and often necessitate conductive coatings or internal components in chess pieces, limiting their design and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A single mutual capacitive sensing system is employed to detect three states (piece presence, touch, and user contact) using conductive chess pieces made from materials like carbon fiber or metal blends, integrated with a flexible or rigid PCB that includes capacitive sensing circuitry and LED illumination, allowing for a compact and user-friendly design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If inductive sensing or RFID sensing technologies are employed to track chess piece locations, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity and bulk increase due to requiring electrical coils, antennas, and integrated circuits in each chess piece
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the detection of piece location and user touch interaction into a single capacitive sensing system. The capacitive sensor array simultaneously detects the presence of chess pieces and user contact with those pieces, eliminating the need for separate sensing systems and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive sensing system serves multiple functions: it detects chess piece locations, identifies user touch interactions, and determines which player is interacting with the board. This multi-functional approach replaces specialized inductive or RFID sensing systems, reducing the number of components needed in each chess piece
2Device complexity
If capacitive sensing technologies are employed to detect chess piece locations, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to requiring conductive coatings or stickers on chess pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates conductive materials directly into the chess piece construction using composite materials. Chess pieces contain conductive elements such as conductive plastic, conductive paint, or conductive thread integrated during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate conductive stickers or coatings and reducing manufacturing precision requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the chess pieces by incorporating conductive materials during the manufacturing process. This allows the chess pieces to naturally exhibit conductive properties without requiring precise application of external conductive layers, thereby reducing manufacturing precision demands
3Reliability
If traditional PCB with separate sensing circuitry and illumination hardware is employed, then functional reliability is improved, but weight and volume increase due to rigid bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the PCB, capacitive sensing circuitry, and LED illumination hardware into a single integrated circuit board assembly. This consolidation maintains all necessary functions while reducing the overall weight and volume of the chessboard by eliminating separate component housings and interconnections
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated circuit board performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the structural substrate, hosts the capacitive sensing circuitry for piece detection, provides LED illumination for board lighting, and processes signals from multiple sensors. This multi-functional integration reduces the total component count and overall system weight
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 efficient detection of user interactions and piece movements with reduced bulk, providing a seamless gaming experience while maintaining the aesthetic and structural integrity of the chess pieces.
Implementation Method 1
a mutual capacitive sensing system is operative to determine at least three detectable states at any given location on a chessboard
Implementation Method 2
the chess pieces are manufactured from a plastic blend that includes an addition of carbon fiber. According to other embodiments, the chess pieces are manufactured from a plastic blend that includes an addition of metal such as steel, stainless steel, silver or copper
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic chess set includes a plurality of conductive chess pieces, a chessboard having a playing surface including a plurality of individually identifiable locations visible to a user on the chessboard, and an electronic system including a capacitive sensing system. In some embodiments, the capacitive sensing system is configured to determine for each of the plurality of individually identifiable locations: when a chess piece included in the plurality of conductive chess pieces is located at a respective one of the plurality of individually identifiable locations and user-contact with the chess piece is absent; when the chess piece located at the respective one of the plurality of individually identifiable locations is in contact with the user; and when each of the plurality of conductive chess pieces is absent from the respective one of the plurality of individually identifiable locations.