Capacitive Cover Detection for Smartphones

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing size of smartphone displays makes it difficult to install hall sensors and magnets on the front surface, leading to performance deterioration of the antenna and limited space for display areas, especially when using cover devices.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a touch screen and sensor that activates a specific area to detect the opening and closing of a cover device using a capacitive material and proximity information, eliminating the need for hall sensors and magnets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hall sensor and magnet are used to detect cover device opening and closing, then the detection function is achieved, but the antenna performance deteriorates and display area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover detection functionVSAvoidantenna performance deterioration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the magnet from the cover device, eliminating the source of magnetic interference that causes antenna performance deterioration. The hall sensor is also removed from the smartphone body. Instead, the system uses the touch screen's capacitive sensing capability to detect the cover device's presence and state, achieving the detection function without harmful magnetic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the magnetic field-based detection system (hall sensor and magnet) with a capacitive touch-based system. The touch screen acts as a sensor to detect touch patterns caused by the cover device's capacitive material, substituting mechanical/electromagnetic components with a field-based capacitive sensing approach that does not interfere with antenna performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a hall sensor is installed on the front surface to detect cover device status, then the detection function is achieved, but the display area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover detection functionVSAvoiddisplay area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the touch screen serve multiple functions: it acts as both the user interface for touch input and as a sensor for detecting the cover device's presence and state. By utilizing the existing capacitive touch sensing capability of the touch screen, the system eliminates the need for a separate hall sensor, thereby preserving the entire front display area while maintaining detection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a magnet is mounted on the front surface of the cover device, then the detection function is achieved, but the display area on the cover device is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover detection functionVSAvoidcover display area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the magnet from the cover device's front surface. The detection function is achieved instead through the capacitive interaction between the cover device's capacitive material and the touch screen's sensing capability, eliminating the need for physical magnetic components that would occupy display area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch screen acts as an intermediary between the cover device and the detection system. Rather than requiring direct contact or proximity sensing components on the cover device itself, the touch screen mediates the detection process by sensing capacitive changes caused by the cover device's presence and position, allowing the cover device to maintain its full display area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 preserves the front display area, prevents antenna performance deterioration, and reduces costs by removing the need for hall sensors and magnets, while effectively determining cover device status through touch patterns and proximity sensing.

Implementation Method 1

sensing a touch input corresponding to a specific pattern included in the cover device through the activated first area of the touch screen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

determining whether the cover device is in proximity to the electronic device through a sensor included in the electronic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProximity sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS10547716B2Electronic device for detecting opening and closing of cover device and method of operating same

Publication Date: 2020.01.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a sensor, a touch screen, and a processor that activates a first area corresponding to at least a part of the touch screen for determining whether a cover device mounted to the electronic device opens or closes, and determines whether the cover device opens or closes based on a touch input corresponding to a specific pattern included in the cover device, sensed through the activated first area of the touch screen, and based on information on whether the cover device is in proximity to the electronic device, sensed through the sensor.