Capacitive Touch Glove Test Gauge with Conductive Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for testing capacitive touch screens are not reliable or repeatable when evaluating the use of gloves, as they fail to accurately simulate the interaction between a user's gloved finger and the screen, leading to inconsistent results.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a conductive gauge and a non-conductive simulation plate of varying thickness and material, simulating different types of gloves, is used to test the compatibility of gloves with capacitive surfaces, allowing for repeatable validation of glove usage by mimicking the interaction with the screen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a capacitive screen is used to detect finger touch, then the user experience is improved with simple touch without pressure, but the screen fails to detect touch when the user is wearing gloves due to insufficient electrical conductivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch operationVSAvoidtouch detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a conductive layer as an intermediary between the capacitive screen and the gloved finger. This conductive layer compensates for the insufficient electrical conductivity of gloves by providing an additional conductive path, allowing the screen to detect the touch gesture even when the user is wearing non-conductive or low-conductivity gloves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If existing test methods are used to validate glove compatibility, then the testing process is simple, but the test results are not repeatable or reliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting processVSAvoidtest result repeatability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a controlled test environment by using a test object that replicates the electrical characteristics of a gloved finger. This includes a conductive element covered with material having specific electrical conductivity, capacitance, and thickness parameters that match typical glove properties. This standardized copy enables repeatable and reliable testing across different glove types and testing sessions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent systematically varies key parameters such as electrical conductivity, capacitance, and thickness of the test object to simulate different glove materials and conditions. By controlling and adjusting these parameters, the testing method can validate compatibility across a range of glove types while maintaining repeatable results through precise parameter specification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution enables reliable and repeatable testing of glove compatibility with capacitive touch screens, ensuring consistent validation and comparison of glove quality by simulating different glove types and materials, thus addressing the inconsistency in existing methods.

Implementation Method 1

a gauge 11 made of an electrically conductive material adapted to be detectable by said capacitive surface to be tested

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The plate 12 has a thickness E1 suitable for simulating different types of gloves... a step of moving the gauge 11 towards the capacitive surface until the plate makes contact with the capacitive surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3673351B1Device and method for testing the use of a capacitive surface with a glove
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3673351B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (10) for testing the use of a capacitive surface (20) with a glove, said device (10) comprising a gauge (11) made from an electrically conductive material designed so as to be able to be detected by said capacitive surface (20) to be tested, and a sheet (12), made from an electrically non-conductive material, designed so as to be placed between the capacitive surface (20) to be tested and said gauge (11), said sheet (12) having a thickness designed so as to simulate said glove.