Capacitive Stereoscopic Sensing for Input Object State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing input devices struggle to accurately determine the state of an input object, such as its orientation, type, motion, and interaction with water, using only near-field or far-field capacitive images, as they lack the necessary precision to differentiate between similar states and interactions.
Innovation Solution
The use of both near-field and far-field receiver electrodes to generate capacitive images, allowing for the comparison of information across different planes to determine the state of an input object, including its location, orientation, and interaction with the input surface, by combining data from near-field and far-field images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only near-field or far-field capacitive images are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of input object state is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver electrodes are segmented into two distinct groups: near-field receiver electrodes and far-field receiver electrodes. Each group is positioned at different distances from the input surface and is optimized to detect capacitive signals from different spatial zones. This segmentation enables the system to capture complementary information about the input object's state, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring a single complex electrode design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension distinction by placing receiver electrodes at different distances (near-field vs. far-field) from the input surface. This creates two different measurement planes or zones, allowing the system to observe the input object from multiple spatial perspectives. By comparing measurements from these different dimensional positions, the system achieves more accurate determination of the input object's state
2Reliability
If only single-field capacitive imaging is used, then the device complexity is lower, but the ability to disambiguate similar states is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback by comparing the near-field capacitive image with the far-field capacitive image. The processing system analyzes the differences and similarities between these two images to determine the state of the input object. This feedback mechanism allows the system to disambiguate between similar states that might be indistinguishable using a single field, thereby improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that compares and integrates information from both near-field and far-field images. This intermediary comparison process acts as a mediator that resolves ambiguities by synthesizing data from both fields, enabling more accurate identification of the input object's state without requiring direct complex sensing
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 approach provides enhanced accuracy in identifying the state of an input object, including its orientation, type, and interaction with water, by leveraging the unique characteristics of near-field and far-field images to disambiguate similar states and interactions, thereby improving the overall performance of input devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first capacitive image corresponding to a first plane in free space above an input surface of the input device and information in a second capacitive image corresponding to a second plane in free space above an input surface of the input device
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure generally provides an input device with near-field and far-field receiver electrodes. Using resulting signals captured by these receivers, the input device generates a near-field capacitive image and a far-field capacitive image. In one embodiment, the near-field capacitive image contains information identifying a location of an input object in a first plane in free space, while the far-field capacitive image contains information identifying a location of the input object in a second plane in free space. Further, the first and second planes may be parallel planes where the first plane is closer to an input surface of the input device than the second plane. In one embodiment, the input device compares the information in the near-field and far-field images in order to determine a state of the input object.