Capacitive Sensor Grid for Transparent Touch Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch-sensitive devices face challenges in accurately detecting hover and pressure events with low latency and high update rates, especially on transparent surfaces, and require complex manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
The use of capacitive sensors employing frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) and code-division multiplexing (CDM) techniques, combined with mixed signal integrated circuits that generate and process frequency-orthogonal signals, allowing for the detection of touch events through changes in signal coupling between row and column conductors, even without physical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional touch-sensitive devices use complex manufacturing processes to achieve accurate hover and pressure detection, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive surface is divided into multiple independent conductive elements arranged in a grid pattern, allowing parallel signal generation and independent processing of touch events at different locations, which simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing structures with capacitive coupling between conductive elements, using electrical field interactions instead of mechanical contact detection, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while achieving accurate hover and pressure detection
2Productivity
If traditional touch-sensitive devices operate at low update rates, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and response speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors capacitive coupling between conductive elements in advance, preparing the sensing array in a ready state that enables immediate detection and processing of touch events without delay, thereby achieving high update rates with manageable processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic signal generation and scanning of conductive elements in a systematic sequence, allowing high-speed touch event detection through time-division multiplexing that maintains low processing complexity by reusing the same hardware resources repeatedly
3Adaptability or versatility
If transparent surfaces are used for display compatibility, then adaptability to modern displays is improved, but detection precision for touch events deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces capacitive coupling as an intermediary mechanism between the transparent display surface and the conductive sensing elements, allowing touch detection through the transparent material by detecting changes in electrical field coupling rather than direct mechanical contact, thus maintaining both transparency and detection precision
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 fast and robust detection of touch events with low latency and high update rates, supporting applications in real-world, virtual reality, and augmented reality settings, while allowing for economical manufacturing and transparent display compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
a row conductor and a column conductor. The row conductor and the column conductor are capacitively coupled
Data Source
AI summary
A touch device has a plurality of row conductors and a plurality of column conductors. Located proximate to where the row conductors and the column conductors interact are additional conductor arrangements that are able to increase the capacitive interaction that occurs on the touch device. The conductor arrangements are formed from different column conductors and row conductors located proximate to the where the row and column conductors interact and form different arrangements.