Capacitive Operation Device Hand Detection Disablement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing operation devices of a capacitance type fail to reliably prevent unintended contact operations on an operation surface, particularly when a part of the hand is manually operating a manual portion and unintentionally touches the surface, leading to erroneous detection and operation.
Innovation Solution
An operation device with an operation plate, first electrodes, a determination portion to assess capacitance changes, an output portion for command signals, a manual operation portion, and a disablement portion that prohibits command signals when the hand is detected at a manually operable position, using a dummy electrode to differentiate between intended and unintended contact operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contact operation detection is enabled on the operation surface, then comfortable operability is obtained, but unintended contact operations are erroneously detected
Solution Approach 1:
The detection function is segmented into two independent systems: one for the operation surface (capacitance type) and another for the manual operation portion (dummy electrode). This segmentation allows each system to operate independently, preventing interference between intended contact operations and manual operations, thereby resolving the contradiction between comfortable operability and detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A disablement portion acts as an intermediary between the detection portion and the output portion. When the detection portion detects hand presence at the manual operation position, the disablement portion disables the output portion, preventing erroneous command signals. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by filtering out unintended contact operations while preserving comfortable operability.
2Reliability
If contact operation is disabled during dial operation, then unintended operations are prevented, but contact operation cannot be detected when hand is merely picked
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of hand presence at the manual operation position before actual contact operation occurs. By detecting the hand's approach or picking action in advance, the system can preemptively disable contact operation detection, preventing unintended operations while maintaining detection sensitivity for legitimate uses.
3Reliability
If dummy electrode is added to detect hand position, then contact operation disablement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dummy electrode is integrated into the existing operation plate structure, serving multiple functions: detecting hand presence, determining manual operation intent, and triggering disablement of contact operation. This multi-functionality approach adds minimal structural complexity while achieving high reliability in contact operation disablement.
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 configuration ensures that contact operations are reliably disabled when the hand is at a position for manual operation, enhancing the certainty of preventing unintended contact operations, even during rotational or picking actions, thus preventing erroneous detection and operation.
Implementation Method 1
a first determination portion that determines whether a hand of an operator touches the operation surface based on an amount of capacitance change between the hand of the operator and the first electrode
Data Source
AI summary
An operation device includes an operation plate, an electrode, a determination portion, an output portion, a dial, a dummy electrode, a for-dummy determination portion, and a disablement portion. The operation plate includes an operation surface that is contact-operated by an operator's fingertip. The determination portion determines whether the contact-operation is performed based on an amount of capacitance change between the fingertip and the electrode. The output portion outputs a predetermined command signal on the condition that the contact-operation is determined to be performed. When it is determined by the dummy electrode and the for-dummy determination portion that an operator's hand is placed at a position where a dial is operable, the disablement portion prohibits an output of the command signal or disables the outputted command signal.