Capacitive Sensing Profiles for Accurate Positional Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive sensing technologies struggle to simultaneously and accurately measure both absolute capacitance and transcapacitance, often inadvertently measuring both types of capacitance at the same time, leading to inaccurate and combined effects that cannot be independently separated for reporting.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a processing system with a sensor module that drives modulated signals onto sensor electrodes and receives resulting signals to generate a combination signal, allowing for the determination of capacitive couplings and positional information by distinguishing between absolute and transcapacitive measurements, and determining the presence of low ground mass states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional capacitive sensing measures both absolute capacitance and transcapacitance simultaneously, then measurement coverage is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to separate the combined effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the capacitive sensing measurement into separate absolute capacitance measurement mode and transcapacitance measurement mode. The sensor controller selectively activates different electrode configurations and signal processing paths to measure only one type of capacitance at a time, preventing the combined effects from interfering with measurement precision while maintaining comprehensive measurement coverage through mode switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different sensing modes based on operational requirements. The sensor controller dynamically adjusts electrode drive patterns, signal reception configurations, and processing algorithms to transition between absolute capacitance measurement and transcapacitance measurement, allowing the system to adapt its measurement approach to specific application needs while maintaining high precision in each mode.
2Device complexity
If conventional capacitive sensing uses single electrode configuration, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates in distinguishing different input object types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sensor electrode array universal by enabling it to perform multiple functions: absolute capacitance sensing, transcapacitance sensing, and input object classification. The same physical electrodes are configured through different drive patterns and signal processing modes to achieve diverse sensing objectives, eliminating the need for separate dedicated electrode sets for each function while maintaining adaptability to distinguish different input object types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of electrode roles and signal processing paths based on the desired measurement type. The sensor controller dynamically assigns different electrodes as drive electrodes or sense electrodes, adjusts modulation frequencies and phases, and selects appropriate processing algorithms to adapt the single electrode configuration to various sensing requirements, thereby achieving high versatility without increasing physical device complexity.
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 improved usability by accurately separating and reporting positional information through simultaneous measurement of absolute and transcapacitive capacitance, enhancing input object detection and classification in capacitive sensing systems.
Implementation Method 1
determine, using the first sensor electrode, a first capacitive coupling between the first sensor electrode and an input object in a sensing region of the input device
Implementation Method 2
determine, using the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode, a second capacitive coupling between the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system includes a sensor module configured to receive first and second signals from first and second sensor electrodes, respectively, and generate a combination signal. The processing system further includes a determination module configured to determine, using the first sensor electrode, an absolute capacitive coupling to an input object; determine, using the first and second sensor electrodes, a transcapacitive coupling; determine a ratio of the absolute to transcapacitive coupling; determine, using the combination signal, in absence of a predetermined low ground mass state, and when the ratio fails to exceed a predetermined threshold, first positional information regarding a location of the input object; and determine, when the ratio fails to exceed the predetermined threshold and in presence of the predetermined low ground mass state, second positional information regarding the location of the input object in the sensing region using an absolute capacitive scan.