Capacitive Touch Sensing Fastener for Climbing Holds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensing and signalling systems for climbing walls require modifications to climbing holds and wall panels, making them incompatible with standard holds and impractical for high walls where rear access is limited. These systems also fail to monitor and track climbing data effectively.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensing and signalling device that attaches climbing holds to panels using a fastening element with a hole, incorporating a capacitive sensor and light emitting device. This setup allows for dynamic visual signalling and data monitoring without altering the physical properties of the holds or requiring rear access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If lighting solutions are integrated into climbing holds using internal modifications, then visual signalling capability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase due to required structural modifications
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the lighting component from the climbing hold structure. The light emitting device is attached to the front surface of the hold rather than being integrated into its internal structure, allowing independent installation and removal without modifying the hold itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting function is extracted from the climbing hold structure and implemented as a separate attachable component. This allows the visual signalling capability to be added without requiring internal modifications to the hold, resolving the contradiction between functionality and structural complexity.
2Measurement precision
If fastening elements with integrated electronics are used, then touch sensing capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to access rear side for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive sensor detects touch through the fastening element as an intermediary, rather than requiring direct contact with the hold. This allows the sensor to be positioned on the rear surface while still detecting touches on the front surface, enabling both touch sensing capability and rear-side accessibility for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensing function is moved from the front surface dimension to the rear surface dimension. The capacitive sensor on the rear surface detects touches through the fastening element, allowing maintenance personnel to access and service the sensor from behind the climbing wall without interfering with the climber's experience on the front surface.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard climbing holds are used without modification, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to integrate sensing and signalling functions
Solution Approach 1:
The device makes standard climbing holds multi-functional by attaching additional components to them. The fastening element serves both as a mechanical attachment and as a substrate for the capacitive sensor, while the light emitting device provides visual signalling. This allows standard holds to perform multiple functions without modification to the holds themselves.
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 easy retrofitting into existing climbing holds, provides clear and dynamic visual marking of climbing routes, and allows for the monitoring and analysis of climbing data, enhancing training efficiency and enabling dynamic climbing tasks.
Implementation Method 1
The circuit comprises a capacitive sensor connected to the fastening element
Implementation Method 2
a light emitting device capable of illuminating through the hole
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a touch sensing and signalling device (20) for a climbing wall (100), said climbing wall (100) comprising a panel (1) and climbing holds (3) arranged thereon, said device (20) comprises a fastening element (4) for fastening the climbing hold (3) to the panel (1) and passing through the climbing hold (3) and the panel (1) in the mounted position of the climbing hold (3), said fastening element (4) is provided with a first end (4a) on the side of the climbing hold (3) and a second end (4b) opposite thereto, and with a through hole (5) connecting the first and second ends (4a, 4b) and passing through the fastening element (4), the through hole (5) is provided with a first opening (5a) at the first end (4a) and a second opening (5b) at the second end (4b), and said device (20) comprises a light emitting device (30) for emitting light through the first opening (5a) and a circuit (50) arranged at the second end (4b), said circuit (50) comprising a capacitive sensor (52) connected to the fastening element (4) and a control unit (54) connected to the light emitting device (30) and adapted to operate said light emitting device (30). The invention further provides a system (200) comprising such a device (20).