Capacitive Spatial Pattern Recognition for Non-Grounded Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacitive touch sensors struggle to accurately identify non-grounded objects without requiring electrical connections, limiting their applicability and precision in object recognition tasks.
Innovation Solution
The use of capacitive sensing to detect predetermined spatial patterns of detectable elements, which are arranged in a predetermined configuration, allows for object recognition even without electrical connections, using a capacitive sensor and a controller to generate an object identifier based on detected patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If capacitive touch sensors are used to detect non-grounded objects, then object detection capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to accurately identify objects without electrical connections
Solution Approach 1:
The object is segmented into multiple detectable elements arranged in specific spatial patterns. Each element can be independently detected by the capacitive sensor, and the collective pattern of detected elements enables precise object identification. This segmentation allows the system to overcome the limitation of not detecting non-grounded objects as a whole by detecting individual elements and reconstructing the object identity from their spatial arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the object are assigned different detectable elements with specific spatial arrangements. The capacitive sensor detects capacitance variations at different sensor locations corresponding to different regions. By analyzing the local capacitance characteristics and their spatial patterns, the system achieves precise object identification without requiring electrical connections to the entire object.
2Measurement precision
If electrical connections are required for object identification, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for additional connection components
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection requirement is extracted and removed from the object identification process. Instead of requiring physical electrical connections between the sensor and the object, the system uses capacitive coupling to detect the spatial patterns of detectable elements on the object's surface. This extraction eliminates the need for additional connection components while maintaining identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Capacitance serves as an intermediary between the capacitive sensor and the non-grounded object. The detectable elements on the object modulate the capacitive field, and the sensor detects these modulations without requiring direct electrical contact. This intermediary mechanism enables accurate object identification while avoiding the complexity of electrical connections.
3Measurement precision
If capacitive sensing of spatial patterns is implemented, then object identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensor locations and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The detection of multiple detectable elements and the analysis of their spatial patterns are merged into a unified object identification process. The controller simultaneously processes capacitance measurements from multiple sensor locations and integrates this information to determine the spatial pattern, thereby identifying the object. This merging reduces the overall system complexity compared to separate detection and analysis stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitive sensor array serves multiple functions: detecting the presence of detectable elements, determining their spatial patterns, and identifying the object. The controller performs multiple processing tasks including capacitance measurement, pattern recognition, and object identification using the same hardware resources. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by avoiding dedicated components for each function.
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 reliable identification of non-grounded objects by translating capacitance measurements into object identifiers, facilitating applications in game boards, physical security, and modular systems, among others, with enhanced precision and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
A capacitive touch sensor may detect changes in channel capacitance at one or more sensor locations of the capacitive touch sensor
Implementation Method 2
recognizing an object using capacitive sensing of predetermined spatial patterns of detectable elements... allows for object recognition even without electrical connections
Data Source
AI summary
Some examples may relate to an object-recognition system. The object-recognition system may generate an object identifier when an object having detectable elements in a predetermined spatial pattern is in proximity to a capacitive sensor. The object-recognition system may include a capacitive sensor and a reader to capture channel-capacitance measurements at least partially responsive to the capacitive sensor in proximity of the detectable elements. The object-recognition system may include a recognizer to generate an object identifier at least partially responsive the captured channel-capacitance measurements.