Capacitive Display Touch Sensing for Skin Hydration Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring skin hydration require specialized devices like Corneometers, which are costly and limit widespread personal hydration measurement due to their ubiquity and cost.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a capacitive sensor and processor that can measure skin hydration by detecting changes in capacitance when an external object touches the display, allowing for hydration measurement using common devices like smartphones without the need for separate equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate Corneometer device is used to measure hydrature based on capacitance, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hydrature measurement function into the existing display device by utilizing the capacitive sensor already present in the display. The processor integrates both touch input detection and hydrature measurement capabilities, eliminating the need for a separate Corneometer device. The capacitive sensor serves dual purposes: detecting touch inputs and measuring skin hydration levels through capacitance changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive sensor in the display is designed to perform multiple functions: it detects both touch inputs and hydrature levels. The processor dynamically switches between touch mode and hydrature measurement mode based on detection conditions, making the display device universal and eliminating the need for specialized equipment.
2Measurement precision
If a separate Corneometer device is used for hydrature measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to ubiquity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines hydrature measurement functionality into the widely ubiquitous display device, allowing users to measure skin hydration using their existing smartphones or tablets. This eliminates the need to carry or purchase a separate Corneometer device, significantly improving ease of operation and accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The display device serves itself by utilizing its existing capacitive sensor to perform hydrature measurement, eliminating the need for external specialized equipment. The processor automatically detects when hydrature measurement is needed and switches modes accordingly, making the device self-sufficient.
3Ease of operation
If the capacitive sensor operates in touch input mode, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision for hydrature deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The processor dynamically switches the capacitive sensor between touch input mode and hydrature measurement mode based on detection conditions. When a touch event is detected, the sensor operates in touch mode for ease of operation. When hydrature measurement is initiated, the sensor switches to measurement mode to ensure precision, with the mode transition controlled by the processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically switches between touch input detection and hydrature measurement functions. The processor can alternate between these modes or perform measurements at specific intervals, allowing the capacitive sensor to serve both purposes effectively without compromising either ease of operation or measurement precision.
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 accurate skin hydration measurement using capacitive touch input on a display, supporting both touch sensing and hydration measurement modes, making hydration monitoring more accessible and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
One method for measuring hydrature uses detection of a change in capacitance. The hydrature of a skin is thus measured by a change in electrical characteristics generated between electrodes having a predetermined gap and a dielectric
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device for measuring hydrature, and a method for the same are disclosed. The electronic device includes a display, a capacitive sensor and a processor implementing the method, including setting an attribute of a capacitive sensor using a first value, acquiring a first data measurement from the capacitive sensor in when an external object contacts a display and determining that a touch input has occurred based on the first data, detecting whether the determined touch input satisfies a prespecified condition, setting the operational attribute of the capacitive sensor using a second value when the prespecified condition is satisfied, acquiring a second data measurement from the capacitive sensor while the external object contacts the display when the at least one operational attribute is set using the second value, and determining a hydrature value associated with the external object at least based on the acquired second data measurement.