Capacitive Sensor Decoupling Image and Reporting Intervals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive image proximity sensor devices are prone to errors such as blurring and fragmenting due to quickly moving input objects, leading to inaccurate determination of input object position and motion, resulting in unwanted or missed user interface actions and degraded usability.
Innovation Solution
Decoupling the image generating interval from the reporting interval allows for independent determination of the reporting interval, enabling the setting of a second period for image generation and reporting, which reduces errors caused by object motion, thereby improving accuracy and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the image generating interval is shortened to reduce motion errors, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases due to the need for independent interval control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the previously unified image generation and reporting process into two independent intervals: an image generating interval and a reporting interval. This allows the image generation rate to be optimized for accuracy (shorter interval) while the reporting rate can be adjusted independently (longer interval), resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability where the image generating interval and reporting interval can be independently adjusted based on operational requirements. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt the image generation rate to minimize motion errors while maintaining flexible reporting rates, thereby improving measurement precision without permanently increasing device complexity.
2Productivity
If the image generating rate is increased to improve responsiveness, then productivity improves, but use of energy increases due to more frequent sensing operations
Solution Approach 1:
By separating image generation from reporting, the patent enables high-rate image generation (improving responsiveness) while allowing the reporting operation to occur at a lower, more energy-efficient rate. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high productivity in sensing while reducing the energy cost of data transmission and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent generates images at a higher rate than strictly necessary for reporting, creating intermediate images that are processed locally but not all transmitted. This partial action approach improves responsiveness by having ready-to-use images available while reducing overall energy consumption by limiting full reporting to only necessary instances.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments described herein provide devices and methods that facilitate improved input device resistance to the effects of errors that may be caused by the motion of detected objects on such input devices, and in particular, to the effect of blurring and/or fragmenting. The devices and methods provide improved resistance to the effects of such errors by decoupling the image generating interval from the reporting interval. Specifically, the devices and methods enable the determination of the reporting rate independently of the period over which images of sensor values are generated. The devices and methods enable independent determination of the reporting rate by facilitating the setting of a second period, where images of sensor values are generated over a first period and the reporting interval is determined to include at least the sum of the first period and the second period.